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Helix Rack Ship Date?


jmercker
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Anyone have any idea when the Helix rack is going to actually ship?  I ordered mine back on 11/5/2015 from GC and at that point, the estimated ship date was 12/13/2015.  I've watched it slip numerous times since then + it's currently projected to be 2/15/2016 (a slip of +2 months).  Most of the online stores have the same projections for a February ship date.  I've noticed that the floor unit has been steadily shipping.  I'm not so much upset that it's taken time, I'm bothered by the idea of no end in sight for the Helix rack.

 

Has Line 6 offered any public commitment for when this is going to actually ship out?

 

Thanks...

 

 

 

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They have said they are planning/hoping to ship to dealers by the end of January. Frank and Eric have both posted that on TGP and I think somewhere here and on the facebook group.

 

I'm beta testing it, and it feels pretty much finished to me so I'll be surprised if it slips past that date. The kind of things we've found during the beta test period seem less severe than some of the issues that floor users have faced AFTER the unit shipped.

 

So... soon, I think...

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Thanks for the quick reply.  I'm less irritated and more like a kid waiting for Christmas to come.  I've got friends with the floor unit + it sounds to be well worth the wait. 

seriously the wait is KILLING me. watching the website every day. Watching the date move further and further away.

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GC currently projects 2/24/16.  The original estimate was 12/13/15 and the date has slipped numerous times to the point where the current dates are meaningless.  The only thing I'm confident of at this point is that the date will likely slip again.  Line 6 needs to commit to a ship date and get it out the door.  Time spent waiting on something like this is also time spent looking at viable alternatives to the Helix.  AX8 is right there is the same price range...

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...or maybe a more constructive suggestion might be that Line 6 needs to provide more visibility into the process.  If there are issues being addressed that are needed to make the launch more successful, then share that info with the community.  If there's a page out there with this information, I've missed it.  Having a lack of information about when this is going to actually be shipped is what frustrates people.

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...Line 6 needs to commit to a ship date and get it out the door.  Time spent waiting on something like this is also time spent looking at viable alternatives to the Helix.  AX8 is right there is the same price range...

 

With respect... You didn't want the Helix Rack until everything worked, though (I know, I'm a beta tester for it). Otherwise you'd be saying "Line 6 needs to fix this stuff before it gets out the door" which is what they've done.

 

AX8 is an alternative to the Helix floor, and it's a good one (no, for many people it's a GREAT one), but the waiting list for that is a mile long and LIne 6's manufacturing capacity is probably far greater. VEry few AX8s are in the wild yet. How are they better?

 

I'm pretty confident that the Rack is done in terms of initial firmware. I wouldn't be surprised if they have either already shipped out to dealers or are about to (no, I don't "know anything". They don't tell us about ship dates).

 

So... this current date that GC is guessing at... it might actually be right! Sweetwater also says February but doesn't say a date.

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...Having a lack of information about when this is going to actually be shipped is what frustrates people.

 

...not as much as broken promises would. For a publicly traded company with responsibilities to their owners/shareholders/parent company, the transparency they've had with us with regard to ship dates on these products is astoundingly good, imho.

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Posted yesterday morning...  Looks like ship to dealers by the end of the month, maybe??

 

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/line6-helix.1586637/page-940#post-21305199

 

 

Also some info here.  Look towards the end of the thread.

 

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/line-6-helix-rack.1658652/

 

I don't think there is any new official info about ship dates in either of those threads.

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I don't think there is any new official info about ship dates in either of those threads.

One of the last post (on the Helix Rack thread) by Frank says they're looking to good to be shipped into distribution the first week of February.  

 

Not official, but we probably won't get anything official until they actually ship.

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...or maybe a more constructive suggestion might be that Line 6 needs to provide more visibility into the process.

I find these demands for "visibility" amusing. Just because so much info is only a Google search away now, doesn't mean that we're all entitled to intimate knowledge of the inner workings of every company on earth.

 

Does Maytag call a town meeting if their new FilthBlaster 2000 is delayed for a month because too many units are having trouble with the spin cycle? It'll ship when it ships....no amount of special pleading will change that.

