I Bought A Line6 Helix In 2021
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- čas přidán 6. 08. 2024
- So I finally bought an amp modeller.
Free IR Packs I used
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Timestamps
0:00 Intro
0:36 My concerns with modellers
2:36 Kemper
3:31 Axe Fx
4:24 Quad Cortex
5:59 Helix
7:21 Rig Rundown
10:44 Playing
12:54 Outro
Social Media
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The updates and continued support, as well as the price, was why I bought my Helix LT a couple of years. 2, 3, 4 times a year you get new toys to play with, the interface and signal flow is just so well thought out and easy to use, and it just feels like Line 6 are really listening to feedback and basing their moves on that.
I got a Helix last year, proceeded to sell all my analog gear, and haven't looked back since. For simplicity and great tones I get, as well as the absolute breeze it is to record with, it's hard to find a better bang for your buck.
Pod Go. LOL
Fm3
@@0megalul309 I sold my Helix LT to buy an FM3 and I sorely miss having more buttons and a pedal. Oh, and running dual amps. FM3 has TOO MANY OPTIONS. Like really why so many IR’s ?? I get lost trying to find them. I might go back to the Helix. There’s much more community around it too. Fractal people are assholes.
Did the same thing! Love my helix, and the gold edition is absolutely gorgeous😍
@@literalghost929 I think the HX stomp is a better value if you can pay the extra $100 imo. More versatility in your signal chain
Ill stick with my vintage 2009 Spyder III thank you very much
No matter what anyone says, can't beat the Spider3!!! I'm using it with a Digitech RP6, amazing combo. In a couple of years, maybe decades, people will start to notice how amazing this vintage gear sounds, and then the price will sky rocket. That's why I've been piling up the Spiders and RP6s, I have dozens of them. When people start throwing away their tube amps for that sweet vintage, that's when I'll make a fortune
@@literalghost929 this is the greatest shit post of 2021
Calling a digital modeler "vintage" is dumb enough, calling line 6 spider vintage is downright stupid
@@compol1419 I think it was sarcasm...
@@MrSneakyPants jeez! How did I miss that?? Anyways thanks for the heads up
My wonderful wife bought me a Helix for Christmas in 2016, she literally found the last one available in the US that Christmas. Seven years on, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. I’m astonished at the updates and upgrades that Line 6 have provided over the years. It’s still nt been replaced, and I’ve never felt the need to buy anything since, it’s the single best piece of kit I’ve ever acquired. Now I have to sell the 35+ pedals I’ve bought over the years. You’ll never regret buying a Helix.
Hi KDH! I've been enjoying your channel for several months now, appreciating your laid-back demeanor and licks that bring me back to a youth of listening to glam metal.
Based in part on your reviews of the Futura and the Helix, I've acquired both since last summer. I'm now having the most fun playing guitar that I've ever had, and that's over the course of 25 years!
Keep up the great work!
Good choice on the Helix. It's still amazing even today.
I just saw a Helix on sale at a local Pawn shop. $1,600.
I just picked up a used helix off Craigslist for 1000.. at first I was underwhelmed (by the factory presets.) but once I watched a few utube videos and got the hang of dialing in my own presets I am absolutely blown away. the sound is (and feel) is amazing and I am extremely happy with it. for anyone thinking of getting one I'd say go for it.. or atleast make sure to spend some real time working with one before writing it off. I am so glad I did.
What's the newer equivalent?
kdh: I bought a 5 YEAR OLD AMP MODELLER??? GONE WRONG, DON'T TRY AT HOME
people buying 30 year old HM-2 pedals: *sweating nervously*
What if it's the one and only Klon HM-2 by KDH himself?
@@marcoscattolin5811 that thing doesn't exist. It's a legend, a myth. There is no klon hm-2.
Amp modelers are digital, 30 year old pedals are not! Would you buy a computer with windows 95 today? Same thing with modeling software.
@@spyware1100 I mean, if it sounded shit today, it would still have sounded shit five years ago, and people did in fact use the helix back then, and people do still use it today. If no one had heard of it when it came out and it was a total failure, that's a different story, and it would most likely have been because it sucked balls, but this is a helix, it's a piece of gear widely known and generally accepted as being pretty good, so I really don't think it's that big a deal.
