dacop13

Are there any factory presets that you use without ever tweaking?

The EQ comes in handy on some presets but its really not needed sometimes. I agree it should have been just another empty block giving us at least 5 to work with.

Orange Pedal Baby power amp when using preamps into a real cabinet. No need for a poweramp with powered FRFR speakers.

Yes...the BEST tone is from using FRFR, in my case its the JBL Studio monitor powered speakers. I liked it so much that I recently purchased a Line6 1x12 poweramp. I will no longer use the Pod or Helix with a poweramp or valve amp as I want to use the full AMP and CABS in the Line6, it really does sound that much better. If you do use the valve amp option its defiantly best to use the Preamps as I have mentioned before, if you cant find anything you like that way go FRFR. You will not be disappointed.

I saw Strauss at a Guitar Center clinic in NYC and few years back, she is an incredible player. She was promoting her new Ibanez signature guitar and the Boss GT1000. The Boss unit didn't sound too good imo. During Q&A I asked her if she ever used that Boss GT1000 live and she said no lol. I believe she uses the Marshall JVM live.

Hendrix would have used a Helix! "I dig it man...its far out". Probably would have set it on fire a few times too and gotten a new one from Line6 the next day.

First time messing with IRs and I liked your R5_412_GB_Edgy.wav. Nice job.

That is a huge issue with the preamps...volume levels. Although I was able to get more then enough volume out of the power amp and tube amp for the Line 6 unit.

Yup...I plan on picking up another JBL 305 for that stereo experience! Thanks.

I didn't go the PC+ route, just the basic version. I plan on using the cabs within the Helix/Pod only and maybe some IRs in the future.

I have always used the Helix and Pod Go through a power amp (Orange Pedal Baby) and real cab. Using the preamps and no cabs as that always sounded best to me. Still a great solution for these units but the other day I decided to pick up a JBL 305p mkii just to see what an FRFR can do. Well it opened up a whole new world for these units. Every stock amp sounded great in default settings, and being able to use all Amp and Cab options really makes a huge difference. I ordered the Line 6 1x12 power amp. Probably still keep the JBL as it sounds great for just messing around in a different location.

Just wanted to let you know that I recently picked up a JBL studio monitor (305p mk2) and it opened up a whole new world as far as tone and being able to use full amps and cabs. Sounds much better then just using the preamps.

Thanks for the explanation of what the Plus version can do, but I do not see myself messing with MIDI or Line 6 Link and/or setting up presets with cabs from the Powercab. I would be using the cabs in the Helix only through Flat on the powercab. Probably best for me to stick with the basic version. So with the basic version, lets say I set it to Flat or Jenson, all my presets will take on that Flat or Jenson setting correct?

I am thinking about picking up a Line 6 powercab (not the plus version) and noticed if has speaker emulation settings on the cab itself. What if I just wanted to use what I have in the preset like a Mesa 4x12 V30 cab for instance. I would assume setting the powercab to "Flat" is the way to go? Does that sound good? Or do you guys usually use one of the cab emulation settings within the powercab and shut off the cab block? Thanks

To be honest I have always kept it in the default position on the Pod Go. You could experiment for sure. I just use it to lower the overall volume of the unit when needed.

I agree, the Kemper can only be as good as the profile you are using. Lets say you are looking for a Marshall 800 tone, well there are literally 1000's of them, some great and some bad. t takes time finding the right amp profile you are looking for. With the Helix, you start from scratch and build it your way. The Helix UI is also much easier to use and navigate through, without question.

No problem, preamps are the way to go, the results are much better when using a power amp and real cab. Takes a bit more time but worth it. Think of it this way, the Synergy Syn tube guitar amp system sells modeled amplifier Preamps for their unit, because the power is already there with the head. We are doing the same thing, using Line6 preamps with a power amp.

Here is the issue, you will never be able to do it because every amp/poweramp will give you different characteristics. I also have Orange and Mesa tube amps and when I use their power sections (effects return) they both sound different. I find the Marshall power section on the DSLs to be far superior and they seem to work best with the Helix and Pod, so you have the right amp imo. For the consistency you are looking for (home and venue), and not wanting to lug around the Marshall 40w combo...I highly recommend the Orange Pedal Baby poweramp and a 1x12 cabinet. Although you already have both the power amp needed and the speaker in that 40w Marshall combo.

I have the Marshall DSL 20w head into a 1x12 Mesa real cabinet with a V30 speaker. I have experimented quite a bit with this and in my opinion there is no question that the best results will come from the DSL effects return, not from the front of the amp. Only use the 4CM if you plan on using the DSL channels, but I personally do not. NOTES: - L/Mono Out into the Marshall DSL effects return delivers true tube power amp characteristics. You will be able to use he DSL's Presence and Resonance controls for more tone shaping. - Do not use any cabinets or IRs on the Pod Go, shut them all off. - This is huge...get to know and use the Preamps, not the full Amps. Preamps will deliver a beefier more tube like tone. Remember you are using the Marshall's Power Amp, so you do not want to use the Pod's full Amp block and add in the Pod's simulated power amp on top of the Marshall's. Its overkill and doesn't deliver a true tube amp tone. - It is a must to use the EQ block after the Preamp (set by Pod default) to shape your tone as needed. I like the Cali 5 band EQ the best for this. - If you want to push the preamp harder (boost or gain), use another EQ before the amp and up the level only. I prefer this method over any Overdrive which will color the tone, unless that is what you are trying to do. Also...I sometimes use an Orange Pedal Baby power amp and get similar results as the Marshall amp delivers, the Marshall is slightly better though because of its true tube power section. (Using the same notes above on the Orange power amp, preamps only).

This has probably discussed many times...but how many of you out there own both the Helix and a Kemper, which do you prefer and why? Myself...I had a Helix LT and sold it for a Powered Kemper head. Then I recently picked up a Pod Go (great price) because I missed building presets/tones from the ground up. Now I am sort of digging the Helix type Preamps with my Orange Pedal Baby power amp more then the Kemper. The Kemper is a great unit when you find the right profiles, and the effects are not bad either, but there is sort of a mid range thing going on with them that's hard to describe. The Helix amps (preamps in my case) are not perfect either but they seem to deliver a more raw (not so polished) tone when EQed correctly. Those that own both or have owned both...what do you think?

Also would like to add, preamps sound even better when going through a tube amp's return.

Sure, this makes sense. As long as you add an IR or Cab with that Preamp, FOH will be fine.

Agreed in the "beefier tones", same here.

Does anyone else here use Preamps only? I run through an Orange Pedal Baby and a real 2x12 cabinet and find the preamps sound much better. Just wondering if others use the preamps.

I agree, many things come into play with tone, I was just wondering if there are any opinions out there about speakers they prefer with the Helix. V30s? Greenbacks? Others?