Line 6 Helix Stadium Pre-Launch Discussion

[Sascha Franck]

One of things that drew me to modeling was NOT having to listen to raw amp sounds.

Similar here. But it's rather cab sounds. The infamous amplifier-in-a-miserable-rehearsal-room tone. Give me an FR wedge that I can place closer to me any day.

 

[Mongillo19]

It's not just you. I just dialed in the exact settings (or as close as I could get with the FM9's dynacabs) on my FM9 and while it sounded as good, I could not achieve the same dynamics with picking alone right out of the box. That's a great amp sound.

I will say we don't know if that was simply picking or if they rolled down the volume. Regardless it sounded great

 

[banned]

Some crazy comments. I think you guys are listening to the wrong amps through the wrong cabs / speakers.

A great amp through the right cab / speaker is fantastic. I remember I had a Bogner Duende that through my Austin Speaker Works (can't exactly remember which speaker now - believe ASW KTS 70) cab sounded like garbage....almost white noise. Then switched to I think a Scumback something - it all came together perfectly.

I also had a Mark IIC+ 1x12 back in the day that sounded not so great through the C90 speaker (or maybe EV?) I think came with it. But as we all know - it's a great sounding amp through the right cab. I ultimately got rid of it because of my bad back and how much it weighed.

Another example with a Plexi head - when played through a 2x12 G12T75 cab - rotten tone. Piercing high end and just too sharp and pokey. Infact, couldn't play through the amp because of the terrible tone and feel. Plugged into 4x12 w/ some nicely worn G12M Greenbacks - Voila! Magic.

Those are some examples. The reason I moved away from amps is because of volume. Modelers are very good today, and I can control volume perfectly. I still play my modelers through guitar cabs and it's amazing - no compromise at all. I don't mind studio monitors FRFR at all for recording - it's completely fine.

But please don't make me play through something like a FR12 or a Powercab - UGH!!

The only thing worse are IEMS which I just cannot make work (maybe because I haven't tried the $1500+ custom fit IEMs? But anything I've played through so far - Shure, Westone, KZ etc. has completed disappointed - totally robs me of feel)

Even though I like cabs - I also like fill via wedges (since the cab is usually not pointing at my ears) - but anyone who says that a good amp through a cab sounds bad just hasn't played them through the right cab and speakers.

I wish I could get some samples of how my rig sounds here in the room through some cabs. I have a cheap omni directional flat response mic - let me see if I can grab some samples (I'm very bad with recording but do know how to fire up Reaper and set up a track)

 

[GTR37]

I will say we don't know if that was simply picking or if they rolled down the volume. Regardless it sounded great

Yep , true , I suspect there is a volume rollback but either way that’s a solid clean up from a fairly high gan tone
To my ears they are definitely in the ballpark of Fractal with the clips presented this far
Obviously the proof will be when you can play it , but so far I am liking what I am hearing , and DI comment about it doesn’t sound like a line6 product for better or worse seems to be accurate

 

[banned]

Here is the existing Helix Soldano alongside several other modelers -



You tell me which one sounds most like the real amp. Some real squirrels from the actual amp for you as well Tim.

But yeah, this clip has limited dynamics - so there is that. But the existing HX SLO model is no pushover.

 

[Orvillain]

I love guitar, amps, modellers, pedals. What a time to be alive.

I fucking hate yodelling though.

 

[bucephalus]

Here is the existing Helix Soldano alongside several other modelers -



You tell me which one sounds most like the real amp. Some real squirrels from the actual amp for you as well Tim.

But yeah, this clip has limited dynamics - so there is that. But the existing HX SLO model is no pushover.

True, sounds good. Fractal sounds different and fantastic. That headrush though, holy shit it's awful

 

[Orvillain]

Every time I watch one of his videos, I feel like I'm being hexed.

 

[bucephalus]

He even pronounces his own name wrong.

 

[Orvillain]

He even pronounces his own name wrong.

He's new testament when it comes to the nebcoromponcon.

 

[paisleywookiee]

this is just so raw and penetrating .... it glorious

What thread have I stumbled into?

 

[banned]

True, sounds good. Fractal sounds different and fantastic. That headrush though, holy shit it's awful

To me, the real amp sounds best of course. The Helix sounds the most accurate out of all but a tiny bit soft compared to real amp. Fractal sounds very different but nice as well. To be honest, I could use any of them.

 

[bucephalus]

To me, the real amp sounds best of course. The Helix sounds the most accurate out of all but a tiny bit soft compared to real amp. Fractal sounds very different but nice as well. To be honest, I could use any of them.

Except the headrush

 

[Orvillain]

it glorious

This needs to be a new forum meme.

 

[dbagchee]

 

[Orvillain]

 

[Badonkey Kong]

 

[AlbertA]

I love guitar, amps, modellers, pedals. What a time to be alive.

I fucking hate yodelling though.

Yeah the competition in the space is great. The quality you can have now at < $300 is incredible.

 

[BenIfin]

..... and I didnt even bold it !!!!

 

[guyonthefox]

Reference to the "normalizing" that Jason Sadites used to always do on Helix patches with tilt/shelf EQs, compressors and whatnot.

Thanks for the reply.

So with the extra effects, is he saying that the tone is bland/diluted then (somehow like boiled milk)? Sorry, I'm really curious here.