How much does the clean channel of the physical amp affect the helix affects? For example: if I play the helix with its amps sims and distortion/effects etc through a Fender Hot Rod Deville 4x10 amp (clean channel I assume?) is it possible to get the sound of say, a marshal valve? Or will the bluesy breakup of the fender amp still cause that high end breakup in the sound? I currently play through a fender strat, into the Hot Rod Deville, but I want a tighter tone more like a humbucker guitar through a Marshall amp- can the Helix transform the tone of my setup pretty well? Thanks for the video!
Dude... i just have to say, I LOVE your playing... your ambient style and sound and FEEL is just INCREDIBLE! You know someone has great ambient feel when their playing sends you into another world, and that is what your playing does; ambient or not! AMAZING!
Been using the Helix LT for over a year now. Sold most of my analog gear after I found it to by my primary way to play at any venue. Even travelled to Philippines to play at a whole bunch of venues and it was nice know my sound would be pretty much be the same anywhere I went. I've always been a tube amp and pedal guy before but switching to the Helix has made a huge difference for me.
Great video Rhett!! Just wanted to add a quick tip for people who are new at using something like Helix...put your Cab LAST in the chain. It makes a massive difference. If needed, you can follow up the Cab with an EQ but always put the Cab AFTER all your FX. It glues the sound together because it forces your tone to live inside the EQ curve of the Cab itself...just like real life...you don't run an SM57 into a Reverb/Chorus pedal! Haha. That little change makes all the difference in your tone.
For a non-giggin amateur like myself, the Helix is perfect IMO. I do love my pedals, but the ability to have such a large selection of pedals and amps that are really expensive makes this an economical choice.
I feel the opposite about the helix lol. When I was non gigging for a few years i was quite happy with my board because i only needed so many sounds to practice/noodle around with. Then when I finally started gigging again i had so many "i wish i had a phaser for this song/ i wish i had a different drive sound for this" moments that i finally gave in and realized for a gigging musician traditional setups are not really worth the trouble anymore...
Great video Rhett. I’ve gigged with a Helix for acoustic gigs for about the last 2 years and I love it. The options available are so broad, it’s hard to think about living without it. For electric guitarists, I’ve done the whole amp and pedalboard deal, but why limit yourself? The creative options are unlimited and that’s very exciting. Furthermore, nobody in the audience is going to be able to discern between a modeled vintage Vox AC30 and the real deal, so why go through the hassle of varying voltages of different venues, failing tubes or killing your back? Lastly, tube amps haven’t really progressed that much technically in decades, but modelers will just keep improving. It’s an amazing time to be a guitarist...
Great video Rhett! I agree with the Helix/Kemper thoughts 100%. For a while I ran both - I put Kemper in the fx loop of Helix and used the Kemper just as the amp. It was pretty great - the best of both worlds. Now try Axe-FX III :)
I'm with you but I prefer the AX8 floor unit. Line 6/Helix still has this high gain fizz to it that the AX8 does not have. If I were building a studio the AXIII is where its at. The AX8 crunch and low gain is also more great sounding. They are all good units don't get me wrong but AX8 is where its at in my view.
@@themelnibonean7017 I think it's also about how much have you learnt to set it up, many people say that digital are garbage because they have just plugged in to whatever preset comes up first... It's a matter of trying and exploring possibilities.
@@themelnibonean7017 I agree, to a point. My AX8 simply crushes with Hi-Gain amp models, but Helix has some killer sounds and FX too. They both have their place and I own them both and an AXE FX III and I luv ‘em all. My tube amps now collect dust, but I go through phases and the tube amps will come out again soon and I’ll go the other direction... for a while. For recording the modelers, to me, are indispensable. ✌🏼
This video is so well shot and edited, great to see how much better at it you're getting! Also, perfect timing on this video, been looking at a Helix for a few months now.
I had a period of the first month with the Helix where I wasn't sure I was going to keep it. It was a typical trajectory I've heard about the unit: couldn't quite get the metal/prog tones I was after until I bought IRs from ML Studios and Ownhammer. The funny thing is that I came back around to the stock cabs and am now happy with them with specific amps. An EQ block between the amp and cab(s), a high/low cut block, and parametric blocks to cut unwanted frequencies make a HUGE difference. I can't overstate how much those strategies help.
So you get rid of the "fizzy" characteristic by reducing high frequencies with EQ? How do these strategies work? Does the end result make it indistinguishable from Ax Fx 3?
I was literally just talking to another guitar player about your Helix tone on the road...I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. Thanks Rhett!
I LOVE Rhetts playing. I always hear stuff that he plays that I relate with. I try to make the worship parts I write more interesting and I take a lot of inspiration from Rhett and Micheal Pope. You're freaking insane man!
Rhett, I got my Helix as soon as it first came out. I had played with it at the Winter NAMM and knew I had to have one. I also had to learn how to get the presets tweaked to sound the way I wanted them to (they have a good starting point, but I personally believe they all need tweaked to taste). For the 1st year I kept my '65 Twin in the road case in my band trailer "just in case" I needed it when the Helix either died or sounded crappy on stage. I never once brought in my amp or pedal board for that year. For the past 4-5 years I have not even loaded my amp or pedal board on the trailer. The Helix has done everything I need it to and is perfect when using my UE-7 Pro IEMs. I do use a Electroharmonix B-9 pedal and a Drop-D pedal routed into the FX Loops on my Helix and programmed in my footswitch mode buttons. Those are 2 pedals the Helix cannot recreate due to being Polyphonic (at least at the current date). And Line 6 is always keeping up and adding via updates. One thing I will mention for your setup (should you ever go this way) is using The Broadway Stand. A friend of mine in Nashville (DB Chase) invented this - and I don't leave for a show without it. This gives you up to 3 stands, electric and USB plugs, and spot for pedal board all in 1 normal size footprint on stage. My Helix has a perfect perch there. You might want to check it out to help with footprint, setup, and tear down. I have not used a Kemper, so I will stay out of that conversation. But I am definitely a Line 6 Helix proponent! Good vids Dude - I've enjoyed them quite a lot.
Dude this video couldn't have come at a better time. I was thinking of purchasing one this weekend! Thanks for the great info and quality of content as always, Rhett!
I love your videos, you are an artist! You make the sounds and scenes come together as one piece, it is refreshing watch your channel here on TH-cam. Love your work man!
Thanks for what you do, Rhett. I hooked into you through your visits on Beato's channel, and have enjoyed your contributions there. This vid convinced me to go with the Helix. I'm going to retire from the "day job" soon, and have been thinking about a way to divorce myself from my 5-ton Fender Pro Reverb to a gig setup that a 65 year old can manage. I was almost bought in on the POD H500X until I saw this vid. I've watched a fair amount of your behind the scenes vids and trust your judgement when it comes to gear that is sonically able to please a live audience, road-worthy enough to last, and easy enough to use. I traded in the Pro Reverb 2 weeks ago for the Helix. It's a delight! Since I had to do my deal with an (unnamed) box store, I couldn't use your gear link to purchase it at retail, but to show my appreciation for all the hard and honest work you do I bought your Helix presets today. Not much in $$, but you deserve it, man. Now all I have to do is learn how to run the darn thing. Love your work, especially with Jessy W. Please book a gig in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, so I can get a chance to see ya!
I love my Helix LT. It is light & small & saves on back surgeries. It's good enough. If properly set up & through a house PA mix, the Helix is such that not one person in an audience can tell the difference between the Helix and old timey "real amps" & effects. Plus, as stated before - no back surgeries. Richard :)
Thanks Rhett - from my experience, your comments are spot on. My journey - very recent - took me first to lots of really good pedals. Even got a Mesa Boogie Lonestar to run them through. I have a pretty sweet set up. But.. I hedged my bets and ALSO bought the Helix. (work bonus, what can I say? blew it all on gear!). Hated the Helix out of the box. Tried a couple of my own presets, ran it through my home recording gear and speakers. Not much better. Pretty disappointed. Pretty sure I was going to sell it. But...finally plugged it into the Mesa Boogie, set up a new patch....and ...holy CRUD! awesome! added more effects, GREAT! added a stereo-out set up. KILLER! Now, my pedals also sounded this great. But I am AMAZED at how good the Helix sound is. To me, it feels like I am playing through the pedals. My pedals include a Timeline and some other top gear...the Helix at the least, matches it. about the only thing I notice - and you really have to pay attention to notice it - is that when rolling off volume on my guitar, the OD pedals clean up a tiny bit better than the Helix ODs. But that is about it, so far. Otherwise, some of the sound is BETTER than the pedals. I seem to have more control, more ability to shape the sound....add in the freakin' AMAZING number of ways you can route signals and loops and expression pedals and...and...and..and now, I am re-thinking the pedals. hey, I LOVE my pedals. but Helix is truly a game changer. It is that good.
I’ve had a Helix floor for a couple of years now and it really is an amazing live tool. In a live band scenario those subtle tonal differences from a tube amp are so negligible that it’s almost unnoticeable; certainly to my ears. The convenience and reliability, too, can’t be overstated.
Really great rundown! I have had Kemper, Line6, and Fractal. Sold them all and now use Synergy Amps module into two notes cab with gfi/ strymon effects. Best of tube and digital. I found with digital that I would only use 3-4 amp models which I can get from Synergy, most of whom are made by the actual amp builders themselves (Morgan, Friedman, Diezel, Bogner ) and there is a touch response from actual tube preamp that digital can’t seem to capture. In the end, if I’m spending 1500-2000, I want something that has tubes somewhere in the chain, and won’t be obsolete with the next revision ( Helix mkii, of Fractal AxeIV etc).
These are such great reviews. No stupid jokes or senseless talking -- just really informative, useful information and great demos of what the equipment can do.
+1 for the Helix. I've used it every week for the last 2 1/2 years, direct to FOH. No problems. And I'll have to add that Rhett's presets are some of the best I've purchased. Also a shout out to L6 for their service (although I haven't needed it) and presence on the gear forums. Line 6 is doing it right!!
@@schneiderpants23 I've bought many over the years and try to avoid the urge nowadays. Best thing I've done is learned what I like and work within that. I'm not one to try to emulate others (not good enough for that). I'm stuck on the Helix version matchless amp and add effects to fit the songs. Good luck!
God, finally, a balanced take on amp modellers from someone who appreciates the practical functions of both analog tubes and portable digital amps. Not to mention a pristine comparison between the Kemper and the Helix as well. Also, I personally appreciate the constructive approach towards the pros and cons of the Helix without having to bash other products to the extent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Thanks for taking the chance of zoning in your views on portable amp modelling! This might be stretching it but it would be cool if you could also do a take on the Fractal floor units, or not. Idk. Your call. Haha! Cheers, mate!
Ho ho, true, but there is another side of the story - what inspire you, what gives back, and what adds to your creativity. If it was only about what ever audience could hear, you could get away with cheap guitars and other cheap gear. If you are not sensitive to any of that, go for anything to get the job done. But most musicians I know are very sensitive to that, and for them good gear matters :-) (not to say that Helix cant do that...)
Agreed, in a live setting I doubt 99.99% of people would hear a difference. As for what inspires and what to use for recording then you may find a different answer. I used a Head Rush for a while, loved the ease of use and the tone was comparable, but after two died on me I eventually went to a Helix. Would love a Dual Rec though but just can't justify it for me.
