bluebirdrad

Yes the amp is an actual 1965 Blackface Deluxe (non reverb). Headphones are AKG 271 MKII. I've been through a lot of Line 6 gear as well as other digital stuff; the latest the Helix Stomp, which I thought was excellent. But my current band is more suited to real amps and a basic pedalboard. Just thought I might put my pedalboard through the Iridium into the K8.2 for some small venue gigs we play. My attraction to the Iridium is the simple layout with the controls at your fingertips -- no menus, etc. So I don't know if the source of my angst is the QSC K8.2 or the Iridium. In the past I've had pretty good luck with digital modeling so I am suspecting I'm not getting good results with the K8.2. To your point, I'm not convinced the QSC is giving me precisely what I'm sending it. Hence my question about the presets.

Thanks for sharing your experience . I've been using this K8.2 for acoustic guitar and mandolin with no issues. My telecaster usually through an old BF Deluxe with plug and play tone. I'm looking to consolidate my rig for small venues we play around here (SA FL).

Interested in your experiences with different settings on the QSC K.2 speakers using Helix or other modelers in a live situation. I am using the K8.2 and I find the default setting high frequency or high midrange too brittle, thin, and hard. I think the default setting has hyped high frequency. The Studio Monitor setting seems better. I'm playing a telecaster through Deluxe Reverb model (actually using a Strymon Irridium currently, which sounds just fine through the headphones). Unfortunately, QSC gives no actual technical details for those presets, just verbiage. Thanks for any insights.

I love the old amps. I also have a 64 Vibrochamp and 68 Princeton Reverb. Not the reissues though I owned a DR reissue and it was a great amp -- the new Fender amps are awesome. When I bought that old Deluxe it came with a Scumback M75-60-- copy of Celestion greenbacks-- and it is just killer. The guy said he tried every speaker possible and this was the best -- but maybe I would want to change to something more conventional. Thank you -- I am very happy with this Scumback! Bringing the conversation back to the relevance of the HX Stomp. I would say melding state-of-the-art digital audio with 50+ year-old tube technology is quite something special.

Try this. Go to global settings and look at input/output settings. Go to send/return mode settings. Is it set to AUX? Set it to RETURN. Or vice versa. You can try using a SEND instead of main ouput for your piezo as well. I had a similar issue with HX Stomp and that's how I worked it out. Settings may be a little different on your unit.

That MIDI setup is cool! I'm an old school Fender guy. 64 BF Deluxe (non reverb).

Which midi controller are you using? How well does it work? I'm using the Mission Engineering dual button switch to change presets using the EXP 1/2 jack. It adds two switches of course and integrates easily but it does take your expression pedal jack. I've found the send/return very useful. I run my electric guitar through the main in/out to my tube amp. I run acoustic instruments through the return/send to an acoustic amp or board.Using different paths. It's easy to switch from one to the other using the HX Stomp with the benefit of effects for the acoustics. You do lose the tuner function on the send/return path but I'm using external tuners anyway to free up the third switch on my Stomp. I also run the acoustic path through a passive DI because of possible ground loop issues when using two amps with one device.

xx

For me, the EQ functions are the most powerful way to get to the tone I am seeking. In the Helix world I prefer the Simple EQ . Bass, treble, and sweep-able mid. The secret is the mid. To thicken it up I set the mid gain up and sweep the frequency to find the one I'm looking for. Then adjust it down as needed. Depending on the pickup I'm using on my Tele this can be in the range of 300 to 1200HZ. 1000HZ is a good starting point. To thin it out do the opposite. Then I adjust the bass and treble. To me, a "clean" tone still requires some harmonic distortion to fill it out and add sustain. If using an amp model I set the gain up to thicken it. Or add a "transparent" overdrive like the KWB or TeeMa. I have found that another way to thicken up a clean tone is to put an overdrive on path B and blend it in as needed. Trying to get that "edge of breakup" tone. Compressors can add sustain and many like to use them but I personally don't like them at least playing live. I would rather get the sustain and natural compression by driving the gain on the amp or overdrive. For more add gain. Sometimes just the right overdrive will get you there. Virtually any overdrive will add midrange as well but especially the Tube Screamer variations. The tone in the example sound to me really thinned out in the midrange And probably a Strat and not my Tele. I would use the EQ to get me there. And this is where I may use the compressor for sustain. If I were playing that live I would still push the gain to fatten it up. This is just my approach and probably stuff you already know. I would certainly like to know how others do it.

