vmoncebaiz

I wanted to do these at first just so I could work from the comfort of home while wearing pajama bottoms all day. Then after seeing the Master Class I thought it would be an awesome way to connect with Line 6 artists and see how they are actually doing things. Also Mr. Digital Igloo stopped in a dropped all sorts of Helix UI knowledge and shortcuts on the crowd. I've been using the thing for almost 2 years and he still blows my mind with it.

In the Firehawk Remote App, there is an Icon at the top right of the screen. It is a box with an up arrow coming out of it. That will open a menu with various options to save or share your tone. "Save to my tones" will save your preset to your account. Or you can use "Store on Firehawk" to save the preset into the amp itself.

The article was mainly about the Tone Made Pro Master Class that Line 6 put on at HQ in Calabasas. It differs slightly from our normal Tone Made Pro Clinics that we put on through out the rest of the country. There were special guest artists, and it was an all day event vs an hour in your local guitar store with one of the Line 6 Product Specialists. I thought it might be a cool idea to offer either version of these events as live streams. More people could join in, and the live chat in a stream makes for some really useful Q&A time. Particularly for the Master Classes, I think tuning in to see a guy like Pete Thorn dial in some really healthy sounding patches would be incredible valuable for Helix users or potential Helix users.

Ownhammer IR packs have folders labeled "MPT" minimum phase transformation. They are the same IRs you normally find, but they work for use alongside the stock cabs in Helix. So you can replace the cab block with an IR block, but you can also use both IRs and stock cabs blended together if you want to. This works particualrly nicely for the single mic IRs (not as much for the mix files) and the "room" "mid" and "rear" capture IRs.

I went in for about $50 with Redwirez IRs a few years back, and then recently put in about the same with Ownhammer. I like the ownhammer IRs a lot more. Without a doubt they are worth the money I was debating the heavy hitter collection, but I ended up buying separate cab IR packs instead. I think the ENGL 4x12 with V30s is incredible for heavy stuff. Then I also grabbed some 2x12s - the Orange 2x12, Mesa 2x12, and the open back Bogner 2x12. I use the 2x12s more for clean sounds at the moment, but they handle gain very well. The Bogner is better for rock/fusion type tones rather than metal, but it is one of the healthiest sounding pieces I've played with in Helix. I don't like the mesa 2x12 as much, and it makes since because I don't like Mesa 2x12 cabs in the real world either (their V30s are apparently voiced differently than others) The mixes folder has proven to be my favorites in all cases. The MDRN and OH1 files have become my go to after trying to audition IRs for way too long. Once I inevitably get bored of all the options I have so now, I'd have no problem supporting Ownhammer and buying some different IRs later on.

I would beg to not have bluetooth involved with Helix at all. Helix is the most advanced processor Line 6 has ever put out while bluetooth is an unreliable and slow technology. Helix UI is incredibly fast and efficient on its own, and there is already a really useful way to edit with your feet without having to bend over. Adding the wireless connectivity of bluetooth wouldn't do anything to improve on what it already does so well. I would rather not force the guys at Line 6 to fix bugs and deal with android issues instead of continuing to make Helix the best it can be. I understand not wanting to lean over during a gig, but I feel that is a minor complaint for a small amount of tweaking.

Yep sorry, I just took at look at the pedal itself. It spells Helix out instead of just adding an H. My bad for any confusion.

Just a few notes on the Mision SP1-L6. It adds nothing for the floor model. And since the late update, which added the "auto engage" feature, the toe switch isn't really necessary for Helix rack either. Sweeping the pedal back and forth has an annoying click as it touches the toe (even when you're not pressing down for the switch). The biggest benefit it would offer would be tying multiple things to the toe switch (i.e. turning on delay and reverb and a level boost for leads as you engage the wah pedal). Mission makes great feeling pedals all around, but unless you need the tow switch specifically for something like i mentioned above, you're better off saving a few bucks and going with a model with no toe switch.

It seems like you are mainly interested in hi-gain tones. The physical amps and the models based on them have plenty of their own gain, but the feel and response of them changes completely if you decide to boost them. For modern high gain sounds, using an overdrive (gain off, level 80-100%) or compressor in front of the amp is just about always the way to go, with both physical amps and with modelers. I've found this to be the case with my experiences using Axe FX Ultra, Ax8, Axe FX 2, Kemper, and Helix. The good thing about all the newer generation of modelers is that they also react very realistically if you decide to use a physical OD or comp stomp in front of the unit (just more very subtle tone options - the tubescreamer's nasally tone doesn't work for boosting every amp to my ears).

There isn't a generic open search in the app. For now you can search by genre, but I think it would make discovering new tones easier if it had filters and sorting options as you mentioned. This isn't a topic on Line 6's ideascale yet, but you can create a free account and start it up. The closest i saw to this was the same idea for the Firehawk FX app, you can upvote that if you like and it might help the idea gain traction and for the Spider remote app as well. http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Firewhawk-FX-Tone-Search-Improvements/727239-23508

My thoughts exactly.

No. The Firehawk FX would not control the Spider V 60. The FBV 3 would be the way to go, and it will work for either the AMPLIFi or the Spider V 60. The FBV Shortboard MKii will also work for them both, but it does not offer color coded LED rings too indicate what effect type is assigned to that pedal. All 3 products you are talking about have a similar sound set in them, with the Firehawk FX having a larger number of models and effects (it also includes the more current HD models). I would recommend sticking with the Firehawk FX, and perhaps getting a speaker for it. If you already have the AMPLIFi 150, that can work well as a speaker system for your Firehawk FX if you bypass the amp and effects in AMPLIFi. However if you are looking to have it all in a more guitaristic amplifier, the Spider V 60 and the FBV 3 make for a nice all-in-one type rig.