EDIT: typo
@@mach2223 A lot of people used pod xt and similar products back in the day. Because they sounded great for what was awailable on the market back then. But with todays options, not a lot of people would prefer the pod XT over a quad cortex, if you know what i mean......
You couldn't resist - you wanted that sexy eighties chorus sound and this will get that for sure. Congrats on the new gear acquisition and explaining your thinking behind the "why" - cool. I like the mini rig with the backup amp - that's really good thinking in case the thing freaks out during a show.
Helix is the best bit of gear I've ever bought. It not only sounds great, it controls the rest of my fx rig.
After buying the POD HD 500 Rack used and being blown away with the capabilities I upgraded to the Helix and was blown away twice over (which has never happened over my 35+ year career as an electric guitarist)!! As many buyers posting on this feed will tell you, BUY IT, you will be BLOWN away!! 💯😎
Hell yeah dude. My Helix LT is still my preferred modeler. It just works.
KDH...this is so cool... I just bought an HX Stomp 3 wks ago...dude, talk about option paralysis...so much tweeking ...I just want a nice tone so I can play some classic rock and 80’s hair metal...mother of pearl...but I’m getting there...rock on my brother!!!!
Never used the helix but it sounds sick! Also ever since you showed off your band I couldn't stop listening, so thanks for that!
I'm addicted to the crazy versatility of the Variax/Helix combo. I've never been disappointed with either one. And I have thousands of trouble-free hours of use out of both at home and at gigs. I hope that I can keep a similar rig until I'm too old to care!
Nice. I got my Helix rack back in 2016 for almost the exact reason you have today. To be a control Center for my rig, I run a Mesa preamp and power amp and use a mix of wet DI fx and dry mic’d cab on stage.
The helix changes channels on my preamp, splits the signal and sends the wet signal path through an IR direct to the PA.
The helix is so flexible in what it can do and with each FW update it’s like getting a bunch of new gear for free.
I loved my rack so much that I got an LT to keep at home and I use that for any home recording, practice etc and I don’t have to drag my enormously heavy rack in and out of the house all the time.
I’ll be very interested to see how your usage changes and evolves. I’m barely scratching the surface of what it’s capable of after 5 years but I’m so happy with it.
Great choice and well wear.
Best thing I did with the helix is download other people’s patches. Britt and deluane specifically for me and seeing how other people dial things in helps. It’s very counter intuitive at times.
I also decided on the Helix but went with the footboard instead. The best way to really understand how great most the sounds were was when I used the Native plugin in my DAW . I can import those same presets or screenshots back and forth between my Helix or PC- that's invaluable! That rack unit looks very nice! Compared to their other units from Line 6, I feel this one is the easiest to use.
You can't go wrong with a Helix in your rack. Yamaha is going to keep that brand going strong.
Yo, what!? Yamaha owns Line 6 now? That's sick.
@@krogwaugh yeah, since 2014
@@krogwaugh yeah, if youve ever seen the Line 6 Variax’s, they look just like Yamaha Pacifica models
@@NutsTesticles not to be confused with Chrysler Pacifica.
@@NutsTesticles only the Variax Standard is made by the Yamaha factory (and is based off the Pacifica). 🤘😉👍
Had my LT since it came out, great unit full of IRs and updates. Best bit of gear I’ve ever bought.
This is a great direction for your channel and style of scrutiny... nice work
I bought the Helix as soon as it came out (I even went to the live in-store demos before release) and I've never looked bad, kissed goodbye to all my tube amps (except for my Fender Deluxe from the 70s, yet). Too bad I don't have a band anymore but, I am still coming up with song ideas and with the Helix, you always have an amazing palette of sounds
Got an HX stomp and as a bedroom play could not be happier, rock solid and best sounds I have gotten to date.
Early days for you and your journey begins. I have had mine for 5 years now, I have every song on our setlist as an individual preset with snapshots for things like intro, verse, chorus and solo. Our sound is consistent, and I don’t have to worry about adjusting anything through the whole set except enjoying the playing. Have fun the journey is great.
