Helix Presets / Signal Chains for Pedal Steel

[Kyle Minor]

Wondering if anyone has been using Helix to replace their rigs for pedal steel. If so, what are you using to build your presets? I was thinking about fairly transparent amp/cab sims, starting with the Princeton Reverb, plus a studio compressor, chorus, reverb, and slapback delay, but wondered what others are dialing in. I’m playing a Fessenden, and it sounds great through most everything, but I have to watch the levels going in and out of the modelers because the pickup is so hot compared to my electric guitars.

[David Wren]

Kyle, I use a "HX Stomp", which I believe is a scaled down version of the helix FX unit.

I only use around 5 or 6 presets... but for me it replaced almost all my other FX units.

My 2 pieces of advice are:
1.) Download the Line 6 "updater" and the preset editing software to your computer (available on the Line 6 web site)... They are real easy to use, and after you save them to the device, save a copy to your computer as well (just in case ).

2.) I played with things like EQ, reverb, delay and compression until I had a sound I liked... and named it "Live Clean)... then for each other preset (like overdrive, or chorus) I copied the "clean" preset, and added whatever else I wanted.

You will most likely find things that sound good in your home, but need to be tweaked a little for live gigs.

Hope this helps, the FX are real good!