I don't even know what "quite right" means any more. All I know is I can get some satisfying high gain tones more easily with my Stadium than with my AxeFX III. That might be because of my own failings though.
Line 6 Helix Stadium Talk
- Thread starter laxu
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I don't even know what "quite right" means any more. All I know is I can get some satisfying high gain tones more easily with my Stadium than with my AxeFX III. That might be because of my own failings though.
BenIfin
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Thanks. I guess what I was referring to was posts / comments around Stadium higher gain / very high gain Amp Tones -vs- Axe or QC equivalents (?)
Maybe I am/was assuming / just reading too much into it ?
You'll get a bunch of different answers, but I don't think that's accurate.
As both a former FM9 owner and extensive user of all the HX models:
- REVV channels have plenty of high end and seem spot on to me
- I would say the same for the Soldano, Mark IIC and Silver Jubilee models.
- I'm just not a fan of the Agoura 5150 III channels. Part of it is that they picked the blandest one (OG 100 watt 6L6) and part MIGHT be that they didn't quite nail this one.
- The Ecstasy is a completely different one than the Fractal (101b vs. 20th Anniversary), but I'll say I like it better than the HX one. Definitely better feel and dynamics.
- The JCM800 is great, but the Plexi, ironically, sounds like it too stringy and strident in the high end to my ears. I use the Voltage or Superbass for those types of sounds.
EOengineer
Rock Star
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I’ve dialed in very satisfying clean, EOB, up through medium-high gain tones in Agoura. Let’s say maxed out stock 800. The lower and medium gain stuff might be industry leading.
Jury is still out for high gain and heavy tones. Some of those models sound very “modeler” to me but I’m sitting with it all for a bit.
![[Nathan]](/data/avatars/m/0/613.jpg?1726885163){kind=avatar}
My 2C
* Many of the clean amps are missing some important high-end frequencies - example Deluxe Reverb
* Plexi sounds really messed up to me
On the positive side - there are many great amps - the Bassman is amazing, the Hiwatt, the SuperBass - all great!
Mooselake
Roadie
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- 481
I come at it from a different perspective.
First, your synopsis of the chatter seems about right. That's what people are saying if you boil it all down to a condensed version.
I have no idea to what extent the universe of comments is objectively accurate.
I come from never having had a room full of amps I've logged hundreds of hours messing with. Being an ignoramus in that regard leaves me in a position to have to decide between "sounds good to me" versus "doesn't sound good to me" with the basis being some amorphous blend of memories of groups of tones I've absorbed over time. It's interesting to me to read all the comments from studio operators and producers and high gain amp aficionados, but I have no basis for making such judgements myself.
With those caveats, I get tones that range from clean through "hard rock tones" 70s/80s style that I enjoy and sometimes find glorious. That's in isolation--I'm not trying to exactly replicate any particular guitarists tone from a particular past recording. As far as the modern high gain stuff, I've never really developed much of an ear for it. When I listen to "shootouts" people post online comparing different modelers and/or discrete amps I generally like them all. Sometimes I can hear distinct differences, but 90% of the time it's just different, not a case of one being great and another being bad/wrong.
I find myself wishing Line 6 would address this. I think there's enough material out there illustrating differences in some cases that, if you're going to stake your approach to be one of accurate modeling of the hardware, warts and all, and even build in a feature (Hype parameter) to smooth over those warts and make the sound more studio polished if desired, then for people that type of accuracy is important to, some indication that their concerns are warranted (or not) and indication of the existence of a path forward if appropriate, seems fair. For users like me who just want a device that fills the role of an amp in a signal chain and get a more than "good enough for government work" replication of a breadth of amp tones, Stadium appears on a path to meet that need in spades.
We'll see what the future of Stadium brings, but I'd have to say to someone considering Stadium mostly for high gain amps with lots of abrasive sizzle generated in the amp models just like [some favorite high gain tube amp(s)], try before you buy or maybe consider waiting to see if/how it all settles out. Unless my musical tastes and playing goals change someday, I have essentially no complaints about the Agoura models.
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Im not thrilled with the model but my tonex pack of my real amp is one of the best 5153 tones I have heard. It is the original 100 6l6.
