Helix over amp return

[vincentvdakker]

Dear all,

 

I use my helix with my metal band. And I like it a lot. I just have a question. When we have gigs, there is often a backline present at the location we play. When this is present I prefer to use the pedals and the pre amp of the helix and switch the speaker off in the preset and send the helix master out (mostly 1/4 jack) to the amp return of the amp that is present at the location.

 

Is there a lot of difference, to your opinion of the sound, using different amps in this setup? Like using an Engl or Marshall. I know the speakers also make a difference, but it is mostly a hughes or marshall 4x12 cabinet. 

 

If there is no amp present I can also use my own burgera 333xl combo and use 4 cable method and use its pre amp, which also sounds good.

 

But at a lot of venues we have to use the backline that is present. So therefor my question. Do you have experience with this setup?

 

Many thanks for your answers, much appreciated. 

 

[theElevators]

On 7/25/2022 at 3:57 PM, vincentvdakker said:

Dear all,

 

I use my helix with my metal band. And I like it a lot. I just have a question. When we have gigs, there is often a backline present at the location we play. When this is present I prefer to use the pedals and the pre amp of the helix and switch the speaker off in the preset and send the helix master out (mostly 1/4 jack) to the amp return of the amp that is present at the location.

 

Is there a lot of difference, to your opinion of the sound, using different amps in this setup? Like using an Engl or Marshall. I know the speakers also make a difference, but it is mostly a hughes or marshall 4x12 cabinet. 

 

If there is no amp present I can also use my own burgera 333xl combo and use 4 cable method and use its pre amp, which also sounds good.

 

But at a lot of venues we have to use the backline that is present. So therefor my question. Do you have experience with this setup?

 

Many thanks for your answers, much appreciated. 

 

This topic has been discussed extensively.  What makes the most sense is to set XLR L + R to front of the house, an amp/cabinet on stage to recreate the familiar feeling of playing through a traditional guitar rig.  In my observation: yes absolutely, different physical amp + cabs drastically changes the sound.  Every amp colors the sound.  Every cab colors the sound.  However, it's more along the lines of how certain types of amps/cabs change your sound. 

 

I have noticed that for example a Marshall 4x10" makes the sound very boomy and all the nuances like delays and reverbs virtually disapperar.  Compared to that, a Peavey Classic 30 + single 12" speaker on the other hand preserves a lot of detail in the sound and sounds a lot closer to what your true Helix sound is.

 

My recommendation: if you want to have consistent results, you need to use the same consistent gear.  I personally don't like Marshalls amps / cabs as their sound is very directional, and too loud for most venues.  As a result you wind up keeping it on 1, and it sounds like garbage. 

 

What I use: I bought a compact power amp: Mooer Baby Bomb.  It's very small (can fit into your gig bag) and sounds very good and consistent.  When I play a gig, all I need is any combo amp that has a single 12" speaker.  I simply disconnect the speaker from the amp, leave the amp unplugged, and plug the speaker into Mooer Baby Bomb.  For myself, I purchased an Orange 112 speaker cabinet.  With all of these, I don't need to make any EQ adjustments, and it sounds very consistent, even, familiar and predictable.  My setup takes me 5 minutes, whereas before I used to have to tweak my global EQ to get the sound that was decent. 

 

Since a single 12" speaker cabinet-equipped amps are very common in small clubs, I recommend trying my approach.