Helix - Marshall Front-end Dirt and Effects-loop Return Clean

[bedeedlededo]

Hi All,

 

Newbie here: I searched the net and forums but I could not find answers to my specific questions so here goes…

 

I'm an old-school player with decades of experience of playing and tinkering. I play heavy blues, hard rock, metal, and classic rock.

 

I have a modified Marshall tube-amp setup (among others) and thinking about pulling the trigger and getting a helix.

 

I want to keep this short so allow me to list my equipment then I'll get to my questions.

 

Friedman-modded Marshall 1959SLP -- this is the foundation of my tone:

• single-channel amp
• effects loop (+4db / -10db).
• 4 holer ganged / normalized to two inputs
• added gain stage
• 4x12 cabinet with Celestion G12M 25w Greenbacks

Front-end: 

GCX Audio Switcher with Ground Control Pro foot controller

• 8 or so stomp boxes
• ISP decimator

Effect-loop:

• TC-Electronic G-major 2
• ISP decimator II

2x QSC K12 monitors:

• PA (thought I’d include these since they might be useful with helix).

 

My Problems:

• My TC-Electronic G-Marjor 2: It is unreliable and freezes and I can no longer rely on it.
• My Marshall is a single-channel monster and I love the dirty tone, but I can’t get clean tones out of it.

 

My Objectives:

• To continue using my Marshall head to provide my dirty tones.
• Replace my TC-Electronic G-Major 2 and my front-end stomp boxes with helix.
• Determine if I can use my marshall with helix and:
  • Bypass my amp's pre-amp with helix in the return of my effects loop to get clean tones with / without effects.
  • Engage front-end input and utilize amp pre-amp for dirty tone.

 

My Questions:

Can helix be configured to:

• Bypass my amps front-end input and give me clean tones via effects-loop return?
  • When I plug my guitar directly into the effects-loop return of my amp, I cant’ seem to control the volume – will helx preamps be able to drive my output levels to match the level of my front-end input?
• Use my amps front-end and use helix to give me effects in the front-end and effects in the loop?
• Any creative ways I can use my QSC K12 monitors along with my Marshall?

 

Thank you in advance for your input.

[rd2rk]

"My Questions:

Can helix be configured to:

Bypass my amps front-end input and give me clean tones via effects-loop return?"

 

If the Marshall power amp is capable of clean tones, then yes.

"When I plug my guitar directly into the effects-loop return of my amp, I cant’ seem to control the volume – will helx preamps be able to drive my output levels to match the level of my front-end input?"

 

You set it up using 4cm (guitar-Helix in-Helix send-Marshall guitar in- Marshall send-Helix return-Helix 1/4" out- Marshall return), then set up the preamp the way you want it and use a combination of the preamp "channel volume"(doesn't affect preamp tone) and the main output volume knob to control the level sent to the Marshall. There's also send/return levels on the fx loop.

"Use my amps front-end and use helix to give me effects in the front-end and effects in the loop?"

 

Yes

"Any creative ways I can use my QSC K12 monitors along with my Marshall?"

 

Yes. Many.

[jbuhajla]

 

My Questions:

Can helix be configured to:

• Bypass my amps front-end input and give me clean tones via effects-loop return?
  • When I plug my guitar directly into the effects-loop return of my amp, I cant’ seem to control the volume – will helx preamps be able to drive my output levels to match the level of my front-end input?
• Use my amps front-end and use helix to give me effects in the front-end and effects in the loop?
• Any creative ways I can use my QSC K12 monitors along with my Marshall?

 

Thank you in advance for your input.

Yes on all the Marshall questions. Search Youtube for Helix 4 cable method. That gives you the ability to put Helix stuff in front of your amp and in the effects loop. 

 

For the K12s, you could put them on either side of your 4x12 and have a separate signal path with Helix full amp models/effects running to those. So, you can run your Marshal stack AND Helix models at the same time, or independently. You would be able to do true Wet/dry/wet, etc...