Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[LCW]

Not sure if it's realistic to expect many more amps for Helix. Some more might still arrive, but I could understand if Line6 have way more priority to Stadium updates.

Exactly the reason I won’t buy an OG Helix despite the discounted prices.

 

[timbuck3]

Exactly the reason I won’t buy an OG Helix despite the discounted prices.

I think a lot of people may think like this. When agora amps are out they will sound better then standard helix amps so why not prefer better modeled amps?

 

[molul]

Exactly the reason I won’t buy an OG Helix despite the discounted prices.

I mean, OG Helix has had 10 years of updates and it's a pretty solid product for the price. One could say it's a "finished" product.

They're not abandoning it, but it's not fair to expect Line6 to keep the update frequency now that they have a new flagship to feed.

If you need a product that's going to get many updates in the future, then yes, OG Helix is not for you.

 

[Mooselake]

... I could be wrong but I don’t think they will have many Line6 originals at launch maybe the Cartographer as that’s Bens real amp

I'm not sure they'll have any Agoura originals in the initial release, but unless I've been misunderstanding I think they'll have all the OG originals. I don't even know if it makes sense to use Agoura to make originals since they'll have the hype parameter which I think accomplishes a lot of what the originals were accomplishing--taking the rough edges off of real amps and making them a little more idealized.

 

[laxu]

Exactly the reason I won’t buy an OG Helix despite the discounted prices.

I mean...will you be really disappointed if you have only 94 guitar amp models, or I think 46 unique amps?

I've never felt the number of models was that relevant. I've liked modelers with as few as 3-4 amp models.

To me the reason to pick any latest gen version is almost always about usability. Helix in its current form is still pretty user friendly, but I definitely want the Stadium for the modern UI first and foremost.

 

[Frodebro]

I think a lot of people may think like this. When agora amps are out they will sound better then standard helix amps so why not prefer better modeled amps?

Different. They will sound different. Some will say better, some will say worse. Which is in itself a good reason to keep the OG Helix in the lineup, with the price adjusted accordingly.

Call it Helix MK I and price it at $1299, or swing for the bleachers and call it Vintage Original NOS Helix, and sell it for $2499.

 

[sashimi]

I would rather just release it with all agora amps and effects only. Reminds me of boss and the x amps. When I had the gt1000 I loved the dynamics of the x amps but there were too few and I also wondered why they didn’t just have all x amps.

Sounds like a great way to convince current helix owners not to upgrade for a few years. Most of those ‘old’ models still sound good, it’s not like they are worthless now that Agoura is announced.

Exactly the reason I won’t buy an OG Helix despite the discounted prices.

Its been less than a year since I got my helix LT. But I am happy with my decision still and not planning to sell. We’ll see if that changes in a few months. But I see two ways to look at it. The pessimistic view is that I bought in late and missed out on years of support and updates. The optimistic views is that I bought when it was a fully mature product at the best it can possibly be, and I don’t have to wait years for updates, I get to use all the newest features from day 1. Even if no new amp models get added, I am very happy with the LT. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants a fully featured floor modeler on a budget.

 

[Mooselake]

I mean, OG Helix has had 10 years of updates and it's a pretty solid product for the price. One could say it's a "finished" product.

They're not abandoning it, but it's not fair to expect Line6 to keep the update frequency now that they have a new flagship to feed.

If you need a product that's going to get many updates in the future, then yes, OG Helix is not for you.

I think until they have a Stadium family device that covers specifically the stomp and native niches, they'll still develop for the OG platform. I don't think the lion's share of their customer base is the flagship hardware crowd, and they probably want to keep those markets intact. It's also not clear that it won't be possible to port some things developed for Stadium back to OG. But inevitably as the breadth of Stadium price points extends downward they'll probably sunset OG development, it'll just take a few years. While it's reasonable to consider a stadium buy decision based on what it will become, it's probably best to make an OG buy decision based largely on what it is now.

 

[Frodebro]

I think until they have a Stadium family device that covers specifically the stomp and native niches, they'll still develop for the OG platform. I don't think the lion's share of their customer base is the flagship hardware crowd, and they probably want to keep those markets intact. It's also not clear that it won't be possible to port some things developed for Stadium back to OG. But inevitably as the breadth of Stadium price points extends downward they'll probably sunset OG development, it'll just take a few years. While it's reasonable to consider a stadium buy decision based on what it will become, it's probably best to make an OG buy decision based largely on what it is now.

