Line 6 Helix Stadium

[smn159]

Announced yesterday.

I've been a Line 6 user for a while, with a Helix Floor and a pedalboard with a Stomp, depending on the occasion.

Have recently been using the pedalboard and a Deluxe Reverb for small gigs, but very temped by the Stadium

Anyone else?

https://line6.com/helix-stadium/

[franki68]

Current high end modellers are so good it’s difficult to envisage a big leap forward for them , I think the issue for the helix/qc /fractal is that some of the cheap stuff is now getting to sound as good as they do especially now some of them are doing the neural capture stuff .

[smn159]

Agreed. In the context of a live mix especially you'll be hard pushed to tell the difference between them. The new Helix has some interesting features around storing and playing back samples / tracks as well as stem splitting capabilities as well as a (promised but not at launch) amp capture function.

There's also a ton of automation stuff in there to control other stuff, including DMX lights, switch snapshots etc for those who are happy to play with a click.

Plus it's easily the best UI

[franki68]

smn159 said:

Agreed. In the context of a live mix especially you'll be hard pushed to tell the difference between them. The new Helix has some interesting features around storing and playing back samples / tracks as well as stem splitting capabilities as well as a (promised but not at launch) amp capture function.

There's also a ton of automation stuff in there to control other stuff, including DMX lights, switch snapshots etc for those who are happy to play with a click.

Plus it's easily the best UI

I’ve had all of them except the fractal , you can get great sounds out of all of them (the boss gt1000 and headrush are not up there sound wise though) , the helix can sound great but takes a lot more messing with to do so than say the qc ,I also found the line 6 stuff gives too much options and you end up with option paralysis .
I’m interested in the new kemper as liquid captures will certainly be fantastic if they do what they say it can , just a shame their UI is garbage .

[oddball1313]

I’ve given up with Line 6 and their modellers - never got a decent sound i liked. Went down the Katana artist route last year and it’s the best decison i’ve made regarding music in a long time. So much more responsive, it feels like your connected to your sound. Might keep the helix stomp just for a few useful effects and the tuner.

[franki68]

oddball1313 said:

I ve given up with Line 6 and their modellers - never got a decent sound i liked. Went down the Katana artist route last year and it s the best decison i ve made regarding music in a long time. So much more responsive, it feels like your connected to your sound. Might keep the helix stomp just for a few useful effects and the tuner.

You need to do heavy eq on the line 6 stuff , other modellers are much easier to get good tones from .

[Animal]

oddball1313 said:

I ve given up with Line 6 and their modellers - never got a decent sound i liked. Went down the Katana artist route last year and it s the best decison i ve made regarding music in a long time. So much more responsive, it feels like your connected to your sound. Might keep the helix stomp just for a few useful effects and the tuner.

How reliable is the Katana?

I picked up a Spark 40 a few years ago and really liked the fact that I could control presets by Bluetooth and jam along with Spotify playlists. For the last year or more though Spotify doesn't work reliably (they've switched to Apple Music) and I have a frequent problem trying to switch between presets (it just doesn't). Really annoying and I barely use the stupid thing anymore.

[franki68]

Animal said:

How reliable is the Katana?

I picked up a Spark 40 a few years ago and really liked the fact that I could control presets by Bluetooth and jam along with Spotify playlists. For the last year or more though Spotify doesn't work reliably (they've switched to Apple Music) and I have a frequent problem trying to switch between presets (it just doesn't). Really annoying and I barely use the stupid thing anymore.

Anything boss is usually supremely reliable , but I’m going to upset Odball , the katana is actually painful to my ears , I appreciate it offers superb bang for buck but I genuinely find the overdriven and distorted tones painful , so try one before buying (and you can get round it by adding pedals as the clean is great and takes pedals very well )

[Animal]

franki68 said:

Animal said:

How reliable is the Katana?

I picked up a Spark 40 a few years ago and really liked the fact that I could control presets by Bluetooth and jam along with Spotify playlists. For the last year or more though Spotify doesn't work reliably (they've switched to Apple Music) and I have a frequent problem trying to switch between presets (it just doesn't). Really annoying and I barely use the stupid thing anymore.

Anything boss is usually supremely reliable , but I m going to upset Odball , the katana is actually painful to my ears , I appreciate it offers superb bang for buck but I genuinely find the overdriven and distorted tones painful , so try one before buying (and you can get round it by adding pedals as the clean is great and takes pedals very well )

Helpful, thanks.

I wouldn't add pedals though - to my mind that defeats the purpose of having an amp with presents!