Neil Weir-Smith I get what your saying and I don’t think anyone can tell what inspires you. My amps and pedals never inspired me, but the helix does! I think amps and pedals sound better, but they’re not my cup of tea!
@@phillipsouthard8285 We are on the same page I think. My Helix also inspires me but if I had the money and was recording professionally (neither of which is the case :)) then I would try and get the actual items from a patch I created for the purpose of recording. For everything else use the Helix. Of course while writing this I am thinking that even recording these days it would be difficult to spot the album recorded digitally vs on analog gear.
can’t agree more with this; it’s great to finally see someone who uses all these devices as tools in real world applications and is able to a)make them sound good and b)really evaluate pros and cons from a working musician point of view. I suggest to try the Fractal AX8 if you have the chance; it’s an all-in-one box like the Helix (minus the built-in exp pedal) and it provides amazing amp modeling tones and fx. Good job as always!
shaft9000 not if you know what you’re doing, just like any other piece of gear more or less. My comment was mainly about the Helix because is often underrated in comparison to Kemper and Fractal, while it clearly holds its place and is perfectly capable of providing usable tones in both studio and live environments.
I love the Helix and run it with both guitar and bass. It works as a recording interface, as a stand alone amp+pedal rig and as a pedalboard together with a traditional amp. And sure, the factory presets usually need a bit of tweeking to get the tone you like, but personally I find it intuitive and easy to learn. I never even opened the manual. On another note, I wonder how long we will talk about ”real” amps vs digital modelers. The digital are also real amps, as they do the same job but in a different way. We wouldn’t say real vs digital watch, both analogue and digital keep time, with different technical solutions... Of course, the modelers are trying to simulate traditional amps but in time they will probably also develop their own voice. For now it is a too important selling point that they can sound like a Plexi or whatever other traditional sound we love. But in the end, we want tools that sounds as good as possible to a price we can afford.
Enjoyed your Tele playing Rhett! I think the Helix is more intuitive and convenient over the others, and agree with your comments regarding how close we are to the “real thing”. I just ordered my Helix LT as it is more in my price range. Watching videos like yours confirms I made the right decision.
@@fuckenps3 Yeah, I meant from the point that Kemper/Helix/Axe Fx modellers are in the same sort of ballpark as classic amps like a 5150, Twin Reverb, etc. And you get a decent approximation of loads of those sounds in one box. Having said that, I'm continually impressed with the free Amp sims I hear online. Modellers are just going to come down in price as the technology improves as well, unlikely we'll see that from valve amps- we can hope though I suppose!
@@fuckenps3 amps really have not gotten that much more expensive than they have been by and large when you consider inflation. 150 dollars for a tweed fender in the 50s was a ton of money. Equivalent to the thousand dollars or more we pay today. I mean gas was what? Like 15 cents per gallon just for comparison.
Really appreciate the perspective and experience of a great player and especially given the environment you used as your test bed! I am a metal head and I play in a small local band doing melodic/folk death metal. When I bought a Helix I already had a Randall Satan and a Victory VX Kraken, as well as a couple thousand dollars in stomp boxes and rack equipment (nothing shocking, mostly different measures to fatten up my tone, saturate and then try to tame the resulting noise). Despite having absolutely incredible amps and great Mesa cabinets, I was constantly fighting with my equipment to get the sound I wanted without tons of feedback and hum. I actually got my Helix solely for use as a robust interface/modeler for doing home recordings during songwriting but quickly realized in testing it at practice and a few bar gigs that although I lost a subtle element by leaving out my real valve amps I gained SO MUCH convenience, control and simplicity by using the Helix that I just wasn't using the live amps anymore. I have actually had more compliments than ever on my tone and live sound since switching over. I'm sure that a purist would tell me I'm just an idiot who doesn't know how to use my valve amps correctly, but after 6 years of research, tinkering, and endless expensive gear purchases I still wasn't where I wanted to be and my rig was so complex it took me longer to set up than the drummer. A couple months with my helix saw me sounding the way I wanted with the simplest rig I've ever used, and I can even pipe two different Amp models out to my cabinets simultaneously to simulate my old 2 amp, 2 cab sound. It's not for everyone, but it's been a powerful and convenient tool for me! Thanks for the great video!
As a long time Helix user playing covers, I really do love it. Being in a power trio + front singer, it can do a lot to help fill the void on songs that have keys, strings, etc. Not saying it can replace a keyboard player, but it can do things add chord drones you can play over your solos, for instance. Takes time and practice, of course, to work that all out, and definitely not for "plug in and play" folks, but for those that don't mind getting into the details of it, there are impressive things you can do, for sure.
Hey Rhett! I really enjoyed this. Honestly these weren't even on my tube driven radar until I watched/heard your videos with Noah. I believe the word is "righteous" tones my friend. Keep 'em comin'.
I like your thoughts on this. Nothing beats a real tube amp feel and great pedals but the amps are usually miked and fed to audience through a PA system and with in ears which sound different so I would rather use the Helix, Kemper, Fractal since it reproduces the studio polished sound the audience hears and save my back carrying all the gear. I think the only way a audience will get the feel of a tube amp is a up close session but then it has drawbacks like the drums may be too loud like in church settings for example then it’s a volume war.
I just spent a couple hours on my brand new Helix rack. Within 2 min i had already found a sound i liked. I bought it with the idea of making it the brain of my little home setup. Its still early days but i cant see myself regreting this idea. Every sound i will ever need for recording at home is in there. Go Helix!
I just used this pedal for the first time in my worship set and I used the pull me under stock setting on a Schecter omen 6 with factory pickups, I have to say I'm impressed. I would purchase this pedal if I had the chance to.
I’m a tube amp pedal guy, about 2 yrs ago my wife bought me a Helix which I’ve only used for recording, until now. With the present situation most of my earnings have come from live streaming gigs and I’ve been using the Helix. I’m astounded by the clarity of the notes and the tones are amazing too. I pretty much set up my signal chain like a tube amp and pedals, nothing too complicated. Tonite I will play my first gig to a live audience for 6mths and I’m gonna use the Helix, I’m a little nervous about that but you’ve convinced me to take the plunge. Cheers Mick
Helix makes the dream rig become real. I've been using it for a few years now. Such an incredible piece of gear. The BIGGEST bonus of all about Line 6.. their customer service and free gear updates!!
@@OldGrowthRedwood Neither me. I was an "early adopter" and have had my Helix for over three years. Best bit of kit I've ever bought. It has replaced my Marshall half-stack/Blackface Twin rig. And Line 6's customer service is quite frankly the best in the business. (And I'm not sponsored by Line 6 - I paid real money for my Helix floor.) Fractal, Helix, or Kemper will get you to the tones you want, but the Helix is the best-thought-out solution by a country mile. Their customer service is second to none. The only comparison I can make is with the interwar period of Rolls-Royce. When Helixes have gone down in critical circumstances (very much a rarity; but events, dear boy, events) Line 6 have gone above and beyond the conventional response, sometimes providing replacements they have had shipped from their local distributor. And they are now part of Yamaha (and no I don't have a commercial relationship with Yamaha either - I play Strats) and have Ampeg on their books too. They are just about the coolest kit company on the planet; but nothing short of injury will ever make me replace my number 1 with anything other than a Strat.
@@OldGrowthRedwood hey just a heads up as well, I'm on the helix FB group and trust me the customer service is ridiculous. So so good, they put themselves out there to help as much as possible
I like how you share your presets and knowledge. Seems like a lot of pro musicians like to keep all their settings and whatnot to themselves. Thank you.
Here are some key factors that can help you decide. The Kemper is a Profiler, if you have a snapshot of a great tube amp, then it doesn't get better than that. If you need to tweak that profile/snapshot than you are departing from the original amp sound because you are always using the same internal EQ with every amp that you've profiled. You do not have the EQ of the original amps. So you need a lot of Profiles to be happy, and there are enough out there. The Helix is a modeling unit that models all aspects of the amps and effects used. If you tweak an amp model in the Helix you are still remaining in its original amp equalization and sound spectrum. So you need to know to tweak, how the original amps react (for instance an AC30) to get the most out of it. You need analog knowledge and experience for the Helix. There are lots of Tube Amps that can sound crappy if you do not play them the right way, with the right guitar, and if you don't tweak them properly. The same can be said about the Helix, if you use the wrong amp, for the wrong purpose you are not going to sound great. If you take your time you can have the Helix sound absolutely brilliant. The amp models are 100% authentic, the effects are stellar and last but not least, you can get a great professional sound at ridiculous price points. We are living in the best of all times from the options we have at our disposal. Cheers and have a great time.
@@Xplorer228 It can be run through an FRFR powered speaker cab which is the best option for these types of modeling units to get the most accurate amp/tone representation. Can also be run through regular guitar amp preferably using 4 cable method utilizing the amps effects loop. Also can be run straight through the band's mixing board if you happen to be using one for a garage/basement practice jam session.
Here's a tip from a long time digital multi effect pedalbooard user - currently using a Firehawk FX exactly the same way Rhett describes -. If you want a speaker on stage, look online for a used Fender Ultra Chorus. (You're not looking hard enough if you can't find one for a couple of hundred bucks) It looks like a Twin but half the weight. The trick is to not use the normal input but rather to use a stereo 1/4 to 1/4 cable to go directly from the pedalboards headphone output to a jack on the front of the Fender labelled "Stereo Effects Return". This bypasses the entire preamp section, and puts the pedalboard straight into a true stereo power section, driving each of the two twelve inch speakers with about 60 watts. Then use the main outputs on the unit to send to FOH. When you turn on a stereo chorus module the separation is amazing.
@@Dannyboy0202 That was a very tongue in cheek comment. Humour doesn't always come off well online. Line 6 and all of these companies will happily send out their gear to people who have a big audience, and can showcase their products. They normally sell the gear to that person for a huge discount cost price or less, and sometimes depending on the person they'll give it for free just so that they can be associated with that player. Like I don't think Guthrie Govan would be paying for one of these if he wanted one.
I’ve had my Helix LT for just over 3 weeks and I’m really digging it but the expression pedal broke a few days ago. Contacted Line 6 and my replacement board (full board not just the pedal!!!!) arrived an hour ago, 2 days after speaking to Line 6. Awesome and flexible product, perfect for my current gig and amazing customer service! Great video as always 🤟
I'm only a couple of years into my guitar playing journey, and I bought one (used). I think it will save me thousands in the future, on amp and effects purchases.
I just returned a Kemper. I spent about 3 weeks and bought some very expensive profiles to try and get the best impression possible from it in the time I had, but just couldn't get it to sound good. It just sounded cheap and inorganic, especially on drive or high gain profiles. I have a Padalka Space 7 custom guitar, and RME RayDat with Focusrite interface. I'm getting a Helix soon, it just works. There is no excuses and fanboy delusions, just a damn good sounding modeler with excellent effects. I bought the Profiler because people said they don't have to spend a lot of time tweaking and what not, but I found that I was constantly fighting that box to find a sound I would lay down on tracks. It never happened. You go to the forums, it's nothing but excuses as to why it sounds bad or makes excessive noise, etc. Always centered around user error. To me it seemed people were tweaking more than on the Axe FX and still not getting there. I had the same experience with the Kemper and the Axe FX II. Nothing can ever 100% replace amps and cabinets, but they can come close. To me the Helix is close enough and priced so I don't feel like I was just raped in the wallet only to struggle to find sounds I can work with and sound semi professional.
