johnnyvlee

Anyone besides me think Helix updates with modern amp models seem to make older amp models sound worse? Might be my imagination, I don't know. But I play a lot of cover rock from 60s-80s and I faithfully update my Helix updates as they become available, but it has seemed like my existing patches which use amp models that are older don't sound as good as they used to. By the way, I'm not comparing with the newer amp models, that's just playing the same songs after an update. My approach has been to create a patch per song, and use snapshots within the patch. Sometimes for a new song I just copy another song's patch, and I may or may not tweak it. So, I end up using the same amp models in multiple patches. For example, I know I have used the WhoWatt 100 in quite a few patches. Those all seem to sound not great anymore. Also, I've used AMP+CAB models a lot. I had thought I would go back and change those to separate models, but it's a bit of a pain since you have to manually duplicate the amp and speaker settings. Would have been fantastic if they would have had a feature in HX Edit to split up the amp/speaker models for you. Then again, they don't even have a search function within a setlist, which seems to me a very basic need. Anyway, I'm debating no longer doing updates. But I know it will nag me every time I run HX Edit for any reason.

I have two Helix floor units. I bought the second one as a backup so that if one went on the fritz I could still do a show. Both of them have a problem with the PRESET button which is button 2 on the diagram in the manual. You push it to get setlist, but on both of my units they no longer function. This could potentially be a real problem for me on stage. Is this a common problem? And if so, is there an upgraded replacement component for it? I have to drive to another city to get repairs, and I obviously can only have one in repair at a time if I have upcoming shows. So, I'm a little concerned.

Anyone have a Helix patch that they use for covering Styx? I'm about to cover the guitar part of "Too Much Time On My Hands" if that specific matters.

I have two Helix floor units, one newer (obviously). It seems like when I power up the newer one about 50% of the time it goes into "Rebuilding Presets". Seriously, how often should it be doing this? I'm wondering if this is a defect. I recently installed the latest firmware update, but I think it has rebuilt presets twice before since I have completed that process. This would be the 3rd time. The other unit does this ON OCCASION but usually once it has rebuilt after an update process, it doesn't ever do it again. Yes I follow the entire update process including restore from backup as the last step.

I needed a patch for a song off Beatles Let It Be and Jakob's "Beatles 1967-70" on L6 Custom Tone was already just about perfect. I didn't have the exact Ownhammer IR he used, but I had the OH 112 DVRB CTS-C12 (slightly newer speaker) and it sounds awesome. I have a Variax so I just dialed up the Epiphone Casino (Semi-2) and I am off and running. Also I checked out the Leslie snapshot. I'm definitely going to find a use for this one later on. I wish patches submitted to Custom Tone allowed for poster-approved user comments. Jakob deserves some cred/star ratings for this patch.

Since I was working with my "Say It Ain't So" (Weezer) patch today, it reminded me that I had always intended to fiddle around with a means of playing a similar ending to the solo live as they have on the recording. And I never did. If you know the song, you know that near the end of the lead there's a 7-note phrase that repeats 3 times and there is some overlap because, you know, studio multitracking. Live they seem to bounce it back and forth between 2 guitarists which means the guy playing the rhythm has to let it drop out while he plays those lead bits. And the chorus comes in before the lead is done. Anyway, I think there must be a way with a looper or high-end delay unit that I could play the riff the 1st and 3rd times and the looper/delay could play it the 2nd time. In other words, I need to set it up for ONE loop, and of course getting the timing of that exactly right could be a hella shennanigan! And I am not very experienced with loopers. Anyone done this already? Or have thoughts because you have done extensive playing with this kind of gear?

I think you nailed it. Thanks for that. Now that I look at the split block I see it changing in the snapshot and I seem to remember that confusing me the first time I tried to figure out this patch. Hadn't seen that done before.

Looks like the original didn't have snapshots. I don't remember what all I did to get the version I made.

Thanks I will have a look. Also I might download the original and see if it still works in the new Helix firmware.

Good suggestion! Here is from 10/5 backup Preset031-Say It Ain't So.hlx

Running into an issue where snapshots seem not to work, but I have tested it on two Helix units and it acts the same on both. If memory serves I believe I created this patch by downloading and then modifying vmoncebaiz's "Say It Ain't So" patch (uploaded end of 2015). I have three snapshots: Clean, Distortion, and Lead. I have gigged with this patch and it is a staple in my cover band. Suddenly the snapshots don't work right. When I select the patch it goes to snapshot 1 (clean). But when I select any of the other 2 snapshots it just stays in clean mode now. I assume this is something to do with a system update for Helix. You know how it gives you that "rebuilding presets" message. I thought that only should happen once after a system update, but I am seeing it more than once. Not sure what circumstances trigger that. The other wildcard on this patch is it has a mixer node. I have not really used those myself so I am less familiar with when and why and how (see image). Anyone have any brilliant suggestions?

Going to need to put together a patch for Josie. I'll end up with one snapshot for most of the song, and one for the lead break (I assume). Anyone have any recommendations how to get the sound?

Man that's really cool of you to put time into this. I posted this thinking someone might already have a patch from having used Helix to cover the song, but of course even if someone did that doesn't mean they monitor this forum. Anyway, have it downloaded and I will bang around with it tomorrow after work. Thinking I might make a lead patch from the Big chords. After a week or so if I have something I think is really good I will share it on the Custom Tone page and credit you.

I'd love to know more about your rig and how you chose it? My concern with most FRFR speakers is they don't respond quite like a guitar speaker. That can be an issue when using the speaker for guitar feedback. An example song was "Possum Kingdom". Once or twice that I've tried a decent powered monitor as my speaker I found that I got very undesirable feedback. Back when I was using 11 rack through my Heartbreaker amp it sounded freaking awesome. I was hoping Powercab would be better for that and I believe it is, but it doesn't have the power I had hoped for and the sound quality (used just as FRFR mode) isn't blowing me away. Had any experience with that? P.S. Honestly I only use Powercab for my own monitoring and for rehearsal. Playing live I run Helix directly to FOH board.

I feel like the first key to Helix sounding good is smart use of EQ (something I'm still trying to learn) and the second is what you play it through (also a work in progress for me). Third might be use of compression.