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With respect... You didn't want the Helix Rack until everything worked, though (I know, I'm a beta tester for it). Otherwise you'd be saying "Line 6 needs to fix this stuff before it gets out the door" which is what they've done.

 

AX8 is an alternative to the Helix floor, and it's a good one (no, for many people it's a GREAT one), but the waiting list for that is a mile long and LIne 6's manufacturing capacity is probably far greater. VEry few AX8s are in the wild yet. How are they better?

 

I'm pretty confident that the Rack is done in terms of initial firmware. I wouldn't be surprised if they have either already shipped out to dealers or are about to (no, I don't "know anything". They don't tell us about ship dates).

 

So... this current date that GC is guessing at... it might actually be right! Sweetwater also says February but doesn't say a date.

 

No offense taken + I agree, nobody wants something that's half baked / rushed.  If I'd ordered an AX8, I'd be waiting as well :).  I think that what I'd like to see, in an ideal case, is more transparency.  If I'd known in November that I'd still be waiting in February for it, I probably wouldn't be frustrated because my expectations would have been set correctly.  So.... not sure where the issue lies.  Is it the distributors being super optimistic in an effort to book early sales, or is it Line 6 not having realistic targets?  

 

To be completely honest, it's not like I'm planning to cancel the order.  I know first hand that the floor unit is super awesome + I expect that the rack will be as well.

 

So here I wait...  Hopefully we see it in February at some point.

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...If I'd known in November that I'd still be waiting in February for it, I probably wouldn't be frustrated because my expectations would have been set correctly.  So.... not sure where the issue lies...

 

I am pretty sure, knowing about the Helix Rack since about that time, and being "in the loop"... that I know EXACTLY where the issue lies.

 

I am not violating NDA by telling you this.

 

If they had known that you'd still be waiting in February, I bet they'd have told you. I know for a FACT that they did not know nor think that. Even the beta units got to us later than they thought they would. 

 

I also think I know exactly where another (external to line 6) part of the issue lies, and that is with a boneheaded OS update from a company that is supposed to be beyond doing boneheaded things by now <<cough cough... apple El Cap sucks... cough cough...>>

 

There were other issues that can't talk about (which are obviously gone now, and they might have talked about it, I don't recall) that delayed the box, again... beyond what Line 6 expected and beyond what they would have told you in November.

 

So... you want more transparency? I think you have all that is humanly and corporately possible, at least in terms of ship dates. They might have been better off not telling you there was a Helix Rack until it was in stores... I don't know...

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I am pretty sure, knowing about the Helix Rack since about that time, and being "in the loop"... that I know EXACTLY where the issue lies.

 

I am not violating NDA by telling you this.

 

If they had known that you'd still be waiting in February, I bet they'd have told you. I know for a FACT that they did not know nor think that. Even the beta units got to us later than they thought they would. 

 

I also think I know exactly where another (external to line 6) part of the issue lies, and that is with a boneheaded OS update from a company that is supposed to be beyond doing boneheaded things by now <<cough cough... apple El Cap sucks... cough cough...>>

 

There were other issues that can't talk about (which are obviously gone now, and they might have talked about it, I don't recall) that delayed the box, again... beyond what Line 6 expected and beyond what they would have told you in November.

 

So... you want more transparency? I think you have all that is humanly and corporately possible, at least in terms of ship dates. They might have been better off not telling you there was a Helix Rack until it was in stores... I don't know...

 

Thanks for taking the time to post the info you have on this.  I appreciate it a lot. Too many people on gear forums just want to troll rather than help.  That's never helpful.  I can tell you're into Line 6 + especially the Helix.  Fingers crossed on seeing it in February.  

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Thanks for taking the time to post the info you have on this.  I appreciate it a lot. Too many people on gear forums just want to troll rather than help.  That's never helpful.  I can tell you're into Line 6 + especially the Helix.  Fingers crossed on seeing it in February.  

 

Thanks.

 

Actually, I'm into making awesome music. This just happens to be an awesome tool for it.