I feel like it's good to try all the different tools and techniques you can get your hands on. If it sounds good, it is good. I just started incorporating different types of amp tech in the same rig, too. It sounds great. Have fun, man.
Thanks for the video man!
Out of all the FX processors out there the Helix always caught my eye/ear.
I bought the kemper power rack about 4 months ago. I'm super happy with it 🤘
I bought one a couple of months ago, so far all I have used it for is a pedalboard into my Tweed Deluxe. It stopped 95% of my pedal purchases. I have speakers coming in for a 2 x 12” cab that will be using a Mesa Mk V and gonna route some things to a PA speaker (acoustic stuff). Really looking forward to deep diving it and seeing what it will really do. Although I wish I didn’t need to get an adapter to use the midi stuff on my Mesa. I really have enjoyed getting a list of cover tunes and setting snapshots up for different parts of the individual songs. Really love that part. Congrats, looks like you’ll be using this for a long time.
I was an all analog guy till this past year. Got an HX Stomp and run pedals through that. My contract worship gigs kept becoming “no amps on stage” scenarios and finally pulled the plug on amps for gigs. Now I run a few pedals through my stomp for 99% of my gigs.
just a little correction - the Headrush was the first modeler to include a touchscreen :p other than that I love my Helix, or HX Stomp to be totally honest :D
HX floor user myself since 2018. Best piece of gear I own hands down. Love the video man!
I got one of the first in Australia. Not been let down yet. The updates and customer support are top-notch. Welcome to the happy club!
I just bought a Boss ME-80 that came out in 2014. Hate menus and love knobs (pfnarr) and there was no mention of a successor so I just decided to buy it. And it’s class. My pedal board is too big for the house and this thing has loads of extra toys built in. Sounds surprisingly good.
I only recently got back into guitar, in the past tube snob 110% but i am blown away by todays offerings. I bought a Kemper on sale a few weeks ago and it is a very good piece of gear. Its not like having the exact amps in the true sense because it doesn't behave like the amp with gain/eq but its a worthy trade of. I will have a real amp, i did order a boutique 5e3 clone that will arrive one day but i don't see myself buying any more amps.
I bought the HX Stomp and feel it is the perfect hybrid system for me with all my amps and pedals.
Look forward to this, I'm in the market for a helix soon
I saw the Cure in early 90's, through the 2000's and as recently as 2019. They have used Line 6 Spiders recently - and they still... sound like The Cure.
I've had my Eleven Rack since 2014 and it's been rock solid. Apart from guitar tone, I use it as the soundcard for my PC so it's been on every day since I got it. Not had a problem with it at all. Being able to play guitar late at night with great tone on headphones is invaluable.
I also bought one in 2016 factory refurbished on ebay for cheap. Once I figured out how to make my own patches I have been using it nonstop. It sat for 4 years because I hated the stock patches. Now I love the thing. For something that came out in 2009 it still sounds amazing. I guess there is still a lot of old 80's rack gear that still sounds amazing as well, so I guess it is not really that surprising as this thing at the time was the best of it's kind on the market for a while.
I did a similar thing years ago. I bought a Line 6 HD500X, and mostly use it as an effects processor with my 6505+. Instead of carrying 2 heads, I use the HD500X as a backup, as well. I have specific patches set up so that, if my amp goes out, all I need to do is plug an XLR into the HD500X, switch output modes and patches, and bam, ready to go. Like you said, it's also a great practice/recording tool. The Helix is a great unit. They improved the IRs on the Helix. I like my Pod, but the IRs needed some help. Much like real amps, the speakers used can make or break an amp's tone. It's the same with modelers. The IRs on it are a huge factor on whether or not it sounds good. A Two Note Torpedo CAB on my pod puts it in Helix territory for tone.
I bought a Helix rack , floor controller and two mission expression pedals a couple of months back and this setup certainly kicks arse !!!!
