Any Helix Guys out there using Helix

[Barry Yasika]

I just picked up a brand-new Helix in a trade for my Mesa Lonestar. The Lonestar started giving me trouble after about half an hour of use, and the guitar shop guy didn’t seem too concerned—so he offered me a sealed-in-box Helix that was marked down for Black Friday. Honestly, since I haven’t touched the amp since my last hernia surgery, it felt like a no-brainer.
So now I’m curious—what do you all think of the Helix? Love it? Hate it? I’ve heard some folks say it makes the Tonex module feel like kindergarten by comparison. I’d really appreciate your feedback, good or bad!

[Doug Taylor]

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail ... n_products


This will help you get started with the helix!

[Coy Wylie]

I've used it's baby brother, the Stomp XL on my guitar pedal board for about 2 years and hundreds of gigs. The tone possibilities seem endless but I've dialed in 3 or 4 that meet my needs as a guitarist in a country band. One of the cool features for me is that I also have an acoustic preset and don't need a separate DI when I switch from telecaster to my Martin. And this all goes straight to the mixer board. No need to transport a heavy amp.

I'm a new pedal steel player, just learning at home. However, I am curious how PSG would sound through any of the Line 6 processors. I'm sure with patience you could dial in some excellent tones.

[David Wren]

For years now I've been using a HX Stomp (scaled down Helix-like).... I mounted a switch on my right rear leg, which goes through my presets... so I don't even have to use my foot, or put down my bar to change FX in the middle of a song (like add overdrive, or chorus, etc.....).

Here's a link I posted years ago, with pix, and more description:

viewtopic.php?p=3028052#p3028052

BTW, this unit, complete with amp modeling, has replaced all FX units on my pedal board, except a EHX organ simulator, which I run through the acess. send/return ports of the FX Stomp.... tons of setting you can save, I use 5 or 6

Take some time, and view some of the many YouTube tutorials out there, these are powerful units!

Best of luck!

[David Wren]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot...
Barry, be sure to download the PC or Mac version of the editing software. The pedal connects to the computer via a USB cable... you edit as many presets as you like and then save them to the pedal... real easy, and a great interface. You can download the software for free from Line 6.

[Barry Yasika]

Thanks, Dave!! This system is amazing but there's so many options and things to play with I got an idea it'll take a while before I super familiar with it, it I ever even come close. But mostly for the moment I'm trying to see what kind of clean sounds I can make use of for pedal steel. Looks like it'd be a lot of fun for guitar playing too. Anyway appreciate the thread!!

[Pat Dixon]

Long time Helix (LT) user here. What I've learned:

1. The playback device(s) are way more important than any amp/cab/effect block tones you create.
2. You can go down an endless rabbit hole of opinions and even preset files that may or may not help you. It's less sexy but more productive to get your hands dirty. Turn some knobs, change some parameters until you like what you hear. When you do don't forget to hit the save button. Trust me on this.
3. Don't use headphones to create sounds then try those sounds at a gig; it won't work. As much as possible create and adjust tones at gig level. Flethcer Munson is real.
4. There are a plehora of helpful YT vids out there (sounds like a contradiction of #2, but you gotta start somewhere) some of my favs:
Jason Sadites
Richie Castellano
5. Even though it's digital the same rules apply- too much gain will bury you in the mix, less modulation is more, etc.

Good luck and if I can help you in any way please reach out. I've done it wrong so many times that it almost works now...

[David Wren]

Not really familiar with the full Helix, since I use a "Stomp" pedal, but, basically what I did to get started was work first on a real nice clean tone (I included a noise gate, EQ, reverb, and quick, small delay).... when I got a sound I liked, each other FX I programed, I copied the clean sound over to that new preset, then added or deleted things until I got close to what I was looking for (like one with chorus, one with overdrive, one with actual distortion (I did use a British amp model for this one, putting the pre-gain higher than the post).... etc.

Remember, as stated above, listen to the amp's speaker(s), not head phones... and for one preset I removed most all of the delay and reverb... I use this one for recording, as most producers will add these things after you leave

And probably most important, don't be afraid to experiment, you can always change, or even delete a new preset if it sounds bad live.