PorcinePicker
Roadie
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No dog in this fight, and really hoping the Stadium is a huge success. That said, embryonic is a stretch. The HD / M-Series / Helix code base stretches back to 2009. I'd characterize the Stadium as at least a college grad, not an embryo.
I believe you. I just tend to think that the stealth voicing has taken predominance when it comes to the identity of that amp.
It leans more on the - no pun intended - "hype" side with more gain and slightly scooped mids.
I think he means Agoura modeling, not the rest.
AlbertA
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That's interesting, I find that I can dial high gain way more efficiently in my AM4 (and previously Axe-Fx III) - Marshalls, Mesas, FAS Amps - bear in mind I've been in that ecosystem for more than a decade now.
I still feel like I need to fight the Helix more to get a satisfying high gain sound - I think maybe due to the cabs. I find Fractal's DynaCabs to be really good - before dynaCABs I would have to load IRs and mostly skip the built-in IRs, which is what I find myself doing a lot with the Helix.
That being said, the REVV Purple is one I'm focusing on now - lower the master, up the level, change the default matching cab to '57 mic and you are on your way for some nice 80's gain type of sound.
As has been said before I think most of the amps have a default master setting that's too high for starters and the default matching cab mic choices are not what I would go for.
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I will agree on the master defaults being too high, but little of the rest.
Had my FM9 for almost two years before I switched to Stadium. One of the great things about the bazillion amp and cab choices is that you never have to "fight" any Fractal product because it's dead simple to a switch a variant Mesa Mark or Marshall or 5150 or Fender, etc. or a stock IR or Dynacab.
Because the Helix library has less choices per category, you do have to spend more time with each one. But I'm not having to use "creative" settings. I'll dial the Mark IIC how I dialed in the Fractal one, which how I dial any Mark series amp. Default cab for that amp is indeed not what I think best represents that amp....but it's dead simple to either throw in a Mesa OS 4x12/V30 IR or use the Stadium one. Same withe Silver Jubilee and same with the REVV. Nothing crazy with the Bogner Ecstasy either.
Also, I don't just dismiss the HX amps because they're not "the latest and greatest" engine. I felt even when FM9 was my main piece of gigging hardware that the Placater/Friedman, PRS Archon, Orange Rockerverb and Diezel VH4 were either competitive to or better for my tastes than the Fractal equivalents. I believe right now that several high-gain Line 6 originals - Badonk/Oblivion/Voltage - are "Agoura-caliber" amps.
eon
Groupie
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- 44
Looks like the non-XL version is already in stock in South African stores.
www.musicexperience.co.za
Line 6 Helix Stadium Amp Modeler and FX Processor
Guitar/Bass Modeling Floorboard with Agoura Modeling, 8" Touchscreen, Hype, Showcase, Focus View, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB, available at Music Experience
www.musicexperience.co.za
Sascha Franck
Goatlord
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Looks like the non-XL version is already in stock in South African stores.
Line 6 Helix Stadium Amp Modeler and FX Processor
Guitar/Bass Modeling Floorboard with Agoura Modeling, 8" Touchscreen, Hype, Showcase, Focus View, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and USB, available at Music Experience
South Africa being the spearhead of amp modeling supply wasn't on my bingo card.
Sascha Franck
Goatlord
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Thomann still says 7-9 weeks.
Well, atm I actually don't care much. I still see the Stadium as the most likely contender I might purchase as a one-stop solution, but I defenitely needed some more incentives, especially given that my current setups operate quite flawlessly.
Well, atm I actually don't care much. I still see the Stadium as the most likely contender I might purchase as a one-stop solution, but I defenitely needed some more incentives, especially given that my current setups operate quite flawlessly.
GTR37
Rock Star
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I think the Revv sounds pretty good here
5153 and Jube I don’t love to be honest
As much as I hate to say it some of LT clips of QC recently have gotten better tones , whether it more real or idealized. I don’t know it sound better brighter more raw to my ears
I think the interface is second to none and it’s a really amazing looking piece but I will have to try it and see , many comments I see say yes it feels a bit better , but if your expecting it to be miles away from the OG and some new ground breaking modelling it is not really that
Los-D
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Damn, that REVV sounds awesome.
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