Helios 100 or 50?

[gibson5413]

I dig my 50. Here's the 'clean' channel cranked.

https://soundcloud.com/stonecutter-13/h ... annel-clip

Sounds just incredible!! What pedals, cab, and speakers?

Thanks. No pedals, evh bumblebee clone with 80s super distortion pickup, stock 1972 Marshall cab. Miked it with a md421 and heil pr30. Was making kemper profiles and kept the mic settings for the clip

Sounds awesome Pete! Will those profiles be made available to buy? Sounds fantastic!! I would love a Helios combo.

 

[PBGas]

I owned both and keep the 50. I find the 50 more musical.

How do you find it compared to your XTC?

 

[flimz]

I owned both and keep the 50. I find the 50 more musical.

How do you find it compared to your XTC?

I have my Helios side by side with my 20th XTC. They can be dialed in quite similar. But the Helios naturally starts off with a more raw, modded marshall type of gain structure. I can match that tone by running the XTC in B2, and upping the presence a bit. To my ears the XTC sounds bigger, wider, fuller. To make the Helios sound close, I have to crank up the "bottom" control on the back, or run the XTC excursion on T, but I prefer the M setting.
The XTC has more compression, but I love that.
The 20th cleans are stellar. The Helios cleans are sweet in the Plex input, but Im always in the Hot input, where that amp shines!

 

[jlb32]

Strange so many posting in this thread seem to prefer the 50 to the 100. When I was GASSING for a Helios it seemed the 100 was the only way to go but this is interesting to hear about the 50.

I still GAS for a Helios at times. Just right now I'm pretty happy with what I have. If I ever decide to let something I have go then a Helios may be the replacement.

 

[Jdub]

Strange so many posting in this thread seem to prefer the 50 to the 100. When I was GASSING for a Helios it seemed the 100 was the only way to go but this is interesting to hear about the 50.

I still GAS for a Helios at times. Just right now I'm pretty happy with what I have. If I ever decide to let something I have go then a Helios may be the replacement.

I think it had a lot to do with 3 things for the most.

The 100's came out first
Rb said if in doubt get the 100.
People tend to gravitate toward 100w because various factors (ego, evh, super size that biatch mentality etc.)


I think the 50 is gaining traction because

Its available

Some people think it sounds better and share that on the web..

Has a variac ( this appeals to old school Bogner enthusiasts and also those chasing the Brown sound)


Where rubber meets the road i see it like this..

For me the 50 I have now, Sounds better to me than the 100 I had previously . and I do like the variac
They both are awesome.

I think the hot input has either been tweaked or something because my hot input clean on the 100 was pretty harsh and ugly. It splattered in the the wrong way or something. The 50 sounds awesome in the hot input clean with both buckers and single coils.

My 50 has a good more gain or saturation on tap and sings more. it does not have as much Thump, but its not a kick drum anyway.

 

[Jdub]

I owned both and keep the 50. I find the 50 more musical.

How do you find it compared to your XTC?

I have my Helios side by side with my 20th XTC. They can be dialed in quite similar. But the Helios naturally starts off with a more raw, modded marshall type of gain structure. I can match that tone by running the XTC in B2, and upping the presence a bit. To my ears the XTC sounds bigger, wider, fuller. To make the Helios sound close, I have to crank up the "bottom" control on the back, or run the XTC excursion on T, but I prefer the M setting.
The XTC has more compression, but I love that.
The 20th cleans are stellar. The Helios cleans are sweet in the Plex input, but Im always in the Hot input, where that amp shines!

Good explanation I agree with almost all of this.

 

[hatrick00]

I just ordered the Helios 100....damn this thread hahaha

 

[PBGas]

I owned both and keep the 50. I find the 50 more musical.

How do you find it compared to your XTC?

I have my Helios side by side with my 20th XTC. They can be dialed in quite similar. But the Helios naturally starts off with a more raw, modded marshall type of gain structure. I can match that tone by running the XTC in B2, and upping the presence a bit. To my ears the XTC sounds bigger, wider, fuller. To make the Helios sound close, I have to crank up the "bottom" control on the back, or run the XTC excursion on T, but I prefer the M setting.
The XTC has more compression, but I love that.
The 20th cleans are stellar. The Helios cleans are sweet in the Plex input, but Im always in the Hot input, where that amp shines!

Thx for the response and description!

Much appreciated!

 

[Luca79]

 

[Zoso1973]