Line 6 Spider 212 Combo

As i walked up to this amp in guitar center, i didnt think it was going to be much. Ive heard stories of people who dont like there line
6 gear, or dont think it sounds real. so i had little expectations for this combo. I brought a musicman axis up to the amp to play it with....turned it to the insane setting and waled away.....it is the most amazing sound ive ever gotten out of an amp. I dont get why people are such tube purist. look back in the 70's when computers used to be the size of a building...now they are the size of a pocket and do more. This is the answer to anybody who wants a tube amp....dont get one....get a line 6. Add the floorboard and get more presets. about 250 more than your current amp. as for the comparison between a tube amp and the spyder..... look no more...spyder is better..and less expensive! get one as soon as possible.

sounds awesome!!! best distortion ive ever heard.

looks very durable.

ive been playing for a while now..and ive come to have a taste for tone and have been looking for mine for a while...ive tried distortion pedals...multi effects.....amps...nothing had my sound, except this amp. incredible!

All digital modeling amplifier, 2-12" Line 6 speakers, 100 watts. Manufacture year is 2000 and in the short period of time I have used this amp it has become an exceptional value. The amp has proven to be extremely versitile. With six different amp models, modeled after various fender, marshall and mesa boogie amps, and four user presets it is a huge step up from the typical 2 channel amp configuration. Built in effects are incredibly useful, even the effects I never really thought I'd use (Flanger, Chorus, Tremelo, Delay, Tape Echo, Ping Pong, Reverb). Headphone jack is designed to double as a stereo line output for direct recording. Four additional features are accessable via a hold button/turn knob type of thing (Volume boost, overdrive boost-which acts as a stomp box so the guitar signal is hotter before it even gets to the preamp, presence boost and a noise gate which doesn't cut off a weak signal like a typical stomp box gate). Amp is currently being used in our band rehearsal hall. Enough power to cut through drums and vocals. The lack a foot switch, which is available seperatly, makes for a real bite since a pedal is really need if any channel switching is going to occur.

Guitar configuration is a Standard Fender Telecaster equipped with a DiMarzio Fast Track-T Humbuker in the bridge position and standard fender tele neck pickup. An acoustic/electric Alvarez and an acoustic/electric jumbo body Epiphone. Music styling vary from folk rock, pop rock, hard rock, punk, classic rock etc... I've programmed all four channels already and have come up with an amazingly crystal clean channel, a bitey clean channel, a dry 70's cruch distortion, and a full blown mesa style distortion. The first thing that blew me away was how amazingly quite this amp is. The noise from the amp is nearly unnoticable. You actuallly have to be in a completly quite room and try to listen for any noise. Really, its that quite; even on the max volume with the guitar volume turned up. The insaine amp model is the only channel that has some noise in it. But its really not that loud compared to other amps, it only appears loud next to the other amp models in the spider. I was also immpressed with how sweet the acoustic tones were. This is an amp that will give a trace elliot a run for its money. And of course the elcetric tones are very clean crisp and thick with disortion. The fullness of sound for the 2-12" speakers is a thing to be heard. Never have only 2 speakers sounded so big. The amp stays true to its tone as the volume gets higher. The warmth of the tube amps being replicated is a very strong characteristic of this amp. The tones are really a thing of beauty, this is definatley an amp that any pro or serious guitarist should seriously look at if making an amp purchase.

I've only had a for a short period of time but haven't had any problems. I don't for see and future problems. Amp is built well and will be used as my main stage, studio and rehearsal amp.

I haven't dealt with C.S. yet. Hopefully I never will. Warranty period is 1 year.

I've been playing for 6 years now and this amp is truely a work of art. I would seriously want to purchase this amp again if the chance should arise. My only other favorites that I've played has been a mesa boogie dual rectifier half stack which has been the "sickest" amp I've ever played. But the versatility of tones, effects, and portability keep the spider at high priority. With all the things the Spider has to offer, it's just really hard to pass it up. Once again the only negative facet which is still a bite, is the lack of a footswitch.

Features are great. It has 6 general sound settings; clean, twang, blues, crunch, recto, insane. There are 6 effects; flange, chorus, tremelo, delay, tape echo, ping pong; all with intensity control. Reverb included. "Tap" button for delay, tape echo, and ping pong was difficult to understand at first, since the amp came with no documentation. 60 possible feature combinations. I rarely use the effects, but it's nice to know they're there. All digital amp, stereo, 2x12, 100W.

