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Pros:
- Unbelievable set of amp models, Presets, Audio effects, Jam tracks and drum loops
- Offers versatile and defined tone
- Backing tracks are great for those who do not have a band
Cons:
- Takes time to unleash the full potential of the amp
Are you looking for a magic wand that will polish all your jamming sessions? A reliable tool that will be by your side no matter what? Or maybe you are just looking for a new amp that has a lot to write home about. One way or another, you are in the right place, my friend. Line 6 has come out with yet another beast that will turn your world upside down. Spider Jam has enough power and overall capacity to rock any small venue or band practice. If you do not have a band, then it will be a perfect match for you. Intrigued yet? Then keep on reading to find out all the information about everything this fella has to offer.
Features
As I have already mentioned, Spider Jam has a lot of useful features that will assist you during your everyday performance. It comes with more than 200 artist-created presets, more than 150 song-based presets, as well as 36 user-programmable, presets and 12 amp models (anything from clean to extreme distortion). And that is not all: Spider jam offers 7 audio effects, including Chorus/Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo, Delay, Tape Echo, Sweep Echo and Reverb. It also has more than 100 Jam tracks and drum loops, that further enhance the opportunities you get with this combo. This bad-boy gives you the ability to create a 24-minute CD quality recording and rock along with it or tune your sound perfectly with the in-built chromatic tuner.
Before moving to all the jacks and sockets, I want to underline that Spider Jam is a solid-state amp that has a single 12” Custom Celestion speaker with a 2” tweeter for the most elaborate playback of the backing tracks. It can output 75 watts of power, which makes it a badass jamming amp. This combo has one input for your instrument, ¼” aux input for a second instrument such as keyboard or bass, mini stereo MP3/CD input for playing along with your favorite music, XLR mic input with a dedicated volume knob that makes it perfect for vocals, as well as ¼” headphone out/POD 2.0 style direct out for silent practicing or direct recording and routable RCA outs for playing full-range backing tracks. And finally, Spider Jam is compatible with foot controllers that allow you to control the device on the fly.
Controls
Judging by the features we have listed above, you might assume that the control panel on Spider Jam is overcrowded with knobs and buttons. However, everything here is laid out in a simple and convenient way, guaranteeing easy tweaking. All the controls on this amp are responsive and accurate and do exactly what their names indicate. Let’s dive right into it and start discussing their functionalities.
The control panel starts with the Amp Models knob that lets you choose between amp models, namely Clean, Twang, Blues, Crunch, Metal and Insane. Then comes the Drive knob, which enhances the strength of your signal and, therefore, intensifies the distortion. Next we have a 3-band EQ with Bass, Mid and Treble encoders, that shape specific frequency range in your sound. They are followed by Channel Volume, which sets the level of the aux input. Then we have three knobs that take care of the effects, first two let you to choose between different effects, while the third one is dedicated to Reverb. Last but not least, we have the Master that sets the overall output of the device.
On the top part of the amp, there are a couple more knobs and buttons, but all of them are in charge of either recording, saving or recalling the presets. They can also be utilized for creating loops and overdubbing.
Line 6 Spider Jam Sound
If everything we already talked about did not impress you that much, get ready, because you are about to get blown away. I will start with amp models – they all are complementary to the amps they represent. The sound they deliver can go from shimmery clean harmony to earth-shattering distortion craziness with just a twist of a knob. The effects themselves create an elaborate tone, add texture and thickness to your performance. But these are just basic sounds you can get from any amp out there. The part where Spider Jam really shines is its presets. It is quite easy to find something that will suit your music. All the presets are recorded professionally in studios, which guarantees their quality. Once you employ the song or artist-based presets, you get the feeling that you are jamming along with some badass musicians. No matter what genre you play, the backing tracks on Spider Jam will turn you into a one-man band and allow you to practice your skills effortlessly. The best part is that your instrument does not come off alienated from the overall sound, everything blends in perfectly and the ultimate results are spectacular. The drum loops on this amp are also great addition to the versatility of the sound – their rhythm and tempo can be adjusted to your preferences.
Conclusion
I do not know what else to say in order to articulate how amazing Spider Jam is. It is a badass practice gear, because it allows you to work on your rhythm, chords and craftsmanship in general. It has an abundance of features that are usable in any scenarios. The sound it produces is ethereal, without any exaggeration. All in all, Spider Jam knows how to get the job done perfectly. Try it out and let it capture your heart and soul. Good luck!
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