My guitar player switched to that rig and literally the skies opened up and a ray of light shined down on us and has never gone out. I do our in ear mixes as well as play drums and it sounds so good, the signal I get is constant and we dont even need to do more than a line check with it. For gigging, I cant think of a reason not to use it. Make life easier on yourselves guitarists, getcha one of those!
I have just found your channel because of the Helix title. You’ve mentioned that you figured out the trick that can be applied for every amp sounding an acceptable way. It would be a good idea to demonstrate it in another video. Anyways I subscribed.
Great info Rhett. I just picked up a Helix and put it in play in our church worship band yesterday and the feedback (pun intended🙄) from everyone afterwards was: “whoa...the sound and tone this morning with whatever you added was incredible!” I also installed Remo Silent Stroke mesh heads on our acoustic Yamaha Stage Custom drum kit and connected to our old Yamaha DTX900 drum brain with Yamaha triggers and the stage mix and in-ear monitor mix was the most musical we’ve ever experienced with the Helix along for the ride. Now we’ll spend some time dialing in our tone for the room and I plan on downloading some of your presets. Love your playing and tone Rhett...keep the videos coming! (Jason, Toronto area)
I had a Helix for a while and liked it, especially the interface. In the end I settled on an Axe-FX III due to the additional tweaking options and amp models. I also think the effects were a cut above. Nonetheless, we live in a golden age, at least for guitarist. We have so many great options now that it’s really hard not to get good tone...as long as you know how to use the tools are your disposal.
Had a Helix for over 2 years now. Love it. Struggled at first, stuck with it for a few months, then the penny dropped and now it just amazes me every time I pick it up. The best part is the community around it and the updates and support from Line 6 - which are the best in the industry. Can't recommend Helix highly enough.
I describe my Helix LT to my friends as "the mad guitarist's tone lab" or the "working musician's toolkit." I'm completely hooked. In addition to the stuff you mentioned in the video, the other way that Helix dominates Kemper is the ease of editing. The onboard editing, as well as the HX Edit program, are both top notch. Great video as always.
@@travisjones4001 they both have all of the same effects and horsepower under the hood. The difference between the two is mainly the construction materials of the two (LT uses plastic components in some places where the Floor model uses aluminum) and the input and output options (Floor model has more input and output connections on the unit).
@@travisjones4001, yes, for the most part, it should last as long. For the sake of transparency, though, when the LT was first released, some people were having some issues with the built in expression pedal breaking, but Line 6's customer support is phenomenal, and they replaced all of the LTs that had any issues. I think the unit has been redesigned since then, because I have not seen any complaints about the expression pedal breaking on any of the models lately (within the last year and a half). I have a Floor model that I preordered when they were announced, and it had never failed me!! I have a Kemper, too, like Rhett, but I have turned it on only once or twice since I bought the Helix, because even though I like the Kemper's amp tones just a little better than the Helix, the flexibility of the Helix, it's onboard effects, is ease of setup and tear down, is compact format (easier to transport than a Kemper) etc., made it a no brainer for me. If you buy one and get familiar with how it operates, which is not hard, you will find that it will change the game for you. Just check out the snapshot feature, onboard parallel processing, the number and quality of onboard effects and amps, and you will be sold!
Best review I've listened to for a long time. I have a Kemper and a Helix and my feelings are exactly the same. The main difference, for me, is that I can 'feel' and connect with the Kemper amps, whereas I simply cannot on the Helix. That's where the Kemper wins (as well as profiling of course). On everything else, the Helix wins.
I’ve been making music since 1966. I’ve been privileged to meet many well known top guitarists over the years. I’ve heard and seen the complaints they have made regarding the limitations of their rigs. That’s why so many of them were quick to abandon the gear many now lust after in the quest for the tone they were seeking and couldn’t get. You just can’t take everything with you over the years. I would bet if Hendrix were alive today, he would absolutely fall in love with ALL of the choices available in todays digital gear and laugh in his sleeve at those spending ridiculous amounts of $$$ for gear he left in the dust decades ago.
With the way Hendrix embraced technology I would not be surprised if he was either alive today or say took a time machine to 2021 he would totally hook into a modelling rig and be highly satisfied.
I had a Helix since it was release in 2016 and let it go a couple of months ago. I spended huge, I mean "huge" amount of time and money to make it sounds as a real amp...I bought all the "golden nuggets" the digital industry was offering, everything from IR, plastic FRFR, then wooden FRFR, little amps, big amps...etc... After 2 years of twicking and studying all kind of tricks, routes and connections I gave up with it. My point of view from it... my likes... 1.Great tool for stage musicians that are used to hear their's sound with PA or innears. 2.Amazingly easy and friendly usable tool...probably it's bigger strengh 3.Easy tu use with your DAW...friendly to the computer from the first second, and records perfectly in the track. 4. Absurd options to choose a sound...(this poins is as good as bad) My dislikes 1. Never ending fight with the volume level in a band situation NO prescence 2. Sounds is always thin, there is NO punch on the air, it doesn't move air. 3. Extremely sensitive to pickups' gain, or guitar's change... 4 You usually like one or two sounds, and you won't need 300 amps to choose from, give me 10 amazing amps instead 5. There is a tiny latency in your fingers..that will end up bodering you... Finally I went back to the Tubes' world, where your sound is like your jeans...you know it and you can deal with it in 30 seconds...But sometimes I still missed the Helix...
@@ledzeppelinqwe I played with a QSC K10, an FBT StageMaxx12, Alto 212 TS and a Friedman ASM 212...the last one sounds best...but you'll never have the feeling because digital sound don't punch they don't move air. The closer to a tru amp was goin into a tubes amp trought the return...and to a standar guitar´s speakers..
The Kemper is the closest to a tube amp sound. Once the Kemper Kone comes out, it should give the amp in the room sound. Yeah, the Helix' distortion is too jagged sounding.
Actually I bought a Headrush for home recording and it sounds way more real trought the return of my amp. As to Kemper's sound I heard it sounds and feel really close to a tube amp. Whats`that Kemper Kone..? Is new..?@@carlhardwickofficial
Playing Line6 stuff now for 20 years now.....red bean - XT - X3 - HD500 - Hd500x. They never let me down on stage. Your comment on Helix as being ''most close enough' is really true. Lately I tried to get into the analogue domain again, because of hardrock gigs. So I went into pedals and Marshall stuff once more. But hums, malfuntions, difficulty in use and lack of programming sounds made me turn to the H550x with two DT25 heads. I think I'm also ready for the Helix now. Thanks for sharing your story!
@@TheRycooder It has all the amps, cabs, mics, and effects that Helix has. Only difference is that it has less DSP and available blocks per snapshot or preset. You only get 6 blocks to work with. For me, that's plenty.
Hooter Bear you’re thinking of HX Effects. HX Effects: Up to 9 blocks, Effects only, with eight total footswitches HX Stomp: Up to 6 blocks, ALL Helix amps and effects, three footswitches total (you can add two more with an external controller). The HX Effects is for people who are always going to be using a real amp. The HX Stomp is best as a complete simple rig or as a great part of an overall larger rig.
The tones in the video sounded really good. The reasons why it worked makes a lot of sense. The promise of all the tones and effects you would ever want in 1 box is appealing. What holds me back is obsolescence. I have bought things in the past-some were well worth it, just they lose their value and their usefulness over time. Not trying to counter your vid, just sharing out loud what is preventing me from trying one. I think you made excellent points, and the sounds you got really tempt me. At the end of the day, I just try to remember I am better off working on becoming a better player with the equipment I have, which is easier said than done. Appreciated your take, impressed with the sounds you got, and loved seeing that you were able to put one to use in the real world on gigs.
I have both the Kemper and the Axefx 3, I just sold my helix. So for a time I had all 3 of the big modelers. In my experience #1 would be the AxeFx 3, hands down the best. #2 would be the Kemper but only because of the amp profiling, the effects suck. #3 would be the Helix, only because I feel the amp models are not quite there (no audience member would notice though). The effects as always are magnificent.
I purchased a Helix LT about a year ago, and haven’t looked back. It has simplified the gigging experience for me. I am an old analog junkie who saw the light. Is it exactly a tube amp and analog rig, no of course not but it’s darn close. Love the snapshots and the user friendly interface. I used to haul heavy tube amps a guitar and a pedalboard. Now I show up to the gig with my guitar and Helix backpack. Setup takes me about 6 minutes.
Thanks for the video! I went for theHelix because of several blind tests I did: I just liked the sounds. To have everything in one board was/is a very big issue for me. Kemper would have needed an extra floorboard. A week after I purchased the Helix, Kemper introduced its floorboard out of the blue. A collegue owns a Kemper and it just didn‘t impress me (though very very good). All in all, a combination of saving time, saving my back and personal taste. Years ago, I played a cheapo chinese Les Paul copy (about $100, no mods) and after shows people always asked what year my LP was because it sounded so darn good... I think, that says it all: it’s not about what you have, it’s what you do with it.
I finally sold my rig and got a Helix LT. It’s been great not having to lug my entire rig around. Now I just need to get in a band and play shows with it...
had mine for a couple years now. Started out with an HX effects, after about 6 months decided to upgrade to the LT. It is a game changer IMO. 10,000 worth of amps, cabs, effects, mics, whatever in a little pedalboard sized box of joy. :)
I’ve been dangerously on the edge of picking up an HX Stomp lately. It just seems like a nice piece of auxiliary gear to have. I’ll probably put it on my main board at the chain to cover any weird effects that I don’t already have. Also it makes running stereo super simple, which will be great for recording
I got an HX Stomp in my rig, an I love it. I normally use it as a super pedal (my 2nd delay an, some modulation effects) and when I want to record or play without making any noise, it's super useful. I think one day I will use it as an amp solution for some church gigs! Nice video, thanks for your job!
I bought my Helix in June and I am so in love with it! The only thing that could replace it would be a Helix 2. For me it's just perfect. I play guitar and bass in 3 Bands (2 cover bands, 1 Metalcore band). All I need for shows or rehearsals is my guitar or bass and the Helix. No heavy stuff, no need to mic things up, lower stage and rehearsal volume, easy to use, loads of great tones and especially the snapshot function is a real game changer for me!
Some big musicians that I know use the digital stuff for writing and inspiration, but then go back to their other gear to set up those sounds for recording and live shows. I can see that being very useful. Obviously no right or wrong way to do any of this stuff, as long as you're having fun and getting results that you want!
Def Leppard's Phil Collen has been recording with Native Instruments Guitar Rig for years. The digital vs analogue debate is a sideshow now - all that matters is that your rig serves up what you need.
The helix is super versatile for recreating tones from a record, as you said it is super easy to setup. My experience with it is so much better space wise especially in the UK. Having had an amp and pedals, then the price for cables too it gets expensive quickly. No more forgetting cables, I think it is super great for the soundman too, you get the exact sound changes and no stage noise! The marketplace is so great too, great for teaching about tones for any genre and also dep gigs.
I've been considering getting a Helix for a few months now because it seems it's able to do, what I've been trying to get done via "analog" means. I've been attempting to run a dual amp setup where I have a clean Fender and a dirty Marshall and I use a stereo volume/panning pedal to fade between the two. You'd think this would be a simple set up, but most volume/pan pedals have wacky output at the middle of their throw. Helix can do this no problem and even allows something I hadn't considered until Ernie Ball released the Dustin Kensrue signature guitar where I can have the guitar pickups wired to separate outputs. This means I could send the neck pickup to a clean Fender signal path and the bridge pickup to a dirty Marshall distortion signal path.