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Can one of you fine folks tell me, does the 9.5" depth measurment include the handles?  If not, how far do the handles protrude?  I'm building a custom enclosure for mine before it arrives.

 

From Line 6:

Helix Rack—19 x 5.25 x 9.5 inches; 9.3 lbs.

 
 
Thanks!!!!!!
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Can one of you fine folks tell me, does the 9.5" depth measurment include the handles? If not, how far do the handles protrude? I'm building a custom enclosure for mine before it arrives.

 

Yes, the 9.5" depth is measured from the very front of the handles to the tip of the wordclock BNC connector. If space is a premium, the handles can be removed with a phillips screwdriver. You'd save an additional 1.3" or so.

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  • 2 weeks later...

any new updates on this? the excitement is overwhelming hahahahaha

Full Compass showed a Rack and Control "in stock" on their website yesterday, but not anymore.

 

And Westlake Pro has a Control listed on eBay.

 

I can hardly put up with myself at the moment. Maybe when mine ships I'll calm down a bit.

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Full Compass showed a Rack and Control "in stock" on their website yesterday, but not anymore.

 

And Westlake Pro has a Control listed on eBay.

 

I can hardly put up with myself at the moment. Maybe when mine ships I'll calm down a bit.

for sure when i at least receive the tracking number maybe i can calm down. hahahahahaha  ive really never been this excited for a piece of gear in my life!

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Musicians Friend changed from Feb 19 to April 8 now. I ordered mine in November, still waiting.

 

OTOH Ive had them tell me something was in stock, and then send me an out of stock email.

They sometimes have issues knowing what day of the month it is over there too, so I wouldn't put much stock into their April timeline until April...

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So the universe is toying with me.  I got my helix rack control yesterday, but won't have the rack for another couple of weeks according to GC.

 

At this point I can attest to the high build quality of the controller.  It is holding down papers on my desk quite nicely.  At around 11 pounds I'm pretty confident my papers are secure.

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....

 

At this point I can attest to the high build quality of the controller. It is holding down papers on my desk quite nicely. At around 11 pounds I'm pretty confident my papers are secure.

Thanks for the good morning chuckle! A good sense of humour like yours come in handy sometimes. Your patience will be rewarded - you're gonna love the Helix Rack / Control combo.
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So the universe is toying with me.  I got my helix rack control yesterday, but won't have the rack for another couple of weeks according to GC.

 

At this point I can attest to the high build quality of the controller.  It is holding down papers on my desk quite nicely.  At around 11 pounds I'm pretty confident my papers are secure.

 

That's exactly what i thought was gonna happen to me man. I ended up with the Helix Rack no foot controller (not complaining). When did you preorder your stuff? I can honestly tell you this. If your building a Rack Unit for the helix get a power amp because i didnt hahahaha.

 

I came from a 4x12 cab and an Spider HD75 to strictly rack. So i had no idea the helix needed a Power amp if i was gonna run it into a 4x12 Orange Cab. I cant help but laugh at myself for being entirely WAY to excited to notice such important details.

 

Hope the paper weight is holding things down well for you.

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That's exactly what i thought was gonna happen to me man. I ended up with the Helix Rack no foot controller (not complaining). When did you preorder your stuff? I can honestly tell you this. If your building a Rack Unit for the helix get a power amp because i didnt hahahaha.

 

I came from a 4x12 cab and an Spider HD75 to strictly rack. So i had no idea the helix needed a Power amp if i was gonna run it into a 4x12 Orange Cab. I cant help but laugh at myself for being entirely WAY to excited to notice such important details.

 

Hope the paper weight is holding things down well for you.

 

I ordered mine back on 11/5/15.  You're going to want the helix controller although it's not required.  I plan on initially running my helix through a 5150 III 100 watt head, but will probably drop the $ on some kind of FRFR setup.

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I will be getting my Helix rack and control in about 6 days from Sweetwater after about a month of wait.  Really excited...

i can tell you right now

1. You will already know how to use it out of the box....it really is THAT simple.

2. its AMAZING. Im the kind of guy that likes good presets before i start making my own. There are ALOT of really cool presets inside.

 

Its gonna be a long month but your gonna LOVE it.

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