I bought a Helix last year and it was probably the best gear investment I’ve made in years. Great tones
wow, i'm really impressed by the sound of the acoustic simulation. probably the best i've heard so far
Congrats on your helix! I bought the hx effects and love it
My Quad Cortex came last week. Its pretty good, still getting to grips with it. I'm using it with my Victory V30 and two notes torpedo.
I bought a Helix last year, best purchase I’ve ever made tbh. I still have my tube amps but mostly only use them in the studio. My tone is better and more consistent than ever. Plus the updates have kept right in line with the competition. Mine has never crashed whatsoever either. I now have the Helix, the HX Stomp, and the POD GO. All sound fantastic.
I love my hx stomp, I was looking at a fractal fm3 but you’re absolutely right, a month after you get it they’ve already replaced it with a new version
I just picked up an HX Stomp (although I'm using it way more with cello than with guitar... makes sense considering I'm a cellist who dabbles in guitar...) and I couldn't love it more. I love its footprint, the fact I don't need to lug an amp anywhere and I especially love that Line 6 continues to consistently release firmware updates for their existing product instead of just releasing new hardware updates for thousands of dollars.
The one gripe I have with the Stomp is that there is audible lag/blip when switching between presets (but not between snapshots) which means you have to be pretty deliberate with how you arrange your presets and snapshots, but that's really just a small gripe.
I’ve own the hx stomp for 3 years now great quality for a small unit I did what you are doing also I use and amp in the loop plays and sounds great I like to use pre amp pedals in the loop a lot so it’s easy to change on the fly. Never had much of a issue with the unit the only thing that has happened in the last three years of owning this is the foot switches didn’t turn on made me freak out a bit just a restart and it was back running with no issues it’s been a year since that happened many updates later.
In the headphone community we always say a good sounding pair of headphones will always sound good. I think the same is true for modelers.
Helix is great. In fact it's been my second favorite modelers after the Fractal stuff. I understand your point on the hardware update of Fractal but some of the hardware update are subtle (ex: AXE 3 MK2 has the led color option and that's about it), the software can be updated for a long period.
Enjoy your Helix!
That LED is super worth it, though. Now if only they gave me the option to customize the screen with tacky wallpapers and animations, I'd be a happy camper ;-)
My Helix LT has been my sole piece of live gear and a fantastic recording rig for years, now. Small enough to fit on stage comfortably, but it gets me my full studio tone in any setting, no problem.
One of my favorite tricks is I've got it set up with 2 pre-amp models (6505 on the highs and Triple Rec on the lows), then I run those (mixed down to mono) into a stereo chorus, and then into two different IRs, each of which was recorded through a 6505 power amp, so I get the power amp emulation for free as part of the IRs.
This gives me an utterly massive sound, roughly the same kind of sound as 4 different amp configs (or 2 amps, each dual-mic'd), with perfect phase control, and I still have enough DSP for: a tube screamer in front, a wah pedal between the TS and the preamps, a loop pedal after the IRs, a vintage digital delay after that, and a reverb at the end of the chain.
I would love to know how to program that kind of setup. That kind of routing is still complicated to me. Sounds like it would be awesome though
Excellent video
You are young and could carry that. For me my HXStomp setup all day. So weeny, so powerful!
holy shit the Scatman John got me lmao
BAH BOUH BEEEI
he likes racks
I got the HX Stomp for similar reasons.
It sits on my pedalboard and 90% of its usage is for amp models. I can practice silently and record silently.
The only effects I'm using that are built into it are modulations like chorus, trem and the new retro reel.
Everything else is either running directly in or in through a loop.
I have the out mono going to my audio interface and the out R stereo going to my amps effects loop return so to play through my amp all I gotta do is turn it on. Done.
If the stomp fails then I just take the mono out and go straight to the amps input and take the other output from my delay and put that into the amps loop instead. Swap 2 cables which are already ready to go and BOOM, back to my amp.
I've been using a Helix since 2017 and it has NEVER crashed. It's funny the reason I bought it was because I had reliability concerns about my tube amp. The Helix is a solid unit, no reliability concerns at all for me.