I would really LOVE to see a multi FX pedal that was an open platform like a DAW.. You buy the hardware and then purchase plugins from Line 6, Kemper, Fractal, etc. That way you can mix and match everything from different vendors. If only... 😏
Rhett... This is one of the most intelligent, rational, non-hype assessments of the Helix I have seen. I can understand how the Helix would be useful for a musician like you who needs to travel light sometimes. However, I work very hard to get my guitars (mostly Fenders) sounding as good as they can possibly be through careful choices of pickups, pots, capacitors, pedals, amplifiers and speakers. I have been doing this for forty years. I have a fairly large collection of guitars that I have built or modified myself to sound specific ways. All of that effort is negated by modeling devices like the Helix that transform the guitar (like that awesome 335 you play) from a unique entity with a special voice into a glorified a tone generator. I congratulate Line 6 for developing a very good product for working musicians, but I am a home studio-only guitarist who never performs in public. I have the time necessary to set up the right sounds for each track I record though careful choices of guitars, effects and amps. If it takes all day to get the right sound, then that's fine with me. For that reason, I think I'll keep doing things the old way. Good luck in all you do!
Great Video Rhett!! I use an HX stomp in a small rig for playing acoustic and electric Live! It's so small you could throw it in a carry-on for a fly date. Keep up the great videos!
Hey man! This is probably a weird place to look for advise but you're using the Hx stomp pretty much how I would like to. I've just moved to London and my current rig is too much of a pain to carry as well as having to fly back home for a few gigs here and there. For my electric gigs I wanted to attach it to my pedalboard and use my own drives and current effects and just use the hx stomp for it's amp modelling and a few other things will they play nice? Also play acoustically with a 50s and 60s band and I was hoping to use it one as a DI box and to add a slapback reverb and a touch of drive every now and then... what are your thoughts on this? Thanks in advance :)
@@stephenspringall8664 Yeah, it will work great for that. The band i'm in use a Country/Rock band and i'm mainly the rhythm player/Lead Vocalist and I play electric on 10 songs and acoustic on the rest. I use my Left out hard panned for my acoustic DI with some light compression and verb and a delay option if I need it. I use my Right out Hard panned for my Electric. I was using mine as you suggested with some other pedals for my drive's but since I'm only a rhythm player I just programmed my snapshots using More drive as I need it and did away with the extra pedals. Now my pedalboard is very tiny, I use a wireless, a two button TRS footswitch to add two extra switches to my stomp, and my Hx stomp. It's a very minimal setup. Also a common mistake people make is investing in a DI box. You don't need it, the stomp uses balanced out, even though they are 1/4" they are TRS. So all you need is (2) TRS to XLR cables to go direct into your pa for balanced DI out. Hope that helps!!!
Dumb question but do you need a good monitor speaker at your feet? Our PA speakers face the audience obviously and I use my amp to hear what I'm playing. With the Helix type setup I wouldn't have that amp feeding into my ears. I assume I'd need another monitor off the PA, no?
Eric Fudeman it depends on your setup. Both bands I’m in have in ear monitors, so in my mix it’s as if I’m hearing a mic’d amp In another room. As Rhett mentions in the video, you could get a power cab. I also have a small alto active speaker I test drive patches in my studio.
One trip from the car, put it on floor .... play. Love mine. “Enter Sandman” goes from clean chorus to all out heavy rythmn to wah drop in bits done in studio, to solo lead sound and back to clean chorus. With Helix it’s easy to cover and the only thing holding me back is my amateur ability.
Rhett, I had heard that Kemper amps have an added compressor in their “Effects loop”. Give that a go on the Helix as well. I do this with the Deluxe Comp. I’ve been using the unit for a year and a half. It blows me away weekly in my tone shaping sessions. Thanks for this thoughtful description and test run 👍🏼
I got the Helix 2 yrs ago to run as a midi/FX controller/brain for my tube and pedal rig. Love it. The routing and user interface is gold! L6 knocked it out of the park. On top of it being able to control an analog rig; I'm absolutely loving the modeling versatility in combination with an EHX 44 Magnum into my Bogner 212.
I'm really overthinking this one and/or the Neural DSP quad cortex.. Seeing Rabea Massaad use the Neural live in his frog leap and solo band is just so cool.. what differs the one from another?
Helix is THE amp killer, I’v had mine for a few months and could never go back to a tube amp, the question of if it sounds like a tube amp is no, it sounds much better... don’t try and play it through an amp, get a small PA system or studio monitors or run directly to a monitor and house board... I use a cheap guitar center M200-BT PA system, small light $350 and loud enough and quite enough to do just about anything you want sounds absolutely amazing... 2 grand and you have everything you need in a simple compact system... it’s also the best acoustic guitar setup I’ve ever played through very very clear and dead silent, no hum no hiss at all... it’s amazing...
robert w hey, would you recommend it for lower volumes? I recently moved into an apartment and I am no longer able to use my Mark V, cause it would for sure get me evicted. I’ve been looking at the helix and either a decent studio monitor or a headrush 108 speaker, but I am afraid they would still be loud for an apartment
Jose D It has the same tone and feel no matter what volume you’re at Jose, you have to play with the Bias and Sag settings some to get some compression on the gain... if you always want it to be super clean but not get very loud then I’d get some studio monitors, if you want quiet and still be able to get it loud sometimes with a little less sound quality I’d go with powered PA speakers, I just struggled with the same question and decided to go with a small PA system, it’s working great for me, quite with stereo sound still portable and gets loud enough when you want. I was using a twin reverb and just got tired of the ear splitting volume, 130db sounds great but gets old. I’m using 10 inch PA speakers with a small powered mixer, and for me it’s exactly what I was looking for, does everything...
I have owned mine now for about four months and I *STILL* am finding cool things I can do with this thing. Yes, it is quite the investment. There's no way around it. But once the pain of buying it is over, you get to enjoy it and it will quite literally change your approach to playing. I have mine paired with the BluGuitar Amp1 100 watt four channel amp, which is a whole other topic by itself. But it's the size of a large stompbox. And I use the Line 6 digital wireless so I only have one cable going to the Mesa 2x12 cab and one connecting my Helix to the Amp1. It will MAKE you want to play more, not only because it sounds so good, but the tones it produces are so good. Recording is so simple. There's so much flexibility and capability that even a die hard tone freak will be sedated.
You always get great sound no matter what you play through...I had a Kemper power rack when it first came out...it was good..but limited as to the post fx so I sold it for an axe fx 3...thats good too but way too complicated...so I bought a line 6 Powercab 212 plus...The Helix was the next logical step...its will be here in a few days so I'm all over TH-cam watching every Helix video.
Mine went in the bin! Spent to much time creating sounds on the helix, that I had no time left to actually play guitar. Now I am enjoying playing guitar again.
Nice video! It's kinda funny because I made my graduate project about the comparison between digital modeling amps and the real amps... it was awesome to do that. For that I recorder some DI guitar tracks and then reamped them using the Fractal AX8 and the Line 6 POD HD500 (which I own) and also a Fender amp (bassman). Then I made a poll and what I found was that almost no one was able to choose correctly in which type of processing was used in each one. In fact, many of the people who answerer the poll chose the option B in many of the clips, which was the one processed with the POD HD500. It's a very short way to summarize all the work, and it turned out to be really cool making that project, the teachers who watched my exposition like it a lot. It's very nice to have the opinion from a player who has always played with analog stuff, and yes... I think that in the future the differences will become smaller every time they release a new update. :D
I bought a rack and controller right after they came out but my son, who is way more talented than I am, stole them both so I had to buy an LT. Now I think I need a Powercab Plus. Rhett, your videos make me want to play guitar way more than I currently am. Thank you.
I bought my Helix pretty much as soon as it came out and was in stock to go with my new PRS 513. Best purchase EVER! I updated the firmware once when I got it, and haven't bothered since because it does what I want. I adopted the same routine for setting up sounds (clean, dirty, heavy as hell), got an amp for each sound, a couple of effects and that has been it. It has been a faultless unit for me and I am out most weekends and not the most fey and delicate of touch, but its just wonderful. I think that if you are trying to emulate tones to suit songs you are covering it has everything you could possibly need, and if you are developing your own tone, then there are many an day to be lost going through it and tweaking to your hearts content.
My first video course, The Tone Course, is available now. Check it out below!
flatfiv.co/collections/rhett-shull/products/the-tone-course
How much does the clean channel of the physical amp affect the helix affects? For example: if I play the helix with its amps sims and distortion/effects etc through a Fender Hot Rod Deville 4x10 amp (clean channel I assume?) is it possible to get the sound of say, a marshal valve? Or will the bluesy breakup of the fender amp still cause that high end breakup in the sound? I currently play through a fender strat, into the Hot Rod Deville, but I want a tighter tone more like a humbucker guitar through a Marshall amp- can the Helix transform the tone of my setup pretty well? Thanks for the video!
Are these presets still somewhere available
Dude... i just have to say, I LOVE your playing... your ambient style and sound and FEEL is just INCREDIBLE! You know someone has great ambient feel when their playing sends you into another world, and that is what your playing does; ambient or not! AMAZING!
Been using the Helix LT for over a year now. Sold most of my analog gear after I found it to by my primary way to play at any venue. Even travelled to Philippines to play at a whole bunch of venues and it was nice know my sound would be pretty much be the same anywhere I went. I've always been a tube amp and pedal guy before but switching to the Helix has made a huge difference for me.
Great video Rhett!!
Just wanted to add a quick tip for people who are new at using something like Helix...put your Cab LAST in the chain. It makes a massive difference.
If needed, you can follow up the Cab with an EQ but always put the Cab AFTER all your FX. It glues the sound together because it forces your tone to live inside the EQ curve of the Cab itself...just like real life...you don't run an SM57 into a Reverb/Chorus pedal! Haha. That little change makes all the difference in your tone.
For a non-giggin amateur like myself, the Helix is perfect IMO. I do love my pedals, but the ability to have such a large selection of pedals and amps that are really expensive makes this an economical choice.
I feel the opposite about the helix lol. When I was non gigging for a few years i was quite happy with my board because i only needed so many sounds to practice/noodle around with. Then when I finally started gigging again i had so many "i wish i had a phaser for this song/ i wish i had a different drive sound for this" moments that i finally gave in and realized for a gigging musician traditional setups are not really worth the trouble anymore...
Great video Rhett. I’ve gigged with a Helix for acoustic gigs for about the last 2 years and I love it. The options available are so broad, it’s hard to think about living without it. For electric guitarists, I’ve done the whole amp and pedalboard deal, but why limit yourself? The creative options are unlimited and that’s very exciting. Furthermore, nobody in the audience is going to be able to discern between a modeled vintage Vox AC30 and the real deal, so why go through the hassle of varying voltages of different venues, failing tubes or killing your back? Lastly, tube amps haven’t really progressed that much technically in decades, but modelers will just keep improving. It’s an amazing time to be a guitarist...
Well said
yep
which helix? Are there different ones?
@@40rockdqman maybe the one the videos about?
So true!
From what I could hear on TH-cam of the Noah Guthrie gigs using the Helix, your tone was outstanding!