I would guess that the HX Stomp is probably their top seller for the HX family.

 

[Mongillo19]

I would guess that the HX Stomp is probably their top seller for the HX family.

I think that much has been confirmed by Ben

 

[LCW]

Sounds like a great way to convince current helix owners not to upgrade for a few years. Most of those ‘old’ models still sound good, it’s not like they are worthless now that Agoura is announced.


Its been less than a year since I got my helix LT. But I am happy with my decision still and not planning to sell. We’ll see if that changes in a few months. But I see two ways to look at it. The pessimistic view is that I bought in late and missed out on years of support and updates. The optimistic views is that I bought when it was a fully mature product at the best it can possibly be, and I don’t have to wait years for updates, I get to use all the newest features from day 1. Even if no new amp models get added, I am very happy with the LT. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to anyone who wants a fully featured floor modeler on a budget.

Do you know where you are? We live on GAS here.

 

[LCW]

Different. They will sound different. Some will say better, some will say worse. Which is in itself a good reason to keep the OG Helix in the lineup, with the price adjusted accordingly.

Call it Helix MK I and price it at $1299, or swing for the bleachers and call it Vintage Original NOS Helix, and sell it for $2499.

Should be $1099.

 

[Frodebro]

Should be $1099.

That’s GT-1000 money. It’s still worth more than that.

 

[timbuck3]

Qaa q

Different. They will sound different. Some will say better, some will say worse. Which is in itself a good reason to keep the OG Helix in the lineup, with the price adjusted accordingly.

Call it Helix MK I and price it at $1299, or swing for the bleachers and call it Vintage Original NOS Helix, and sell it for $2499.

thats the fine line line6 will have to walk in advertising isn’t it. Different won’t be any better just different . lol .. come on

 

[Frodebro]

Qaa q

thats the fine line line6 will have to walk in advertising isn’t it. Different won’t be any better just different . lol .. come on

Think about it. They obviously think it’s better because why bother otherwise, but we’re talking about the general public here. I can guarantee you that there will be people bitching about how the new models sound worse than the old ones. You see that all the time on the Fractal forum every time there is an update.

 

[Mooselake]

Qaa q

thats the fine line line6 will have to walk in advertising isn’t it. Different won’t be any better just different . lol .. come on

That's sort of how they've described Agoura versus Fractal: different, but not necessarily better or worse. If L6 didn't think it was better than OG Helix, it would mean they are not rational actors and have thrown a ton of resources towards a endeavor destined to fail. Will every single user prefer Stadium to OG on sonic merits? Probably not. I remember people sticking to their POD HD500s for a while after Helix came out.

 

[sashimi]

I think a lot of people may think like this. When agora amps are out they will sound better then standard helix amps so why not prefer better modeled amps?

You’d think out of everyone on here, the guy who still thinks a vox tonelab from 2010 sounds good would understand that helix didn’t suddenly start sounding dated just because agoura got announced.

15 year old vox tonelab to helix would probably be a way bigger jump than helix to agoura

 

[timbuck3]

You’d think out of everyone on here, the guy who still thinks a vox tonelab from 2010 sounds good would understand that helix didn’t suddenly start sounding dated just because agoura got announced.

15 year old vox tonelab to helix would probably be a way bigger jump than helix to agoura

Is there a reason to attack me for my questions and views,? I mean are you really that insecure?

 

[sashimi]

Hey sorry man, not an attack, I just think it’s funny you’re saying line 6 should just ditch all of the amp models they’ve done over the past decade, as if anything that isn’t brand new is garbage, while you’re rocking 15 year old gear. That’s not supposed to be an insult either, I’m sure the vox tonelab does sound good, the point is helix didn’t just suddenly become garbage because something new is on the horizon, as you surely know from personal experience.

 

[[Nathan]]

Their modelling engine also gets upgrades so it’s not like the 2015 sounds are the same as the 2025 sounds. Have a play through a helix or grab the helix native plugin to have a play. I’m not the biggest fan of the plugin interface but the amps I gravitate to hold their own against other sims (recto, evh 5150iii, engl).

I’ve played dozens of worse plugins in my time, 2025 helix is among the top players. Can’t wait to hear and play with Agora.