Same thing here: bought a Helix LT in February. Love it. No analysis paralysis: bought a ton of tones on eBay too. Connected through USB to a PC, practicing w headphones while listening to podcasts & reading Guitar Pro on a dual monitor setup. By the way: the dynamic range of the Helix makes it an insanely good audio interface especially made for guitars so I'm about to ditch my Focusrite Clarett - which did a good job too, but even coupled with a Helix Native couldn't do the same job as the Helix hardware in itself.
Why? Why not!? You are going to be able to record anything you can dream up and have excellent production. This model is tried a true. I think you were very smart making this purchase.
I got mine in 2017 and every few months it feels like I get new gear when they push a firmware update. LOVE IT>>>>
I’ve ran the helix native software in logic for years and it’s honestly really great, especially if you get it on sale, which I didn’t and I’m still happy.
This is on my wish list : )
Line 6 stuff is always absolutely rock solid and sounds amazing
I play professionally for Symphony Orchestras and Pit Orchestras among other pro level gigs.
I bought a Pod Go and a PowerCab 1×12 and haven't looked back! Absolutely love it!
Hmmm, Im thinking pod go is best ratio between price, size, weight, capabilities. In reality I compare pod go with boss gtk core and headrush gigboard. Or to simplify Ill chose gt k full. do you have some live video to hear how it sounds?
Thousands of hours on a Helix for 6 years now and not a single lockup, failure or crash. Amazing firmware upgrades along the way.
I have a Pod Xt live floor unit. It sound's great. I love my valve amps, but for recording, maybe live, I use it with a trio hifi amp and two big hifi cabs loaded with midrange hi power 8" speakers for more bark. It has been my friend for a decade plus. It sometimes has to be reset, but not often, very reliable. Thanks for this video.
cool video thx! congratulations, good decision ;) have a helix since 2016 and i never regret ...good peace of gear in my opinion ;)
It’s still a fantastic piece of gear for the money, I got the Helix Stomp this week with helix native for $600. You can throw it on pedal board with a strymon big sky and a dirty Shirley. Sounds fantastic!!
Have myself a PodGo. Really great piece of equipment. Might have to buy a helix when I get the coinage
I bought HX stomp yesterday. The truth is that modeling technology is superb these days, amp sims sounds fantastic and every piece of gear with IR loading will have years to come. You will have endless possibilities with IR’s, it affects tone so much. There is reason why there is no kemper 2 yet. The sound and feel of playing it is spot on. I just sold my Rocktron Chameleon preamp, some one needed that tone also.
I think without a doubt the best two units at the moment are the Helix and the Axe 3. I am a firm believer that even if your old Fractal is "outdated", it's still sounds phenomenal.
The new Cygnus modelling is getting rave reviews though, and everyone that likes modelling tones should read it. It's directly from Cliff Chase and he really explains how crazy this quest for perfection is.
The Helix is dope. Good choice.
The Helix is awesome. I switched to Kemper mainly just because I wanted something that looks and feels more like a "real" amp in my office. But, I still recommend Helix LT's to anyone looking for a high end modeler for a much more affordable price than the Kemper, Axe FX, or Quad Cortex.
Not that you said otherwise, but the Kemper has regularly seen firmware upgrades as well. They have updated the effects over the years based on feedback. Over the last year we got some awesome new overdrives and a less awesome (IMO) acoustic simulator. It's only been the last couple of years that they finally released a full fledged Windows/Mac Rig Manager. The support that decades old thing has gotten is insane. I have the feeling we are finally going to see a Kemper Model 2 in the next year or two, though.
I wouldn't be so sure. They're using 56K based DSPs (and writing everything in machine code) and there's not many options for more powerful DSPs in that line. Same reason their last synthesizer (Access Virus TI2) came out in 2009..
Still, the Kemper sounds amazing. Bought mine in 2014.. and bought a second one last year
7:01 “I like racks” XD
Probably the reason why a lot of guys started playing guitarXD
I recently made a similar choice but went with the axe fx3. I totally get your point about the updates, but if you don’t plan to sell, and you can ignore updates, I think it’s great. A lot of touring bands still using the axe fx 2 ultra, which just goes to show there’s nothing wrong with old versions.
