SteveFrance

I think that the "expandable" term is, today, to designate the fact that you can add, by yourself, IR's cabs.....But nothing prevents Line6 to bring new ones....

It reminds me something..... :) When i decided to change my boss ME-25, i wanted to buy a line6 Firehawk, that i did. I remember that the seller took it out of the box and plugged it directly into a tube amp and let me tried it alone. I found the volume very loud (the output was turn on "line") , so i played one hour very shyly in the shop and tried a lot of patches. The Firehawk has only a bluetooth interface so i couldn't tweak a lot and thought, i will be able to have a better sound after. The way to proceed was really not the best one (i would say that it is the worse one). That proves me one thing, the seller likes/loves old gear (amp tubes, custom shop guitars , analog pedals), but i believe that modelers is like an alien device for them. On the other hand, DJ's shops don't know exactly the guitarists' world. The Firehawk made me know the way to chain my effects, the placement of each one, The EQ, that if you have an amp/cab modeler, you have to go on a FRFR speaker..... This is really another way to think your rig. It needs some work. When i decided to buy the helix, i had this knowledge, so i was less impressed... But i can understand that the amount of possibilities is so important that it can bring some apprehension. You can eventually start with simple parches. If you're disappointed, the first thing is to see your Devices and your cabling. After, what are your goals and the way to reach that ?

I believe i practice the same as you want to... You only want to connect your PC to tweak the helix's parameters with HX Edit So don't go to monitoring speakers. The only question i have is : what are your devices at gigs/rehearsal ? Do you use an amp or go FOH ? I go directly FOH, the idea is to have exactly the same rig. If you do so (FOH) just buy the same active speaker (Helix direct into it) and connect your computer to do your adjustments.

I think you want more than it already provides ! :) The Variax is done to replace a lot of guitars. But it gives the raw modeling sound of each ones..... I think Line 6 has done the good choice. It's already tricky to obtain the good sound (because it needs some tweak in workbench), that i don't see where they could stop... So why not including an amp for each kind of guitar, a marshall for the gibson, a twin for the strat, and so on ? Those amplifications have to stay external of the guitar and to be left to the preference of each one. To resolve your problem of bad sound : Have you tried with a real electro-acousic guitar to see (hear in fact) if you can obtain a good sound with your materiel ? May be, as suggested Jerseyboy, there's something in your chain that prevents you to have a full range, so the high frequencies aren't be able to output and the result is bad.....

Hi Arislaf, I've tried again the models and have one question ; How did you proceed to equalize the level for the different guitar models and the same for each string equalizing ? With a perfect ear (thing i don't have) or with a db/level meter ? I find that on the 335 the high string (B/E) are rear, i don't hear them so well, i don't know if it corresponds to the real one ?! The spank is really what i was looking for !!!!

Hi Arislaf, I've seen your post on hollidays, i was impatient to try your bundle. I uploaded it yesterday and tried some models today quickly at midday. i join the opinion of Himchebel and Silverhead for the Lespaul model, i find the Gretch body sounds too muddy/dark, i prefer a clearer sound and play with the tone knob. I've changed it for the lespaul junior for the moment (see if i won't use the top flame). I've changed the 12 chords % too for the acoustics which i found too high. For the rest, i find that it sounds really good ! I don't exactly know what you have done on the acoustic but i find it better.... Hard work, BRAVO !!!!! On the other hand, i'm in a period i find that a real electric guitar sounds better (especially for the response and the spectrum), so i'm going to go on comparing to know if i'm gonna surrender the variax or not (i play with the VDI cable and i don't know if there's an incidence too).

https://line6.com/variax-modeling-guitars/jtv-us/ Is that what you are looking for ? It seems that the pictures show the unique possible color for each model....

Wonderfull ! What happens 5th day ? You bring it back to the shop ? :) I've bought a PRS like once and i found that it was a good compromise between a strat and a gibson. After i bought a variax.... ;) Does it have piezzo pickups ?

You can eventually take a simple active speaker to have a cheaper solution.... I've bought a yamaha DBR10 that brings a good sound. There are less expensive speakers (Alto for exemple) which seem to be good too !!!

You've forgotten the coffee machine controller ! :)

I'm pretty proud of my message. It made you react. At first, i wanted to tell that a "major update" means nothing or not so much because each one doesn't wait for the same things..... Finally, you explain that you are bothered with fizz, etc.....I think we are far from the amount of new amps that could arrived.... It's clearer now ! I agree with you. I use a variax with the helix. I've just changed my pickups on my Gibb SG and my fender strat. When i plugged them in HX, there was a lot of buzz, fizz, etc.....More than with VDI cable. At first, i thought it was from the guitar....I adjust my guitars because i thought it comes from frets.... Then, i discovered the noisegate and it's better....Even if i'm not entirely satisfied. I've learnt (and had to) a lot of things with modeling, position of effects, how to make a signal path and i believe that's not finished. I hear that clean amps gives really good results, the responsiveness and dynamic has no comparison with my last FX and have heared good disto sounds. Today, i think that i have still things to learn to improve my sounds and work this way....