Gee, I really liked the guitarist in that band, but his amp sim only sounded 99.9% like the real thing...pffft.
99.9% like it... jesus... you are giving so much credit! ahhhahahaha.
@@jamescuttsmusicjcm5013 He whom the cap fits...
@@draic890 ??
It all sounds like white noise through the house PA speakers anyway.. :)
Perfect imitation of the mentally ill guitarist when they stomp the OCD pedal on Tone snobbery
Great video Rhett! I agree with the Helix/Kemper thoughts 100%.
For a while I ran both - I put Kemper in the fx loop of Helix and used the Kemper just as the amp. It was pretty great - the best of both worlds.
Now try Axe-FX III :)
I'm with you but I prefer the AX8 floor unit. Line 6/Helix still has this high gain fizz to it that the AX8 does not have. If I were building a studio the AXIII is where its at. The AX8 crunch and low gain is also more great sounding. They are all good units don't get me wrong but AX8 is where its at in my view.
The Melnibonean haven’t configured it properly then...
@@themelnibonean7017 I think it's also about how much have you learnt to set it up, many people say that digital are garbage because they have just plugged in to whatever preset comes up first... It's a matter of trying and exploring possibilities.
The Melnibonean 💯agree👍🏻
@@themelnibonean7017 I agree, to a point.
My AX8 simply crushes with Hi-Gain amp models, but Helix has some killer sounds and FX too.
They both have their place and I own them both and an AXE FX III and I luv ‘em all.
My tube amps now collect dust, but I go through phases and the tube amps will come out again soon and I’ll go the other direction... for a while.
For recording the modelers, to me, are indispensable. ✌🏼
This video is so well shot and edited, great to see how much better at it you're getting! Also, perfect timing on this video, been looking at a Helix for a few months now.
I had a period of the first month with the Helix where I wasn't sure I was going to keep it. It was a typical trajectory I've heard about the unit: couldn't quite get the metal/prog tones I was after until I bought IRs from ML Studios and Ownhammer.
The funny thing is that I came back around to the stock cabs and am now happy with them with specific amps.
An EQ block between the amp and cab(s), a high/low cut block, and parametric blocks to cut unwanted frequencies make a HUGE difference. I can't overstate how much those strategies help.
So you get rid of the "fizzy" characteristic by reducing high frequencies with EQ? How do these strategies work? Does the end result make it indistinguishable from Ax Fx 3?
I was literally just talking to another guitar player about your Helix tone on the road...I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it. Thanks Rhett!
I LOVE Rhetts playing. I always hear stuff that he plays that I relate with. I try to make the worship parts I write more interesting and I take a lot of inspiration from Rhett and Micheal Pope. You're freaking insane man!
Rhett,
I got my Helix as soon as it first came out. I had played with it at the Winter NAMM and knew I had to have one. I also had to learn how to get the presets tweaked to sound the way I wanted them to (they have a good starting point, but I personally believe they all need tweaked to taste). For the 1st year I kept my '65 Twin in the road case in my band trailer "just in case" I needed it when the Helix either died or sounded crappy on stage. I never once brought in my amp or pedal board for that year. For the past 4-5 years I have not even loaded my amp or pedal board on the trailer. The Helix has done everything I need it to and is perfect when using my UE-7 Pro IEMs.
I do use a Electroharmonix B-9 pedal and a Drop-D pedal routed into the FX Loops on my Helix and programmed in my footswitch mode buttons. Those are 2 pedals the Helix cannot recreate due to being Polyphonic (at least at the current date). And Line 6 is always keeping up and adding via updates.
One thing I will mention for your setup (should you ever go this way) is using The Broadway Stand. A friend of mine in Nashville (DB Chase) invented this - and I don't leave for a show without it. This gives you up to 3 stands, electric and USB plugs, and spot for pedal board all in 1 normal size footprint on stage. My Helix has a perfect perch there. You might want to check it out to help with footprint, setup, and tear down.
I have not used a Kemper, so I will stay out of that conversation. But I am definitely a Line 6 Helix proponent!
Good vids Dude - I've enjoyed them quite a lot.
Fabulous playing and tones. Musical and truly warm, even ”organic” for lack of a better word, even though it's digital. Kudos!
@Seamus O'Dork Shut up Seamus you goon
Fez Music "N-no, you're wrong. SHUT UP" thats what you sound like, accept it theres no difference
Oh no the dreaded "organic" word :-))
Dude this video couldn't have come at a better time. I was thinking of purchasing one this weekend! Thanks for the great info and quality of content as always, Rhett!
I love your videos, you are an artist! You make the sounds and scenes come together as one piece, it is refreshing watch your channel here on TH-cam. Love your work man!
2:59 what a show with my band looks like
😂 😂
I'm dying! lol
Sold out, nice 🤙
🤣🤣
😂😂😂😂😂😂
Thanks for what you do, Rhett. I hooked into you through your visits on Beato's channel, and have enjoyed your contributions there. This vid convinced me to go with the Helix. I'm going to retire from the "day job" soon, and have been thinking about a way to divorce myself from my 5-ton Fender Pro Reverb to a gig setup that a 65 year old can manage. I was almost bought in on the POD H500X until I saw this vid. I've watched a fair amount of your behind the scenes vids and trust your judgement when it comes to gear that is sonically able to please a live audience, road-worthy enough to last, and easy enough to use. I traded in the Pro Reverb 2 weeks ago for the Helix.
It's a delight! Since I had to do my deal with an (unnamed) box store, I couldn't use your gear link to purchase it at retail, but to show my appreciation for all the hard and honest work you do I bought your Helix presets today. Not much in $$, but you deserve it, man. Now all I have to do is learn how to run the darn thing.
Love your work, especially with Jessy W. Please book a gig in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, so I can get a chance to see ya!
I love my Helix LT. It is light & small & saves on back surgeries. It's good enough. If properly set up & through a house PA mix, the Helix is such that not one person in an audience can tell the difference between the Helix and old timey "real amps" & effects. Plus, as stated before - no back surgeries. Richard :)
Thanks Rhett - from my experience, your comments are spot on. My journey - very recent - took me first to lots of really good pedals. Even got a Mesa Boogie Lonestar to run them through. I have a pretty sweet set up. But.. I hedged my bets and ALSO bought the Helix. (work bonus, what can I say? blew it all on gear!). Hated the Helix out of the box. Tried a couple of my own presets, ran it through my home recording gear and speakers. Not much better. Pretty disappointed. Pretty sure I was going to sell it. But...finally plugged it into the Mesa Boogie, set up a new patch....and ...holy CRUD! awesome! added more effects, GREAT! added a stereo-out set up. KILLER! Now, my pedals also sounded this great. But I am AMAZED at how good the Helix sound is. To me, it feels like I am playing through the pedals. My pedals include a Timeline and some other top gear...the Helix at the least, matches it. about the only thing I notice - and you really have to pay attention to notice it - is that when rolling off volume on my guitar, the OD pedals clean up a tiny bit better than the Helix ODs. But that is about it, so far. Otherwise, some of the sound is BETTER than the pedals. I seem to have more control, more ability to shape the sound....add in the freakin' AMAZING number of ways you can route signals and loops and expression pedals and...and...and..and now, I am re-thinking the pedals. hey, I LOVE my pedals. but Helix is truly a game changer. It is that good.
I’ve had a Helix floor for a couple of years now and it really is an amazing live tool. In a live band scenario those subtle tonal differences from a tube amp are so negligible that it’s almost unnoticeable; certainly to my ears. The convenience and reliability, too, can’t be overstated.
the ability to tweak the parameters in depth to me can beat the tube amp plus the reliability and portability
Really great rundown! I have had Kemper, Line6, and Fractal. Sold them all and now use Synergy Amps module into two notes cab with gfi/ strymon effects. Best of tube and digital. I found with digital that I would only use 3-4 amp models which I can get from Synergy, most of whom are made by the actual amp builders themselves (Morgan, Friedman, Diezel, Bogner ) and there is a touch response from actual tube preamp that digital can’t seem to capture. In the end, if I’m spending 1500-2000, I want something that has tubes somewhere in the chain, and won’t be obsolete with the next revision ( Helix mkii, of Fractal AxeIV etc).
These are such great reviews. No stupid jokes or senseless talking -- just really informative, useful information and great demos of what the equipment can do.
+1 for the Helix. I've used it every week for the last 2 1/2 years, direct to FOH. No problems. And I'll have to add that Rhett's presets are some of the best I've purchased. Also a shout out to L6 for their service (although I haven't needed it) and presence on the gear forums. Line 6 is doing it right!!
Any other helix preset sellers you recommend purchasing from?
@@schneiderpants23 I've bought many over the years and try to avoid the urge nowadays. Best thing I've done is learned what I like and work within that. I'm not one to try to emulate others (not good enough for that). I'm stuck on the Helix version matchless amp and add effects to fit the songs. Good luck!
God, finally, a balanced take on amp modellers from someone who appreciates the practical functions of both analog tubes and portable digital amps. Not to mention a pristine comparison between the Kemper and the Helix as well. Also, I personally appreciate the constructive approach towards the pros and cons of the Helix without having to bash other products to the extent of throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
Thanks for taking the chance of zoning in your views on portable amp modelling! This might be stretching it but it would be cool if you could also do a take on the Fractal floor units, or not. Idk. Your call. Haha!
Cheers, mate!
Anyone planning to buy his HELIX presets, I can only recommend them. I did purchase many, but this one stands out. Great job man!
Amps, Kemper, Helix, Fractal etc. all sound exactly the same to an audience, so pick whichever one you want.
Ho ho, true, but there is another side of the story - what inspire you, what gives back, and what adds to your creativity. If it was only about what ever audience could hear, you could get away with cheap guitars and other cheap gear. If you are not sensitive to any of that, go for anything to get the job done. But most musicians I know are very sensitive to that, and for them good gear matters :-) (not to say that Helix cant do that...)
So true!
Agreed, in a live setting I doubt 99.99% of people would hear a difference. As for what inspires and what to use for recording then you may find a different answer. I used a Head Rush for a while, loved the ease of use and the tone was comparable, but after two died on me I eventually went to a Helix. Would love a Dual Rec though but just can't justify it for me.
Neil Weir-Smith I get what your saying and I don’t think anyone can tell what inspires you. My amps and pedals never inspired me, but the helix does! I think amps and pedals sound better, but they’re not my cup of tea!
@@phillipsouthard8285 We are on the same page I think. My Helix also inspires me but if I had the money and was recording professionally (neither of which is the case :)) then I would try and get the actual items from a patch I created for the purpose of recording. For everything else use the Helix. Of course while writing this I am thinking that even recording these days it would be difficult to spot the album recorded digitally vs on analog gear.
can’t agree more with this; it’s great to finally see someone who uses all these devices as tools in real world applications and is able to a)make them sound good and b)really evaluate pros and cons from a working musician point of view.
I suggest to try the Fractal AX8 if you have the chance; it’s an all-in-one box like the Helix (minus the built-in exp pedal) and it provides amazing amp modeling tones and fx.
Good job as always!
shaft9000 not if you know what you’re doing, just like any other piece of gear more or less.
My comment was mainly about the Helix because is often underrated in comparison to Kemper and Fractal, while it clearly holds its place and is perfectly capable of providing usable tones in both studio and live environments.
