Helix LT Broken EXP pedal

[justafewguitars]

Does anybody know how long repairs take at Yamaha Canada for Line 6 Helix LTs? I sent mine in back in July for a broken expression pedal and a non-co-operative tap tempo switch. Still no word, and rental units are becoming costly. 

[silverhead]

I would open a support ticket. Perhaps Line 6 can intervene on your behalf to expedite things.

[justafewguitars]

Still no updates. Line 6/Yamaha Canada has my unit. A support ticket was opened and closed with Line 6 saying “Contact the store which you sent the unit for repair through.” That’s been zero help. I’m seriously rethinking my decision  about purchasing any further Line 6 or Yamaha product. Over a KNOWN and well documented problem. The store has no answers, Yamaha Canada has no answers…not sure where I should turn to.

[theElevators]

You can give Line 6 a call.  I've done that in the past after a horrible experience with the authorized repair shop.  They opened a ticket for me over the phone, and I was able to add more detail to the ticket afterwards.  The whole issue was swiftly resolved for me.  So you may try that. 

 

I don't know your financial situation, but I got a second Helix shortly after buying an LT, to use as a backup.  Every serious musician must always have a backup for such situations.  Good news is that the LT is pretty inexpensive nowadays...

 

In terms of reliability of an LT, in my experience the unit is quite solid.  I bought a used unit and the expression pedal is working fine after 6 years.  I do not stomp on it, however, meaning I do not use the footswitch to change between EXP 1/2.  That may explain why my pedal is still intact.  If it ever broke, I'd take the unit apart, remove the pedal and velcro a small expression pedal in its place.... 

 

In terms of the tap tempo button not working reliably, it's the tactile microswitch inside that gets gunked up. You need to have these microswitches cleaned with DeoxIT from time to time.  

 

[codamedia]

On 10/8/2025 at 5:32 AM, justafewguitars said:

Still no updates. Line 6/Yamaha Canada has my unit. A support ticket was opened and closed with Line 6 saying “Contact the store which you sent the unit for repair through.” That’s been zero help.

 

That is not my experience with Line 6 support at all.... just saying. 

Try a new ticket... be stern by polite. Line 6 support is limited due to international agreements, but they can still swing a big hammer when needed. 

 

My example(s): When I was searching for a Variax JTV battery Line 6 kindly pointed me to Yamaha Canada because they were not allowed to sell to me directly. Yamaha Canada was unresponsive so I went back to Line 6.... the next business day I had an invoice for a new battery from Yamaha Canada in my email and within a week it was in my hands.  

 

In another instance back in 2018 Long & McQuade used to be the distributer/repair depot. I had a problem with an HX Effects and got the run around from L&M.... Line 6 support kicked their proverbial butt until I was taken care of.... and I was taken care of really well! 

[datacommando]

On 10/8/2025 at 11:32 AM, justafewguitars said:

not sure where I should turn to.

Hi,

 

This is a user to user forum. There are no Line 6 staff here and only very occasionally do they visit these forums - (See the “sticky comment” in the black banner stripe at the top of this page entitled “Welcome to the Line 6 forums”).

 

If you feel the need to kick up a fuss, the best way to get a result is to go to a Helix specific thread in the “Digital & Modeling Gear” section of The Gear Page website and state your case, and target your post for the attention of both Frank Ritchotte and  Eric Klein (Digital_Igloo). They are the 2 top guys at Line 6 who are in a position to kick some butt and expedite a fix for your issue.

Way back in the early days of the Helix LT, there were quite a number of them that had faulty/broken expression pedals, and IIRC they were all replaced for new ones - no quibbles. 

 

Hope this helps makes sense.