It's definitely a psychological thing more than anything else. But, I would personally feel like "oh, I have the OLD thing now. Gotta upgrade!" You are clearly right, but for a lot of us, we have to have the latest and greatest, which is why you see the price for the old ones plummet when new ones release.
We kinda saw it happen with Kempers when the Quad Cortex came out. There were definitely people dumping the Kempers to "upgrade" to the new thing, and it caused the price to dip a bit a couple of months ago. Don't think it stuck, but well, you also can't find the QC anywhere so people are mostly stuck where they are now any way.
@@85herooftheday Yea that is true. I try my best to put that obsessive energy into my playing instead of my gear, but I bought an Axe Fx 3 instead of a cheaper unit, so clearly I'm not above it either haha.
I just bought a hx stomp for bass in 2022. I love regular pedals and im still using my darkglass x, Source audio c4 and Cali 76. The fact that it has a tuner and is basically a Swiss Army knife of so many pedals is nice . But the m5 does that. I specifically wanted the hx stomp to have one single pedal that could get the royal blood type sound. For those who don’t know that sound, it requires splitting the signal so you keep your bass sound but then the other signal path is used to fake a guitar sound using octave and a guitar amp model. Royal blood does it because they are a two piece with no guitar player, I wanted to do it so in single guitar band scenarios I could cover bass AND the rhythm guitar while the guitar player plays leads.
I got one, I love it. I do 4cm with my 6505, I also run it through a carvin trs-100 power amp as well. I'm glad that you say that "they all sound good." They do..You need to spend time with your gear to get to know the shit.
Cool, I planing to build a pedalboard version of what your doing. I am going to get a boss ES-8 and 2 two notes torpedo C.A.B. m, since I don't have space for racks nor the money for it. C.A.B. m had a software update as well , now it's c.a.b. m+.
To be fair to fractal, took nearly 14-15 years to get to the Axe Fx 3 Mark 2. The amount of free software updates (improving the modeling tech, adding amps, adding effects) and quality of life improvements that Cliff puts out is insane and they usually support a lot of the older hardware with software updates even if they release new a product.
It's honestly hard to go wrong with these recent modelers though, the Helix sounds awesome and it's still incredible to see that they put that tech into the HX Stomp. Cheers!
I loved the acoustic and the 80s distortion patches they sound great.
I love my Helix LT. I swap between a bass vi, a 6 string and and 12 string for gigs and having everything in one box is perfect
barely any retailers selling axe fx's. Imagine ordering it and something is wrong with it... no thx. Went for a kemper stage because i don't have any high end amps. I think they caught up with the lack of effects too. Going trough the learning process same as you do. Good luck with your helix, and most of all: enjoy it !
Helix was actually from 2015.
Nice demo btw.
Before watching this and only reading the title my reaction is because they're freaking sweet
Interesting video. It's pretty crazy how far guitar tech has come. I'm using the AXE FX II, and my guitar is a Line 6 JTV-89F. Talk about having more options then is healthy. The guitar can sound like pretty much any guitar. I play to a click, and a computer uses midi to switch AXE FX patch or scene, and guitar tone, so I never really have to touch anything but the strings. Need an alternate tuning? The guitar can tune mid-song. I don't even touch the volume knob.
I just like the fact that fractal has a kajillion amps, you probably know what kinda sound you want to go for and probably what amp. By having each different flavor of an amp it’s easier to get to a certain sound like if you know you like 5150 but want to pick between EVH, 6505, or block letter
Neat rig!
That intro tone is nice.
had the same thought process while buying the stomp a few weeks ago ;)
I Bought A Line6 M13 in 2021
coz its in immaculate order, never gigged, has every single after-market accessory lovingly included, and was TOO good a price to just let go past.
It will be the 4th modelling platform to join me in my lil' studio, the 1st from Line6, and I think represents a general and growing pursuit of guitar modelling on my part, me being a 30+ yr player with a longterm rig pretty much tied-down and cool af, and me finding the lushest new sonic territories the last few years through modelling. The more time put into modelling tone, the more it rewards. Being fairly purist in tonal aspect I did not like modelling when it appeared; but that was the audibly digital 90's... Nowadays, one would have to be very hard-hearted indeed NOT to give the capabilities of modelling it's due.