Given that I really only play through headphones maybe what I actually want is a Helix or perhaps a Neural DSP?

[smn159]

Animal said:

franki68 said:

Animal said:

How reliable is the Katana?

I picked up a Spark 40 a few years ago and really liked the fact that I could control presets by Bluetooth and jam along with Spotify playlists. For the last year or more though Spotify doesn't work reliably (they've switched to Apple Music) and I have a frequent problem trying to switch between presets (it just doesn't). Really annoying and I barely use the stupid thing anymore.

Anything boss is usually supremely reliable , but I m going to upset Odball , the katana is actually painful to my ears , I appreciate it offers superb bang for buck but I genuinely find the overdriven and distorted tones painful , so try one before buying (and you can get round it by adding pedals as the clean is great and takes pedals very well )

Helpful, thanks.

I wouldn't add pedals though - to my mind that defeats the purpose of having an amp with presents!

Given that I really only play through headphones maybe what I actually want is a Helix or perhaps a Neural DSP?

I'd recommend trying both to see which you prefer. I've got an HX Stomp and a Helix Floor and I've not been impressed with the headphone sound from either TBH (DT 990 pro headphones). i.e. I can get a great sound through an FRFR speaker but it doesn't translate well to headphones. They do apparently work OK for some people, so YMMV

[franki68]

smn159 said:

I'd recommend trying both to see which you prefer. I've got an HX Stomp and a Helix Floor and I've not been impressed with the headphone sound from either TBH (DT 990 pro headphones). i.e. I can get a great sound through an FRFR speaker but it doesn't translate well to headphones. They do apparently work OK for some people, so YMMV

Headphones on every modeller I have had sound crap , I’ve found the best sound is from studio monitors preferably minimum size 8 inches .

[franki68]

Animal said:

Helpful, thanks.

I wouldn't add pedals though - to my mind that defeats the purpose of having an amp with presents!

Given that I really only play through headphones maybe what I actually want is a Helix or perhaps a Neural DSP?

Maybe in that case the Boss Waza headphones or one of their competitors , I don’t find amps or amp modellers work well with headphones but something like the waza headphones which are specifically tuned for the job might make more sense if you only play through headphones .
Boss wazza and positive grid and fender all do such headphones .

[Animal]

smn159 said:

Animal said:

franki68 said:

Animal said:

How reliable is the Katana?

I picked up a Spark 40 a few years ago and really liked the fact that I could control presets by Bluetooth and jam along with Spotify playlists. For the last year or more though Spotify doesn't work reliably (they've switched to Apple Music) and I have a frequent problem trying to switch between presets (it just doesn't). Really annoying and I barely use the stupid thing anymore.

Anything boss is usually supremely reliable , but I m going to upset Odball , the katana is actually painful to my ears , I appreciate it offers superb bang for buck but I genuinely find the overdriven and distorted tones painful , so try one before buying (and you can get round it by adding pedals as the clean is great and takes pedals very well )

Helpful, thanks.

I wouldn't add pedals though - to my mind that defeats the purpose of having an amp with presents!

Given that I really only play through headphones maybe what I actually want is a Helix or perhaps a Neural DSP?

I'd recommend trying both to see which you prefer. I've got an HX Stomp and a Helix Floor and I've not been impressed with the headphone sound from either TBH (DT 990 pro headphones). i.e. I can get a great sound through an FRFR speaker but it doesn't translate well to headphones. They do apparently work OK for some people, so YMMV

Honestly, I'm not that much of an audiophile that I'd notice. The headphones I'd been using until recently were 15 yr-old Sennheisers that were probably £50 new.

[smn159]

Animal said:

Honestly, I'm not that much of an audiophile that I'd notice. The headphones I'd been using until recently were 15 yr-old Sennheisers that were probably £50 new.

It's a bit more than that IME - impedance of the headphones matters and it's extremely fiddly to get a semi decent headphones sound (additional high cuts, different reverb settings and EQ) - and it was still crap compared to my speakers!

[oddball1313]

franki68 said:

Animal said:

How reliable is the Katana?

I picked up a Spark 40 a few years ago and really liked the fact that I could control presets by Bluetooth and jam along with Spotify playlists. For the last year or more though Spotify doesn't work reliably (they've switched to Apple Music) and I have a frequent problem trying to switch between presets (it just doesn't). Really annoying and I barely use the stupid thing anymore.

