Helios 100 For Small-Mid Stages: Possible? 30w Mode?

[Junk Yard Dog]

Helios 100 For Small-Mid Stages: Possible? 30w Mode?
Like the subject reads, wondering id the Helios can so smaller stages as well. Does it sound good at 9:00? Or how about 30w mode?

Cheers!
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[Rdodson]

For me it was all about the JTM30 mode. I just wish it didn't kill two tubes and therefor lower the impedance. But that mode sounded KILLER.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

So you sold it, I take from your signature? Yeah, I habe 8ohm cabs, so will have to run it on 4ohm, I guessS.

Was the master volume good or was it whisper to LOUD on 1.5?

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Damn! That thing is expensive. Wouldn't an attenuator be less
Expensive, live the Rock Crusher or something? Damn! Was hoping it had a good master volume.

 

[sjk]

Another thing to be aware of with the Helios is how much gain are you needing and how do you want to get it. Unless you have it set to the 80's setting it is not super high gain. And then in 80's mode it uses diode clipping to get some of it's gain. Just something to be aware of as not everyone likes how diode clipping sounds. You are not going to get splawn levels of gain without the diodes. Also beware of the limitations of the switching for live use. I have one and it is a great amp but I don't play live so the switching is not a deal breaker for me but you should google this and do the research. I am not generally a big fan of diode clipping in the handful of amps I've had that use it and I don't need that much gain anyway but Bogner has done it really good imho on this amp and I sometimes use it and like the way it sounds on the Helios.

 

[sjk]

Also I think the master volume is pretty good with this amp but not as good as the Ecstasy or even Friedman (and I only mention friedman here as to me they are the gold standard for awesome master volumes) amps for that matter. Lower volumes work with the Helios but it likes to be loud.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks, sjk! As long as it sounds great, I'm not too concerned about the diodes. I started to think it may be diodes based on some of the higher gain clips I heard, which I loved! Are you selling your Smallbox??

I play single channel amps for the most part. I get my clean from guitar volume and I like a little hair on it. I need to review the Online Tutorial of the Helios to see how I can run it. For my cover band, I don't channel switch.

The Helios is the sound in my head, and that's just in the clips. I am really trying to decide between the Helios and Friedman Smallbox. The Smallbox I just played sounded good at 9:00 and above and was getting a bit loud at that point.

How do the Helios and Smallbox compare? The clips of the Helios sounds more raw than the Smallbox, and the SB I played two days ago was awesome, but I feel it didn't have the live cut of my modded Marshall, but still great.

Thanks, SJK!

 

[Rdodson]

I sold the Helios. Thoughts:

It likes to be LOUD. Has a good master, but as said previously not as good as the XTC. I don't like the zener diode 80s mode (Jose mod). I never used it. I didn't care for the way the power amp is set up - it is harder like a metal panel Marshall rather than like a '68 12000. Higher filtering. It doesn't get the XTC cleans.

ALL THAT SAID, when it is in its sweet spot, and (for me) in JTM30 mode...wow. Super wow. It is the Bogner/Marshall SLO in that it does THAT one sound that makes you feel like you are on top of the mountain spewing forth brownness all about your kingdom.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks, Ron! I also live in Dallas and played the Smallbox last Friday at GC. It was pretty awesome, but I didn't get to open it up. To me it seemed to have everything except for a little less "cut" that I'm used to, which the Helios seems to have a bit more of that "raw" cut. Maybe I'm wrong.

Appreciate the reply!

 

[sjk]

Thanks, sjk! As long as it sounds great, I'm not too concerned about the diodes. I started to think it may be diodes based on some of the higher gain clips I heard, which I loved! Are you selling your Smallbox??

I play single channel amps for the most part. I get my clean from guitar volume and I like a little hair on it. I need to review the Online Tutorial of the Helios to see how I can run it. For my cover band, I don't channel switch.

The Helios is the sound in my head, and that's just in the clips. I am really trying to decide between the Helios and Friedman Smallbox. The Smallbox I just played sounded good at 9:00 and above and was getting a bit loud at that point.

How do the Helios and Smallbox compare? The clips of the Helios sounds more raw than the Smallbox, and the SB I played two days ago was awesome, but I feel it didn't have the live cut of my modded Marshall, but still great.

Thanks, SJK!

I just posted this on another forum comparing the Helios to the BE (smallbox gain channel is essentially BE channel from BE with maybe a little more mids)
guy wanted me to compare the BE and Helios, I've got the smallbox for sale in the classifieds s it is redundant with the BE imo.

"They are similar but the BE is a little darker, more refined, less raw, and less cut and a little less bark than the Helios. Feel is different as well as the BE is a tad compressed and softer and almost but not quite spongy but still manages to be tight. The helios feels much harder with less give and therefore probably a touch harder to play as it is more immediate when you hit a note. Both very marshall like but the Bogner is even more marshall like with the brightness and cut of an actual marshall. Hope this helps"

 

[sjk]

Thanks, Ron! I also live in Dallas and played the Smallbox last Friday at GC. It was pretty awesome, but I didn't get to open it up. To me it seemed to have everything except for a little less "cut" that I'm used to, which the Helios seems to have a bit more of that "raw" cut. Maybe I'm wrong.

Appreciate the reply!

I think you are right on with this opinion, Helios has more raw cut...see my above post.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

Thanks, Ron! I also live in Dallas and played the Smallbox last Friday at GC. It was pretty awesome, but I didn't get to open it up. To me it seemed to have everything except for a little less "cut" that I'm used to, which the Helios seems to have a bit more of that "raw" cut. Maybe I'm wrong.

Appreciate the reply!

I think you are right on with this opinion, Helios has more raw cut...see my above post.

Cool, thanks man!

 

[Rdodson]

This is how my Helios sounded in JTM30 mode. Loved this sound. https://youtu.be/qxij6FN9PIE

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

This is how my Helios sounded in JTM30 mode. Loved this sound. https://youtu.be/qxij6FN9PIE

Yup, love that clip. You're a great picker with feel. Cheers!

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

How does the loop work as a volume boost exactly? I don't use fx and prefer an on board solo boost, which I understand the Helios has if you use a footswitch and no pedals in the loop.

 

[tonedog]

Plug a patch cable from the send to return jack on loop and use the knob next to loop to preset the level of boost you want. Then step on a two button footswitch using the button on right to engage boost at will.

 

[Junk Yard Dog]

perfect. Thanks!