Spider
Valve? is the result of a groundbreaking collaboration between Line
6 and Reinhold Bogner fusing the versatility of modeling with the
performance and feel of a world-class tube amplifier.
Just as
we revolutionized the world of amps through our pioneering modeling
technology, Spider Valve shatters the boundaries of tube amp
performance by applying that same tonal range to Bogner?s all-tube
amp design, boutique component selection and stellar
voicing.
Spider
Valve delivers 12 channels of amp modeling - combined with several
flavors of built-in modulation, delay and reverb ? driven by an all
tube, all Bogner amplification design boasting 6L6 power tubes,
12AX7 preamp tubes and premium Celestion® Vintage 30
speakers.
Combining
the performance, response and feel of a well crafted tube amp with
the inspiring capabilities of amp and effect modeling - Spider
Valve delivers the best of both worlds.
The
Bogner Story
Reinhold
Bogner, the principal designer at Bogner Amplification, had been
designing and building amplifiers long before leaving Germany in
1989. Moving to Los Angeles he quickly gained the trust of many
influential players including Steve Stevens, Dan Huff, Allan
Holdsworth, Mike Landau and Steve Vai who sought out his skill at
modifying and custom building their amps.
But it
was overhauling and revitalizing Eddie Van Halen?s legendary 1968
Marshall® Plexi in 1992 that propelled Bogner to legendary status
and inspired him to launch his own high-end amp company, Bogner
Amplification. Acclaimed for their rich, robust tones,
channel-switching sophistication and sonic versatility - Bogner
amps have earned a maniacally devoted following among discerning
guitarists such as Jerry Cantrell, Lyle Workman, Wes Borland, Chris
DeGarmo, Keith Urban, Richie Sambora and many others.
Using
only premium components - in tandem with a level of craftsmanship
that can only be referred to as ?artistry?- Bogner amplifiers more
than deserve their exalted reputation. Ever the restless creator,
Bogner brought those same priorities, standards and sensibilities
to bear on the Spider Valve design. Each Spider Valve amp?the 112,
212 and HD100? combines the talent and experience of Bogner,
arguably the tube world?s leading light, with the know-how and
technological savvy of the world?s leader in modeling, Line
6.
Line 6
and Bogner
There?s
nothing like going right to the source to get the inside story. In
this case, that would be our very own Darrell Smith ? Line 6
amplifier product line manager.
You?ve
got to be excited to be breaking new ground with tube
amps...
Absolutely. Line 6
modeling changed the landscape for solid state amps - and now we?re
doing it again for tube amps. So at this point, whatever you
prefer, be it the lush complexity of a great tube amp, the
transparency of a solid state amp, or the convenience of plugging a
POD straight into a PA ? you have access to the tonal range and
flexibility of Line 6 modeling.
What
was it was like designing these amps with Reinhold
Bogner?
Reinhold
brought a lot to the table. He has a tremendous working knowledge
of vintage and modern amp designs, he's an inventor, a true
craftsman, a brilliant engineer, and best of all he has a great set
of ears. In an industry that cloaks itself in tube mojo and glowing
magic, Reinhold is the real deal. His experience and craftsmanship
are incredible - he very much deserves his legendary status. He was
relentless in terms of tweaking and perfecting the feel and tone of
the Spider Valve, and was fully involved with the design each step
of the way. I think it?s really apparent in the results.
Any
specific requirements or elements of his design that stood out for
you?
It?s all
the little things that add up to a great design. Bogner knows this
and it led to everything from premium parts like Premium Celestion
Vintage 30 speakers to boutique components such as Sprague Orange
Drop and Wima capacitors in the tube section. He even specified
which nuts and bolts to use. It all adds up.
Tell
me about the selection and layout of the tubes?
The Line
6 modeler feeds a pair of 12AX7 preamp tubes. The first tube is set
up as a cascading gain stage, with each stage contributing the
harmonic complexity vintage amp players love. That feeds the master
volume which hits the next 12AX7 configured as a phase splitter
which is followed by Sovtek 5881WXT/6L6. There?s 2 6L6?s for 40
watts of class AB power in the combos and 4 6L6?s for 100 watts of
class AB power in the head.
So the
preamp and power amp tubes make for a complete tube amp as opposed
to a ?hybrid? amp that would use solid state for most of the
amplification?
Exactly.
This isn?t a hybrid that just uses a little 12AX7 preamp tube on
the front end, or as part of a solid state power amp. It?s a full
on tube amp ? which gives you the complete tube amp experience,
from the rich harmonics, to the feel and responsiveness of the
power tubes.
Could
you pair a POD with a Spider Valve?
It?s the
perfect pair. We realize that some guys love running their POD in
front of a tube amp so we went out of our way to make Spider Valve
a tuned complement for a POD front end. To do so ? you can plug the
output of your POD into the power amp input jack on the back of the
Spider Valve which lets you bypass the Spider Valve modeling but
still use the tube amplification. It sounds awesome.
And
the ?flavor? of the tones in the general... similar to Spider III?
Similar to a Bogner amp?
Neither
really. The amp models cover the same names and styles as in a
Spider III ? you know, Clean, Crunch, Insane, etc. ? but the
tuning, voicing and experience is really unique to the Spider Valve
design with particular emphasis on the mid-gain tones.