Push the view button to go into edit mode. Move the cursor to the re-entry point at the end. Press the action button. then turn the top knob to move the re-entry point to the middle where you want it. You can do the same thing with the initial split point. It's easy to do once you figure it out. Yes its possible in HX edit.

My experience using the HX Stomp into my amp without amp models has been fantastic. No DSP problems at all, The amp/cab models are the real DSP hogs. And if you want the sound of a particular amp model you have the option of using the amp without the speaker cab and that cuts down the DSP use. Don't shortchange the drive pedals in the HX Stomp. I am setting up presets that sound better than my pedals -- I have three overdrives still on my board but one may be coming off now and I am reassessing the way I use the other two. I run the Stomp in front of my Blackface Deluxe or Princeton Reverb so no four cables. Works great. BTW I use the Stomp for reverb and always on. My opinion is that if you use the HX Stomp the way you describe you will be very happy with it. I am.

Hi Loren I also used the POD XT Live and then the HD500 using the amp models direct into the board for many gigs in smaller venues with a duo. I went back to pedals and amp with my new louder band. Recently got the HX Stomp to replace many pedals and to have the option of going direct with amp modeling for duo and trio gigs in small venues. I have spent hours with it. It can be as simple or complicated as you want to make it but to get the sound you are looking for takes time. The effort paid off. Played my first gig with the band last night and the HX Stomp more than exceeded my expectations. It is one serious tone machine and brilliantly designed. I agree to forget your preconceptions about amp models and pedals and use your ears. Some good surprises using that approach.

Yes I didn't even look at the settings -- probably from some crazy high gain preset that I thought I had completely erased. I don't need the gate for my rig and style of playing. It was not knowing what was going on. The gate is sort of hidden on the input bus and I didn't even realize it was there. It's a great feature if you need it that doesn't take up a block on the HX Stomp. I just posted this to make people aware. I should have titled the post "Don't Forget the Noise Gate!"

My amp has been doing weird things. Little volume drops and surges. Maybe the power tubes need replacing? Finally I realized the preset I started with had the noise gate engaged, causing this mayhem. I cleared every other effect to start from a blank slate and every preset came from that one. In the meantime I stupidly ordered new power tubes. The noise gate is built into the input block. You can turn it off or adjust the settings so it doesn't interfere. (I edited this post after additional information provided by the experts. See the replies that follow for some great info on this).

That is the challenge of going direct with presets and modeling. What sounds great at home hardly ever translates the same at the gig. That lush reverb you carefully tuned sounds dry as a bone at the gig. Your searing solo disappears completely. What happened? With your amp and stompboxes you make a few adjustments and you're good to go. Agree with above -- must audition at real volume and with your band if possible. I would suggest starting with just a few simple patches that are easier to edit at the gig. Once you have refined your basic tone and effects like reverb and delay you can create more complicated patches from those. You will develop an ear for what works. To keep a constant volume between presets, as suggested above, when using amp modeling direct I play them all into a mixer with a VU meter to equalize them and make small adjustments from there by ear.

I went from HD500 to HX Stomp. I haven't used the HD500 for a long time because I'm now using an amp. I got the HX Stomp for my pedalboard in front of the amp and to have the option of direct amp modeling when I needed it without having to change pedalboards. I don't think the difference will blow your socks off but I have not tried the new amp modeling. I am 100% happy with the HX Stomp. The effects are great and the routing possibilities are fantastic as someone else said. It fits right on my pedalboard. It is somewhat limited compared to the full Helix so be sure that's not what you are looking for. The HX Stomp, as advertised, is downsized. But if the configuration suits your needs you will not be disappointed. But I would say if you are happy with the HD500x and are just looking for a cheaper way to upgrade Helix then you may be frustrated with the limitations of the Stomp.

Does anyone else think this is the best overdrive ever? Makes me want to go find a real one. How are you using yours?

Yes you can. That's the reason I just went to the HX Stomp on my pedalboard. I set up my presets with an amp model turned off -- I generally use the Twin Reverb model. I normally run my pedalboard into a Deluxe or Princeton reverb amp. If I want to go direct, I use the same presets with the amp model turned on. I've kicked all other pedals off but overdrives but I'm finding that the stomp can handle that duty as well and am incorporating those into my presets. I'm running one path to a guitar amp for electric guitar and another path for acoustic instruments to an acoustic amp or monitor -- using the Stomp for both. It can handle that routing with no problem. It is quite amazing actually.