Helix
- Thread starter LesStrat
- Start date
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Helix
Sounds like you are really liking the Helix! I'm currently using a GT-100 and can get decent sounds through a power amp and cabinet, but the direct sounds leave a lot to be desired. I put a AMT SS-30 in the loop and am just using the GT for effects, but am definitely interested in a higher end all-in-one unit. Did you look at the Fractal AX8, Headrush, or Amplifire too?
Sounds like you are really liking the Helix! I'm currently using a GT-100 and can get decent sounds through a power amp and cabinet, but the direct sounds leave a lot to be desired. I put a AMT SS-30 in the loop and am just using the GT for effects, but am definitely interested in a higher end all-in-one unit. Did you look at the Fractal AX8, Headrush, or Amplifire too?
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Helix
Congrats, LesStrat!
And devastone, I've had my Helix for a year now, and it sounds great whichever way you run it. You may have to tweak EQ for different setups, but that's it. If it sounds crappy, there's a setting that's wrong, or the sound guy has the phantom power on. The Helix doesn't get along with phantom power on the XLR outputs, but a guy can put a cheap DI box or mini mixer between the Helix and FOH gear to make this a non-issue.
Congrats, LesStrat!
And devastone, I've had my Helix for a year now, and it sounds great whichever way you run it. You may have to tweak EQ for different setups, but that's it. If it sounds crappy, there's a setting that's wrong, or the sound guy has the phantom power on. The Helix doesn't get along with phantom power on the XLR outputs, but a guy can put a cheap DI box or mini mixer between the Helix and FOH gear to make this a non-issue.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Helix
I may have to suck it up and try one soon since I'm employed again. The Amplifire gets great reviews and it's price makes if very tempting, but it doesn't have an expression pedal. If I look at a Helix it would probably be the LT, I have trouble justifying the extra cost for the regular Helix on my current budget, but I can see the custom naming of switches could definitely be a huge plus.
I may have to suck it up and try one soon since I'm employed again. The Amplifire gets great reviews and it's price makes if very tempting, but it doesn't have an expression pedal. If I look at a Helix it would probably be the LT, I have trouble justifying the extra cost for the regular Helix on my current budget, but I can see the custom naming of switches could definitely be a huge plus.
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Helix
Last I heard (could he wrong), if you plan on getting the Helix Native plugin when it comes out, it'll be $300 for LT owners and $100 for Floor and Rack owners. Something to keep in mind.
Last I heard (could he wrong), if you plan on getting the Helix Native plugin when it comes out, it'll be $300 for LT owners and $100 for Floor and Rack owners. Something to keep in mind.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Helix
Still lovin' my LT here! The fact that it shares the man cave with a Friedman BE, Splawn Quickrod, and Fender DRRI FSR has done absolutely nothing to take the sheen off the Line 6. I just plugged into it a few days ago and was still thrilled with the tones I'd dailed up. Wonderful pedal.
Still lovin' my LT here! The fact that it shares the man cave with a Friedman BE, Splawn Quickrod, and Fender DRRI FSR has done absolutely nothing to take the sheen off the Line 6. I just plugged into it a few days ago and was still thrilled with the tones I'd dailed up. Wonderful pedal.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Helix
I had trouble bonding with my AX8 until I was forced to use it because my amp is fried. I still have much to learn, but through a PA it is amazing.
I had trouble bonding with my AX8 until I was forced to use it because my amp is fried. I still have much to learn, but through a PA it is amazing.
Re: Helix
Yeah, indeed it is. I'd imagine it is the same with the Kemper.Helix, too. It sounds different onstage than a traditional guitar amp. But out front, it sounds amazing. There is a period of 'getting used to' the difference between a good modeler and a traditional amp, though.
Yeah, indeed it is. I'd imagine it is the same with the Kemper.Helix, too. It sounds different onstage than a traditional guitar amp. But out front, it sounds amazing. There is a period of 'getting used to' the difference between a good modeler and a traditional amp, though.
Lewguitar
New member
Re: Helix
There's no going back for me... But for practical reasons.
What I'd really love is a Mesa Boogie Mark V. Great all round amp. That and maybe a Bogner Ecstacy. Both half stacks. I'd put together a nice floorboard of premium effects and I'd be set for life.
But I can't do it, because they're just too loud.
And I don't mean in a "you have to turn them up too high to hit that sweet spot of power tube saturation"... I mean, the neighbours would complain, even at lower volumes. Sure, i probably wouldn't be breaking any laws so the neighbours could kiss my ass, but I don't want bad feelings in my living situation.
The only kind of house I could imagine where such amps would be acceptable is somewhere in the countryside with no neighbours... But it is unlikely I will ever live in a house like that.
So that's the main appeal of modellers for me... Decent sound, ultra-low volume but loud if I want (at gigs).
I sure do appreciate the versatility, range of sounds, lower price, lower weight, ease of recording, etc... But the main one for me is that I can play low volume or even with headphones if I want.
There's no going back for me... But for practical reasons.
What I'd really love is a Mesa Boogie Mark V. Great all round amp. That and maybe a Bogner Ecstacy. Both half stacks. I'd put together a nice floorboard of premium effects and I'd be set for life.
But I can't do it, because they're just too loud.
And I don't mean in a "you have to turn them up too high to hit that sweet spot of power tube saturation"... I mean, the neighbours would complain, even at lower volumes. Sure, i probably wouldn't be breaking any laws so the neighbours could kiss my ass, but I don't want bad feelings in my living situation.
