My package has arrived!

[rsm]

Line 6 Helix Stadium XL.

Won't be able to get to it until the weekend tho'

I have the box.

 

[DanTravis62]

Awesome man! Hope it rocks

 

[rsm]

Thanks @DanTravis62

I had the Helix LT when it was first released; sold it and got the Floor; sold the floor last year or early this year once the Stadium was announced. Hoping the upgrade ride is 10+ years like the original Helix...

 

[DanTravis62]

Thanks @DanTravis62

I had the Helix LT when it was first released; sold it and got the Floor; sold the floor last year or early this year once the Stadium was announced. Hoping the upgrade ride is 10+ years like the original Helix...

I loved the HX stomp. I've played a couple of the other models. IMO the helix series is the most intuitive and easiest to set up for live out of all the modelers.

 

[rsm]

Finally got the time to try this thing.

I had some setup issues due to date/time synchronization (a known issue, thankfully), updated to the latest firmware.

I've been on the first factory preset "1A Stadium Rock Rig", for about 2 hours. It has 7 out of 8 snapshots, and most sound very good without any tweaking...

using my white Chibanez PS with a set of DiMarzio D Activator-X

So far, so good. Very pleased.

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

I'm really hoping they make a rack version. I want something off the floor.

 

[rsm]

I'm really hoping they make a rack version. I want something off the floor.

Maybe, but I also recall hearing the original Helix rack didn't sell in numbers anywhere near the Floor or LT, and why it wasn't released at launch.

The LT sold more units, followed by the Floor then the rack.

May want to ask on the Line 6 forum in the Helix Stadium area?

 

[griff10672]

Finally got the time to try this thing.

I had some setup issues due to date/time synchronization (a known issue, thankfully), updated to the latest firmware.

I've been on the first factory preset "1A Stadium Rock Rig", for about 2 hours. It has 7 out of 8 snapshots, and most sound very good without any tweaking...

using my white Chibanez PS with a set of DiMarzio D Activator-X

So far, so good. Very pleased.


View attachment 450119

I love that White Iceman .............. want to trade a gazillion pedals for it ??

 

[harddriver]

Congrats on the new Helix!

Mr Don Barzini would say......." Many Men are pleased when their package arrives!"

 

[rsm]

I love that White Iceman .............. want to trade a gazillion pedals for it ??

thanks. I got lucky with this aliexpress order; just cleaned up the knobs (replaced black with white), pickup selector tip (black to nickel) and then changed the pickups.

Turned out better than expected. It's got a fat baseball bat neck tho' which is different than my real PS10. I got this before all the tariffs so no idea what it's like getting one now.

There are many sellers, so it's a crapshoot on what you'll get, but for around $300 I took a chance, and it worked out.

 

[rsm]

Congrats on the new Helix!

Mr Don Barzini would say......." Many Men are pleased when their package arrives!"

Haven't seen any posts from Don in many years here. Hope he's doing well!

Many men no longer post in the forums.

 

[CrystalSky]

Thanks @DanTravis62

I had the Helix LT when it was first released; sold it and got the Floor; sold the floor last year or early this year once the Stadium was announced. Hoping the upgrade ride is 10+ years like the original Helix...

I wonder how this compares to your other digital gear. You had an AXE FX3 right?

 

[rsm]

I wonder how this compares to your other digital gear. You had an AXE FX3 right?

I had the FM9 Mk II Turbo, but was using my software plugins more, so I sold it.

As @DanTravis62 said, the Helix is easy to dial in useable tones. I find with Fractal I have to do more tweaking to get it to sound good to me vs the Helix.

I have the Fractal VP4 (sold my Eventide H90, and HX-Effects) for effects that is great IMO, using it with my JP-2C.

I sold my Helix Floor, and some other gear recently, and jumped on the Stadium train early again, I hope we see updates for 10+ years, by then I may no longer be playing guitar, or possibly dead. I don't recommend aging, it happens too fast!

 

[CrystalSky]

I had the FM9 Mk II Turbo, but was using my software plugins more, so I sold it.

As @DanTravis62 said, the Helix is easy to dial in useable tones. I find with Fractal I have to do more tweaking to get it to sound good to me vs the Helix.

I have the Fractal VP4 (sold my Eventide H90, and HX-Effects) for effects that is great IMO, using it with my JP-2C.

I sold my Helix Floor, and some other gear recently, and jumped on the Stadium train early again, I hope we see updates for 10+ years, by then I may no longer be playing guitar, or possibly dead. I don't recommend aging, it happens too fast!

