The Pocket POD is a powerful and unique effects unit. Rather than putting an effects processor for the guitar on the floor as a pedal or on a rack, this little kidney bean fits on your belt, which would be an interesting sight for an audience: to see the performer handle his effects from his hip and have the same options as many multi-effects pedals.

The interface is as simple as can be: several conspicuously labeled dials and a 4-direction transport that you use to navigate through the preset libraries. Although there are only a few of these libraries (popular bands, songs, and user-defined), the Pocket Pod can hold over 300 different presets, and each of these can then be manipulated further with additional reverb, tremolo, flange, etc. Imagine having the same sound from a 311 song, or Metallica, or Sublime, and then adding a bit of chorus or any other effect you want.

Grungy distortion, smooth reggae, trippy acid-rock, and many more sounds are available with the Pocket POD, and I recommend it for beginners who want an inexpensive practice tool as well as performers who would enjoy having control right there on their belt.

I found the Pocket POD to be very enjoyable to use with a lot of flexibility contained within a small, cost-effective unit. I took one home, plugged in my headphones, and started flipping through presets, which by the way couldn't be simpler. I got a kick out of the different presets and their associated names - such as "chugs and kisses," which is... you guess it... meant for palm muted downstrokes on a very overdriven amp! Then there was "slow swell," whose name again gives an idea of what the sound is about - a very slowly opening gated effect with some light overdrive and delay; almost synth-like if played correctly at the right speed.

Perhaps the coolest feature of this little unit is its portability. Being the smallest of the Line 6 family, and small it is - measuring a mere 5" x 3.5" x 2", it lends itself well to being able to be transported almost anywhere, anytime, by anyone. It will easily fit in a gig bag or case, and even in the front pocket of a comfortable fitting pair of pants (I tried it). It even has a belt clip!

I plugged the Pocket POD into my mini guitar amp that runs on a 9-volt battery with two watts of power and a 2" speaker. If you haven't tried any similar products such as the Fender Mini Tone Blaster or the Fender Mini '57 Twin, you would not believe how much output such a tiny amp can have! I clipped both the mini amp and the Pocket Pod onto my belt and I was mobile with a whole lot of different sounds at my disposal! It was akin to an economy "wireless system" for a small space!

This is a great product for any guitarist who needs mobility and/or privacy, with many different editable sounds to choose from and practice with. It's a great solution for guitarists who live in an apartment/dormitory/anywhere that there isn't a lot of space to store even a small practice amp.