Leaderboard

I have a 9 string, and I’ve been wanting to replace it with a variax for my projects I have. I tune to standard, but in 432, not 440. Standard is C# F# B E A D G B E, but I’d like to go lower if possible I was looking to buy a new variax, but wanted to make sure I can recreate everything the same as I have with my 9 string. I bought a used shurkien a few months ago, but it had issues, so I returned it. I do like the new JTV-89F because of the ebony and Floyd, but the shuriken has the longer scale. Any help is appreciated.

This is like guitar FOMO... The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may have better tone than you...

Cool experiment!

Today I compared two amps with the corresponding models on the Helix Rack. My 1978 Marshall JMP 50w MkII non master volume (bridged), and my BRBS Vintage Class 50watt (https://www.brbsamplification.com/vintage-class-mk2) an Italian boutique amplifier, that is a 50 watt JCM800 clone (with some personal mods). I linked the cab output of the amplifiers to a palmer PDI 03, a load box/speaker emulator, bypassing the speaker emulation and put the real "amp block" in the first helix fx loop. Then I created a preset with the corresponding models (for the Marshall a Brit Trem Jumped, for the BRBS a Brit 2204) and a FX loop block with the true amplifiers, after that i put a cab block (a mandarin cab with a sm57 and a Royer 121, and then i created two snapshots: one with the model active, and another with the true amp. After some tweaking I really managed to match the true and the model amplifiers, and they are really really close, also If I have to dial pretty different values on the modeled amplifiers. In general, the amp models sound really really bright compared to the true amplifiers, but it's pretty simple to match the two without an EQ block. I really recommend this experience, is an eye opener! The helix is fantastitc! On saturday I will have my first gig with the Helix, and I'm prette excited!

The lowest note you can get from the Variax is an octave lower than the physical tuning of the low E string.

The alt tuning algorithms detune everything relative to the guitar's physical tuning, and the smallest interval is a half-step. So no, you can't tune the guitar to A 440 and have it detune only 8 cents to 432.

Wow, that Cooper Carter is a master of the Fractal! He really knows a lot of riffs; a great testament that he can approximate cover tones and the AxeIII is capable. He even runs a class on how to program the AxeIII. But if you don't have the time or inclination, he has done it for you. Gig Ready! Time is money! If you are tired of the Helix or AxeII sound I'd go for a KPA. If money is no option, go real amps and FX. If you want to create never done before tones learn to program the AxeIII. If you want ease of use and creative tweakability go the Helix. Instant gratification Axe III with this guys patch pack and guitars all done in the same shirt! He's done the work!

I'll probably be testing out a few gauges and brands, I'm putting on some D'Addario Pure Nickel EPN115's 11-48 soon and see if that helps with the acoustic models, if not I'll try a set of 9.5-44 D'Ad.I may have to try the flat wounds or half rounds. ..I find it odd that my Banjo/sitar reso etc models sound fine to me even with some fret buzz....

Yes, absolutely. You can have your guitar presets set to 1/4" and your other presets on XLR! They will switch at the press of a button.

You won't like this, but tone matching can't be done this way. It can't happen remotely and in a vacuum. For starters, a patch that sounds magnificent when playing unaccompanied might sound dreadful in a mix, and vice versa. So the odds of anyone suggesting factory presets, or ones created by a third party (that they audition remotely and completely out of context), that will be a drop-in match for the tones on your recording are basically zero... the only way it'll happen is through extraordinary dumb luck. You could blindly try patch after patch until the end of time and never find one that's a decent approximation. As already mentioned above, the best you can hope for is to start with a signal chain that mirrors (as closely as possible) the real gear that was used on the recording... and that's only a starting point. It's gonna require effort, and it's not something that anyone will be able to guess at just by listening to some clips... the are too many variables.

It would probably help to know how he dialed them in, i.e. what amp/speakers, what mic's used and how they were placed. That would probably tell you everything you needed to know to get the sound.

Hi. The Helix LT is an amp modeller. If you are sure you want to continue using a guitar amp maybe you should investigate the HXFX. But to answer your question, you can assign your outputs per patch - so you would build a patch (well you might build 10!!??) for one guitar with specific combination of output and use different output for the other - by assigning that as part of your patch. I think the HXFX can do the job if you never want to go into amp modelling and FRFR. It doesn't have XLR outs, but you could use the sends to feed to the PA. You'd probably use a DI as it also doesn't seem to have a ground lift. The Helix LT does have it all - but at substantially more expense. If you might be considering FRFR in the future then the Helix LT will do everything you want - just don't expect the amp sims to work into your guitar amp.

Dude, why are you so bitter? I worry about you.

If you guys are not hearings the artifacts the OP is describing, you really need to look into new monitors, your room acoustics, your ears, whatever. Thats no knock. Just stating- if youre not hearing it, there is a real problem somewhere. It is plainly evident. OP - you need to give full details on your set-up for anyone to make a reasonable guess. Post the preset here, ect. Not likely, but this may have been a problem in the past, and your prior set-up simply not having the bandwidth to reproduce the distortion. It literally could be anything without having some sort of details. One bit of advice i can give is that the treble control on this amp gets a little squirrely right around 6.8, 6.9, ect and can cause some weird artifacts (Really dial it and monitor it closely in this area) but i havent noticed it sounding like your example at any point. Simply could be any number of choices, such as but not limited to, my effect choices or chord choices, NOT being AS capable of highlighting the offending freq.