Anything boss is usually supremely reliable , but I m going to upset Odball , the katana is actually painful to my ears , I appreciate it offers superb bang for buck but I genuinely find the overdriven and distorted tones painful , so try one before buying (and you can get round it by adding pedals as the clean is great and takes pedals very well )

I guess this is the problem with guitar amps and us human beings ears, what sounds good to me and you is different and theres no right or wrong. 1000’s of people really rate the helix and its sounds but for the life of me it sounds muffled, very undynamic and flat (i was putting the output through the effects loop of a Yamaha THD100 with its 2 x12 cab). By comparison i’ve got some fantastic tones from the Katana (latest Artist 3 head with the bloom function) with the Waza 2x12. Its doesnt do the full metal Engl powerball etc tones that well but not really my thing but i can get some great Gilmour, plexi, modded Marshall & twin tones using the Katana PC software.

[Robertb]

The point to remember with the Katana is that it s cheap as chips relatively. People seem to expect them to perform like £1200 modellers.

I bought a lightly used Artist 1x12 for £300. You can barely buy a boutique delay pedal for that.

It s very versatile and my Mesa Boogie and pedal board rarely gets an outing these days, just so much more convenient in a crowded pub etc.

The EQ is incredibly flexible and there is no excuse for not getting a decent sound out of it, but it takes time and tweakage. Often, less is more.

I highly recommend an Airstep Kat footswitch and the Katana Librarian app to get the best out of it as you can deep edit and save patches over Bluetooth.

Edited by Robertb on Wednesday 18th June 23:32

[davidd]

Long time helix lt user here.

Looking forward to what the stadium brings, especially the extra stuff like light control.
I spent quite a bit of time tweaking my main patch (ac 30) it is very easy to get carried away with eq, less is usually more. I run it via a behringer wing and some small studio monitors at home or the full pa when we gig, all with in ears.

After years with amps and increasingly complicated ( and therefore unreliable ) pedal boards the helix was a revelation. Consistency, flexibility and I can get the sounds I need. I appreciate they are not for everyone and I do still play through an amp at the odd jam night but I’d never go back.

My song has a mk2 katana, it’s a really versatile amp. If I had to use an amp for gigging I’d get one.

[Animal]

davidd said:

Long time helix lt user here.

Looking forward to what the stadium brings, especially the extra stuff like light control.
I spent quite a bit of time tweaking my main patch (ac 30) it is very easy to get carried away with eq, less is usually more. I run it via a behringer wing and some small studio monitors at home or the full pa when we gig, all with in ears.

After years with amps and increasingly complicated ( and therefore unreliable ) pedal boards the helix was a revelation. Consistency, flexibility and I can get the sounds I need. I appreciate they are not for everyone and I do still play through an amp at the odd jam night but I’d never go back.

My song has a mk2 katana, it’s a really versatile amp. If I had to use an amp for gigging I’d get one.

Interesting, thanks. For my use, I really just want to jam along to Spotify playlists, so I need presets (and the ability to make presets) that are approximations of the original tone. I also want to be able to use an expression pedal (which I why I was thinking of the Helix), but more than anything, it has to be reliable. The amount of time I spend cursing my Spark 40 because it doesn't switch presets or suddenly decides that Bluetooth is just a myth etc etc is just time wasted.

[chemistry]

Animal said:

Interesting, thanks. For my use, I really just want to jam along to Spotify playlists, so I need presets (and the ability to make presets) that are approximations of the original tone. I also want to be able to use an expression pedal (which I why I was thinking of the Helix), but more than anything, it has to be reliable. The amount of time I spend cursing my Spark 40 because it doesn't switch presets or suddenly decides that Bluetooth is just a myth etc etc is just time wasted.

If you just want to jam along for home use, would something like the Valeton GP200 not fit the bill? They get good reviews and include an expression pedal, all for under £300.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/valeton-gp-200-guitar-...

[Animal]

chemistry said:

Animal said:

Interesting, thanks. For my use, I really just want to jam along to Spotify playlists, so I need presets (and the ability to make presets) that are approximations of the original tone. I also want to be able to use an expression pedal (which I why I was thinking of the Helix), but more than anything, it has to be reliable. The amount of time I spend cursing my Spark 40 because it doesn't switch presets or suddenly decides that Bluetooth is just a myth etc etc is just time wasted.

If you just want to jam along for home use, would something like the Valeton GP200 not fit the bill? They get good reviews and include an expression pedal, all for under £300.

https://www.andertons.co.uk/valeton-gp-200-guitar-...

A good idea in theory, but in practice I'd have to go and try it out. That means going into a guitar shop (how long has it been since I bought a guitar from an actual shop?!) like Andertons, where I will inevitably see an Ibanez RG550 and/or a Strat Floyd Rose and will walk out carrying one of those too. Far too much temptation...