NewB question

[ExplorerDave]

I want to purchase a Helix. After watching all of the videos about the different units it appears that the cabinet and IR settings will be of no use to me as I will be plugging into the effects return of my marshall JVM 410C. Obviously the different amps can be used but everyone says that you need to bypass the cabs because running a selected cabinet into your actual amp cab sounds crappy.

Is this pretty much true?

[silverhead]

Yes, pretty much. Sound perception is subjective though so there will always be someone who think s it sounds great. Maybe you?

[rd2rk]

To expand on what silverhead said. Whether you choose to use a preamp, a full amp, an amp+cab or an amp+IR, physically amplified through this or that FRFR or tube amp and 412, it's all just TONE. If it sounds GOOD to YOU then it IS good. And the ONLY way to find out how it sounds is to try it.

 

Or, you could ask your question on every internet forum and try to sort through the 10,000 SUBJECTIVE OPINIONS which that path INVARIABLY elicits.

 

IOW - buy it and try it! Get it from a store with a good return policy. Or buy it used. The only way you lose money on a Helix is to buy it NEW and sell it USED.

[erabjohns]

You'd be surprised how much you end up playing with headphones once you hear the glorious stereo effects.ots of different ways to use a Helix.

[Schmalle]

3 hours ago, ExplorerDave said:

I want to purchase a Helix. After watching all of the videos about the different units it appears that the cabinet and IR settings will be of no use to me as I will be plugging into the effects return of my marshall JVM 410C. Obviously the different amps can be used but everyone says that you need to bypass the cabs because running a selected cabinet into your actual amp cab sounds crappy.

Is this pretty much true?

Look up the Four-Cable-Method aka 4CM if you didn't already. It would be the ideal use of the Helix in context of an amp like the JVM. Essentially you can use the preamp of the Marshall or optionally the preamps of the amp models from the Helix and add FX before and after.

Try that first and explore for some time. Keep in mind that these preamps were designed for different power amps and cabs. Not all will play well with the JVM power amp / cab. Additional post eq might trim that.

Then break the rules and experiment with whole amp models and IRs.