I find myself looking at the Line 6 Helix, LT, Stomp and HX Effects units contemplating a purchase. I have an HD500 that I mainly use at rehearsals when I don't want to take a full board, but I find the effects aren't that great.
I have no intention to move away from my tube amps for my main tones. Instead, I like the idea of 4CM with the ability to put effects I want in front of or after the preamp. The occassional dabble into some models of amps I don't have for something different is appealing for home use, but that would be Helix model preamp into the power amp of one of my amps.
I tend to not use many effects live. My main board is a volume pedal, Shure DLX wireless receiver, wah, tuner, Whammy V, phaser and talk box in front and a Decimator and EQ/boost in the loop. I have some boosts and a delay and flanger on the old Furman board I moved away from a few years ago and use that at home sometimes or for an occassional pickup jam. I have everything on a Trailer Trash board and while I love the board, it is too big and heavy and I'm tired of hauling it.
So I'm thinking of how I can consolidate. I could be ok with ditching the wireless and going cable right into a floor board. The talk box is an issue though as I would need to keep it and set it next to the unit. Then there is the issue of expression pedals...I like to always have a volume pedal in front of my chain. I would have to add another to the Helix or LT to assign either whammy or wah duties. I've also grown accustomed to using the tuner out of my Volume pedal so that to silent tune I just heel back, but while I am playing the tuner is tracking as well. I can often see when strings are off while I am playing...like a low E going flat after a big bar dive that I think I hear and the tuner confirms and I can quickly tune up on the fly.
There is really no way to totally replicate what I have on my board in a single unit.
Another part of the consideration is backup amp. Currently I drag two tube heads to shows. Helix could cover backup duties with some presets built with amp models to use in a pinch.
I think the HX Effects or Stomp would leave me wanting more control at times. Knowing the Helix or LT has it will annoy me that I didn't just go all in. While I don't need the additional inputs/outputs of the Helix, I feel like the loss of the scribble strips is a big compromise.
Purchasing one of these probably makes no sense yet I still keep thinking about doing it. Am I missing something in my thinking?
I have no intention to move away from my tube amps for my main tones. Instead, I like the idea of 4CM with the ability to put effects I want in front of or after the preamp. The occassional dabble into some models of amps I don't have for something different is appealing for home use, but that would be Helix model preamp into the power amp of one of my amps.
I tend to not use many effects live. My main board is a volume pedal, Shure DLX wireless receiver, wah, tuner, Whammy V, phaser and talk box in front and a Decimator and EQ/boost in the loop. I have some boosts and a delay and flanger on the old Furman board I moved away from a few years ago and use that at home sometimes or for an occassional pickup jam. I have everything on a Trailer Trash board and while I love the board, it is too big and heavy and I'm tired of hauling it.
So I'm thinking of how I can consolidate. I could be ok with ditching the wireless and going cable right into a floor board. The talk box is an issue though as I would need to keep it and set it next to the unit. Then there is the issue of expression pedals...I like to always have a volume pedal in front of my chain. I would have to add another to the Helix or LT to assign either whammy or wah duties. I've also grown accustomed to using the tuner out of my Volume pedal so that to silent tune I just heel back, but while I am playing the tuner is tracking as well. I can often see when strings are off while I am playing...like a low E going flat after a big bar dive that I think I hear and the tuner confirms and I can quickly tune up on the fly.
There is really no way to totally replicate what I have on my board in a single unit.
Another part of the consideration is backup amp. Currently I drag two tube heads to shows. Helix could cover backup duties with some presets built with amp models to use in a pinch.
I think the HX Effects or Stomp would leave me wanting more control at times. Knowing the Helix or LT has it will annoy me that I didn't just go all in. While I don't need the additional inputs/outputs of the Helix, I feel like the loss of the scribble strips is a big compromise.
Purchasing one of these probably makes no sense yet I still keep thinking about doing it. Am I missing something in my thinking?