I think we don't have to counfond a new device and an improvement. The strategie is really not the same. Every trademark uses to announce new products long time before to keep customers and prevents them from switching. On the other hand, the device is already sold. I've seen nowhere that it was a must for line6 to bring a new firmware every X months.... Are the customers happy with it ? Even if there wouldn't be any improvement, i love my HX (and i'll keep it) !!!! Every improvements are some plus and i'm pleased to take them but they're not also a revolution... And i believe, i anticipate the next one who will ask : when will arrive the 2.7 firmeware and so on...... Last point : what is a major update ? Philosophical subject ! You've got 4 hours..... :)

No, the variax doesn't allow you to do so, easily. It reminds me a jason sadites' vid in wich he splitted the signal in two ones following the frequencies. So you can do so, Path 1 split with crossover following the frequencies and you have different amp/cab on Path A and path B (there's no need of variax for that) The other possibility is to send the variax models on path 1 and the variax magnetics pickups on path 2 (but you will have all the strings).....

You just have to switch on the "mode" button to flip in one mode to the other one. But the original patch has might not been configurated for every/each button.......

Personnally, I don't use the global EQ. One reason is that i use a variax and play with acoustics models so the Global EQ wouldn't be a great solution to cut frequencies on every patches. I don't think that it's either a good solution if you only play electric.... The low/high cut configuration varies following which cab/amp you use to offer good result.... I use to tweak it in the cab block's parameters patch by patch. Some adds an EQ block to do this...... Edit : DunedinDragon was faster..... :)

It means we have a lot of choice more than elsewhere and some people are always disapointed and would like another thing.

Is that a joke ? Line6 has declined its helix with : - The rack + control pedal - Helix Floor - Helix LT - Helix native - Helix FX There's no other brand that has done so on a same base ! So you need another device.....I believe it won't happen ! I don't use a lot the pedal too but i think it's always good to have it for the volume control.

This is the reason why i've surrendered with the IR's. It already needs a lot of time to know how to put the effects in the chain / to tweak the EQ and all that stuffs..... The amount of possibilies is so more important than the device i had before that i waste more time on the buttons than on playing the instrument..... I consider that factory cabs, well setup, can provide good sounds and offer a lot of possibilities.

In fact, i've quickly changed the FH for a helix LT after buying the DBR10. I've tried at first a soundbar (an LD system but wasn't convinced for the acoustic part) The DBR10 is a pretty good speaker, i can really get the sound i want to. The only matter is that my band has other speakers for rehearsals, so i find the good tone at home and i'm unsatisfied with the difference (the volume and the size of the room changes too). I've progressed in how to setup my parameters too (High/low cut, EQ.....), and this has an important incidence on the sound.

I agree with you, Line6's speakers are expensive, this is the reason why i haven't bought one ! I couldn't buy all the more expensive devices :) I've bought a Yamaha DBR10 because i wanted a second input. Nevertheless, the Alto has a good reputation and have hesitated to try it. The only thing is that you'll have some work to tweak and find the sound you like, because even if you have a FRFR, they don't sound the same, some are more bassy, more precise..... But whatever you take, you won't have the limitations of an ordinary electric guitar amp.....

OK, i've read your post many times to know how to respond and it was a good thing to do so..... There are two answers the "would" and the "you have to" ;) I wouldn't recommand an amp if you want to change the modelling of amp with firehawk because even if you have a clean one, the cab will change the color of the modeling whatever the way your inputs....You can eventually do it, it works but..... I've seen that you have a Shuriken, so i think you'll want to play the acoustics and resonators models, there's no other choice than the FRFR speaker !

If you want a 1/2 down tuning, it's already configurated in tthe variax memory, you just have to select the good position with the alt tuning knob. You have to be on the model position to work -> the knobs lights are ON.

A Variax and its alt tuning can't be compared to a mechanical sytem like evertune. The virtual capo will add a 1/2 tone, etc... whatever you want by electronic (the strings won't move ! ). If the variax is not tuned, as a physical capo, the notes won't be good.... The Variax won't setup and don't have an integrated tuning system. Evertune is a physical component that provides the guitar to stand in tune once it has been set up....

I've seen this : https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/VariaxPwrKit--line-6-variax-cabled-power-kit It seems to work with old and JTV guitars, so, i suppose with the standard too..... I don't have it, i use a line 6 FX board.....

It's the imperial size. I had the problem with my fender that i've lost the allen keys, impossible to fix my buzz matters and to find one in a DIY store..... The ones given with the variax solved this.....