Namm 2025 predictions

[EOengineer]

Yes please.

Yep, with speaker modeling tech that you don't really need when you use the Helix, and that makes it more expensive than, for instance, Fender FR10/12.

What I would like it's Line6's equivalent for Fender FR10/12, same price tag, no hiss risk, probably better fit for Helix since it's designed by the same brand.

The powercab is definitely another one of those things I file into the “interesting but not actually that useful” category. As it turns out, swapping speakers on every preset tends to be pretty jarring - particularly for the sound guy who is confused because “the guitars sounded fine a second ago…”

 

[Sascha Franck]

As it turns out, swapping speakers on every preset tends to be pretty jarring - particularly for the sound guy who is confused because “the guitars sounded fine a second ago…”

Which is precisely why I go for a "one IR per gig" approach ever since I started using modelers.

 

[EOengineer]

Which is precisely why I go for a "one IR per gig" approach ever since I started using modelers.

I use the same strategy. That probably feels like a gross underuse of the flexibility of modeling but it turns out not all flexibility is useful or even practical.

 

[Sascha Franck]

That probably feels like a gross underuse of the flexibility of modeling but it turns out not all flexibility is useful or even practical.

Exactly. And I'm still making use of that flexibility because I may use different IRs for different gigs (ok, I actually usually don't, but still...) and for recording. But as I have been getting along absolutely fine with one single cab per gig for the better part of my live playing "career", I just can't see why I would add some more parameters to deal with when there's so many already.

 

[ragingplatypi]

I use the same strategy. That probably feels like a gross underuse of the flexibility of modeling but it turns out not all flexibility is useful or even practical.

I use different IRs at home all the time. But I agree that when playing out it’s dodgy.

 

[ragingplatypi]

At $800, the Tonex Cab better be excellent or at least competitive. It looks promising.

 

[Lysander]

At $800, the Tonex Cab better be excellent or at least competitive. It looks promising.

Early post-embargo reviews are raving about the thing. Let's see what happens when it hits the masses.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Early post-embargo reviews are raving about the thing. Let's see what happens when it hits the masses.

Paid promotions

 

[ian_dissonance]

At $800, the Tonex Cab better be excellent or at least competitive. It looks promising.

If it can actually do the volume it claims it MIGHT be worth it. There seems to be about a $300 up charge to make it look like a guitar cab. The rest of the features are available on $500 PA speakers.

 

[Lysander]

Paid promotions

The usual suspects? Sure. I don't much like Henning Pauly f.ex., but i've never seen the guy afraid of calling out bad gear, and he gushes about the ToneX Cab in his video.

If it can actually do the volume it claims it MIGHT be worth it. There seems to be about a $300 up charge to make it look like a guitar cab. The rest of the features are available on $500 PA speakers.

I really want to try that myself too. Cordy apparently was gigging one with the volume a 9 o'clock and claims it was plenty loud.

 

[Sascha Franck]

The rest of the features are available on $500 PA speakers.

Which $500 PA speakers feature an IR loader? Or MIDI control?

 

[ian_dissonance]

Which $500 PA speakers feature an IR loader? Or MIDI control?

I can’t imagine a situation where any of that matters in a “"FRFR"” monitor.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I can’t imagine a situation where any of that matters in a “""FRFR""” monitor.

I can. Would not apply to me, but still.

 

[Mikael Dez]

I can’t imagine a situation where any of that matters in a “""FRFR""” monitor.

Agreed, I think it's very niche technology that spikes the price up on that cab. Too many bells and whistles get pitched these days on some products

So...just my opinion but

The FR-12 is killer. They implemented a hiss fix (based on the work @Lysander did) so that's a non-issue at this point for new units. Sounds bigger than it is, and sounds more amp like than other solutions I've tried. If you're US-based you might consider ordering one from GC so you can try it and see what you think. There have been a few skeptical folks who tried it and really enjoyed it. And others who still don't like it soooo

Have you compared running your QC into the FR-12 vs running into a combo amp return or a power amp&cab? At around $500+, I'm wondering if it's better to just get a used combo and run my QC into the return.

 

[Sedaxel]

Have you compared running your QC into the FR-12 vs running into a combo amp return or a power amp&cab? At around $500+, I'm wondering if it's better to just get a used combo and run my QC into the return.

This is what I´m doing with my NC.

It sounds very similar through the return of my tube combo (Boogie Studio22+) vs the aux-in of my Fender Champion XL. I don´t know if a FR-12 would do any better... the only advantage I can see in the "FRFR" route is that you could try differrent speakers (via IRs), while in a combo you´re obviously stuck to the physical speaker.