New Line 6 Helix STADIUM (and a bunch of confused guys in hats!)

[Seashore]

I guess the videos are there to hand-hold prospective buyers into taking the plunge.

I have an HX Effects. Similar to what Mincer said a while ago, one of my footswitches is starting to act weird semi-consistently. It's the kind of thing that is fine at home (and really, I'm just recording at home anymore) but it could really screw me up in a live situation. I imagine at some point I will need to replace it or move back to a "real" pedalboard. And that helps clarify something that bothers me about these. My tube heads were an investment. I can use them properly and fix and maintain them and they'll last for decades. Most of my effects too. I've had my VHT for 17 years, and my Traynor is older than I am. I don't plan on needing to buy another amp.

This looks less like an investment and more like a phone upgrade. How long will it last - five years? Ten? I'm sure it's cool, but is that where we're at now? We have to plan to drop $2k every few years for the new model when the old one breaks? No thanks. And no disrespect to Line 6 here, I would enjoy playing with this, but... I don't like where I think it's headed.

 

[Mincer]

I did fix my HX Effects footswitch issue with Deoxit dripping down the switch into the PC board button. I could have taken the whole thing apart, but figured I'd try gravity first, which seemed to work.
I wonder how long until these big effects pedals will require subscriptions and/or constant connections to the internet.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Hopefully the parametric EQ has a nicer interface now.

Can't wait for the Stomp version of thise.

 

[Hank-]

I guess the videos are there to hand-hold prospective buyers into taking the plunge.

I have an HX Effects. Similar to what Mincer said a while ago, one of my footswitches is starting to act weird semi-consistently. It's the kind of thing that is fine at home (and really, I'm just recording at home anymore) but it could really screw me up in a live situation. I imagine at some point I will need to replace it or move back to a "real" pedalboard. And that helps clarify something that bothers me about these. My tube heads were an investment. I can use them properly and fix and maintain them and they'll last for decades. Most of my effects too. I've had my VHT for 17 years, and my Traynor is older than I am. I don't plan on needing to buy another amp.

This looks less like an investment and more like a phone upgrade. How long will it last - five years? Ten? I'm sure it's cool, but is that where we're at now? We have to plan to drop $2k every few years for the new model when the old one breaks? No thanks. And no disrespect to Line 6 here, I would enjoy playing with this, but... I don't like where I think it's headed.

Drip feeding has become the norm now with tech stuff in many fields across the board.

As much as I'd like tubes to be forever, I think anp modeling is the future cause most people are glued to their phone screens then hanging out to experience live music that centers on guitar playing.

 

[Mincer]

Drip feeding has become the norm now with tech stuff in many fields across the board.

As much as I'd like tubes to be forever, I think anp modeling is the future cause most people are glued to their phone screens then hanging out to experience live music that centers on guitar playing.

Sadly true. If guitar music is ever going to make a return to popular culture, people might have to cut back on reading or watching playing and actually pickup up the guitar.

 

[Masta' C]

A ton of "influencer" demos and reviews have flooded the interwebs over the past week. Curious what you guys think now that more details have come to light?

If I was the type of player that *knew* I would get a Stadium eventually, I'd probably jump on the Stadium XL now so I could enjoy the entire life cycle of the unit and make the most of that investment.

That said, I don't think I'll be buying one myself. My pedalboard is currently a mix of fuzz and drive pedals with a Boss GX-10 for most of the other effects...there's really not much I can't do. In fact, I'm kind of hoping Boss comes out with a proper "GX-1000" flagship at some point. That's the only thing I could really see upgrading for, but I'm not performing live and don't need many of the more premium features the Stadium brings.

 

[Mincer]

First, I will say, most videos are way too long. Also, seeing more of the Stadium, I don't think it is for me. It confirms that it is more of a 'guitar workstation' for your practice room (that sounds really good), than something that lets you get into the weeds of delay time parameters because you need a very specific tone.
No doubt Fractal is working on their next one, too. I might end up with that.

 

[Masta' C]

This kind of feels like that period every few years when the next generation of video game consoles begin to launch...lots of powerful new products hitting the market in short succession.

Also, the budget units are really starting to pull some weight. I've been surprised by some of the stuff coming out of Mooer, Hotone, etc. From touchscreens to built-in NAM capture processing, the sub-$500 market is really advancing!

I can't believe how many people are sticking a $150 ToneX box in the loop of their $1500 modeler these days!

I think you're right to think of the Stadium as a "guitar workstation", but it seems Line6 has put a lot of effort into enhancing its live use practicality, as well.

 

[Mincer]

This kind of feels like that period every few years when the next generation of video game consoles begin to launch...lots of powerful new products hitting the market in short succession.

Also, the budget units are really starting to pull some weight. I've been surprised by some of the stuff coming out of Mooer, Hotone, etc. From touchscreens to built-in NAM capture processing, the sub-$500 market is really advancing!

I can't believe how many people are sticking a $150 ToneX box in the loop of their $1500 modeler these days!

I think you're right to think of the Stadium as a "guitar workstation", but it seems Line6 has put a lot of effort into enhancing its live use practicality, as well.

Yeah, I see how they designed it to get really good sounds quickly. Live, there isn't time to get into the weeds (for most people). Having tones on an X/Y axis is an interesting idea- you don't have to be concerned with fine details.

 

[Aceman]

I literally do not know one player that needs half of what the most powerful Line 6 board du jour can do.

Every person I know who has got one of these uber-modelers has either got rid of it, or complained about it, and like I said - doesn't use anywhere near what the capabilities are.

Maybe I just don't know any super-pros or people that creative. But if I had a nickel for every Kemper I ever saw and heard that I thought was just nailing sounds I couldn't live without, or get from a random decent amp and a couple of pedals, I'd be broke.

