Line 6 Helix Stadium Talk

[dws2384]

This happens with @OneEng and I too sometimes. Letters are hard. Wait until you guys get to numbers.

I 100% thought this a few times too, or thought it was the new account after the meltdown

 

[GTR37]

well..let's see what the fuss is all about.

View attachment 59995

Enjoy let us know what ya think
Mine should be in this month

 

[dean701]

as others have already posted some key thoughts, I'll throw down just a few

- powered it on, connected it to wifi,. On my pc, I went to the line 6 go site advertised on the Stadium screen and entered the code that the HXS displayed
Clicked update, I was up and running in 10 minutes on the latest code. It rebooted a few times during the update process

- easiest interface to use by far of any modeler I have used.
- Focus view is all that and a bag a chips (quirk, I have a habit apparently of resting my hand on the unit when using focus view. I bump a button and then I'm looking at that effect due to the capacitive buttons)
- The ability to use focus on any block is really fun. Draw your way around the screen for any effect block
- I don't claim to have Eric Johnson's battery charge sensing sonar but for the first time in a long time when bouncing between the FAS plexi and the HXS (with the same IRs), I prefer the HXS. It is great.
- the 5150 sounds great too, I still need to figure out how to contain the chugs. The FAS multiband is my favorite Fractal block. The line 6 multiband doesn't act the same way so I have to master that. The Stadium sounds in your face.
- hype is a mixed bag. unfortunately as some have said, sometimes just seems to make things louder. I'm sure it does more.
- a few of the effects are still weak to me (as expected since they are legacy and I didn't like some of them before) I've never been a fan of the modulations. Shimmer, Glitz and Dynamic Plates are fine if set them in a subtle way. Delays are good enough for me. Pitch block is fine.

since I hadn't seen anyone post a pic of this.
This is what focus view looks like when looking at an IR. I really wanted to be able to draw on it. It's very addictive. I'm keeping this thing for sure and looking forward to watching it progress for the next 80 years.

 

[GTR37]

as others have already posted some key thoughts, I'll throw down just a few

- powered it on, connected it to wifi,. On my pc, I went to the line 6 go site advertised on the Stadium screen and entered the code that the HXS displayed
Clicked update, I was up and running in 10 minutes on the latest code. It rebooted a few times during the update process

- easiest interface to use by far of any modeler I have used.
- Focus view is all that and a bag a chips (quirk, I have a habit apparently of resting my hand on the unit when using focus view. I bump a button and then I'm looking at that effect due to the capacitive buttons)
- The ability to use focus on any block is really fun. Draw your way around the screen for any effect block
- I don't claim to have Eric Johnson's battery charge sensing sonar but for the first time in a long time when bouncing between the FAS plexi and the HXS (with the same IRs), I prefer the HXS. It is great.
- the 5150 sounds great too, I still need to figure out how to contain the chugs. The FAS multiband is my favorite Fractal block. The line 6 multiband doesn't act the same way so I have to master that. The Stadium sounds in your face.
- hype is a mixed bag. unfortunately as some have said, sometimes just seems to make things louder. I'm sure it does more.
- a few of the effects are still weak to me (as expected since they are legacy and I didn't like some of them before) I've never been a fan of the modulations. Shimmer, Glitz and Dynamic Plates are fine if set them in a subtle way. Delays are good enough for me. Pitch block is fine.

since I hadn't seen anyone post a pic of this.
This is what focus view looks like when looking at an IR. I really wanted to be able to draw on it. It's very addictive. I'm keeping this thing for sure and looking forward to watching it progress for the next 80 years.


View attachment 60000

Interesting ,I think you are one of the few I have seen so far liking the Plexi , especially over the Fractal Marshalls , that's promising

 

[crispsandwich]

I love the Stadium plexi, and prefer it to most of the Fractal models. Must be that specific amp Line 6 have.

 

[dws2384]

Interesting ,I think you are one of the few I have seen so far liking the Plexi , especially over the Fractal Marshalls , that's promising

I own fractal products and think they sound great. I mostly use a deluxe reverb and plexi, both amps I have owned many iterations of through the years (and still own 1 of each) I find on stadium they respond more similarly to how I’d expect them to in real life. For example, I find on fractal they start breaking up very early on the volume, like wayyyyy earlier than I’d ever expect in real life whereas, on the stadium I can pretty much dial the controls exactly how I would in the real world.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

I find on fractal they start breaking up very early on the volume, like wayyyyy earlier than I’d ever expect

This. The Fractal Deluxe model is near impossible to get clean above 1. I like the Agoura model far better. Agoura Plexi with the right cab and a boost is okay, but I far prefer the Fractal model. Weird choice on Line6’s part.

