Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[Fireproof]

Well, I'm super intrigued. In fact - based on my latest gear usage (or lack thereof), and planned usage for the foreseeable future - I think the Helix Stadium is a perfect answer for me. I've always enjoyed a lot of things about the Helix gear I've had.

I've had my FM9 Turbo for a while, and haven't edited with it enough to build muscle memory. So every time I try to go do something, I feel like I'm having to crack open the manual and re-learn, lol. Or it just takes me a lot longer than it could/should. Combine that with the fact that I'm just not needing the advanced tweaking and a lot of what makes it so good.

Having a bit of WYSIWYG and touchscreen goodness, with more than decent tones, etc., plus the other things like "hype" and such - seems like the Stadium might be a better fit for me as a casual hobbyist, vs. a professional or power user. (Not that you have to be a professional or power user to use a Fractal of course, but hopefully you see what i'm saying...)

Wonder when we'll actually see it in stores. I've read "rumors" about the Stadium XL being mid-winter, but the Stadium being January?? Is that just speculation or do we know by now? (I'm just trying to catch up...so apologies if this has already been covered a ton).

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I've played a 101B, and the Ecstasy doesn't sound "totally broken" or broken at all to me (that characteristic Biogner "THICC mid" character is there in spades. Even with the switches engaged on the real thing, it never got "modern" tight) but I'm definitely going off sonic memory from some years back.

The Helix model sounds like the power amp is overloading (at any settings) and is weirdly farty and fuzzy. Lowering the MV or bias doesn’t help. I can hear it on every clip I’ve heard of the Line 6 model and it’s not a sound I associate with the real thing, 20th Anniversary or otherwise. I get that some people like that sound, but to me it sounds broken and not how I associate that amp. Merrcuriall (for instance) sounds and behaves as Id expect, as does Fractal. I don’t think the circuit revisions are responsible for that but maybe it’s just how Line 6’s amp sounds. Either way, I found it disappointing, especially because the EVH and 2203 were much better.

 

[I S]

All you folks constantly comparing and jumping platforms, I feel sorry for you. You’re not doing yourselves any favors by constantly worrying about whether you’re on the right ship. Unless you’re one of those people who enjoys trying out each platform, just stop and play what you’ve got.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

just stop and play what you’ve got

Got ya, I'll play the models I don't like.

You’re not doing yourselves any favors by constantly worrying about whether you’re on the right ship.

I really don't worry about this, Im not tied to any one platform and I use whichever suits any particular tone. I could just as easily say "stop shooting in your foot by forcing yourself to use one modeller and just go with whatever gives you the most inspiring tone".

 

[JiveTurkey]

It's a gear forum. What did you expect

 

[JiveTurkey]

See also:
"It's the best there is!"

Signed,
The Person Who Has Never Tried Anything Else

 

[AlbertA]

Unless you’re one of those people who enjoys trying out each platform...

 

[Orvillain]

All you folks constantly comparing and jumping platforms, I feel sorry for you. You’re not doing yourselves any favors by constantly worrying about whether you’re on the right ship. Unless you’re one of those people who enjoys trying out each platform, just stop and play what you’ve got.

Don't feel sorry for me. I've written 3 amazing albums, got tons of fans, and have had a pretty successful and great time of it. The gear is just a bonus!

 

[Orvillain]

Helix more than delivers on the amps that basically a "Hype knob" version of a Recto - Revv Generator 120, PRS Archon, etc.

I prefer the Revv models on Helix to their Recto by some margin!

 

[SeeD]

Quad Cortex only has a handful of captures of a 100B.

I've played a 101B, and the Ecstasy doesn't sound "totally broken" or broken at all to me (that characteristic Biogner "THICC mid" character is there in spades. Even with the switches engaged on the real thing, it never got "modern" tight) but I'm definitely going off sonic memory from some years back.

No, we got all the channels and there are a lot captures

 

[mikah912]

The Helix model sounds like the power amp is overloading (at any settings) and is weirdly farty and fuzzy. Lowering the MV or bias doesn’t help. I can hear it on every clip I’ve heard of the Line 6 model and it’s not a sound I associate with the real thing, 20th Anniversary or otherwise. I get that some people like that sound, but to me it sounds broken and not how I associate that amp. Merrcuriall (for instance) sounds and behaves as Id expect, as does Fractal. I don’t think the circuit revisions are responsible for that but maybe it’s just how Line 6’s amp sounds. Either way, I found it disappointing, especially because the EVH and 2203 were much better.

So weird that we both love the 2203 and 5153 but disagree so much on this. I think it sounds bang on to my memory of a 101B. I haven't bothered A/Bing with my FM9 yet, but I'm sure I'll get around to it.

 

[mikah912]

No, we got all the channels and there are a lot captures

Right, but no model, correct?

 

[JiveTurkey]

I used to care about the Uber in whatever digital platform but I don't even reach for it. Mesa or JVM, always. Once in a great while a Diezel in the FAS whatever I am using at the time.

 

[SeeD]

Right, but no model, correct?

No model, but 10 `handful` of captures, we also got Power-amp captures, and pre-amp captures. So we got a lot of the amp`s soul

 

[SeeD]

I used to care about the Uber in whatever digital platform but I don't even reach for it. Mesa or JVM, always. Once in a great while a Diezel in the FAS whatever I am using at the time.

When you said that the Mustang models was fire, i was like..

 

[mikah912]

I used to care about the Uber in whatever digital platform but I don't even reach for it. Mesa or JVM, always. Once in a great while a Diezel in the FAS whatever I am using at the time.

Yeah, the JVMs on Fractal are irresistible. Rectos too, although I've started to come around to the Helix one a bit (I always hit it with the Horizon Precision Drive in front).

I've come around on Helix to the VH4 channel 3 (sometimes with a boost, sometimes without) and 5153 as my main crunch rhythm sounds. The Ecstasy is just for fun when I want to throw a Plate on it and indulge my (non-existent) Sunset Strip glory days.

 

[JiveTurkey]

When you said that the Mustang models was fire, i was like..

You weren't wrong, Seed. You weren't wrong

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I used to care about the Uber in whatever digital platform but I don't even reach for it. Mesa or JVM, always. Once in a great while a Diezel in the FAS whatever I am using at the time.

Uber is always one of my ports of call. More so since owning the real thing and getting more of an understanding of what its capable of, I think when my only experience of it was with a modeller they can be a bit weird to figure out. Dual rec is probably my first option.

JVM to me, is kind of like a real amp version of a modeller - loads of versatility and different tones in one box. In a modeller it doesn't quite make as much sense even though there are some unique tones in there.

 

[JiveTurkey]

Uber is always one of my ports of call. More so since owning the real thing and getting more of an understanding of what its capable of, I think when my only experience of it was with a modeller they can be a bit weird to figure out. Dual rec is probably my first option.

JVM to me, is kind of like a real amp version of a modeller - loads of versatility and different tones in one box. In a modeller it doesn't quite make as much sense even though there are some unique tones in there.

I think in the Uber's case, if i had the real thing; I'd probably crap myself

 

[mbenigni]

Disembodied distortion strikes again.