I play a Ibanez RG520 with stock humbuckers and it sounds awesome. I play mostly Metallica, both clean and distortion. The amp is only noisy at the "insane" setting or when you sit right next to the amp. It can cover all sounds from a very nice clean to a distortion heavy "insane". Sound not distored at higher volumes. The amp is almost too bassy, but it holds true to high end sounds. The distortion is crazy on the "insane" level, so I recommend the slightly calmer "recto" setting. The amp is very quiet if you aren't playing guitar, and it could surprise you if you accidentally hit your guitar strings if the amp is on.

This thing is a brick that weighs 56 lbs. Very dependable, very good choice for a back up. Amp all digital so no servicing is required.

I haven't contacted the company because there has been no faults. 1 YR warranty. I was dissapointed that there was no sort of manual with tha amp. There was a catalog of line6 products included, which told me basic information about my amp.

I've been playing for 2 years and have an ibanez acoustic and a (dreadful) peavey electric [with a p.o.s. amp]. If this amp were stolen I would be very angry because it fulfills all my needs. The sound is fantastic, but it's a butt to tote around. I compared this product with a Marshall DSL401 and a Marshall Valvestate 102R. This was the best value for the money and effects, though I wish the pedal board were included.

some people suggest spending a little more money for the additional effects on the other line 6 amplifiers the spider has all the effects a professional guitarist should ever need why go overboard I'm very confident in my playing ability I don't want to color my sound with layered effects the spider offers only the essentials needed.

main guitar is a PRS custom 22 next in line is a Gibson Les Paul historic 59 reissue loaded with a Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge in last but not least a Fender big Apple Strat and this amplifier sounds great with them all. The 2X12 speakers makes a huge difference in sound compared to the other spiders much tighter with fatter bottom end (THICK-FAT-JUICY)

built extremely tough

built extremely tough

I play in a working cover band which means a lot of different styles of music but I prefer modern rock Creed etc.... my main amplifier is a Mesa Boogie Dual Recto half stack with various petals. I wanted something a little easier to transport to practice and smaller gigs without compromising my sound. The new line 6 spider 2x12 fit the bill this thing is extremely loud with a very tight bottom end I have used this amplifier to play out many times believe me it's more than you will ever need my drummer is a monster and this amplifier cuts through every time. Money was not an issue when purchasing this amplifier I tried the more expensive line 6's but I didn't need 32 differing modes and 16 different effects overkill in my opinion this amplifier has everything a good professional guitarist could want I don't use a million different effects to cover up my playing the spider has only the effects I really want anyway

Ok, it sounds pretty good. It sounds tighter with 2X12 speakers than 2X10 which sounds warm.
But I don't know why Line 6 didn't stop at Spider 1x12, 2X10 and made this one...
I gotta tell you I've played thru a Spider for a month then exchanged with something else.
Spiders are pretty cool, they have decent sounds and features. But they are just perfect for practicing or jaming w/o a drummer but u can't depend on it when giging.
My point is why get spider2X12 at $600-650 when u can get a Flexton or better yet Flexton XL/Duo/II with a little more money.
Flexton has much better sound and more useful effects and amp models and you'd be much happier w/ Flextone.
But if you don't need that many amp models or effects and not giging, well, stick with a Spider.
But just try Flextones before u buy a Spider, then make your decision.

tons of features- delay, chorus, flanger, ping pong, tremelo all accessible on: recto, insane, blues, twang, clean, and crunch. Extremely versaitile amp with the floorboard.

Absolutely beautiful tones, feedback becomes a slight problem on the insane selection-but easily fixed. Most versatile amp ive seen, besides the more expensive line 6 amps. As far as volume, this is a 100 watt amp, my friend has a new marshall valvestate (2x12 130 watts), and my spider 212 blows it out of the water-bigtime. Great product.

had it for about a week, been gigging and jamming a lot, no problems yet. Cloth on front is excessively durable, feels like it will last many years

havent used it

well worth over twice the money

This amp is the new 2000 version. The amp has same six models as lower wattage version (clean,twang,blues,crunch,recto and insane). Footswitch is still not supplied, so consider floorboard a necessity if you intend to gig.
Basic FX are present (chorus,flange,tremolo and 3 delays; pingpong analogue and digital with tap function for setting time. This tap business is a little to "rough" for me, and I'd rather be able to set the time in mSecs, and ideally the amount of repeats, which you cannot do. The amp kicks out 100watts, thru 2 12" speakers, and is LOUD!!...seemingly a great improvement on the old 50 watters.