Honestly, I am SOOOOOOOOO proud of myself that I avoided even looking at this discussion for as long as I have. I mean, being the sarcastic demon I am I could have had an absolute BLAST with this thread, but I'm slowly learning to conserve my snide remarks so I have plenty of them for when I REALLY need them...although I have to admit the OP has made this is one quite tempting..... At any rate, I think you guys are doing a fine job on your own. Carry on........

I have posted tons of Helix clips here, on The Gear Page and in the Facebook group. Every clip in this playlist was done with the Helix (or Helix Native). And that's not even all of them.

You do understand that demanding "proof" of something that (by definition) cannot be quantified, or otherwise measured in any definitive/ objective way, is like to trying to pick up a turd by the clean end, right? Never mind... don't answer that, we've all wasted enough time already. You'll "win" the argument by default, because what you're demanding cannot be done. It's a half-clever (yet thoroughly obnoxious) means of seeking external validation for an already fully-formed opinion. And while it makes for some festive arguments, in the end it achieves nothing and helps no one. Your Congressman would be proud.... But what the hell, I'll bite....I posted the same clips a while back in a previous iteration of this retarded discussion. So as long as we're all intent on taking yet another ride on the stupidmobile, here ya go: Listen to This Really Needs A Title by cruisinon2 #np on #SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-100603322/this-really-needs-a-title Listen to Here Goes Nuthin' by cruisinon2 #np on #SoundCloud https://soundcloud.com/user-100603322/here-goes-nuthin-final-edit Love it, hate it... either way, it's no skin off my a$$.

Logic is logic my friend. You're just wanting to set me up for a game where I post something and no matter how hard I work on it you say, "I hate that." I didn't fall for those games in 3rd grade when a friend of mine preferred Caddyshack to Ghostbusters, and I'm not dumb enough to fall for it now. Find someone else to hurt on the teeter totter.

In retrospect, I should have stopped reading after "I don't want to start trouble, but..."

Cool story bro. Sounds like you know what you should buy for yourself. Just curious, but do you like Hawaiian pizza?

Yeah saving custom settings with custom names would really open up the Helix for me....as far as saving time when trying to create new things. I don't get a ton of time to really tweak. I have my core sounds, and then usually have to go off that....however, if I want a new sound, I have to start from scratch amp/IR then add a preEQ, then add a post EQ, then add, and add and add....and with each 'add' you have to tweak from scratch each time....where as if I want a clean sound with a dirt pedal mixed 60%, I can just recall my fave clean amp settings, and then drop in my saved 'Sparkle Drive' pedal in front, and maybe adjust something, but that should get me more ballpark than starting from scratch. even having a 'template' saved, still means I have to disable what I don't need right away, then turn things on.....tweak....remove blocks I don't want/need etc..... DI talked about his pet peeve, this is one of mine. I don't need 200 amps like some other boxes have, just let me save the different sounds I get with the amps that are here and I can get more sounds that I need to quickly with ease. (sorry to hijack on a tangent there, lol)

You can't rename the original names, but you can (or should be able to) rename the blocks if you want. When you insert a Scream 808 it will show as such but you can rename the block to read "Tube Screamer". The problem is, you have to do that every time, in every patch, with every effect, and that can get tedious. I have never tried to rename a block on the Helix but I used to rename the blocks on my HX Effects, then decided it was just easier to learn the new lingo :) That's a whole different topic... I'd love to have this feature as well.

The actual effects/amps cannot be renamed. I've been waiting for the ability to save 'custom' settings for effects, and if that was the case you could save that setting as whatever you like. The Fractal/Boss units I had...had that ability and it was nice. I could save a "Rhythm Tubescreamer", "Lead Tubescreamer" as well as a "Gritty JCM800" and "80's JCM 800" without having to copy/paste from a different preset....after I remember what preset had the settings I wanted.

One important difference is that the 75 has no foot switch. To be able to mute and cycle through scenes with your foot, you'll need an extra switch for the 75 ...

Just a reminder (cos I forgot between updates....!) that if you get repeated failures with applying the update then check you haven't got MIDI In (5 pin) connected. Leaving a MIDI in connected stops the update dead - remove it - worked first time! Maybe next time I will remember this myself....

If it keeps going through the same sequence of flashes, I'm gonna guess that it's not an accident, and perhaps indicates some sort of error which the powers that be love to get all obtuse and "007" about. Don't be surprised if you're told that it needs to be serviced, with little else in the way of explanation. Or it could just be some weird malfunction of no particular significance... hard to say either way. I hate anything that relies on batteries...always power mine with the Helix, and the POD before that.

Conclusion : if you just have a PC on your studio, don't buy AmpliFi ! Problem : PC =90% of the users. No Controller, no buy !