GraveyardSky Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I have an HX Stomp going into a Seymour Duncan Powerstage into a cab loaded with V30's. I have to almost max the presence and treble inside amp models and also move the treble knob on the Powerstage to 2:00 position just to get it to sound good and not like a blanket is on the speaker. Is this normal? Because it seems very odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waymda Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I don't have that set-up, but the first thing that comes to mind is are you sure you don't have a cab in your stomp patches - either amp and cab block or seperate? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Are you using just the amp models and no Amp+Cab blocks or any separate cab blocks? When running the Stomp through a guitar cab, no internal cabs should be active. Otherwise yes, it would be odd. Usually, IMO at least, the Helix amps are pretty much on the bright side. Edit: waymda beat me to it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraveyardSky Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 Just running an amp block. Nothing else. No Amp+Cab or Cab block in chain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Ok, so, when you use headphones and add the stock cab usually loading with the amp, do you need to add treble/presence as well? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraveyardSky Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 Just now, SaschaFranck said: Ok, so, when you use headphones and add the stock cab usually loading with the amp, do you need to add treble/presence as well? Have not tried this. I'll have to do that and report back with results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 1 minute ago, GraveyardSky said: Have not tried this. I'll have to do that and report back with results. Yeah, that'd help nailing down whether it's an HX issue or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 I find myself doing that on some amps, especially the Marshalls. Interestingly, I saw a Pete Thorn video where he showed how he does that with the real amps. Another thing to consider is the physical cab you're using. Some cabs are just darker than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraveyardSky Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 4 minutes ago, rd2rk said: I find myself doing that on some amps, especially the Marshalls. Interestingly, I saw a Pete Thorn video where he showed how he does that with the real amps. Another thing to consider is the physical cab you're using. Some cabs are just darker than others. Cab isn't the issue. I had an EVH 5150 III running into it before I switched to HX. That amp was bright and I had to watch the treble and presence. Totally different story with all of the amp models in the HX Stomp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schmalle Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 1. On modern high gain amps make sure the master volume is low enough to not compress/distort high frequencies. 2. Try a treble boost / eq (tilt or high shelf) in front of old school amps. 3. Try the "preamp + speaker impedance eq" way of doing things as discussed in this TGP-thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 What is your input impedance set like on the Stomp? Auto: Always picks the impedance of the first block in the chain, whether it is active or not Auto w/ "Global > Preferences > Auto Impedance" set to first enabled..... picks the impedance of the first ACTIVE block in the chain. Or you can set it to a fixed value to avoid surprises. (to troubleshoot... set this to 1M and see if it solves your problem) Another possible problem is cables. Make sure any in your chain are not sucking the tone from your signal.... test them each individually. Whenever something doesn't sound right (dull, lifeless) I reach to other cables to make sure that is not the issue. Never underestimate how much a simple cable can screw with a signal, and never under estimate how quickly a cable can/will turn against you :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 Checking cables: Yes, definitely. But as far as speaker impedance curves or input impedances go, these should be pretty much irrelevant. I mean, we're not talking about whatever finetuning tips here but about a situation where someone apparently needs to turn up presence and treble all the way up. That's pretty much never related to whatever impedance issues in case everything else is working properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 19 minutes ago, SaschaFranck said: But as far as speaker impedance curves or input impedances go, these should be pretty much irrelevant. I mean, we're not talking about whatever finetuning tips here but about a situation where someone apparently needs to turn up presence and treble all the way up Under certain circumstances "input impedance" would most certainly be relevant. Yes it needs a particular recipe to be a problem... but by DEFAULT the Helix is setup to deliver that recipe by simply adding a fuzz, wah or any one of many other low impedance effects to the beginning of the chain. Whether the effect is turned on or not, it will load down your pickups... and it can get muddy. I'm not saying that IS the problem... it's just something to check :) There is never any harm in leaving no stone unturned while troubleshooting! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 6 minutes ago, codamedia said: Under certain circumstances "input impedance" would most certainly be relevant. Such as? With all my guitars but one, when their volume pot is all the way turned up, input impedance is almost irrelevant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 7 minutes ago, codamedia said: There is never any harm in leaving no stone unturned while troubleshooting! Sure. But the very first thing to do would be to check things with the Powerstage and cab taken out of the equation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 11 hours ago, SaschaFranck said: Sure. But the very first thing to do would be to check things with the Powerstage and cab taken out of the equation. For the record, I never said NOTHING ELSE should be checked. I was providing other "potential" issues. You're right.... I'm wrong. I'm used to it when you are active on these forums. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 10 minutes ago, codamedia said: You're right.... I'm wrong. I'm used to it when you are active on these forums. See, we're all set then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GraveyardSky Posted July 18, 2021 Author Share Posted July 18, 2021 3 hours ago, codamedia said: Under certain circumstances "input impedance" would most certainly be relevant. Yes it needs a particular recipe to be a problem... but by DEFAULT the Helix is setup to deliver that recipe by simply adding a fuzz, wah or any one of many other low impedance effects to the beginning of the chain. Whether the effect is turned on or not, it will load down your pickups... and it can get muddy. I'm not saying that IS the problem... it's just something to check :) There is never any harm in leaving no stone unturned while troubleshooting! I plug directly into a Walrus Audio Jupiter fuzz pedal and then go into the HX Stomp. Could that be the problem? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd2rk Posted July 18, 2021 Share Posted July 18, 2021 27 minutes ago, GraveyardSky said: I plug directly into a Walrus Audio Jupiter fuzz pedal and then go into the HX Stomp. Could that be the problem? That's a True Bypass pedal, so if it's sitting next to the HXS on your board it shouldn't affect it when it's OFF. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
codamedia Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 20 hours ago, GraveyardSky said: I plug directly into a Walrus Audio Jupiter fuzz pedal and then go into the HX Stomp. Could that be the problem? well.... I agree with what @rd2rk says above.... but for troubleshooting you should always take something like that out of the chain long enough to know it isn't causing the problem. If the problem persists, add it back in! On 7/17/2021 at 10:10 PM, GraveyardSky said: Just running an amp block. Nothing else. No Amp+Cab or Cab block in chain. Is there any chance the Global EQ is engaged on the Stomp... possibly with some dramatic EQ or Filter settings? Are you running ANY effects in the Stomp prior to the amp block? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaschaFranck Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 So, have you tried plugging straight into the HXS yet, just using an amp&cab block, monitoring through headphones? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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