I love the Helix and run it with both guitar and bass. It works as a recording interface, as a stand alone amp+pedal rig and as a pedalboard together with a traditional amp. And sure, the factory presets usually need a bit of tweeking to get the tone you like, but personally I find it intuitive and easy to learn. I never even opened the manual.
On another note, I wonder how long we will talk about ”real” amps vs digital modelers. The digital are also real amps, as they do the same job but in a different way. We wouldn’t say real vs digital watch, both analogue and digital keep time, with different technical solutions... Of course, the modelers are trying to simulate traditional amps but in time they will probably also develop their own voice. For now it is a too important selling point that they can sound like a Plexi or whatever other traditional sound we love. But in the end, we want tools that sounds as good as possible to a price we can afford.
Enjoyed your Tele playing Rhett! I think the Helix is more intuitive and convenient over the others, and agree with your comments regarding how close we are to the “real thing”. I just ordered my Helix LT as it is more in my price range. Watching videos like yours confirms I made the right decision.
We're pretty luck to be around in a time when all these different types of amps are fairly affordable and still sound great; loads of options!
"Affordable"
@@fuckenps3 Yeah, I meant from the point that Kemper/Helix/Axe Fx modellers are in the same sort of ballpark as classic amps like a 5150, Twin Reverb, etc. And you get a decent approximation of loads of those sounds in one box.
Having said that, I'm continually impressed with the free Amp sims I hear online.
Modellers are just going to come down in price as the technology improves as well, unlikely we'll see that from valve amps- we can hope though I suppose!
@@fuckenps3 in comparison to what is in the Helix, or many of it's "contemporaries" like the Kemper, AX, ect, yeah, affordable.
Well, Hx stomp/pod go exists
@@fuckenps3 amps really have not gotten that much more expensive than they have been by and large when you consider inflation. 150 dollars for a tweed fender in the 50s was a ton of money. Equivalent to the thousand dollars or more we pay today. I mean gas was what? Like 15 cents per gallon just for comparison.
Really appreciate the perspective and experience of a great player and especially given the environment you used as your test bed!
I am a metal head and I play in a small local band doing melodic/folk death metal. When I bought a Helix I already had a Randall Satan and a Victory VX Kraken, as well as a couple thousand dollars in stomp boxes and rack equipment (nothing shocking, mostly different measures to fatten up my tone, saturate and then try to tame the resulting noise). Despite having absolutely incredible amps and great Mesa cabinets, I was constantly fighting with my equipment to get the sound I wanted without tons of feedback and hum. I actually got my Helix solely for use as a robust interface/modeler for doing home recordings during songwriting but quickly realized in testing it at practice and a few bar gigs that although I lost a subtle element by leaving out my real valve amps I gained SO MUCH convenience, control and simplicity by using the Helix that I just wasn't using the live amps anymore. I have actually had more compliments than ever on my tone and live sound since switching over.
I'm sure that a purist would tell me I'm just an idiot who doesn't know how to use my valve amps correctly, but after 6 years of research, tinkering, and endless expensive gear purchases I still wasn't where I wanted to be and my rig was so complex it took me longer to set up than the drummer. A couple months with my helix saw me sounding the way I wanted with the simplest rig I've ever used, and I can even pipe two different Amp models out to my cabinets simultaneously to simulate my old 2 amp, 2 cab sound. It's not for everyone, but it's been a powerful and convenient tool for me!
Thanks for the great video!
As a long time Helix user playing covers, I really do love it. Being in a power trio + front singer, it can do a lot to help fill the void on songs that have keys, strings, etc. Not saying it can replace a keyboard player, but it can do things add chord drones you can play over your solos, for instance. Takes time and practice, of course, to work that all out, and definitely not for "plug in and play" folks, but for those that don't mind getting into the details of it, there are impressive things you can do, for sure.
Hey Rhett! I really enjoyed this. Honestly these weren't even on my tube driven radar until I watched/heard your videos with Noah. I believe the word is "righteous" tones my friend.
Keep 'em comin'.
I like your thoughts on this. Nothing beats a real tube amp feel and great pedals but the amps are usually miked and fed to audience through a PA system and with in ears which sound different so I would rather use the Helix, Kemper, Fractal since it reproduces the studio polished sound the audience hears and save my back carrying all the gear.
I think the only way a audience will get the feel of a tube amp is a up close session but then it has drawbacks like the drums may be too loud like in church settings for example then it’s a volume war.
Rhett, thanks so much for all your videos, I’m an Australian based drummer and really like your honesty and tones. Keep them coming. Cheers
Purchased the presets just from the sounds in the intro, beautiful sounds man!
I just spent a couple hours on my brand new Helix rack. Within 2 min i had already found a sound i liked. I bought it with the idea of making it the brain of my little home setup. Its still early days but i cant see myself regreting this idea. Every sound i will ever need for recording at home is in there. Go Helix!
I just used this pedal for the first time in my worship set and I used the pull me under stock setting on a Schecter omen 6 with factory pickups, I have to say I'm impressed. I would purchase this pedal if I had the chance to.
I’m a tube amp pedal guy, about 2 yrs ago my wife bought me a Helix which I’ve only used for recording, until now. With the present situation most of my earnings have come from live streaming gigs and I’ve been using the Helix. I’m astounded by the clarity of the notes and the tones are amazing too. I pretty much set up my signal chain like a tube amp and pedals, nothing too complicated. Tonite I will play my first gig to a live audience for 6mths and I’m gonna use the Helix, I’m a little nervous about that but you’ve convinced me to take the plunge. Cheers Mick
Helix makes the dream rig become real. I've been using it for a few years now. Such an incredible piece of gear. The BIGGEST bonus of all about Line 6.. their customer service and free gear updates!!
Spike_41 Employee? Lol!
@@OldGrowthRedwood Nope.
@@OldGrowthRedwood Neither me. I was an "early adopter" and have had my Helix for over three years. Best bit of kit I've ever bought. It has replaced my Marshall half-stack/Blackface Twin rig. And Line 6's customer service is quite frankly the best in the business. (And I'm not sponsored by Line 6 - I paid real money for my Helix floor.) Fractal, Helix, or Kemper will get you to the tones you want, but the Helix is the best-thought-out solution by a country mile.
Their customer service is second to none. The only comparison I can make is with the interwar period of Rolls-Royce. When Helixes have gone down in critical circumstances (very much a rarity; but events, dear boy, events) Line 6 have gone above and beyond the conventional response, sometimes providing replacements they have had shipped from their local distributor. And they are now part of Yamaha (and no I don't have a commercial relationship with Yamaha either - I play Strats) and have Ampeg on their books too.
They are just about the coolest kit company on the planet; but nothing short of injury will ever make me replace my number 1 with anything other than a Strat.
@@OldGrowthRedwood hey just a heads up as well, I'm on the helix FB group and trust me the customer service is ridiculous. So so good, they put themselves out there to help as much as possible
Johnny Ninefingers tried kemper?
I like how you share your presets and knowledge. Seems like a lot of pro musicians like to keep all their settings and whatnot to themselves. Thank you.
Here are some key factors that can help you decide. The Kemper is a Profiler, if you have a snapshot of a great tube amp, then it doesn't get better than that. If you need to tweak that profile/snapshot than you are departing from the original amp sound because you are always using the same internal EQ with every amp that you've profiled. You do not have the EQ of the original amps. So you need a lot of Profiles to be happy, and there are enough out there.
The Helix is a modeling unit that models all aspects of the amps and effects used. If you tweak an amp model in the Helix you are still remaining in its original amp equalization and sound spectrum. So you need to know to tweak, how the original amps react (for instance an AC30) to get the most out of it. You need analog knowledge and experience for the Helix.
There are lots of Tube Amps that can sound crappy if you do not play them the right way, with the right guitar, and if you don't tweak them properly. The same can be said about the Helix, if you use the wrong amp, for the wrong purpose you are not going to sound great.
If you take your time you can have the Helix sound absolutely brilliant. The amp models are 100% authentic, the effects are stellar and last but not least, you can get a great professional sound at ridiculous price points. We are living in the best of all times from the options we have at our disposal. Cheers and have a great time.
Horst Keller VIP-Guitar this was a really well-written and thought out response
Sorry I'm a real noob but what do you run it through? I imagine it's through a PA system at a venue.. but what about practicing with your band?
@@Xplorer228 It can be run through an FRFR powered speaker cab which is the best option for these types of modeling units to get the most accurate amp/tone representation. Can also be run through regular guitar amp preferably using 4 cable method utilizing the amps effects loop. Also can be run straight through the band's mixing board if you happen to be using one for a garage/basement practice jam session.
Here's a tip from a long time digital multi effect pedalbooard user - currently using a Firehawk FX exactly the same way Rhett describes -. If you want a speaker on stage, look online for a used Fender Ultra Chorus. (You're not looking hard enough if you can't find one for a couple of hundred bucks) It looks like a Twin but half the weight. The trick is to not use the normal input but rather to use a stereo 1/4 to 1/4 cable to go directly from the pedalboards headphone output to a jack on the front of the Fender labelled "Stereo Effects Return". This bypasses the entire preamp section, and puts the pedalboard straight into a true stereo power section, driving each of the two twelve inch speakers with about 60 watts. Then use the main outputs on the unit to send to FOH. When you turn on a stereo chorus module the separation is amazing.
So.....i just need to send a e-mail to line6 to get a helix 😁?
Yep, that's how this works. I don't know who still buys their stuff....
Daniel o he doesn’t get to keep it it’s to try out clearly stated in the vid
@@Dannyboy0202 That was a very tongue in cheek comment. Humour doesn't always come off well online.
Line 6 and all of these companies will happily send out their gear to people who have a big audience, and can showcase their products. They normally sell the gear to that person for a huge discount cost price or less, and sometimes depending on the person they'll give it for free just so that they can be associated with that player. Like I don't think Guthrie Govan would be paying for one of these if he wanted one.
Tom Murray Guthrie plays Fractal AxFx
@@lukather1 To be fair, he now uses a Charvel instead of a Suhr, so even the top players get it wrong sometimes.....
I’ve had my Helix LT for just over 3 weeks and I’m really digging it but the expression pedal broke a few days ago. Contacted Line 6 and my replacement board (full board not just the pedal!!!!) arrived an hour ago, 2 days after speaking to Line 6. Awesome and flexible product, perfect for my current gig and amazing customer service! Great video as always 🤟
I'm only a couple of years into my guitar playing journey, and I bought one (used). I think it will save me thousands in the future, on amp and effects purchases.
I just returned a Kemper. I spent about 3 weeks and bought some very expensive profiles to try and get the best impression possible from it in the time I had, but just couldn't get it to sound good. It just sounded cheap and inorganic, especially on drive or high gain profiles.
I have a Padalka Space 7 custom guitar, and RME RayDat with Focusrite interface. I'm getting a Helix soon, it just works. There is no excuses and fanboy delusions, just a damn good sounding modeler with excellent effects. I bought the Profiler because people said they don't have to spend a lot of time tweaking and what not, but I found that I was constantly fighting that box to find a sound I would lay down on tracks. It never happened. You go to the forums, it's nothing but excuses as to why it sounds bad or makes excessive noise, etc. Always centered around user error. To me it seemed people were tweaking more than on the Axe FX and still not getting there. I had the same experience with the Kemper and the Axe FX II. Nothing can ever 100% replace amps and cabinets, but they can come close. To me the Helix is close enough and priced so I don't feel like I was just raped in the wallet only to struggle to find sounds I can work with and sound semi professional.