 

[Aceman]

Also, the budget units are really starting to pull some weight. I've been surprised by some of the stuff coming out of Mooer, Hotone, etc. From touchscreens to built-in NAM capture processing, the sub-$500 market is really advancing!

THAT is my people. And yeah, the stuff is getting pretty darn good.

 

[marcello252]

When I see a pedal on more the one video at the same time on my YT page it gets automatically in my NOBUY list

 

[Aceman]

This looks less like an investment and more like a phone upgrade. How long will it last - five years? Ten? I'm sure it's cool, but is that where we're at now? We have to plan to drop $2k every few years for the new model when the old one breaks? No thanks. And no disrespect to Line 6 here, I would enjoy playing with this, but... I don't like where I think it's headed.

Careful with that "We" thing there! We might be YOU but it certainly isn't me! My POD Go is gonna last until it stops working. And I gig it, rehearse/practice with it, and use it as my work station into my computer.

I have a Roland Cube 30 from the 90's, and honestly, the JC120, Fender Blackface, Marshall Stack, and 5150 models in that have been more than good enough for the past 30 years. A good sound is a good sound. Baffles me how people can't use the the gain/B/M/T on something close to get a good sound.

I have been using a Zoom G3N in the loop for a decade, and in the past maybe 5 years have moved up to a POD Go. Here is a list of all the songs I have been playing on it this year (some on Bass) , and I'm honestly not having any problems that an additional 20 blocks per patch and 800 effects and more detailed/recent models will solve. OK - the Talk Box model sucks. But other than that...I mean, buy what you want. But I can afford anything, yet I love my POD Go. And I ALSO don't use most of the capabilities of that unit!!!!

You Give Love A Bad Name, Living on a prayer, Bad Medicine, Runaway, Wanted Dead Or Alive, Nothing But A Good Time, Talk Dirty To Me, Every Rose, Home Sweet Home, Looks That Kill, Pour Some Sugar, Animal, Rock of Ages, Switch 625, Here I Go Again, Still of the Night, Sweet Child, Welcome To The Jungle, Knocking’ On Heaven’s Door, Radar Love, Wait, Down Boys, Heaven, Panama, Jump, Ain’t Talkin Bout Love, Dance The Night Away, Separate ways, Don’t Stop Believin’, Heartbreaker, Hit Me With Your Best Shot, Round and Round, Final Countdown, We’re Not Gonna Take It, Turn Up The Radio, Rock You Like A Hurricane, I Remember You, Cum on feel Noize, Crazy Train, Kiss Me Deadly, Never Enough, Somebody Save Me, Rainbow In The Dark, Edge of a Broken Heart, Don’t Treat Me Bad, Bathroom Wall, Say What You Will, Living After Midnight/Breaking The Law, Highway To Hell, Alone, Sister Christian, Working For The Weekend, Goodbye To You, Don't You Forget (About Me), Black Velvet, I Hate Myself For Loving You, Hard to Handle, Summer of ’69, Parachute, Kryptonite, Seven Nation Army, Born To Be Wild, Rock & Roll All Night, Just a Girl, Beautiful Things, Rock & Roll Fantasy, Let Love Rule, Are You Gonna be My Girl, Chasing Twisters, I was made for loving you, Gold Dust Woman, Sucker, Drive, Zombie, One Way Or another, Come to my Window, Hey Jealousy, Telescope, Feel it Still, The Story, Before He Cheats, Black Horse And The Cherry Tree, A Murder of One

 

[Sirion]

I wonder if the dimension effects gets a do-over? That could make me interested in getting an updated HX Effects. I concur with the video: the dimension effect in the older Line 6 units is unacceptable.

 

[Aceman]

I wonder if the dimension effects gets a do-over? That could make me interested in getting an updated HX Effects. I concur with the video: the dimension effect in the older Line 6 units is unacceptable.

I use the one in my POD Go as my go to 80's chorus. Is it actual on par with a real one? Nah...but still a very very good chorus for what I do.

 

[Mincer]

I wonder if the dimension effects gets a do-over? That could make me interested in getting an updated HX Effects. I concur with the video: the dimension effect in the older Line 6 units is unacceptable.

The M-series version was better than the HX versions.

 

[Sirion]

The M-series version was better than the HX versions.

Yes, I know you've said so, and I believe you. But the pedalboard-emulating setup isn't doing it for me. Besides, with 10+ years of extra experience and more focus on this effect in guitardom (The DC-2W was released in 2018, I think), they should have improved it substantially.

 

[Mincer]

Yes, I know you've said so, and I believe you. But the pedalboard-emulating setup isn't doing it for me. Besides, with 10+ years of extra experience and more focus on this effect in guitardom (The DC-2W was released in 2018, I think), they should have improved it substantially.

These days, they are dealing with a guitar playing public that has no idea what most of the effects or amps sounded like, so they have no experience to compare it to. It gives companies like Line 6 license to get 'in the ballpark'. They aren't going for 1:1 re-creations.

 

[marcello252]

Here is a list of all the songs I have been playing on it this year

pretty impressive, even if I can't stop thinking a good overdrive in a Marshall would did the job anyway, our love to particular sounds (I'm mostly talking regarding myself) guides us to overly complicated pedalboards/fx chains

 

[Aceman]

pretty impressive, even if I can't stop thinking a good overdrive in a Marshall would did the job anyway, our love to particular sounds (I'm mostly talking regarding myself) guides us to overly complicated pedalboards/fx chains

You know, I mostly use literally TWO foundational settings (All modeled within):

1. Boss SD1 > JCM 800 > 4x12 with Greenbacks
2. Earthquaker Plumes > Rat > Fender Twin
(For Bass I use an Ampeg Model)

After that, almost everything is "special" effects - various delays, reverbs, chorus, flange, tremolo etc.