 

[EOengineer]

The deluxe talk is timely. I dialed up something using my SG Standard, Agoura Deluxe, and the 4x12 Greenback 20w with a 421 and R121 last night that felt really inspiring for a late night jam.

I do not like the Fractal black panel Fenders at all. There’s something wrong there and it got worse in the recent update.

 

[GTR37]

This. The Fractal Deluxe model is near impossible to get clean above 1. I like the Agoura model far better. Agoura Plexi with the right cab and a boost is okay, but I far prefer the Fractal model. Weird choice on Line6’s part.

The good news is DI said they are working on it , so maybe they will add a couple of bright cap options
Or separate model w some mods to do the 80s hot rod thing

 

[yek]

I do not like the Fractal black panel Fenders at all. There’s something wrong there and it got worse in the recent update.

Don't want to intrude on this Helix thread, but I've been using the Fractal BF Deluxe Verb model for my main clean tone for the past 4 years.
Nothing wrong with it. If you use guitars with a hot output, set Input Trim at 0.500 (which is the same as using the low output on a real Deluxe.

 

[EOengineer]

Don't want to intrude on this Helix thread, but I've been using the Fractal BF Deluxe Verb model for my main clean tone for the past 4 years.
Nothing wrong with it. If you use guitars with a hot output, set Input Trim at 0.500 (which is the same as using the low output on a real Deluxe.

I’m glad it’s working for you, but there’s no healthy Deluxe Reverb that breaks up that fast. My 78 SFDR starts compressing around 3, breaks up around 4. Could just be a volume knob taper issue.

 

[yek]

Volume knobs on Fenders are 1-10.

Fractal controls are 0-10.

Fender 1 = Fractal 0.00
Fender 2 = Fractal 1.11
Fender 3 = Fractal 2.22
Fender 4 = Fractal 3.33
Fender 5 = Fractal 4.44
Fender 6 = Fractal 5.55
Fender 7 = Fractal 6.66
Fender 8 = Fractal 7.78
Fender 9 = Fractal 8.89
Fender 10 = Fractal 10.00

I'll leave it at this because this is a Helix thread.

 

[dws2384]

Don't want to intrude on this Helix thread, but I've been using the Fractal BF Deluxe Verb model for my main clean tone for the past 4 years.
Nothing wrong with it. If you use guitars with a hot output, set Input Trim at 0.500 (which is the same as using the low output on a real Deluxe.

On a real deluxe I generally run them on edge of breakup. For pretty much every deluxe Ive owned or played that’s usually between 4 and 5 depending on guitar output. I’ve never had to use the low input to achieve this. As someone else mentioned the fractal ones seem to be breaking up much much sooner than that, which mirrors my experience too. The fact that the dials start at zero instead of one isn’t enough to offset this.

As I stated, it doesn’t sound bad. It’s just I can walk up to any deluxe put the volume between 4-5, bass between 2-4, and treble between 5-6 and get the sound I want in less than 10 seconds. The stadium seems to mirror my real world experience more closely. I’ve got a real 64 BF, 65 DRRI, and Tonemaster version all here in my house and they all act pretty much the same too.

 

[Digital Igloo]

I love the Stadium plexi, and prefer it to most of the Fractal models. Must be that specific amp Line 6 have.

It's a model 1959 from the late 1960s. Whose idea was it to name an amp after a number that sounds very much like a year of manufacturing?

If the world still exists in the year 2203 and 2204, a few guitarists might be confused then as well.

 

[crispsandwich]

It's a model 1959 from the late 1960s. Whose idea was it to name an amp after a number that sounds very much like a year of manufacturing?

If the world still exists in the year 2203 and 2204, a few guitarists might be confused then as well.

I have always wondered the same thing with the Marshall Plexi. Was it to do with the fact the original circuit was a copy of a 50s Bassman?

Anyway, the Plexi you guys have sounds awesome based on the Agoura model. VERY much looking forward to Proxy.