I just shared this in the helix group on Facebook. Finally, a fair and realistic review of the helix. Thanks for not being another lemming
It's not a review of the Helix though. He said that! It's his view of the concept.
My guitar player switched to that rig and literally the skies opened up and a ray of light shined down on us and has never gone out. I do our in ear mixes as well as play drums and it sounds so good, the signal I get is constant and we dont even need to do more than a line check with it. For gigging, I cant think of a reason not to use it. Make life easier on yourselves guitarists, getcha one of those!
I have just found your channel because of the Helix title. You’ve mentioned that you figured out the trick that can be applied for every amp sounding an acceptable way. It would be a good idea to demonstrate it in another video. Anyways I subscribed.
I asked the same question.
Great info Rhett. I just picked up a Helix and put it in play in our church worship band yesterday and the feedback (pun intended🙄) from everyone afterwards was: “whoa...the sound and tone this morning with whatever you added was incredible!” I also installed Remo Silent Stroke mesh heads on our acoustic Yamaha Stage Custom drum kit and connected to our old Yamaha DTX900 drum brain with Yamaha triggers and the stage mix and in-ear monitor mix was the most musical we’ve ever experienced with the Helix along for the ride. Now we’ll spend some time dialing in our tone for the room and I plan on downloading some of your presets. Love your playing and tone Rhett...keep the videos coming! (Jason, Toronto area)
I had a Helix for a while and liked it, especially the interface. In the end I settled on an Axe-FX III due to the additional tweaking options and amp models. I also think the effects were a cut above. Nonetheless, we live in a golden age, at least for guitarist. We have so many great options now that it’s really hard not to get good tone...as long as you know how to use the tools are your disposal.
Had a Helix for over 2 years now. Love it. Struggled at first, stuck with it for a few months, then the penny dropped and now it just amazes me every time I pick it up. The best part is the community around it and the updates and support from Line 6 - which are the best in the industry. Can't recommend Helix highly enough.
I describe my Helix LT to my friends as "the mad guitarist's tone lab" or the "working musician's toolkit." I'm completely hooked. In addition to the stuff you mentioned in the video, the other way that Helix dominates Kemper is the ease of editing. The onboard editing, as well as the HX Edit program, are both top notch. Great video as always.
Terence Weyenberg does the helix lt have the same good washy reverbs as the regular helix?
@@travisjones4001 they both have all of the same effects and horsepower under the hood. The difference between the two is mainly the construction materials of the two (LT uses plastic components in some places where the Floor model uses aluminum) and the input and output options (Floor model has more input and output connections on the unit).
Awesome thanks. I’ve been debating on which one I need. I mean the Lt would still last as long as it taken care of right?
@@travisjones4001, yes, for the most part, it should last as long. For the sake of transparency, though, when the LT was first released, some people were having some issues with the built in expression pedal breaking, but Line 6's customer support is phenomenal, and they replaced all of the LTs that had any issues. I think the unit has been redesigned since then, because I have not seen any complaints about the expression pedal breaking on any of the models lately (within the last year and a half).
I have a Floor model that I preordered when they were announced, and it had never failed me!! I have a Kemper, too, like Rhett, but I have turned it on only once or twice since I bought the Helix, because even though I like the Kemper's amp tones just a little better than the Helix, the flexibility of the Helix, it's onboard effects, is ease of setup and tear down, is compact format (easier to transport than a Kemper) etc., made it a no brainer for me.
If you buy one and get familiar with how it operates, which is not hard, you will find that it will change the game for you. Just check out the snapshot feature, onboard parallel processing, the number and quality of onboard effects and amps, and you will be sold!
Awesome thanks a bunch
Best review I've listened to for a long time. I have a Kemper and a Helix and my feelings are exactly the same. The main difference, for me, is that I can 'feel' and connect with the Kemper amps, whereas I simply cannot on the Helix. That's where the Kemper wins (as well as profiling of course). On everything else, the Helix wins.
I’ve been making music since 1966. I’ve been privileged to meet many well known top guitarists over the years. I’ve heard and seen the complaints they have made regarding the limitations of their rigs. That’s why so many of them were quick to abandon the gear many now lust after in the quest for the tone they were seeking and couldn’t get. You just can’t take everything with you over the years. I would bet if Hendrix were alive today, he would absolutely fall in love with ALL of the choices available in todays digital gear and laugh in his sleeve at those spending ridiculous amounts of $$$ for gear he left in the dust decades ago.
With the way Hendrix embraced technology I would not be surprised if he was either alive today or say took a time machine to 2021 he would totally hook into a modelling rig and be highly satisfied.
The videography and playing from 5:30 to 5:35 made me immediately nostalgic. Awesome feeling.
I had a Helix since it was release in 2016 and let it go a couple of months ago. I spended huge, I mean "huge" amount of time and money to make it sounds as a real amp...I bought all the "golden nuggets" the digital industry was offering, everything from IR, plastic FRFR, then wooden FRFR, little amps, big amps...etc... After 2 years of twicking and studying all kind of tricks, routes and connections I gave up with it. My point of view from it...
my likes...
1.Great tool for stage musicians that are used to hear their's sound with PA or innears.
2.Amazingly easy and friendly usable tool...probably it's bigger strengh
3.Easy tu use with your DAW...friendly to the computer from the first second, and records perfectly in the track.
4. Absurd options to choose a sound...(this poins is as good as bad)
My dislikes
1. Never ending fight with the volume level in a band situation NO prescence
2. Sounds is always thin, there is NO punch on the air, it doesn't move air.
3. Extremely sensitive to pickups' gain, or guitar's change...
4 You usually like one or two sounds, and you won't need 300 amps to choose from, give me 10 amazing amps instead
5. There is a tiny latency in your fingers..that will end up bodering you...
Finally I went back to the Tubes' world, where your sound is like your jeans...you know it and you can deal with it in 30 seconds...But sometimes I still missed the Helix...
did u try line 6 powercab in speaker mode for "amp in room" feeling?
@@ledzeppelinqwe I played with a QSC K10, an FBT StageMaxx12, Alto 212 TS and a Friedman ASM 212...the last one sounds best...but you'll never have the feeling because digital sound don't punch they don't move air. The closer to a tru amp was goin into a tubes amp trought the return...and to a standar guitar´s speakers..
The Kemper is the closest to a tube amp sound. Once the Kemper Kone comes out, it should give the amp in the room sound. Yeah, the Helix' distortion is too jagged sounding.
Actually I bought a Headrush for home recording and it sounds way more real trought the return of my amp. As to Kemper's sound I heard it sounds and feel really close to a tube amp. Whats`that Kemper Kone..? Is new..?@@carlhardwickofficial
@@gabedraper7594 Yes, search for "kemper kone" on TH-cam.
Playing Line6 stuff now for 20 years now.....red bean - XT - X3 - HD500 - Hd500x. They never let me down on stage. Your comment on Helix as being ''most close enough' is really true. Lately I tried to get into the analogue domain again, because of hardrock gigs. So I went into pedals and Marshall stuff once more. But hums, malfuntions, difficulty in use and lack of programming sounds made me turn to the H550x with two DT25 heads. I think I'm also ready for the Helix now. Thanks for sharing your story!
I want an HX Stomp so bad. I'd love to show up to the gig with just my Esquire and the Stomp in a gig bag and that's it.
But the Stomp doesn't have amps does it?
@@TheRycooder It has all the amps, cabs, mics, and effects that Helix has. Only difference is that it has less DSP and available blocks per snapshot or preset. You only get 6 blocks to work with. For me, that's plenty.
@Aaron what do you think about it compared to the 100?
Hooter Bear you’re thinking of HX Effects.
HX Effects: Up to 9 blocks, Effects only, with eight total footswitches
HX Stomp: Up to 6 blocks, ALL Helix amps and effects, three footswitches total (you can add two more with an external controller).
The HX Effects is for people who are always going to be using a real amp. The HX Stomp is best as a complete simple rig or as a great part of an overall larger rig.
@@TheRycooder It does, it has all of the effects and all of the amp/cabs, its just limited to six block chains.
The tones in the video sounded really good. The reasons why it worked makes a lot of sense. The promise of all the tones and effects you would ever want in 1 box is appealing. What holds me back is obsolescence. I have bought things in the past-some were well worth it, just they lose their value and their usefulness over time. Not trying to counter your vid, just sharing out loud what is preventing me from trying one. I think you made excellent points, and the sounds you got really tempt me. At the end of the day, I just try to remember I am better off working on becoming a better player with the equipment I have, which is easier said than done. Appreciated your take, impressed with the sounds you got, and loved seeing that you were able to put one to use in the real world on gigs.
I have both the Kemper and the Axefx 3, I just sold my helix. So for a time I had all 3 of the big modelers. In my experience #1 would be the AxeFx 3, hands down the best. #2 would be the Kemper but only because of the amp profiling, the effects suck. #3 would be the Helix, only because I feel the amp models are not quite there (no audience member would notice though). The effects as always are magnificent.
I purchased a Helix LT about a year ago, and haven’t looked back. It has simplified the gigging experience for me. I am an old analog junkie who saw the light. Is it exactly a tube amp and analog rig, no of course not but it’s darn close. Love the snapshots and the user friendly interface. I used to haul heavy tube amps a guitar and a pedalboard. Now I show up to the gig with my guitar and Helix backpack. Setup takes me about 6 minutes.
Really loved the intro jam on this. Can you talk a bit about what you're playing and which of your presets you're using?
Thanks for the video! I went for theHelix because of several blind tests I did: I just liked the sounds. To have everything in one board was/is a very big issue for me. Kemper would have needed an extra floorboard. A week after I purchased the Helix, Kemper introduced its floorboard out of the blue. A collegue owns a Kemper and it just didn‘t impress me (though very very good). All in all, a combination of saving time, saving my back and personal taste. Years ago, I played a cheapo chinese Les Paul copy (about $100, no mods) and after shows people always asked what year my LP was because it sounded so darn good... I think, that says it all: it’s not about what you have, it’s what you do with it.
I finally sold my rig and got a Helix LT. It’s been great not having to lug my entire rig around.
Now I just need to get in a band and play shows with it...
Fershnibbity can we please start a band!?? 😃
Great video. I love that you give an honest opinion and having kemper and pure amps, your opinion is believable. Incredible tones and playing!
Great video. I was about to give up on my helix. But you made me realize what a great gear I have. Thanks for the video. Got yourself a subscriber
had mine for a couple years now. Started out with an HX effects, after about 6 months decided to upgrade to the LT. It is a game changer IMO. 10,000 worth of amps, cabs, effects, mics, whatever in a little pedalboard sized box of joy. :)
Just use both! Get a HX Stomp and Kemper rig for best of both worlds!! Still cheaper than new USA guitar!
I’ve been dangerously on the edge of picking up an HX Stomp lately. It just seems like a nice piece of auxiliary gear to have.
I’ll probably put it on my main board at the chain to cover any weird effects that I don’t already have. Also it makes running stereo super simple, which will be great for recording
I got an HX Stomp in my rig, an I love it. I normally use it as a super pedal (my 2nd delay an, some modulation effects) and when I want to record or play without making any noise, it's super useful. I think one day I will use it as an amp solution for some church gigs!
