Steelmaster

Thanks codamedia, I think your method may be the way to go. Is there a way to use an expression pedal to merge from one preset to another one?

I play in a Yes Tribute band and there is one part where I am in a preset using my lap steel with a lot of echo and I need to quickly change presets to my Variax with a Leslie effect. I really need the trail of the last steel note to hang on even though I am changing presets. Can it be done, or is the Helix the only way to accomplish this easily? I might have to make a preset with both the steel and the Variax on at the same time and just switch the effects with trails on and not change presets. I thought I was done programming this show a year ago. Oh well.

Thanks

Will the Helix LT communicate and operate changes on a Variax 500?

I am having extremely good luck using an Ampeg B115 bass amp. I took out the piezo tweeter to avoid shrillness and digital cracking. It has great thump and knock if you know what I mean. It's a little bit on the heavy side and being a kind of cube it's weird getting into a small car. I'm seriously thinking of getting a 15" Neo speaker to knock off some of the weight. Try one, I think you will love it.

I've been using a 500X for a couple years now. I had to quit playing for a while because of my back and other arthritis complications but I'm stating up again. The problem now is, I sold my 1966 Pro Reverb and the only amp I had to play through is a 1960's Silvertone 1482 combo. A great amp for pedals, but not so great for the 500x. I've been searching for something to use for less than $1600 (what another '66 Pro would cost) so just for the fun of it: I hauled my Ampeg 100 watt combo bass amp over and plugged into it. Very, very promising except there was a harshness on some notes when I was doing the lap slide stuff. I yanked the grill cloth off and discovered to my complete surprise there is a Piezo type tweeter. I pulled that sucker out of there, put a 100 watt heat sink resistor load on and WOW!! sounds better than my old Pro reverb and it's FREEEEEE!!!!!

Be sure to monitor your recordings (where you plug in your headphones) from the recording device. If you plug your headphones into the 500X and then expect the recording to sound like that, it will never happen.

I've had my 500X close to a couple years now and this tool still amazes me. I recently quit the band I was in because of arthritis problems. I've slowly started playing again for fun and this morning I plugged headphones in for the first time. What a great sound, and the ability to practice without waking everyone is priceless. I'm finding it very useful for fine tuning sounds and setting balances between pre-sets. LOVE IT! If I could find a sound system that could come close to replicating the sounds I'm getting in my good headphones, I would be thrilled.

I originally got my 500X to make my live stuff easier to deal with. The band I was in did a lot of songs that would use multiple guitars, effects and complete soundscape changes in a single song. My arthritis has gotten so bad that live playing is not in my future anymore. I decided to set up my home studio and do some recording so I hooked up my 500X just to see how it works as a recording device. WOW!! I am impressed. I think it will be an even more useful tool for me as a recording interface. Just for fun, I wanted to get a Return To Forever vibe going for a song and by the time I was done tweaking, I had a useful Al DiMeola sound on my left and a unison Stanley Clarke sound on my right. What fun.

LMAO

I came to the same conclusion recently. I can buy a back up 500X and a nice laptop to program them at gigs for what a Helix would cost.

I just want to say how much I love my 500x. It seems the forums are always complaining and bitching about what's not there. I want to say, what a great tool, that makes my life much easier. I've been wanting to switch to the Helix, but I had a long talk with myself yesterday and it was decided the 500X does what I need, and does it well.

Got an email from Musicians Friend that said 10/12/15

Military issue leg restraints. Tough too.

Kinda hard to see it but I've mounted my 500x with my wireless receiver in an old fender steel guitar case. I'm running into a 1972 Pro Reverb with an old Fender 2 x 12 for when I need more umph.