Helix

Re: Helix

Well, they've got a lot of R&D to pay for, on top of the usual stuff.
 
Re: Helix

There is also the fact that if they set the price point too low, people will think that it's a "cheap" product and won't buy it.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk
 
Re: Helix

The Litigator is based on a Dumble, so :yeah:. Blues lawyer. :D

The price is reasonable for what you get and the support provided. Updates are free. The last update had several new amp models, new cabs, and new effects. .
 
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Re: Helix

I have no doubt they will continue to update the Helix, until something newer shows up. L6 also doesn't listen to bug fixes/requests very well. And I am not a fan of their IdeaScale portal to submit ideas. Soundwise, though, the Helix does sound good, but I have no personal experience with one.
 
Re: Helix

There is also the fact that if they set the price point too low, people will think that it's a "cheap" product and won't buy it.

Sent from my MotoE2(4G-LTE) using Tapatalk

I feel that way about my Mustang III. It's one of the greatest amps I've ever owned but few guys will believe a $325 amp could possibly be as good as it actually is.
 
Re: Helix

I have no doubt they will continue to update the Helix, until something newer shows up. L6 also doesn't listen to bug fixes/requests very well. And I am not a fan of their IdeaScale portal to submit ideas. Soundwise, though, the Helix does sound good, but I have no personal experience with one.

Line 6 seems to be very proactive with bugs to me. They're very active on their Helix forum, and some of the Line 6 folks that are involved with the Helix are regulars on the Helix group Facebook page I posted earlier.
 
Re: Helix

I'll second that and add that the L6 reps on that page are management types who care about customer service and support.
 
Re: Helix

Historically, line6 have been awful with updates and bug fixes though... I'm talking POD through to HD series.

I think with the Helix they are putting in more effort because a) it's more expensive and b) Fractal are well known for great support, fixes and updates... so they need to compete.
 
Re: Helix

Well, fixing bugs and coming up and coming up with new features (or adding them) are 2 different things. I have no doubt they will squash bugs. My doubts are in adding new features. At least that wasn't the case when I owned the HD500 for 5 years.
 
Re: Helix

The HD500 and the Helix are two different animals, and the company seems intent on making the Helix the best.

I'm not excusing their behavior with the previous editions. However, the company also sold out to Yamaha a few years ago, so there is a different corporate structure behind them.

The level of customer service they've been demonstrating with the Helix reminds me of another company that used to do the same.
 
Re: Helix

Frank Ritchotte, Sr. Director of Business Operations for Line 6, is an active participant in the Helix FB group.

He offers support very quickly in the group. Other L6 employees are there as well. Frank periodically shares video footage from bands who use the Helix. Often they'll be videos "touring the stage" to show the band's equipment.

Recent videos include Yes (guitar and bass), Doobie Brothers (McFee uses Helix), and Billy Sheehan. He also shared a video of Garbage performing on the Kimmel show, and stated that the band owns 18 Helices.
 
Re: Helix

Yeah, I saw that Yes clip. I think Yes' bassist is actually using an older pre-HD L6 pedal on tour (his tour videos showed). I've seen Yes several times, and Steve Howe has quite a L6 fetish. His sound was good, but a lot cleaner than it had been in the past.
 
Re: Helix

Frank Ritchotte suggested the video was old, because he knew that the bassist has a Helix.
 
Re: Helix

Well, fixing bugs and coming up and coming up with new features (or adding them) are 2 different things. I have no doubt they will squash bugs. My doubts are in adding new features. At least that wasn't the case when I owned the HD500 for 5 years.

The release if Helix Native (the DAW plugin version of Helix) is supposed to coincide with a revamping of the Helix editor and both the Helix hardware and Native versions are supposed to be able to use the same patches. Not sure if there's going to be much , if any, features beyond that, but they are definitely continuing to develop the Helix. Like LesStrat said, it's no excuse for how they handled older products, but they seem to be all in on this.
 
Re: Helix

Here is an acoustic sim I created a couple of weeks ago. The first half is the neck (Jazz); the end is the bridge (JB). No piezos were harmed (or used) in the creation of this video.


 
Re: Helix

I had a preset on my POD that nailed the tone for one of the songs our church plays. It was based on a Bassman model.

I programmed a similar preset into the Helix. The first time I tried it on that song it didn't sustain enough, and it wasn't quite "there". I changed the amp model to a /13 model for today's service.}

:bigthumb:

Oh, :yeah:!
 
Re: Helix

LesStrat... is there any particular reason why you chose the Helix over the Fractal AX8?

The same, but reverse question to Mincer et al... presuming the Helix was out at the time of your purchase...?
 
Re: Helix

I liked the responses that Fractal had to my questions. And I talked to many owners of both. Fractal owners seemed a lot happier. Also, more big touring bands are using Fractal products. I also didn't like the customer service I got from Line 6. But I still like a lot of their older products...just not their newer flagship modelers.
 
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