Why does the Helix sound bad without cab sims going in to Fx Loop of Fender Hot Rod Deluxe

[kbass1980]

I just got my helix floor a week ago and have been running into the power amp in of my Fender Hotrod Deluxe. I am not using cab sims since I’m technically running into a cab, which I’m reading is the conventional way of doing things. With just an amp selected (ex. Rectifier), and no cabinet selected, it just sounds horrible…sounds very harsh and shrill, kind of like a dimed fuzz pedal with the tone turned all the way up, but worse. When I turn on a cab sim, it starts to sound good and it sounds like what I might expect to hear from the selected amp model. I am running the mono 1/4 inch out on the helix set to line level into the power amp in on my amp. The EQ/amp settings in helix don’t seem to fix the problem. Could it be something I need to adjust in the global EQ? Any other insights on how to fix this? Or maybe just roll with it and use the cab sims since it sounds good with them on? I understand that a specific cab sim won’t be an accurate representation since I’m running into a cab, but I’m just experimenting and seeing which cabs sound good. Any insight would be much appreciated. 

[silverhead]

There are no real rules - whatever sounds good to you is what you should do. On the other hand, there are rules of thumb, one of which is as you describe. Typically when routing through the power amp and cab section of a physical amp you would not use a cab sim in the preset. Interesting that you find it sounds better with a cab sim. But go with it!

 

it also occurs to me that a hi-gain amp like a Rectifier would typically not be well matched with a Fender cab. Just out of curiosity how does a preset with a Fender amp sim and no cab sim sound through your Fender power amp/cab? It may not sound great to you as a hi-gain guy, but does the pairing seem well matched?