I agree that having the choice between older acoustic models vs the newer 2.x models would be nice. Also the idea of just the unprocessed piezo signal that has been kicking around the forums would be very useful. If the Variax is already processing each individual string and note for the alt tuning function, maybe being able to convert that to midi wouln't be too far off. That could let those pipe dreamers use it with outboard gear for all sorts of piano and trumpet sounds. I'd love to use it as a simple transcription tool to input notes into TAB. That could be really useful for transcribers and teachers. I also recently got my hands on one of Yamaha's Silent Guitars, and I think it would be a perfect fit for revamping the acoustic versions of Variax. Alt tunings would be cool and you don't hear much of the actual string noise. They are basically feedback proof. Having a nylon guitar that could emulate other acoustics and maybe jazz boxes would be pretty sick.

I appreciate it. I have tried hot rails, cool rails, the lil' JB and about 80% of the DiMarzio rail offerings in dozens of guitars (as a guitar tech - Im not that spoiled). Most are very usable and kick the hum, but I haven't found one that sounds as good a a full-sized humbucker to me. And with the 24 frets I feel the same way. I never reach for the 24th until i happen to pickup a 22 fret guitar and then, oh it's not there.

I am not sure about pod farm. Firehawk is a slightly different model set (it includes HD amp models). It can also load presets made on the AMPLIFi units, but cannot load them from Spider V. Presets made on Firehawk will not load into either AMPLIFi or Spider V

1) There is no raw piezo signal from Variax. It seems to be a common feature request on the forums. You can upvote it on Ideascale as well to help push the request http://line6.ideascale.com/a/dtd/Clean-piezo-signal-from-JTV/515946-23508 2) There are guys who swap pickups on the Variax, but I have yet to see anyone add a new pickup slot in one. Not saying it can't be done, just that there are a lot of electronics living in Variax, and doing custom work like that is more involved than it would be on a basic guitar. 3 & 4) I think it comes down to aesthetics and feel here, but Ill printout a couple things like like on each. The modeled sounds are the same on the all, and any differences on the piezo side cause by the woods/build are very small if they are even noticeable. I think the 89 has the best feeling neck profile (and only 24 fret option if that is important to you.) The trem system was never a big deal for me, but its worth nothing that when using models/piezo, getting too wild with the bar can cause the strings to lose contact with the piezo saddle resulting in note loss and popping as it slaps back down. No issues with it for the magnetic pickups though. The Standard also has a comfortable neck although this one was out for me right off the bat without a full humbucker in the bridge position. My favorite pro for the 59 is the shorter scale length which lets me use heavier strings with less tension. I feel there is a small improvement for the modeled sounds with slightly bigger strings. I also like the look of this model best. I don't like the gloss painted neck, but it is easy enough to scuff back for a satin feel if that is a deal breaker for you. Hope any of that helps you.

Nice job. Your other videos and soundcloud riffs sold me on a bunch of the ownhamer IRs. Thank you.

I didn't mean to deter you from the Spider Vs. They do work with piezo equipped acoustic guitars, and they sound very nice with them. I misunderstood and thought you were looking for an acoustic only set up. To accomodate acoustics, the Spider V does have a full range system built into the box. There is a larger speaker and a small tweeter in all of the Spider Vs, which helps to nicely produce the range of acoustic instruments. There are also 3 acoustic specific amp models you can use. The factory presets do include some good examples for acoustic use. If you get a chance to try one out check out 1D "Spider Acoustic", 30D "Dragon Glass" and all of bank 3. If you decide you aren't going to mic the amp or you require more volume for gigs, it might be worth checking out the Spider V 120 for its XLR outputs to run to the house PA.

Yes, the presets made on either unit will transfer to the other. mcbeddall nailed it in his explanations, just wanted to confirm the "in theory" part.

The tones made for AMPLIFi will load into Spider V, and they are searchable on the Spider Remote App. I don't believe the tones created with Spider Remote will load into AMPLIFi.

Like Mike was saying, the Spider V is mainly an electric guitar amp, but it does have amp models that are specifically made for use with piezo-equipped acoustic guitars which makes it nice for versatility. If you are looking for a solution that is tailored specifically for acoustic use you can check out the L2t or the L3t Stagesource speakers. They are essentially powered PA speakers with some nice features for acoustic players - a built-in 2-channel mixer, acoustic body resonance modeling, feedback suppression, reverb and chorus. http://line6.com/stagesource-pa-speaker/

Most of the time, you can also play music from a device through the USB connection. I can confirm that it works for iPhone 5s and newer, it also works for iPad 4. My old iPod however does not work. It is one with the 30 pin connector, which doesn't seem to be supported for Spider V's connections,. It does not charge and it doesn't recognize a connection for audio over USB. So then you can always use the 1/8" aux in.

The illuminators do sound better to me in the Majesty than they do in the JP15s. Different constructions and wood make them a little warmer to start.

Yes. It will work. You are putting Helix into your amp's fx loop. You can get the same set up by going into the guitar in on helix and out of the 1/4" out. You wouldn't have to set up the send return blocks that way, but wither way will work. The 4 cable method is useful when you want a unit like Helix to have the option to place effects both in front of the amp, and in the FX loop.

Congratulations by the way man, Merry Christmas to you!! That guitar and finish is awesome looking and they all play like butter.