Coercer Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 I'm about to purchase a Marshall 1960A for use as a cab with my Helix. The Helix will act as the amp head, pre- and power-amp. I'm new to using the Helix in this way. I know that it's possible to hook it up this way, but does anyone have any advice as to how to do it? The 1960A has a 4 Ohm and 16 Ohm input, as well as an 8 Ohm stereo mode. Which outputs would I use to connect my Helix, the stereo outs? And do I need to set the resistance to match the cab? Would you recommend this cab with the Helix? Sorry to ask such a basic question, I will continue to peruse the manual to see if I can find anything in there that I might have missed. Thank you for helping. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocco_Crocco Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 The Helix will not act as a power amp. You will have to buy that separately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanecgriffo Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 yes, you cant go from helix straight to a cab Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruisinon2 Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 The Helix will act as the amp head, pre- and power-amp. No, it won't. Helix has no power section. You'll need a separate power amp to drive anything other than headphones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zooey Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Helix can emulate the tone characteristics of various amps, but it can't actually drive a speaker, it's not a power amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brue58ski Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Yes, you will need a power amp and at the very least, the cab will color yuor tone. Your patches that you develop for the 1960a will sound very different direct, through a PA or FRFR power amp/speaker. The Helix was basically made for that. It doesn't mean you can't get good sounds your way. When you do create them, dump the simulated cab in the Helix to start with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuhajla Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 That won't work. Powered speakers or a powered FRFR cabinet is your better option. That is, if you need a cabinet. I go direct live and just play through front of house/monitors live. Your needs may be different though. Do some looking around on the interwebs on Helix videos about live rigs to get some ideas. I'd hate to see you drop the money on a cabinet that you won't be able to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvroberts Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 As you sound like a non-expert user - do not go down this path - not only do you need a power amp, but you just removed half the cool capabilities of the Helix. For one you can't change you speaker for each patch. 2. You will have to mic your cab - no direct into the PA - and that really make a huge difference. 3. You can't get a cool studio sound by running effects after your cab - because now its the last thing in your chain. All wrong. Go FRFR. If you are a rich guitar hero with a road crew and a guitar tech - ignore what I just said. You just use half a dozen amps and your tech switches the outboard gear as required......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spikey Posted January 2, 2017 Share Posted January 2, 2017 Unless you are like me and "like" the sounds from a Marshall 1960a cab. A few million of us do. ;) Mine will always be used with my DT series head in some way or another. But you still need an amp to power Helix as has been stated. Best of both worlds is get a Firehawk 1500 amp / backup too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuhajla Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 I think you can make the Helix sound great connected to just about anything. I was messing around the house and connected the Helix into the front end of my Blackstar Studio 20 combo on the clean channel. Just the default Mesa MkIV model with some room reverb, OH Mesa 412 IR, didn't tweak a single parameter. Sounded fantastic cranked up with my Tele w/Seymour Duncan vintage stacks. I couldn't stop playing. I've thrown it in the front end of a few clean tube amps (tweeds, AC30) while running amp/cab models. I was always impressed. That's why I get so confused when someone says they can't get a good sound. I have a hard time getting a "bad" sound. Maybe if I am trying to nail a sound on a particular recording it becomes difficult. Most of what I play is clean-gritty, not high gain so maybe that has something to do with it. I also realize that a "direct" sound is significantly different than a sound through a tube amp, so I don't get all bent out of shape about the hiss/fizz with direct modeled amp sounds. I seem to be rambling now... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roscoe5 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Wonder if Line 6 could cram a 600W amp in that 3u Helix rack like Positive Grid did with the 2u Bias Rack....maybe that will be the future Helix amp :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zooey Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Combo amp though too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.