Line 6 launches POD Express Black high-gain modeler at $179
October 22, 2024 · 2 sources
Line 6 announced the POD Express Black on October 22, 2024, a variant of its POD Express multi-effects pedal built around heavier amp and effect choices. It is available now for $1791.
The Black edition keeps the form factor of the original POD Express, which arrived earlier in 2024 at $124 in electric guitar and bass guitar versions1. A central rotary control selects the amp model; the available types are Cruz, Anvil, Slay, Mega, Avant, Pure and Dirge1. Four effect controls double as secondary parameters for the amp EQ, and the Distortion, Boost, Modulation and Delay/Reverb knobs each step through four independent effects1. The unit has an on/off footswitch, a tap tempo footswitch that also serves as a tuner, stereo output jacks, a USB-C port for use as an audio interface, a noise gate and a headphone amp1.
Guitar Pedal X reports that the Black edition keeps the original Modulation section (Chorus, Flanger, Phaser, Tremolo) but changes the Distortion options, combines half of the original delays and reverbs, and adds a Boost section with Comp, Mids, Dirty and Clean2. It lists the amp voicings as Pure (PRS Archon Clean), Dirge (Sunn Model T), Crux (Orange Rockerverb 100), Anvil (Line 6 Badonk), Slay (PRS Archon Lead), Mega (Diezel VH4 Mega) and Avant (REVV Generator 120 Red)2. Guitar World gives the amp names as Cruz, Anvil, Slay, Mega, Avant, Pure and Dirge1; the two lists differ on the spelling of one name, Cruz against Crux.
Guitar Pedal X also lists the ports as guitar in, left/mono and right outputs, FS 3/4, USB-C, 9V DC at 500mA, and 1/8-inch headphones with headphone volume, and says both footswitches together scroll through presets2.
Rick Gagliano, Line 6's Director of Product Management, said of the pedal:
"For a wide variety of Metal guitarists, the POD Express Black is a great all-in-one modeler that gives them a unique selection of high-gain tones, plus essential effects."
Guitar World describes the pedal as HX-powered, with tones derived from the Helix family of products1. Guitar Pedal X, reviewing the format, wrote that for a beginner drawn to metal and heavier gain it offers "everything you need in a really neat package," while noting it was "not sure I would have selected all those self same Amp Voicings if I had a choice"2.