Thanks for everything you all do.

 

[ccc118]

I have always wondered the same thing with the Marshall Plexi. Was it to do with the fact the original circuit was a copy of a 50s Bassman?

Anyway, the Plexi you guys have sounds awesome based on the Agoura model. VERY much looking forward to Proxy.

Thanks for everything you all do.

I don't think so because the 50 watt version is the 1987 and the Superbass is the 1992. All of them came out around the same time. I don't know why they chose the numbering they did. I saw one of the major Youtube channels that covers Stadium content incorrectly say that the Brit Megabass was a Superbass from the year 1992, so it certainly causes some confusion if you aren't familiar with them.

 

[EOengineer]

I have always wondered the same thing with the Marshall Plexi. Was it to do with the fact the original circuit was a copy of a 50s Bassman?

Anyway, the Plexi you guys have sounds awesome based on the Agoura model. VERY much looking forward to Proxy.

Thanks for everything you all do.

One of the more confusing aspects you run into trying to get up to speed on the old Marshalls is the confusing model numbers. It took me a minute to stop confusing the model names for years.

 

[ccc118]

It's interesting how mixed the opinions are on the Plexi on this forum. This is the only place I've seen criticism about it. I've only seen positive comments elsewhere. Personally, I think it sounds great maxed out with everything on 10 except presence (into the bright channel only). On 10, the bright cap is effectively out of the circuit, so the lack of one doesn't bother me. If you aren't into diming it, then it can sound a bit dull at lower settings. I can see how this could be an issue for some people. I think it's a relatively low gain plexi and still cleans up quite well, even when maxed out. I don't have hot pickups, so perhaps that might not work for some people.

I do understand that some people might still want it to be more aggressive. It sounds like DI hinted at some sort of solution for this, but perhaps a reissue like the 1987x would be a good candidate to add. It's easy to obtain and sounds pretty good.

I think the choice of a late 60's plexi makes a lot of sense consdering how popular many of the clones are that are based on this era (Suhr SL67/68, Friedman Plex, Germino, Metro etc................. It's very popular, largely due to EVH. I can't think of anyone that focuses on metal panels other than the Marshall reissues. Personally, I don't think they're as popular, but there are still a lot of people that like them. I certainly wouldn't compain about having both.

I have mixed opinions about the Fractal Plexis, but I don't want to turn it into a comparison thread.

 

[EOengineer]

It's interesting how mixed the opinions are on the Plexi on this forum. This is the only place I've seen criticism about it. I've only seen positive comments elsewhere. Personally, I think it sounds great maxed out with everything on 10 except presence (into the bright channel only). On 10, the bright cap is effectively out of the circuit, so the lack of one doesn't bother me. If you aren't into diming it, then it can sound a bit dull at lower settings. I can see how this could be an issue for some people. I think it's a relatively low gain plexi and still cleans up quite well, even when maxed out. I don't have hot pickups, so perhaps that might not work for some people.

I do understand that some people might still want it to be more aggressive. It sounds like DI hinted at some sort of solution for this, but perhaps a reissue like the 1987x would be a good candidate to add. It's easy to obtain and sounds pretty good.

I think the choice of a late 60's plexi makes a lot of sense consdering how popular many of the clones are that are based on this era (Suhr SL67/68, Friedman Plex, Germino, Metro etc................. It's very popular, largely due to EVH. I can't think of anyone that focuses on metal panels other than the Marshall reissues. Personally, I don't think they're as popular, but there are still a lot of people that like them. I certainly wouldn't compain about having both.

I have mixed opinions about the Fractal Plexis, but I don't want to turn it into a comparison thread.

This has been covered in an exhaustive amount of detail at this point. It’s not that the 68 is bad, it’s just that it’s one representation of an amp that evolved over a couple decades. The folks that love the 68 aren’t wrong for doing so. It’s a great vibe. However, if I want to bust out some Adam Jones riffs, the 68 can’t hang with those types of tones.

It’s more than bright caps, it’s power supply filtering differences, coupling caps, phase inverter values, etc. Frankly, most people who’ve sat in front of a Superlead have no idea what spec it is.

Nonetheless, it sounds like L6 has something up their sleeve so I’m excited to see where things go.

 

[Karl Houseknecht]

The good news is DI said they are working on it

Is that actually what he said?