brue58ski

Ratts!! Oh well. Still really happy with what I have and looking forward to what may come.

The sales of vinyl records surpassed the sales of CDs for the first time in a long time this year.

Maybe this will help. I've bought every modeller after the first one Line 6 made. And I owned a Vetta. To me the Helix finally got modelling to where I wanted it to go. So much so that even if there's a Helix II, it would have to be pretty special and different for me to get one. The Axe FX is better IMO but only slightly. Not $1,000 better that's for sure. So if you're looking for something that won't be made completely obsolete, this is it. I see no reason to get the next latest and greatest where with the previous modellers, I was looking for the next latest and greatest. Not anymore. Just find somewhere with one of those 30 day money back guarantee things to be sure.

You guys don't celebrate Thanksgiving? What's up with that? It's a great excuse to eat to excess.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all as well. I'm stuck waiting for awhile so gluttony will have to wait a bit.

I agree with what you say in regard to you only live once. I know how to save and I am aware of all of the payment options. Those are obvious. I have even used them. But the comment was in regard to getting another one just for a couple of amps. I certainly am aware that you can't take it with you. If there's one thing about me, I don't plan on taking any $$ with me and don't make enough for that to happen. When I go, I'll pretty much be tapped out. Due in some part to my music related purchases. And I have even used such thinking to justify a recent purchase (I'm getting old, on the downhill slope so to speak). But I hate making relatively large purchases for small returns. So getting a whole new modeler for a few amps that may actually wind up in the Helix anyway, is somewhere I won't go and I'm guessing true for many others. Besides, the comment just seemed a bit flippant. If that's the solution for this, then that would work for everything. Like saying if you don't like your wife, just divorce her, there's plenty more. Of course things aren't as simple or easy as that. A bit of an extreme example, but it's the same logic and just as flippant IMO. I am also just thinking out loud here as well. Don't have my feathers in a ruffle or anything like that. Not really that important. I suppose part of it is I'm basically in a position right now where I'm wasting time waiting. That often leads to too much thinking. Which I probably did in this case. Carry on.

That's a pretty sanctimonious thing to say. It's decidedly NOT easy if I already have a Helix. Don't get me wrong, I agree with the thinking that you don't get a modeler based on whatever updates and new amps you THINK will be offered throughout the lifetime of the product. You get it based on whatever it has at that moment. You can't count on anything else. But, obviously, these people posting here already have a Helix and I'm assuming don't have a money tree growing in their backyard. I know I don't. Or maybe they have a Variax so are kind of tied into Line 6 modelers if they want to use it to it's fullest potential. So if they have a Helix and want a certain amp, There's nothing wrong with stating that here, on the HELIX forum. One of the few places it is appropriate to state such desires. There are a couple of amps that Line 6 has modeled before that if they still have them, would be really nice to have. Personally, I'm good with what amps are there but it doesn't make me feel like all these other people are wrong for stating what they want. Especially in the one place it's entirely appropriate to do so, I mean, using your theory, if all these posts about what amps people want bothers you, then go to a different thread or forum. There's better ones around. Pretty easy.

The two go to's seem to be Freman and Delaune. I have both. They are nice BUT, as has been stated before, the bottom line is they won't help you create patches. In fact many of the patches from those two have IR's created for the patches and a few that are exclusive to the patches they create. For example Delaune has a Boston patch that has an IR that is made just for that patch. Not really useful anywhere else (although I guess I haven't tried). Mr. Sadites is a great place to start but, as implied in the last post, ain't the final word on it. In fact Sascha Frank has some great tips. The looper tip is one I use and is great for dialing in tones.

I agree about the warranty. I've got as about a year left on it, which will probably be when it goes out.

There are a bunch of amps that were modeled during the Vetta/Pod XT era that haven't been modeled. If Line 6 still has them lying around somewhere, I'd love to see the Deizel's they had and the Budda Twin. The Budda used to be my go to crunch amp. So are they still laying around the offices somewhere?

Boy, I hope I never have to do that.

When you fire up the Helix, the version number should appear in the bottom of the screen.

Yeah, I know. Just wanted to get that little statement out of the way. OK, everyone back to their corners 'till the next bell.

I'll post this common "when's the update coming?" post. If ya don't like it. Don't read it. It's made very clear what this thread is about so if you come in here complaining about it, you only have yourself to blame.

This is one summation of what the plus version has that the non plus does not. Offers a digital readout with the option for up to 128 presets. These can be configured as any mode, whether it be flat response, speaker modeling or impulse response. The PowerCab 112 Plus also offers full integration into your existing rig by communicating with your Line 6 modelers via L6 LINK, or anything else you can throw at it with MIDI and AES/EBU digital inputs and outputs. It can also streamline your demo or live set recording processes by offering a built-in USB audio interface. The additional features of the PowerCab 112 Plus make it an ideal choice for players who need in-depth control over every aspect of their sound. The plus also has more speaker options currently. It can also us IR's. I don't think the non plus version can.