Nice video, thanks for your job!
You've convinced me! I'm definitely more traditional and struggling to make the switch, but you definitely can't beat this for flying and gigging!
Really good overview and review. Thanks, appreciated. Am on the HX Stomp and am looking at maybe upgrading.
I bought my Helix in June and I am so in love with it! The only thing that could replace it would be a Helix 2. For me it's just perfect. I play guitar and bass in 3 Bands (2 cover bands, 1 Metalcore band). All I need for shows or rehearsals is my guitar or bass and the Helix. No heavy stuff, no need to mic things up, lower stage and rehearsal volume, easy to use, loads of great tones and especially the snapshot function is a real game changer for me!
How many albums and for how many years have modelers been on recording we hear on the radio and just assumed it was a tube amp?
Way more than some people want to admit 😅
Some big musicians that I know use the digital stuff for writing and inspiration, but then go back to their other gear to set up those sounds for recording and live shows. I can see that being very useful. Obviously no right or wrong way to do any of this stuff, as long as you're having fun and getting results that you want!
Def Leppard's Phil Collen has been recording with Native Instruments Guitar Rig for years. The digital vs analogue debate is a sideshow now - all that matters is that your rig serves up what you need.
The helix is super versatile for recreating tones from a record, as you said it is super easy to setup. My experience with it is so much better space wise especially in the UK. Having had an amp and pedals, then the price for cables too it gets expensive quickly. No more forgetting cables, I think it is super great for the soundman too, you get the exact sound changes and no stage noise! The marketplace is so great too, great for teaching about tones for any genre and also dep gigs.
Love my Helix LT. But I also love my amp and pedals.
It’s nice having both as they allow you to tailor your rig to any given need.
I've been considering getting a Helix for a few months now because it seems it's able to do, what I've been trying to get done via "analog" means. I've been attempting to run a dual amp setup where I have a clean Fender and a dirty Marshall and I use a stereo volume/panning pedal to fade between the two. You'd think this would be a simple set up, but most volume/pan pedals have wacky output at the middle of their throw. Helix can do this no problem and even allows something I hadn't considered until Ernie Ball released the Dustin Kensrue signature guitar where I can have the guitar pickups wired to separate outputs. This means I could send the neck pickup to a clean Fender signal path and the bridge pickup to a dirty Marshall distortion signal path.
I would really LOVE to see a multi FX pedal that was an open platform like a DAW.. You buy the hardware and then purchase plugins from Line 6, Kemper, Fractal, etc. That way you can mix and match everything from different vendors. If only... 😏
You can do that by using an audio interface connected to a notebook and then get a foot controller like the line 6 fbv3.
Rhett... This is one of the most intelligent, rational, non-hype assessments of the Helix I have seen. I can understand how the Helix would be useful for a musician like you who needs to travel light sometimes. However, I work very hard to get my guitars (mostly Fenders) sounding as good as they can possibly be through careful choices of pickups, pots, capacitors, pedals, amplifiers and speakers. I have been doing this for forty years. I have a fairly large collection of guitars that I have built or modified myself to sound specific ways. All of that effort is negated by modeling devices like the Helix that transform the guitar (like that awesome 335 you play) from a unique entity with a special voice into a glorified a tone generator. I congratulate Line 6 for developing a very good product for working musicians, but I am a home studio-only guitarist who never performs in public. I have the time necessary to set up the right sounds for each track I record though careful choices of guitars, effects and amps. If it takes all day to get the right sound, then that's fine with me. For that reason, I think I'll keep doing things the old way. Good luck in all you do!
Great Video Rhett!! I use an HX stomp in a small rig for playing acoustic and electric Live! It's so small you could throw it in a carry-on for a fly date. Keep up the great videos!
Hey man! This is probably a weird place to look for advise but you're using the Hx stomp pretty much how I would like to. I've just moved to London and my current rig is too much of a pain to carry as well as having to fly back home for a few gigs here and there. For my electric gigs I wanted to attach it to my pedalboard and use my own drives and current effects and just use the hx stomp for it's amp modelling and a few other things will they play nice? Also play acoustically with a 50s and 60s band and I was hoping to use it one as a DI box and to add a slapback reverb and a touch of drive every now and then... what are your thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance :)
@@stephenspringall8664 Yeah, it will work great for that. The band i'm in use a Country/Rock band and i'm mainly the rhythm player/Lead Vocalist and I play electric on 10 songs and acoustic on the rest. I use my Left out hard panned for my acoustic DI with some light compression and verb and a delay option if I need it. I use my Right out Hard panned for my Electric. I was using mine as you suggested with some other pedals for my drive's but since I'm only a rhythm player I just programmed my snapshots using More drive as I need it and did away with the extra pedals. Now my pedalboard is very tiny, I use a wireless, a two button TRS footswitch to add two extra switches to my stomp, and my Hx stomp. It's a very minimal setup. Also a common mistake people make is investing in a DI box. You don't need it, the stomp uses balanced out, even though they are 1/4" they are TRS. So all you need is (2) TRS to XLR cables to go direct into your pa for balanced DI out. Hope that helps!!!
Dumb question but do you need a good monitor speaker at your feet? Our PA speakers face the audience obviously and I use my amp to hear what I'm playing. With the Helix type setup I wouldn't have that amp feeding into my ears. I assume I'd need another monitor off the PA, no?
Eric Fudeman it depends on your setup. Both bands I’m in have in ear monitors, so in my mix it’s as if I’m hearing a mic’d amp In another room. As Rhett mentions in the video, you could get a power cab. I also have a small alto active speaker I test drive patches in my studio.
One trip from the car, put it on floor .... play. Love mine. “Enter Sandman” goes from clean chorus to all out heavy rythmn to wah drop in bits done in studio, to solo lead sound and back to clean chorus. With Helix it’s easy to cover and the only thing holding me back is my amateur ability.
Rhett, I had heard that Kemper amps have an added compressor in their “Effects loop”. Give that a go on the Helix as well. I do this with the Deluxe Comp.
I’ve been using the unit for a year and a half. It blows me away weekly in my tone shaping sessions.
Thanks for this thoughtful description and test run 👍🏼
Steve Drown hi
I got the Helix 2 yrs ago to run as a midi/FX controller/brain for my tube and pedal rig. Love it. The routing and user interface is gold! L6 knocked it out of the park. On top of it being able to control an analog rig; I'm absolutely loving the modeling versatility in combination with an EHX 44 Magnum into my Bogner 212.
I love my Helix. Best purchase I ever did. And along with my variax magic happens. Oh and you play awesome 😎
I'm really overthinking this one and/or the Neural DSP quad cortex..
Seeing Rabea Massaad use the Neural live in his frog leap and solo band is just so cool.. what differs the one from another?
Helix is THE amp killer, I’v had mine for a few months and could never go back to a tube amp, the question of if it sounds like a tube amp is no, it sounds much better... don’t try and play it through an amp, get a small PA system or studio monitors or run directly to a monitor and house board... I use a cheap guitar center M200-BT PA system, small light $350 and loud enough and quite enough to do just about anything you want sounds absolutely amazing... 2 grand and you have everything you need in a simple compact system... it’s also the best acoustic guitar setup I’ve ever played through very very clear and dead silent, no hum no hiss at all... it’s amazing...
robert w hey, would you recommend it for lower volumes? I recently moved into an apartment and I am no longer able to use my Mark V, cause it would for sure get me evicted. I’ve been looking at the helix and either a decent studio monitor or a headrush 108 speaker, but I am afraid they would still be loud for an apartment
Jose D It has the same tone and feel no matter what volume you’re at Jose, you have to play with the Bias and Sag settings some to get some compression on the gain... if you always want it to be super clean but not get very loud then I’d get some studio monitors, if you want quiet and still be able to get it loud sometimes with a little less sound quality I’d go with powered PA speakers, I just struggled with the same question and decided to go with a small PA system, it’s working great for me, quite with stereo sound still portable and gets loud enough when you want. I was using a twin reverb and just got tired of the ear splitting volume, 130db sounds great but gets old. I’m using 10 inch PA speakers with a small powered mixer, and for me it’s exactly what I was looking for, does everything...
I have owned mine now for about four months and I *STILL* am finding cool things I can do with this thing. Yes, it is quite the investment. There's no way around it. But once the pain of buying it is over, you get to enjoy it and it will quite literally change your approach to playing. I have mine paired with the BluGuitar Amp1 100 watt four channel amp, which is a whole other topic by itself. But it's the size of a large stompbox. And I use the Line 6 digital wireless so I only have one cable going to the Mesa 2x12 cab and one connecting my Helix to the Amp1. It will MAKE you want to play more, not only because it sounds so good, but the tones it produces are so good. Recording is so simple. There's so much flexibility and capability that even a die hard tone freak will be sedated.
RHETT SHULL ONLY MAKES FIRE VIDEOS! SOOO GOOD RHETT!
You always get great sound no matter what you play through...I had a Kemper power rack when it first came out...it was good..but limited as to the post fx so I sold it for an axe fx 3...thats good too but way too complicated...so I bought a line 6 Powercab 212 plus...The Helix was the next logical step...its will be here in a few days so I'm all over TH-cam watching every Helix video.
Mine went in the bin!
Spent to much time creating sounds on the helix, that I had no time left to actually play guitar.
Now I am enjoying playing guitar again.
Absurd
Nice video! It's kinda funny because I made my graduate project about the comparison between digital modeling amps and the real amps... it was awesome to do that. For that I recorder some DI guitar tracks and then reamped them using the Fractal AX8 and the Line 6 POD HD500 (which I own) and also a Fender amp (bassman). Then I made a poll and what I found was that almost no one was able to choose correctly in which type of processing was used in each one. In fact, many of the people who answerer the poll chose the option B in many of the clips, which was the one processed with the POD HD500.
It's a very short way to summarize all the work, and it turned out to be really cool making that project, the teachers who watched my exposition like it a lot.
It's very nice to have the opinion from a player who has always played with analog stuff, and yes... I think that in the future the differences will become smaller every time they release a new update. :D
You are getting great sounds on that thing! My one great fear would be single point of failure.
Jimbeaux I understand that. On the other hand, if your tube amp breaks your gig is over as well no?
@@SpaceDisco1 did you just compare an amp and an fx unit?
I bought a rack and controller right after they came out but my son, who is way more talented than I am, stole them both so I had to buy an LT. Now I think I need a Powercab Plus. Rhett, your videos make me want to play guitar way more than I currently am. Thank you.
I bought a Helix Rack yesterday... it's showing up tomorrow.
You’re about to have a very fun weekend. I’ve had the floor for about 2 years. It still amazes me every time I power it up. Enjoy.
Yeah, buddy! Check out Jason Sadites channel if you own a Helix, he has some fantastic tone shaping insights.
I bought my Helix pretty much as soon as it came out and was in stock to go with my new PRS 513. Best purchase EVER! I updated the firmware once when I got it, and haven't bothered since because it does what I want. I adopted the same routine for setting up sounds (clean, dirty, heavy as hell), got an amp for each sound, a couple of effects and that has been it. It has been a faultless unit for me and I am out most weekends and not the most fey and delicate of touch, but its just wonderful. I think that if you are trying to emulate tones to suit songs you are covering it has everything you could possibly need, and if you are developing your own tone, then there are many an day to be lost going through it and tweaking to your hearts content.
11:48 the answer.