Do I really want a Line 6 Helix?

[JerEvil]

Man I was a huge Helix shit talker at launch. I was on the Kemper. Once 2.0FW came out I changed my tune. Got the LT on a whim and LOVED it. Sold that and got the full Floor and also have the Stomp and Rack. I think it's a fantastic platform (obviously). They showed at NAMM that there WILL be more blocks opened up on the Stomp from 6 to 8. So if you need the smaller footprint, the Stomp will work. The LT is an excellent piece of gear and can be had fairly priced used.

You have/had some very nice tube amps and know how to make them sound great. Do you use the modeller portion of the Helix and if so what do you think of the tones you get?

Hey thanks! Yeah I use the modeling all the time. I have a weekly KISS show I do at a casino in town and I run it direct sometimes or lately through the Return of my Quilter and through a Marshall cab on stage. I'll probably start using my PowerCab 212+ and HX Stomp though because I really only use 2 sounds. Oddly enough the Z Wreck model KILLS for Ace tones.

 

[peckhart]

For you guys that run 4CM, do you set something up to provide a transparent volume boost for leads? When I use it with the TC-100 I can just program a switch to send the cc message to control the TCs Solo volume, but with my Helios I will need something just before the return back into the power amp to volume bump.
I see there is a Gain effect listed under the Volume/Panners section. I'm thinking that or assigning Output to a switch and setting a rhythm and solo level. The only issue I see is whether I can adjust on the fly and if I can I'll have to change it on every preset or snapshot if I find at a particular gig I need more or less. Control of a global setting would be ideal.

 

[Kevin11]

For you guys that run 4CM, do you set something up to provide a transparent volume boost for leads? When I use it with the TC-100 I can just program a switch to send the cc message to control the TCs Solo volume, but with my Helios I will need something just before the return back into the power amp to volume bump.
I see there is a Gain effect listed under the Volume/Panners section. I'm thinking that or assigning Output to a switch and setting a rhythm and solo level. The only issue I see is whether I can adjust on the fly and if I can I'll have to change it on every preset or snapshot if I find at a particular gig I need more or less. Control of a global setting would be ideal.

For transparent boost, I currently use one of the EQ blocks and only bump the level on it. Everything else is flat. Works perfect, no coloration, just a straight volume boost. I set up most of my presets with that way back before I realized there was a Gain effect. I did briefly try Gain recently and it seems like it can do the same thing. I might switch over to that. It's super easy to change my EQ boost on the fly, but you're right, it's per-preset. It took me a few gigs to get it dialed in, but after that, I never touched it. Haven't messed with the global settings at all so I can't comment on that but I have to believe there's a solution there too.

 

[Kevin11]

Hey thanks! Yeah I use the modeling all the time. I have a weekly KISS show I do at a casino in town and I run it direct sometimes or lately through the Return of my Quilter and through a Marshall cab on stage. I'll probably start using my PowerCab 212+ and HX Stomp though because I really only use 2 sounds. Oddly enough the Z Wreck model KILLS for Ace tones.

Listened to your Ace clips here back when you were prepping for the gig. Sounded fantastic! I guess I missed the fact you were using the Z Wreck model, I never would have landed on that. I grabbed a PowerCab Plus recently and only just started messing with the amp models in my Helix. Will have to check out the Wreck. Spent an hour or so on Revv last night. That thing is insane...in the best possible way.

 

[peckhart]

BTW, I did pull the trigger on a Helix Floor last night.

 

[ewill52]

man I wanted to hate on it but I needed a direct option after I sold my AX8. I stumbled into a stupid deal on a Stomp and I already had an HX effects so I pulled the trigger. The stomp is really good on its own and it's FANTASTIC once you start using 3rd party IR's. The IR's take it to another level.

 

[peckhart]

man I wanted to hate on it but I needed a direct option after I sold my AX8. I stumbled into a stupid deal on a Stomp and I already had an HX effects so I pulled the trigger. The stomp is really good on its own and it's FANTASTIC once you start using 3rd party IR's. The IR's take it to another level.

The one I have coming has bunch of IRs on it already. For my initial main application I have no use for it, but if this thing does everything I want I could see grabbing a powered cab/monitor and toying with it like that. Could be a better grab and go solution for pick up jams and practice.

 

[Kevin11]

BTW, I did pull the trigger on a Helix Floor last night.

Awesome, congrats! Hope you dig it.