I see. Glad to hear you loving it! Happy NPD!

Also may long and healthy life be upon you. Do not rush to the other side, we like you here

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

Maybe, but I also recall hearing the original Helix rack didn't sell in numbers anywhere near the Floor or LT, and why it wasn't released at launch.

The LT sold more units, followed by the Floor then the rack.

May want to ask on the Line 6 forum in the Helix Stadium area?

From what I've read, they're not planning on it, because of the lack of sales from the previous version.
I'll probably just end up getting an Axe FX III when the IV's come out, as everyone will be dumping their IIIs for the new flavor.

 

[Shask]

thanks. I got lucky with this aliexpress order; just cleaned up the knobs (replaced black with white), pickup selector tip (black to nickel) and then changed the pickups.

Turned out better than expected. It's got a fat baseball bat neck tho' which is different than my real PS10. I got this before all the tariffs so no idea what it's like getting one now.

There are many sellers, so it's a crapshoot on what you'll get, but for around $300 I took a chance, and it worked out.

I was just reading about how you can get copies of the rare WZ Iceman (Green/Stars) on Aliexpress for cheap.

 

[rsm]

I was just reading about how you can get copies of the rare WZ Iceman (Green/Stars) on Aliexpress for cheap.

they have many options, just takes time to look around to find. next issue is you really don't know if you'll get something good. I ordered three guitars in total, from different sellers, two are good, one wasn't.

the one that wasn't good had finish damage under the poly coat on the front of the body. Everything else is fine, but it's not worth the effort to have it refinished. I've thought about stripping the top, and just spray painting it, but even that's not really worth it.

now with the tariffs, who knows?

also, you can sometimes find these on ebay


edit: on ebay,

 

[MadAsAHatter]

Finally got the time to try this thing.

I had some setup issues due to date/time synchronization (a known issue, thankfully), updated to the latest firmware.

I've been on the first factory preset "1A Stadium Rock Rig", for about 2 hours. It has 7 out of 8 snapshots, and most sound very good without any tweaking...

using my white Chibanez PS with a set of DiMarzio D Activator-X

So far, so good. Very pleased.


View attachment 450119

That Iceman came out looking nice after the upgrades.

I go back and forth on taking a chance on one to upgrade. Like you were saying with not knowing what you'll get plus tariffs and any extra investment on upgrades I end up passing on it. Not like I don't already have a rack full of Iceman guitars. If I really do want another I'd go for an actual Ibanez or build one myself.

That one you have with the finish flaw. Instead of stripping everything to refinish, you could try one of those self adhesive vinyl skins. They're only about 20 bucks and may be worth a shot. I haven't bought anything from here, but they seen to have a big collection of designs.

https://rockskins.com/collections/g...4qjpGkkQQRBicEaXL3_z_PgUSJ-ACh_eJeKeJzWvlk4th

 

[Jccobb2]

It really is a great unit, i love mine. Don’t forget to jump on the customtone website and try some free amp clones. I added a few bogners, a badcat, tone king, etc.

What are you listening to it through? FRFR speaker?

 

[rsm]

That Iceman came out looking nice after the upgrades.

I go back and forth on taking a chance on one to upgrade. Like you were saying with not knowing what you'll get plus tariffs and any extra investment on upgrades I end up passing on it. Not like I don't already have a rack full of Iceman guitars. If I really do want another I'd go for an actual Ibanez or build one myself.

That one you have with the finish flaw. Instead of stripping everything to refinish, you could try one of those self adhesive vinyl skins. They're only about 20 bucks and may be worth a shot. I haven't bought anything from here, but they seen to have a big collection of designs.

https://rockskins.com/collections/g...4qjpGkkQQRBicEaXL3_z_PgUSJ-ACh_eJeKeJzWvlk4th

I'll have to look into these vinyl skins! I have two PS10, and two Chibanez PS/Iceman, not including the one with the finish flaws, so it hasn't been a priority for awhile.

It really is a great unit, i love mine. Don’t forget to jump on the customtone website and try some free amp clones. I added a few bogners, a badcat, tone king, etc.

What are you listening to it through? FRFR speaker?

I'm using FRFR, a pair of Alto TX308, or into a larger powered set with subs. I find the smaller TX350 cuts out much of the low end muddiness, I haven't noticed high end fizziness or artifacts; I add low and high pass shelving in my patches