Ideal? No. Will you hear something? Yes. Will it be good enough for now. That's up to you. One fun thing about using modelers like this is stereo. Try stereo effects, even through your TV. Chorus and Ping Pong delay are two that floats my boat. Add some reverb and pull up some NASA videos to watch while you play.

I personally like playing through "regular" speakers so monitors will be fine. And as I implied before. Just plug it in to your home stereo. See how that sounds before you pony up for some new monitors. It will definitely sound good for average playing/practicing and yes, it will sound different than an amp in the room. One of the things modelling is missing is the interaction between you and your amp. It doesn't have that, for lack of a better word "rubbery" feeling where you can kind of coax stuff out of your amp by changing where your standing or just vibrating the string a certain way. It's something that only the guitar player can "hear/feel" but I know what it is and modelling doesn't really have it. Doesn't mean you won't like what you hear, just know it will be very different.

1) If you can afford it, I would go with the LT. The floor unit is VERY robust so for your situation I would save my money and get the LT. It has all of the modelling capabilities of the floor Helix. Just not as many connection options and not as robust. For example the floor unit has 4 FX sends and returns but the LT only 2. 2) Get the best monitors you can afford. If you want the "amp in the room" experience, consider something in the Line 6 Power cab line. The people that have them seem to like them. I think the Headrush monitors have gotten mostly good reviews for the price. Having said all of that you can just run through whatever stereo you have at home. In fact, if your car stereo has an aux 1/8" input, you could play it through your car stereo. You'd need some adapters but it can be done. 3)The LT has a headphone output jack so that someone was wrong. 4) Here's the best way to answer this. You need to look at amp modelling a little differently than using a real amp. What amp modelling actually simulates is a miced amp in a studio with you isolated, listening to the amp in a control room through the control room speakers. That's essentially what you will hear. It will not sound like what an amp sounds like with you standing next to or near it. Think of the Helix as a virtual studio and your bedroom/home is your studio control room. So you're actually looking for good speakers for monitoring mixes and stuff like that. The Line 6 Power Cab is something I've never tried but many people say it works for them in recreating the "amp in a room" experience. That's what it's designed to do. Also, try and buy from somewhere with a 30 day money back, no questions asked, guarantee. That will be enough time for you to decide, so yes, 30 minutes in a music store is not enough time.

If I'm reading Johnam71's post correctly, he wants path 2A going to one power amp and 2B going to another amp. I would make both paths outputs 1/4" and pan one hard left and the other hard right. That would solve what I think he's trying to do.

You can assign it to a different footswitch so you don't have to use the expression pedal toe switch. Just assign both the volume and wah to the same footswitch. You just have to make sure the on/off states for the volume and wah are opposite of each other.

I totally agree about the big heavy rack. Just what I heard. In regard to the H&K, it appears the Send and Return jacks are Line level since the nominal level (everything centered without a Boost) for them is the same as the Line Out jack and don't have anything in common with the Input (Instrument) jack. Just a slightly educated guess though on my part. I could be wrong. Input jack 6.3 mm (1/4"), unbalanced, 1 MOhms Sensitivity (Clean, without Boost, all Pots in center position, Master in max. position) -23 dBV Max. Input (without Boost) 0 dBV Return jack 6.3 mm (1/4"), unbalanced, 25 kOhms Sensitivity (Clean, without Boost, all Pots in center position, Master in max. position) -10 dBV Max. Input +14 dBV Send jack 6.3 mm (1/4"), unbalanced, 220 Ohms Nominal Level (Clean, without Boost, all Pots in center position) -10 dBV Max. Level +10 dBV Line Out jack 6.3 mm (1/4"), unbalanced, 220 Ohms Nominal Level (Clean, without Boost, all Pots in center position) -10 dBV Max. Level +10 dBV

I've actually heard the opposite the logic being you would put stomp boxes between the guitar and amp (instrument level) and use rack mounted effects (line level) in your effects loop. Having said that, there is no real standard as far as I can tell. Gotta read your amp manual. I know Line 6's Vetta loops were line level. Doesn't mean anything in regard to other amps.

If you're using the XLR output, this is a reminder to make sure there is no phantom power feeding it. It won't ruin it but it will change your level.

The virtual retuning on the Variax is great but, to reiterate what's been said, that's a compromise. A real capo just sounds a lot better and is what I would use if I needed all 6 strings capoed up and not just retuned.

Another thumbs up to Snapshots. Especially since you generally use the same things in your presets.