The only kind of house I could imagine where such amps would be acceptable is somewhere in the countryside with no neighbours... But it is unlikely I will ever live in a house like that.
So that's the main appeal of modellers for me... Decent sound, ultra-low volume but loud if I want (at gigs).
I sure do appreciate the versatility, range of sounds, lower price, lower weight, ease of recording, etc... But the main one for me is that I can play low volume or even with headphones if I want.
Synapsys
Well-known member
Re: Helix
I have been using L6 products for over 15 years, and each device has been a definite improvement in both sound quality and user-friendliness. Helix has been underground my radar since ir was released, but has a bit steep of a price for me since my last amp purchase, a H&K Grandmeister Deluxe 40 head. I love the amp and it's fully MIDI programmable. I also want to replace my POD HD 500. So I'm now saving for a LT to be my primary studio device, and as a FX pedalboard for the amp via 4CM and MIDI.
I have been using L6 products for over 15 years, and each device has been a definite improvement in both sound quality and user-friendliness. Helix has been underground my radar since ir was released, but has a bit steep of a price for me since my last amp purchase, a H&K Grandmeister Deluxe 40 head. I love the amp and it's fully MIDI programmable. I also want to replace my POD HD 500. So I'm now saving for a LT to be my primary studio device, and as a FX pedalboard for the amp via 4CM and MIDI.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Helix
The Helix is the real deal. No cheap, digital sounding modeler here. The HD stuff isn't comparable. And I too habe an M9 that I love. In fact, I'm thinking about picking up a 2nd one so I can have one each in the loops of my Splawn and Friedman.
The Helix is the real deal. No cheap, digital sounding modeler here. The HD stuff isn't comparable. And I too habe an M9 that I love. In fact, I'm thinking about picking up a 2nd one so I can have one each in the loops of my Splawn and Friedman.
Re: Helix
Well, the HD500 had a terrible adapter. Three of them went bad on me in 5 years. They were $50 each. Tiny thin cable and a connector that stuck out too far. Also, there was no way to assign the loop level to the exp pedal- the DL4 had this, so did the M-series. The HD even had a parameter for this, but it wasn't assignable. Despite this (and numerous talks with some of the engineers), it was never updated.
Well, the HD500 had a terrible adapter. Three of them went bad on me in 5 years. They were $50 each. Tiny thin cable and a connector that stuck out too far. Also, there was no way to assign the loop level to the exp pedal- the DL4 had this, so did the M-series. The HD even had a parameter for this, but it wasn't assignable. Despite this (and numerous talks with some of the engineers), it was never updated.
Red_Label
New member
Re: Helix
Re-arranged the man cave last night, and then did some A/B work between the Helix LT and my Friedman/Splawn stereo rig. Helix Holds its own just fine. Does it render the Friedman and Splawn useless? Nope. But neither do they render the Helix useless. For someone who wants to get awesome tube feel at low volumes, record direct, or go direct to the PA... the Helix units are just awesome. And I still haven't even played with any IRs yet. I'm definitely curious about the Celestion IRs.
Re-arranged the man cave last night, and then did some A/B work between the Helix LT and my Friedman/Splawn stereo rig. Helix Holds its own just fine. Does it render the Friedman and Splawn useless? Nope. But neither do they render the Helix useless. For someone who wants to get awesome tube feel at low volumes, record direct, or go direct to the PA... the Helix units are just awesome. And I still haven't even played with any IRs yet. I'm definitely curious about the Celestion IRs.
Gone_Shootin
New member
Re: Helix
www.line6.com/allure
Brock Davisson's Grand Slam of IRs. They're the collection of free stuff he gathered over time and posted on the Helix Facebook group I belong to. Good to go.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7MJkH3xeFGsWWNxU1RGN25kZUU/view?usp=sharing
And here's the original post.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/428105950706417?view=permalink&id=709564429227233
That said, I plan on getting the Red Wirez Big Box, which comes with their MixIR program that let's you mix & match up to 30 or so IRs. Plus it has Texas Heat and Legend V12 IRs, which are a couple speakers I've fallen for lately.
http://www.redwirez.com/bigbox.jsp
And I'll probably end up with some Ownhammer and Celestion IRs too. I must be an IR addict, or something. Lol
Free IRs to get your feet wet.Re-arranged the man cave last night, and then did some A/B work between the Helix LT and my Friedman/Splawn stereo rig. Helix Holds its own just fine. Does it render the Friedman and Splawn useless? Nope. But neither do they render the Helix useless. For someone who wants to get awesome tube feel at low volumes, record direct, or go direct to the PA... the Helix units are just awesome. And I still haven't even played with any IRs yet. I'm definitely curious about the Celestion IRs.
www.line6.com/allure
Brock Davisson's Grand Slam of IRs. They're the collection of free stuff he gathered over time and posted on the Helix Facebook group I belong to. Good to go.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B7MJkH3xeFGsWWNxU1RGN25kZUU/view?usp=sharing
And here's the original post.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/428105950706417?view=permalink&id=709564429227233
That said, I plan on getting the Red Wirez Big Box, which comes with their MixIR program that let's you mix & match up to 30 or so IRs. Plus it has Texas Heat and Legend V12 IRs, which are a couple speakers I've fallen for lately.
http://www.redwirez.com/bigbox.jsp
And I'll probably end up with some Ownhammer and Celestion IRs too. I must be an IR addict, or something. Lol
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Red_Label
New member
Re: Helix
Nice! Thanks for all of that G_S. You've given me much to sort through. Good stuff.
Nice! Thanks for all of that G_S. You've given me much to sort through. Good stuff.
