BBD_123

Good move, imho. Low-wind PAF-alikes are the key to the clarity, articulation and string separation that all vanish with hotter HBs. You can add dirt via HX with pedal blocks and pre / power stage amp crank as needed and it should get you good, classic rock tonez... Enjoy :-)

Vintage PAF tone often described as 'Tele on steroids' so maybe that's what's causing confusion?

57 Classics are optimistically named. I'd advise researching low-wind replacements, as suggested. Meanwhile, keep distortion / drive firmly under control, shape the midrange to taste depending on rig / ears and cut the bass to keep it tight and flub-free.

Boutique low wind PAF-clone pickups, eg OX4s.

Thank you, but I don't currently use Native. I've also found that there is huge flexibility with the stock cabs if you dive in to the mic options, which has (so far) removed the need for IRs. But I keep an entirely open mind on the subject, of course.

Ah, sorry :-) Yes, I can see that you know your EQs, and like you, I prefer where possible to simplify and avoid slapping in EQ blocks if at all possible, but sometimes, needs must... Thank you, I will have a play around with both IRs later :-)

Have a look at this thread (with audio clips) over at TGP. It may help you find a more 'musical' solution to the high and low cut problem: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/helix-cab-ir-high-low-cut-frequencies-a-much-better-way-clip-attached.1853814/ EDIT: I should also have added this comment by @DunedinDragon from an earlier thread here: https://line6.com/support/topic/29771-how-do-you-handle-high-end-brightness-of-the-helix/?do=findComment&comment=229655

^^^^^^^^^^ :-)

What brettchinery said - I'm on 2.82 and the issue disappeared with that upgrade. It was a transient bug, nothing more. Imo you are costing yourself the use of a good unit for no reason... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This reminds me of philosophy examination questions :-) Eg: 1/. Every action is a reaction. Discuss. I'll go with T.S. Eliot on this one: ;-) Your English is impressive. As for unfizzing patches, did anyone post an example yet?

Obvz JM knows his stuff. I read that interview with interest, and freely admit that I cannot personally hear what he is discussing with Helix, but this may be a problem with my ears. It is likely that the marginal potential for improvement that still exists with high-end modelers vs real amps would occur exactly as JM suggests, in the subtleties arising from a cranked amp's dynamic fluctuation in sag.

Here is a case in point. After a day, nobody has the measure of a complex modeler like Helix. There is much work to do on knowledge deficit before allocating blame to 'software issues'.

Indeed, so long as it is conducted by working out what we dialed in wrong rather than blaming the unit.

Can't really comment further as I don't use a gate - suppressors are potentially tone suckers, I think, and I don't do ze crazy high gain tonez so I don't need a proper gate :-)

That's certainly the impression I've now got from experimenting with it compared to the Hard Gate, which does appear to be a true noise gate.

Back in the days of HD500, the Noise Gate wasn't a true noise gate but the Hard Gate was and so worked better. It sounds as though this may still be the case with Helix: http://foobazaar.com/podhd/toneGuide/ampTone#noiseGates

It's all good. Modeling works, competition will keep everybody on their toes, and we all benefit :-)

Yes, I was thinking this too... so I'll leave it here.

And following on from @codamedia the ever-helpful Jason Sadites provides a how-to on getting results with the stock cabs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8Qrt-Q79U4&feature=youtu.be

I must admit I get by fine with the stock Helix cabs, although I am not a metal, high-gain player. If there is a rule with Helix, then it might be 'keep it simple' :-)

Mid and upper mid, not high frequencies are what make a guitar tone cut through the mix. Too much HF just makes it sound scratchy and fizzy and poor.

They're both outstanding units but neither will sound outstanding until the user has learned to use them in enough depth to dial in the tones that they are aiming for. EDIT: I've just now watched the video that SaschaFrank posted above, and the chap there says exactly the same thing, so clearly must be correct :-)

Try the high cut in the cab block in the 4 - 8kHz range, in conjunction with dialing back the treble and presence in the amp tone stack and tone / presence / bright in the drive / OD block if present. And watch your gain - keep close to unity within Helix and don't have *too much* distortion in your tone. :-) Exactly: high and low cuts in the cab block etc.

For sure. Another problem may be that sometimes people dial in unrealistic amp settings which would sound crap IRL with the actual amp. Then blame Helix for quite accurately modeling the results.

What cruisinon just said plus a simple mantra - keep your patches close to unity gain within Helix and use the cab block or other EQ to cut excessive top end.