Metallica Tone?

Question

Hey i have a Podxt Live and cannot get the Metallica sound i want out of it. It's driving me crazy! My setup is a Jackson DXMG Dinky (passive emgs, Greatest neck ever!!!) and a crate solid state 65 watt. I was deciding between the pod and a vox tonelab le and even though the vox sounded better for me(metal wise) the guitar center guys said go with the pod for metal. So i took their advice. I was happy with the sounds for like 3 days but now it sounds WAY too digital and muddy and dark (i've had it for a week) I was planning on buying a TUBE amp in the future and using the pod for the effects. But for now, Modeling and distortion. Should i go for the VOX? or what other options would you suggest? Play Metallica, AC/DC, Eric Clapton, John Mayer, and a lot more metal and rock

Answer 1

Take It back and just save up for a good tube amp or get a good stomp box. The Krank Distortus Maximus will give you a great metal sound just check out some demos on youtube. For a tube amp look on craigs list or ebay I highly recomend the peavey ultra plus. I own 1 and put it up next to a 5150 and a mesa and got a much better tone it can cover anything from country to deathmetal.

Answer 2

You hit the nail on the head. A digital amp gives no bass and lots of highs.

A tube amp will give the warm natural distortion like metallica sound. It has nothing to do with the odxt.

You could have used a HM-2 Heavy metal distortion and get the same sound through a tube amp.

As the tube gets hotter, so does the sound and that is what produces a clean sustain and analog sound. Vox is not bad but try the Crate or Mesa Boogie amp.