Line 6 Spider III 75 Guitar Combo Amplifier (75 Watts, 1x12 in.)

zZounds' Take on Line 6 Spider III 75 Amp

Realistic amp-modeling with artist-created presets!
Imagine walking into the amp room at a million-dollar recording studio. All of the best vintage and modern amps and effects are there, ready for your sonic exploration. Now imagine your favorite guitar players are standing there with you, ready to be your sound tech for the day. Sounds like fun, right? Now, you can bring the dream to life with Line 6's Spider III combo amps. Their cutting-edge modeling technology puts hundreds of detailed tones right at your fingertips, with special presets designed by the best players in the world.

Easily customize your tone with the simple interface
The Spider III 75-watt combo amp gives you all the tonal variation you'd expect from Line 6, with a friendly interface for changing patches and tweaking your sound. None of your bandmates want to wait around while you twiddle with the knobs, so this amp makes it easy to get good tone right away. For starters, there are twelve custom amp settings, quickly accessible through a two-stage, six-position controller. Only twelve, you say? That doesn't seem like much, especially compared to the POD. Don't worry, all the sounds are there. In the past, each setting was based on a different amplifier model, which meant lots of extra fiddling to navigate from one patch to the next. This time around, Line 6 grouped amp models with similar characteristics together, so you can move much faster.

Twang Red and Metal Green, demystified
Each of the six settings has two stages, indicated by a red and green LED. The Twang setting, for example, is where the Fender amps live. When the red LED is lit, you can dial-in that classic mid-60's blackface tone. Once you're there, just tweak the EQ to get the snappy character of a '65 Twin Reverb or glassy treble of a '64 Deluxe Reverb. Jump over to the green LED, and you've got instant access to a bunch of vintage tweed amps, including the '53 Deluxe Reverb and '58 Bassman. Maybe Metal is more your style. The red LED on the Metal channel delivers tight, crisp Dual Rectifier tone, while the green LED offers even more aggressive high-gain sounds. Use the Mid control here to access a wide range of sounds. Down low, you get classic dirty fuzz. Half-way up, you get smokin'-hot power for modern Metal assault. Set the Mid to maximum, and you get that gutsy Class A distortion made famous by Matchless. You won't believe how many distinct tones you can pull from one little knob.

250 artist-created sounds
The six-position controller couldn't be easier when you know what amp sound you're going for. Want a thickened-up '68 Plexi? Choose the Crunch model, add a little reverb, then slide through the expanded midrange section to get just the right bite. If you're not sure what amp is going to get the job done, though, you'll be better off starting in familiar territory. Line 6 gives you 250 artist presets, so you can build your tone based on your guitar heroes' signature sounds. You'll find preloaded patches designed by Albert Lee, Maroon 5, Scissor Sisters, Hawthorne Heights, Slipknot, and many more of the most famous artists on the planet. All of these presets are totally tweakable, so you can add your own special flavor to the mix.

150 song-based patches
The Spider III 75 also includes 150 song-based presets if you're looking for a more specific sound. Let's say your singer shows up at the rehearsal space with a brand new song. He hasn't fleshed it out yet, but has some ideas. The verse came to him while he was listening to Guns & Roses, but there should be some added boost in the chorus, with a super-heavy Dimebag groove. You could tell him to mind his own business; you're the guitarist and you'll decide what tones fit best. Or, you could try the 'Sweet Child O' Mine' patch, then switch to Pantera's 'Cowboys from Hell' setting and see if it's a good fit. It only takes a second to humor him, and nothing will get accomplished if he's pouting all through practice.

Layered effects with easy tweaking
That same ease-of-use approach applies to the effects section as well. Line6's exclusive Smart Control FX feature automatically dials in different effects parameters, so all you have to adjust is the intensity. Up to three effects, including chorus, phaser, flanger, tremolo, echo, delay, and reverb, can be used simultaneously for detailed layering and tone-shaping. The tap tempo button lets you adjust the timing of delay and echo effects to match your groove. Hold this button down to access the onboard tuner, and you'll be on-pitch in no time. Use these effects with the amp models to build your own custom sounds from scratch, or combine them with an artist- or song-preset to add a new twist to an old favorite. Save your creations, then call them up whenever the mood strikes. It couldn't be easier.

All the ins and outs
A standard 1/4-inch instrument jack lets you plug-in any guitar, and you can jam along with your favorite songs through the stereo miniplug CD/MP3 input. Trying to nail 'Cliffs of Dover' note-for-note? Make sure you warm up first; that song's a killer. When you're good and limber, you can play in-time with the actual track using Eric Johnson's custom preset. Since the tone is spot-on, all you have to worry about is getting your fingers to work their magic. For even more versatility, this amp is compatible with the FBV2, FBV Express, and FBV Shortboard foot controllers. Switch patches on-the-fly, tune up, and take advantage of the volume/wah pedal, all hands-free. On stage, everything gets pushed through a custom twelve-inch Celestion speaker with 75 watts behind it. You'll have all the stage-volume you need to cut through the thickest mix. In the studio, send the stereo headphone output straight to the mixer for POD 2.0 direct-recording quality. Your guitar tracks will have tons of professional polish. At around 35 pounds, you can carry all of these amazing tones anywhere you want to play!