I use a Fender Strat Deluxe and Epi Les Paul, to play "classic" rock covers 70's thru 90's.
I compared this amp in the shop with a S/H 5150 stack, and Marshall DSL 60 valve with 4X12 cab. I walked out the shop with the Spider for several reasons.. Firstly it can knock out very sweet crunchy distortions (via the Marshall Plexi model) that competed very favorably with the real deal in the store. Why would I want to lug around a stack when this will do the job great, and fit in the boot of the car? Of course if you must stand infront of a stack "coz it looks right", go ahead. If more brutal distortions are required, dial up the "Recto" model, and you have a Boogie triple rectified monster, and believe me, the low end punch is all there...you can feel the air moving! Cleans are very clean and glassy, and with some chorus or flange, nice and spacey for those more ballady moments.
I can't say I'd find too much use for the "Insane" model, as it is firstly quite noisy, and would't suit the kind of music I play.
In common with other spider users, I would like a little more control over the FX, particularly the delays, which are a bit hit and miss, and you can't select the feedback levels.

Can't comment on this as I haven't had it long enough, but I would say that the amp is very solidly constructed, and with no tubes to care for being all digital, I'd be suprised if too many problems ensue.

Comes with 1 yr Warranty.
Can't say about service, but the web site is very impressive, with tech support available be e-mail.

I've been playing for around 15 years, and this amp is the answer to your prayers, if you want versatility, portability and great sounds.
If I lost it I would definately buy Line 6 again, although I might go for the flextone for a few more features...then again who REALLY needs all those models when all the major tones are in the spider?
I do wish that this amp had the tone transfer facility via the web that the pod/flextones have so that users could share the tones easily.
Overall I'm well pleased and even though I paid an extra #199 for the floorboard, I still came of better than buying a head and cab you'd probably need to get these kind of tones.

This amp has plenty features.. The think thats great about it is that they all sound good and you can tweek on em till you get that sound you realy want. I realy like the distortions, they have Insane and Crunch. Insane can get a little noisy but thats because its hard distorion for heavy metal.

I play a ibanez with H-S-S and when i play metallica it kicks ass. Its dead quiet unless you put it on insane and then you can kinda hear a little noise.. but what do you expect from a setting called Insane? Every thing on it is hella good. It sounds good even on high volumes. It sounds real good on distortion especialy for metallica and other hard bands.

This amp would never brake unless you drop it alot and kick it over alot.

never had any problems and never will because they make the quality so well you dont even need customer support.

The over all rating i give is a 10 because this amp is the best for your money..

My guitar is a tanglewood europa with a dead nice maple neck. the pickups aren't great at all, but it makes no difference at all one this amp. it makes shoddy guitars sound great as long as you dont use single coils, which sound crap however you use them. Ive got to jump right in and say that the hi-gain on this thing is amazing. Ive only been playing for 3 1/2 years, but ive been gigging for a long time, and have heard a lot of tones, and none of them come close to the 'recto'setting; It's punchy, tight and cohesive and very expressive, something i was real suprised with, given the digital nature of the amp. Harmonics are easy to come by, and the tone controls are very usable and effective, scooped metal tones are easy to come by.. I suppose it may sound a little processed, but i cant say it matters at all to me. Easily the best distortion ive ever heard, and i used to own a DSL 100. I was, however, a little bit dissapointed with the supposed ultra high gain 'insane' channel. For a start it is really quiet compared to the other channels, and there is nasts feedback/scratch/howl when you try to do short palm muted phrases. however the cleans are absolutely pristine; adding the chorus and reverb to the basic clean channel yields a beautiful, spacious and sumptuous sound, amazing. So a ten then? well, no. All the best sounds i described only happen at low volume, and this is the biggest problem with the amp. It's not amazingly loud, and their is no socket for an external speaker. I found it just about loud enough for small room rehersal with a band, but for gigs, forget it, unless you can mike it to a good PA and youve got monitors, which most student bands like mine do not; it just doent have the balls. Once the volume goes past 12 o clock, the sounds often sound very different to the ones you programmed in your bedroom. They turn kind of average, if this was a 100 watter it would be all you'd ever need. Another problem. Although the sounds are easy to achieve and save when youre at home and have time, changing them on the fly at a gig is horrible. You have to make the changes you want (EQ/Gain etc) then hold down the channel button for about 5 seconds in order to save it. This is a living hell, as if you change cahnnel before you've saved, you lose any changes you made.grrrrr. So to sum it up this amp is great great great for recording, with very pro tones on offer very easily, but it just doesnt cut it at gigs. A real shame. I guess the flextones are better for this though. 10 at low volumes, but.....

i ve had it aes and giiged a vouple of times; no problems. id use w/o backup

never needed

this really does hold some fantastic tones, but its a little expensive if you include the footswithch rippoff (the motherboard footswitch would i assume enhance things greatly, but 250 quid?!! for that you could buy a gfx8 or rp2000 and a marshall vs100r and have a better live setup and a pretty good recording one) there is no way i can use it for gigs, still, im glad i bought it, its great for home practise. recording and small rehersal, and it looks damned cool. If it was stolen i'd probably just buy a loud amp and a multifx unit.