PierM

Stock pups are ridiculous HOT and flat. I've measured 14.5KOhm average from both, which is the official output of G&S G-109 humbucker, which should be the one used in the JTV59. Considering how weak the variax models are, in terms of overall output, I would swap mags with some warm and low output humbucker and/or P90 humbucker sized. I would stay on average 8KOhm so you don't have to do crazy things when moving from models to mags, and also you don't have to push on model gains to make it barely balanced with mags. I'm planning to do the same with mine, with a couple of '57, or P94. Still have to decide....:)

If you play clean stuff as me, the best sound (and I'm seriously saying BEST) it's coming from the Firehawk 1500 amp blocks, nothing more, nothing less. The difference between using, for example, the fender clean amps (in the HD version) stock in the Firehawk 1500, and the one I've in the Helix connected via Monitor IN, it's embarrassing. Same simulated amp, same settings, no effects, just the amp block. Try for yourself. :) Not talking using headphones, but using the Firehawk as a monitor/speaker. Using just the FH 1500 you get that huge, airy, open, bright tone. It's like you have the real amp in your room. When you go back to the one in the Helix (or whatever modeler connected through the Monitor IN, or the Returns), it does sound flat, closed, very small and compressed. Same using IRs. There is nothing you can do to make external modelers to give you the same huge sound you get straight from the Firehawk, using its own Amp blocks. There is some trick the FH1500 DSP is doing with speakers, when using its own amp blocks, something you can't do when using back inputs. If you want to test yourself, and you have the Helix, or the PODHD, try a preset with just a Tweed bright amp block in the modeler, connected to the Firehawk through Monitor IN. Then do the same using the same amp model, but this time using the one you have in the Firehawk. Save both, and switch between the two to compare A/B. :)

I've this bug, as the OP describes, since last update yes.

Last update completely messed up my patches using multiple blocks assigned to a footswitch and it seems totally erratic. Basically it happens that multiple blocks goes OFF when I click a different footswitch, like 2 reverbs going off when I click off on a Delay footswitch, and viceversa. Reliability on these updates is going worse than better. Never had all these problems with old firmware.

Since last update 2.11, when I split my signal, just after the input block, to use 2 amps, I get no signal on second path.. so I need to select that split and go back and forth to get the signal back.

Yes. At bedroom levels, it's good. Signal to Noise is acceptable. When you pass 50%, and especially when you hit 3/4 at 0dBs, the HISS is ridiculous. Problem is, it is not just a subtle noise, it's some sort of white/pink noise, very high frequency, so it does really kill your signal. I do play mostly jazz and clean stuff, and for me it's a total deal breaker. I'm in fact going to sell it for that reason as It looks like L6 really does not care about (and because I think it's hardware side). A workaround can be to use Helix to L/R returns in the FH1500, to avoid the gain section which is the module producing the most of the hiss, but still, even that section is too noisy if compared to other speakers. My L2M (apart the fan kicking when it's hot), it does not produce any digital hiss, at all.

I would not buy the 1500 for the Helix. I did, and I'm not happy, at all. In fact I'm now using my "old" L2M. Don't get me wrong, FH1500 It's a great amp, but standalone. As FRFR is noisy as hell. The monitor input is doomed by digital HISS. MIDI control is subzero. I believe there is to much electronics involved along the path, even with the FH off, which you really don't need for a real FRFR. For the price you have better solutions, imho. :)

Best thread ever. Mind to share what you did to fix the hiss?

That is a bug. I reported this on 28 August, Ticket ID: 277652, and they confirmed and logged the bug. Looks like isnt high in their priority list. :)

The only change I noticed is the Headphone Volume level. Dramatic drop for me; used to play at 3/4 of headphone level, now even at max it's really low.

Let's face it; that amp it's sort of abandoned project. Ideascale it will never work as the userbase it's too small that people who needs that MIDI section working as advertised are so few that you could count them on the fingers of one hand or two.

Yeah, at bedroom levels the hiss is less, still there btw. I'm mostly playing clean, so for me the hiss is something way more noticeable than a shredder. :) It start being loud as hell after 3/4 of volume (gig volume), again, you don't need to play so you can test it in house too, without being arrested by cops. :D BTW, Helix is set XLR--->Line, but you don't even need that as the hiss isn't noise induced by the source, but it's generated by the FH1500 gain section.