Modeling and
Tubes
The
Spider Valve design combines 12AX7 preamp tubes with Line 6?s
signature modeling front-end, a marriage that allows each part of
the sonic equation to deliver what it does best: creamy, cascading
distortion and enriched harmonics from the tubes, and 12 of the
world?s finest amp models and seven stunning effects from the
modeling front end. And, of course, perfectly matched 6L6 power
tubes driving Celestion® Vintage 30 speakers to deliver
unprecedented sonic impact and spatial imaging.
With the
simple front-end controls and display, programmable patches and
presets are instantly within reach. Tweak your tone even further
with the front panel Presence, Drive, Bass, Mid and Treble
controls: this is a true-blue tube amp, and it acts like one,
responding and delivering all the analog detail, performance and
warmth of every amp model and effect.
Here?s
the guide to your Spider Valve tone palette.
Clean
Select
this Amp Model and adjust the tone controls to get crisp clean
tones, warm jazz timbres, and all the high-end shimmer you?ll need
with a generous amount of bottom end.
Glassy
We
developed this Amp Model to emulate* those classic late-?60s and
early-?70s clean tones. It started off as an Amp Model based on* a
1973 Hiwatt® Custom 100. We extended the tone control range and
tightened up the low end.
Twang
This Amp
Model draws on* our analysis of mid-?60?s Fender® amps, including
the blackface ?65 Twin Reverb® and blackface ?64 Deluxe Reverb®. We
wanted an Amp Model that has that vintage glassy high-end tone with
some extra snap and bite.
Twin
Twang
This Amp
Model is based on* a number of vintage tweed amps. We evaluated a
?53 Fender® tweed Deluxe Reverb®, ?58 Fender® tweed Bassman® and a
?60 Gibson® Explorer® to create a swingin? Rockabilly
tone.
Blues
Based on*
a mix of a ?65 Marshall® JTM-45, a ?58 Fender® Bassman®, a ?63
Fender® Vibroverb and a Supro®, this Amp Model slides between
gritty, swamp-infected cleans to syrupy smooth, walloping drive
tones.
Blues:
Class A
This Amp
Model is based on* a fawn Vox® AC-30 amplifier with an updated and
expanded tone control circuit. We wanted to capture that early
British pop rock tone made famous by the Beatles and the
Stones.
Crunch
This
sound was crafted during our studies* of the '68 Marshall® Plexi 50
Watt. This type of Marshall® amp was used by a number of early
metal bands. Crunch provides a wider range of tone control settings
than the original Marshall® amp had.
Crunch: On
Fire
This Amp
Model is based on* a 1968 Marshall® Plexi 100 watt with a few added
extras: the combination of a Variac and the jumped input channels
creates that infamous brown sound.
Metal
This Amp
Model is based on* the Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier®. Use this Amp
Model to get a tight and punchy high-gain metal sound.
Metal:
Spinal Puppet
This
sound was created to be an aggressive high-gain Amp Model with a
unique Mid control that will sweep though an entire spectrum of
tone on one knob. The Mid knob for this Amp Model changes the
character of the distortion. When set to maximum, the distortion
exhibits Fuzz pedal characteristics. When the Mid is set to noon,
it mimics the creamy modern high-gain amp tones. And when the Mid
knob is turned down to minimum, it's very much reminiscent of that
Class A sound.
Insane
This
model is our ?dialed in for shredding? version based on* the
Mesa/Boogie® Dual Rectifier® red channel. It combines the intensity
and impact of Metal Amber, but delivers more midrange and teeth for
that bone-crushing, brain piercing insane grind.
Insane: Eighties
Solo
Our goal
with Insane was to provide you with as much input gain distortion
as possible short of complete meltdown. You get an obscene helping
of distortion, while still retaining tonal definition and
character.
Effects
From the
DL4? stompbox to the Echo Farm? plug-in, Line 6 effects have
achieved cult status in top studios and stage rigs of discerning
guitarists. With Spider Valve, Line 6 delivers a palette of top
grade integrated effects - easily accessed and tweaked from the
front panel using the SmartControl FX knobs.
Modulation
A choice
of phaser, chorus or tremolo lets you tweak your tone from rich
luscious modulations to dramatic orbital gyrations.
Delay
From the
swirling feedback of the sweep echo to the organic decay of the
tape echo, Spider Valve delays provide an unmatched level of
dimension and depth.
Reverb
The
Spider Valve effects arsenal is complete with a dedicated reverb
control ? allowing you
Specs
- 40W
Class AB tube amp through (2) 12AX7 preamp tubes and (2) 6L6 power
tubes
- 2X12"
configuration featuring a pair of Premium Celestion® Vintage 30
speakers
- 12
dialed in amp models (channel voices) that deliver a complete tonal
range from shimmering clean to insane grind
- 7 Smart
Control FX (up to 3 simultaneous) including Tape Echo, Sweep Echo,
Standard Delay (all with Tap Tempo) Chorus/Flanger, Phaser,
Tremolo, and Reverb
- Built-in
front panel tuner
- 36 user
programmable channels
- 300+
artist created presets covering the greatest guitar tones of all
time
- POD® XLR
direct out for studio direct tone
- Compatible with FBV2,
FBV Express and FBV Shortboard foot controllers
- Single
and dual 1/4" speaker output jacks for connection to auxiliary
cabinets
- 1/4"
power amp input jack for POD® amp and effect modelers
- Weight:
60 lbs
- Dimensions: 30" L x 25"
H x 15" D