Manufacturer's Description for Line 6 Spider III 75 Guitar Combo Amplifier (75 Watts, 1x12 in.)

Insane rock star settings. Yours for the taking.
Instantly access hundreds of killer sounds designed by the world's most notorious rock stars.

Get your hands on the latest generation of Line 6 modeling technology for the most detailed amp and effect models ever created.

If you crave the sounds you hear on stage or on your favorite albums, Spider III is here to deliver.

With Spider III 75, 120, 150, and HD150, take your pick from 250 artist presets, including settings hand-crafted by:
-- 311

-- Thursday

-- Lacuna Coil

-- Hawthorne Heights

-- Slipknot

-- Ash

-- Albert Lee

-- Athlete

-- John 5

-- and many more!

Or if you want to find a sound that you heard on a specific track, choose from another 150 song-based presets including:
-- No More Tears

-- Enter Sandman

-- Stinkfist

-- Back In Black

-- Bark at the Moon

-- and many more!

New to the Spider III is a huge range of killer mid-gain guitar tones. A critical advancement was made to the sound and feel of the Spider III line when their discerning panel of artists focused in on the venerable "mid-gain" range of tone to deliver the complex, layered and dynamic amp tone we all appreciate from classic and boutique amps.

Plug in and separate yourself from the posers.

Spider III 75
Spider III delivers detailed amp models based on some of the greatest guitar sounds ever created. To keep these sounds authentic, Line 6 kidnapped some of Line 6's favorite artists to dial in each amp model. Now you can rule the stage with the Insane model with its truly massive gain or explore your sensitive side in the studio with the Clean model. It's all up to you.

Features
12 Custom Amp Models from Clean to Insane

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

250 artist-created presets

150 song-based presets

Plus 36 user programmable presets

Built-in front panel tuner

12 in. Custom Celestion Speaker

75 watts

Amp Models
Clean
Red LED -- Select this Amp Model and adjust the tone controls to get crisp, amazing clean tones, great warm jazz tones, and all the high-end shimmer you'll need with a generous amount of bottom end.

Glassy
Green LED -- Line 6 developed this Amp Model to emulate those late 60's and early 70's clean tones. It started off as an Amp Model based on* a 1973 Hiwatt Custom 100. Line 6 extended the tone control range and tightened up the low end.

Twang
Red LED -- This Amp Model draws on* Line 6's analysis of mid 60's Fender amps, including the blackface '65 Twin Reverb and blackface '64 Deluxe Reverb. Line 6 wanted an Amp Model that has that classic glassy high end tone, with some snap and bite.

Twin Twang
Green LED -- This Amp Model is based on* a number of vintage tweed amps. Line 6 evaluated a '53 Fender tweed Deluxe Reverb, '58 Fender tweed Bassman and a '60 Gibson Explorer to create a swingin' Rockabilly tone.

Blues
Red LED - 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.

Class A
Green LED -- This Amp Model is based on* a fawn Vox AC-30 amplifier with an updated and expanded tone control circuit. Line 6 wanted to capture that early British pop rock tone that the Beatles and the Stones are so well known for.

Crunch
Red LED -- This sound was crafted during Line 6's 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.

On Fire
Green LED -- This Amp Model is based on* a '68 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
Red LED -- 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.

Spinal Puppet
Green LED -- 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 minimum, 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 up to max, it's very much reminiscent of that Class A sound.

Insane
Red LED -- This model is Line 6's "dialed in for shredding" version based on* the Mesa/Boogie Dual Rectifier red channel. It combines the intensity and impact of Metal Red, but delivers more midrange and teeth for that bone-crushing, brain piercing insane grind.

80s Solo
Green LED -- Line 6's 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
A great amp isn't the only part of a great guitar sound. With Smart Control FX, an exclusive Line 6 feature that automatically dials in different effect parameters, you spend more time playing and less time tweaking. Simply find the effect that you want, turn the knob to your desired intensity, and you're done. You can even use multiple effects at the same if you wanna get really crazy.

Effects Models (Up to 3 effects simultaneous):
-- Phaser

-- Chorus/Flanger

-- Tremolo

-- Sweep Echo

-- Tape Echo

-- Reverb

Ins & Outs
When you're playing with your band on stage just drag the Spider III on stage and crank it up. When it comes time to record, use the headphone/direct out and plug it straight into the mixing board for world-class POD 2.0 direct tone used in pro studios and stages everywhere! You can also use the same out with headphones for practicing in your bedroom. Want to play along with your favorite songs? Plug into the CD/MP3 input and you're good to go.

* All product names used in this webpage are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Line 6. These trademarks of other manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers whose tones and sounds were studied during Line 6's sound model development. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Line 6 products.

Compatible with the FBV2, FBV Express, and FBV Shortboard foot controllers.