The hiss is a problem confirmed by a lot of users I have talked with. I also tried 3 different FH1500 myself, and all 3 were producing the same hiss. Just connect two xlr cables to the FH monitor in, set the gain input to zero and the amp volume to 3/4. Be sure to have an empty patch to make the test. You dont need to play. Just send a clean signal to the helix. The hiss is not present on the loop fx (at least not that loud) but just when using the monitor in at gain =>0, and gain has to be zero to keep the line signal at its original level.

I'm using my FH1500 with Bias FX too and it does works great, almost. The only problem is the same I've with the Helix; you get an awful hiss when using the XLR monitor IN, at Gain=0...and this is totally ruining the experience at higher volumes (>= 50%). If they don't fix this I think I'll be selling mine in a couple of months. If you are going to use that Monitor IN and high volume levels, I would NOT suggest to buy the amp, at the moment.

I honestly think nothing is gonna happen. For what I can see...seems they are not really caring about further developing/improving on that product. This amp looks like has been delivered as sort of monument on top of the firehawk serie and does not look it's a product which is going well on the market, at all. The silence on this sub-forum is, imho, a proof of that. We are very few and almost all question threads are basically a shot in the dark. Even this MIDI thing, has been asked a millions of time. Never had an official and final answer. It's also since day 1 that people, using this amp as FRFR, is reporting the awful hiss after 50% of volume, and I saw zero official support on this. To me looks sort of "take it as it is", product is done, and it's a shame as it does sound stellar.

That is ridiculous really. I've more than 2.000 euros already invested in MIDI controllers and no, I'm not gonna buy another stupid pedalboard because they don't want to make it working as any other device would work with MIDI protocol. This amp is a blast but looks like a dead horse already. Bad.

I've tried for days with more MIDI floorboards, no success. There's an odd lack of documentation and support about that aspect. Pity as this is a blast of a product, but really I don't want to buy another specific floorboard.

From sitting position is a no way. BTW, if you manage to engage it 20/30 times it will start working better. I also noticed was much easier to engage with the Helix outside the case/board.

Yep you're right. Btw, neck of the JTV59, at least mine, looks a carbon copy of a LP59(R9) neck (.910")

I don't think it's about volume, but more about room. A double speaker cab tends to fill the room more than a single speaker, even if that single speaker is producing more sound pressure. Of course talking about main FH1500 speaker. This should partially explain why you had the Twin filling the scene. Then I've to say that that Fender is a beast on filling the room, one of the fatter output I have ever heard. Tricky to give you specific suggestions, maybe you should post the entire rig you are using and the way you are routing your signal. Also, isn't clear how did you manage the stage mix and if the problem was more related to stage levels or FOH levels.

EQ before amp should work normally. Can't see why it shouldn't. Any particular EQ?

I've a JTV59, 2011 model. If you manage to measure the neck profile at first fret and 12th we could check if they are the same. Mine is 7cm(2.5") at first fret and 8,2cm(3.22") at 12th fret. Measured in the middle, between frets, from edge to edge.

Yeah, sorry I meant a mic pre block. :)

A Variax guitar isn't just using a response. It much more than that, and one of the main difference is Variax works per string (using the very high frequency of the piezo pickup) and through filters and resonators, it shape the "host" guitar. Through the Variax string isolation you can elaborate string gauge, string material, size of the resonator chamber (guitar body), type of body etc etc. The Variax istelf is part of the tone recreation. With the Helix IR all you can do is to simulate the overall acoustic shape of the entire system (strings, body, room, mic). I mean, the Helix IR works just per signal, shaping more the overall acoustic timbre, but isn't really going to match an host instrument as Variax does. Said that, I personally avoid to use Variax acoustics through an Helix acoustic IR (I like using just a mic preamp IR*) , but with these technologies there are not rules. You can experiment your own to find your tone. *EDIT: I meant mic preamp block sorry. :)

Defensive because I said you probably never used a serious tuner? ROFL. I must be a "serious" bad guy to do a thing like that LOL! What a offence was that? :D :D Was of course an hyperbole, as the one used by that other guy saying people asking for a better tuner has a bipolar syndrome. Should I defense myself from that insult? Nah, I can smile for a joke because I'm not 13. ;) Really guys, it's 33 years I play guitars. It's 16 years I use L6 products. It's 6 years I'm in this forum but never posted anything because never been a moaning guy, at all. I love everything about my Helix, but still don't get why people has to defend a product in a way it looks they are defending their own lives, acting like bees protecting the hive. If the Tuner will improve it's gonna be a goodness for everyone....Sure I'm too old to understand. Ok, tuner drama, done. Cheeeeers.