IDEA: Helix Lunchbox Amp Head

paisleywookiee said:
And you ran a modeler into the effects return, and you didn't like it? I don't think Quilters sound that great either, in terms of their preamps. However, their power amps are top notch, and sound amazing with a Fractal or Helix into the return.
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The cab with quilters is very picky, imo.
 
SKU said:
Portability, size, efficiency and sound at the same time otherwise tube amps would've disappeared a long time ago.
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Or guitarists are very conservative and tend to not accept anything that doesn't look like a good ol' tube amp.

SKU said:
I got very curious about the AmpX though back in 2020 or so even. Until I found out that it'd be 2000+ euro and you have to buy "profiles"? WTF is that???
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You don't need to buy anything for it if you don't want to. It comes with all the sounds of the two Amp 1 models and probably some more, plus fx. That covers a ton of ground already even if it might not seem fancy compared to hundreds of amp models on a digital modeler.

BluGuitar wants to sell additional features with the premise that it will give them the funding to do it right, and also to provide some kickbacks to the original creators of e.g a pedal that gets added. I think that sounds pretty fair, considering on the digital modeling side the creators of the original hardware get jack squat. Pricing is unknown, but you can just not buy them and use what comes with the unit.

We will probably learn more in a few weeks at NAMM.
 
paisleywookiee said:
And you ran a modeler into the effects return, and you didn't like it? I don't think Quilters sound that great either, in terms of their preamps. However, their power amps are top notch, and sound amazing with a Fractal or Helix into the return.
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Yep. I used to play a Kemper stage through the quilter and a Suhr 1x12. You know what they say portability and flexibility. All I gotta say is my Atomic Amplifire or even a Mooer GE200 sounded and felt 1000000 times better and more convincing through a DSL40CR FX return compared to my live quilter setup.
That said I now use a cheap Spanish pretty much no-name tube amp from the 90s for rehearsals and live and it's eye opening. Totally different energy with that thing. I don't know .... there's something in those tubes. I think it's electrons or something.
 
laxu said:
Or guitarists are very conservative and tend to not accept anything that doesn't look like a good ol' tube amp.


You don't need to buy anything for it if you don't want to. It comes with all the sounds of the two Amp 1 models and probably some more, plus fx. That covers a ton of ground already even if it might not seem fancy compared to hundreds of amp models on a digital modeler.

BluGuitar wants to sell additional features with the premise that it will give them the funding to do it right, and also to provide some kickbacks to the original creators of e.g a pedal that gets added. I think that sounds pretty fair, considering on the digital modeling side the creators of the original hardware get jack squat. Pricing is unknown, but you can just not buy them and use what comes with the unit.

We will probably learn more in a few weeks at NAMM.
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I'm relatively young and my back is broken. I would pay $5000 tomorrow for a 2203 modern tiny amp clone that is EXACTLY 1000% the same in all possible ways as the real deal.

Re: ampx. There's no way anyone should ask 2000+ for that, IMO of course.
 
Wouldn’t this basically be a Helix with integrated power amp, repackaged into a different chassis? That seems fine to me, I just don’t know if I’m visualizing it right.

I actually think it would make sense for a lot of the flagship modelers to have integrated power amps, like the powered Kemper. There are far too many forum posts asking what the “best” power amps to pair with X modeler are.
 
SpaceMan said:
Wouldn’t this basically be a Helix with integrated power amp, repackaged into a different chassis? That seems fine to me, I just don’t know if I’m visualizing it right.

I actually think it would make sense for a lot of the flagship modelers to have integrated power amps, like the powered Kemper. There are far too many forum posts asking what the “best” power amps to pair with X modeler are.
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I’m envisioning this:




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Except where the JVM logo is there is a small LED where I could select the model for each channel. No effects. WYSIWYG.

And if you twist my arm, a faux tube light emanating from the chassis, for those that need moar immersion. :ROFLMAO:
 
The Catalyst is actually a pretty great platform and technically it is running HX Amps and some HX effects - I'd be down for the Catalyst XL/Head that made some refinements to the platform:
  • Able to swap in any 6 of your favorite HX amp models
  • Use the same power as the Catalyst 200 with stereo option (it's loud)
  • Revise the FX implementation - 3 simultaneous with any HX effect model (could also use a swap in a favorite set approach)
  • Footswitch support - support both the HX Control and a more stripped down $199 foot controller (no scribbles, maybe just colored lights and assignable with expression pedal input)
  • IR/New Cab Models support for direct out
  • Better build quality
Everything else would be more or less the same as the Catalyst - deep edit with the app (mobile!) if needed, headphones, direct out, wattage switch etc. Seems like it might be doable for $1200?
 
Whizzinby said:
As usual, dead on, especially in thread where we are fantasizing of a modeler disguised as a tube amp. :ROFLMAO:
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You can make a SS based modeller look like a tube amp. If it sounds crap... then you can't save it.

BTW - I had the powered Kemper. Hated the built in poweramp. It sounded utterly gash.

I want to try the Orange Pedal Baby. I keep hearing good things about it. So far the best poweramp for modellers I've heard is the Fryette Powerstation 100.

I'd be quite curious about picking up a Spidervalve too, and plugging into the power amp input. (In fact those Spidervalves sounded really good as standalone amps!)

None of my comments are based on guitarist mythology or conservative ppinions. They're based on experience.
 
dbagchee said:
The Catalyst is actually a pretty great platform and technically it is running HX Amps and some HX effects - I'd be down for the Catalyst XL/Head that made some refinements to the platform:
  • Able to swap in any 6 of your favorite HX amp models
  • Use the same power as the Catalyst 200 with stereo option (it's loud)
  • Revise the FX implementation - 3 simultaneous with any HX effect model (could also use a swap in a favorite set approach)
  • Footswitch support - support both the HX Control and a more stripped down $199 foot controller (no scribbles, maybe just colored lights and assignable with expression pedal input)
  • IR/New Cab Models support for direct out
  • Better build quality
Everything else would be more or less the same as the Catalyst - deep edit with the app (mobile!) if needed, headphones, direct out, wattage switch etc. Seems like it might be doable for $1200?
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This is what they seem to be going for. HX modelling amp more or less for ~$1150.
The Lord Of The Rings Mueller Report GIF by reactionseditor



- but with EL34/6L6 power section and huge transformers.
 
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