line 6 Helix Floor Pre Amp or Amp in to a Blackstar Amped 1

[tomb65]

Ive had my helix floor for 18 months, couldn’t find the time to learn how to use it, I finally found some time and finally starting to find some good tones with it, I now use it with the Blackstar Amped 1 pedal board amp, I mainly want a classic rock type tone and have decided on the Plexi Jumped amp, I go into a 1x12 fitted with a Celestion 70/80 (had a Vintage 30 but was too shrill with my LP Junior with P90), the amped 1 voice is set to flat and I’m using the power stage set to EL34’s, now my question, would it be better to use the Plexi Jumped preamp module rather than the amp, if so, I assume I just run the return of the amps effects loop to the 1/4 inch out, any advice would be helpful, I tried the preamp but it was a lot quieter and had a lot less gain, also I plan to setup the 4 Cable Method as I want my mod effects in the loop

Thanks for any advice 

[rd2rk]

Try it both ways and use the solution that sounds best.

If the preamp with Channel Volume maxxed is too quiet, follow it with a GAIN Block.

You can then use Snapshots to control the amount of gain sent to the Amp1.

Once you've got 4cm set up, you can toggle the HX preamp and Amp1 preamp for comparison by saving the Preamp/Amp/Gain Block bypass ON and the FX Loop Bypass OFF. If you assign them all to the same FS, each time you hit the assigned FS they'll toggle - HX Pre/Amp/Gain ON with FX Loop OFF bypasses the Amp1 "Voice" and vice versa.

[Schmalle]

Start with the Helix' full amp models (not preamps, no cab) using AMPED 1 as a neutral power amp (with VOICE set to FLAT and RESPONSE set to LINEAR). 

[tomb65]

On 4/16/2026 at 8:03 AM, Schmalle said:

Start with the Helix' full amp models (not preamps, no cab) using AMPED 1 as a neutral power amp (with VOICE set to FLAT and RESPONSE set to LINEAR). 

this I think is the best solution for me, I can get that classic rock type tone this way

[tomb65]

On 4/16/2026 at 12:49 AM, rd2rk said:

Try it both ways and use the solution that sounds best.

If the preamp with Channel Volume maxxed is too quiet, follow it with a GAIN Block.

You can then use Snapshots to control the amount of gain sent to the Amp1.

Once you've got 4cm set up, you can toggle the HX preamp and Amp1 preamp for comparison by saving the Preamp/Amp/Gain Block bypass ON and the FX Loop Bypass OFF. If you assign them all to the same FS, each time you hit the assigned FS they'll toggle - HX Pre/Amp/Gain ON with FX Loop OFF bypasses the Amp1 "Voice" and vice versa.

Ive tried and feel the pre amp block sounded weak, maybe I've not set it correctly, I'll look into it, thank you