Anyways, great stuff from KDH as ever
i've just sold my Headrush gigboard and bought an HX stomp, and I couldn't be happier. Nothing wrong with the HR, it's an awesome machine, but the Hx suits better to my needs.
Nice one!
i agree with what you said about the quad cortex
I do everything guitar with it. It is so practical and it does sound better than plug ins which I have tried a bunch. Find good IRs and it is very good.
Love the helix. Though I sold my Stomp purely because of option overload. I got close but I could never get a sound I liked. I had just never spent enough time with analog pedals and amps but without the helix I would not have know where to start.
I bought a Line 6 Pod 2.0 in 2021, and it sounds so good, all the other gear is retired.
awesome congratulations, im thinking about getting Helix then I saw Bluguitar. Whats your thoughts on it?
Absolutely dripped out with the Tom Scott fit
Good, reasonable video as usual. Nice to see entrenched mindsets can indeed change. But notably absent was the Boss GT1000...Can you clarify your reasons for the omission? Full disclosure - I own both the full Helix and the GT1000 and have long looked at the AX8 floor unit.
I have had the AX8, an HX Stomp, and currently have an FM3, Helix Native, and a Kemper. In my opinion, I wouldn't spring for the AX8 unless it was a good deal. I think the Helix sounds every bit as good as the Fractal stuff, especially in a mix. If you haven't tried a Kemper, do it. I have had mine for about a month and haven't touched anything else. It just sounds good and I get work done without fussing around too much. I wouldn't say the Kemper sounds better, but I think it gets you there faster if you have the right profiles.
Because those high gain tone don't really need the most advanced equipment. IMO when you get to a certain levels of gain and compression you can get away with less and less precision or powerful processors, until you get to the effects.
I finally picked up a modeller after selling my POD 2.0 in the late 2000s. When it comes to low gain, touch sensitivity, this is where modelers show that they're modelers. It took trying the Strymon Iridium, that really blew me away.
In the end i went with the Headrush because i find their amp modelling just sounds better.
I still use mostly pedals and preamps into the front end. I recently bought a Synergy modular preamp with their Dumble, Solano and Friedman preamps and i haven't used the Headrush models since, but the delays, Reverbs and some of the modulation i use a lot.
I sold my Helix in 2021. Bought Boss MS3 for effects and switching, two AMT Legend series preamps (F1 a S2) and Plasma Pedal for extra nastiness. Never been happier with my sound. Best decision ever.
Very cool.
I'm 60 years old and grew up totally on tube amps and mostly 1 x 12s, and 2 x 12s amusing boost pedals, wah, etc. That said, I think the modelers are just great. I will probably end up with a Boss core or maybe the Headrush new floor model. I don't like endless parameter stuff either, and just need 3 or 4 tones. The one thing I wish all of the modellers would improve would be pitch shifting so I could get some H3000 tones. I may buy an H9 used to add in just for that reason. I just don't need a pro setup as I will gig maybe every other month a couple times and will mostly just play at home and with friends. Gigging though at most clubs lately require going direct or using some shitty amp with worn out power tubes I've never touched, so a modeler is perfect. Just that pitch shifting is lacking, but that may be because I don't want to take the time and don't know how to use all the parameters. Being a computer that is dedicated to music makes it much more reliable than a tube amp and much more consistent. My cousin has a big pro studio near Chicago and has all the best amps by Bogner, Rectumftiers, 🤣 Matshall JCMs, erc, but still uses his Kemper mostly and I tried it and it sounded exactly like the Marshall and other amps when I a b'd it.
The holy grail for me would be the AxeFx, but I can't justify it with my budget and time I play.
Anyway. Great video and good luck man!
Tim
May I suggest a couple of FRFR speakers?
I just ordered a second Headrush 112 to mate to my old Boss ME 80.
I'll never buy another guitar amp again.
This 112 speaker is amazing