Hey GuitarFam members, as you might know I am pretty satisfied with my guitar tone. For 12 months I use a Line6 HX Stomp and use it mainly for amp and box simulation, eq, distortion and as a looper. This fits into the limit of 6 usable blocks within this device, for all other effects (reverb, delay, chorus, ...) I still use my lovely old Rocktron intellifex from the 80s in an out/in loop.
The HX Stomp is a small floor pedal and if I would upgrade to the "big" Line6 Helix for more native available blocks, it would be the Helix Rack version. I really love to tweak the tone by direct knobs on the device, but I am always sitting under my desk to fiddle around with the HX Stomp and the alternative via PC-Software does not feel so good. I only use it for backups and updates.
Advantages of the Helix Rack:
more processing power (= more blocks, more tweaking)
better to handle, more fun to use
Disadvantages of the Helix Rack:
expensive (incl. Floor-control = 1500 € | HX-Stomp = 500 €)
not as easy to transport for live-gigs (no plans yet)
The sound engine in both devices is the same, so it is no sound-upgrade at first.
A few friends tell me to better look for a AxeFX III ... but that is way to expensive and I am convinced that it is possible to create "your favourite sound" when using the appropriate IRs on both devices. So that is no option ... and I really like the Helix system, very easy.
What do you think?
Hmmm... my only concern with this is the fact that you mentioned that you might plan on doing live performances with this. You'd need to get a foot controller to go through your presets which is totally doable. Just something to think about.
I've owned the original Helix, the Helix LT, and the HX Stomp now. It took me a while to get used to HX Edit software but that ended up being the solution for me.
Also, it is rumored that the Helix 3.0 firmware update coming soon (HX Stomp included) will give us 2 more blocks to work with. The processing power will obviously remain the same, so your processing power will still limit the number of blocks you can use.
I wouldn't have any reservations about buying a used Helix or Helix Rack. Keep me posted on what you end up doing.
Thanks @Nate Savage for your thoughts. I did another research in the time between to compare different modeling amps. It leads to the result, that you can create "your sound" with any of those devices. Doesn't matter if Helix, AxeFX or Kemper, there is no limit in tweaking possibilities and the used impulse responses are the main sound-shaping influences everywhere.
I also heard the rumors about the 3.0 firmware update. 2 additional blocks would be great and I guess looper and in/out blocks are not very processor-intensive so that would be a real advantage.
So I am still not sure if the better operation-possibilities on the Helix Rack is worth the upgrade ... and you are right, the HX software is quite good. At least I know that I won't go for AxeFX or Kemper. Perhaps better keep the Stomp and save money for a "real tube amp" in addition? @Nate Savage Do you play often with your Mesa Boogie amp which looks so nice in all of your videos?
Just had another idea: I can get a cheap second-hand Rocktron Prophesy II. You know that I am a Rocktron-Fan and this devise was "top notch" until all the modellers came out. It has a real tube on board and everything you need. It lacks the capability of loading impulse responses, but I could route it through the Stomp, also for recording. Mmmmh ... still thinking.
Update concerning the Rocktron Prophesy II - unfortunately that was a fake offer, not available.
@Holger Strunk Yeah, I use my Mesa a lot but it's not like most other mesa amps. It's only a 30 watt and it has a couple of features that most other tube amps don't . #1 It can sound pretty darn good at low volumes because of the low wattage and the "dyna-watt" technology. #2 It has a silent recording output where you flip a switch and it turns the speaker output completely off. I put the audio signal to my audio interface and load an IR in Logic for the cab and it works great!
I'm going to start another thread to discuss other options right now! :D
This is a great feature of your amp. I also saw that the Mesa Boogie JP-2C has such an option to route the signal through a DI-Box with pre-installed cab-simulation, or the raw signal for your own cab-loader. Will write more to that topic in you other thread. Current personal state of this question here (Helix Rack or stick to HX Stomp) - still unsure ;-)
So this is the final ending: No upgrade to Helix Rack ... but Upgrade to Axe FX III https://www.fractalaudio.com/iii/
There was a lot discussion going on between friends and other guitar enthusiasts with testing, conparisons, ... Every person who knows me is convinced that sooner or later I will upgrade to Fractal anyway. They have perfect sounding amp-simulation (the JP-2C in all channels) and you don't have to tweak that much to get the sound I wand to reach. That sound could be possible also in Helix but the Axe FX would be the reference where to tweak to ... so why not take the original then? Because of the higher price! I didn't want to spend that much money on a guitarplayer-happy-maker. But in this case it is better to buy a more expensive one once, instead of 3-4 cheaper alternatives in the next years. Things are running quite good in business right now and we saved a big portion of money because of "no real holidays in 2020". Can't wait to get it!!! :-)
@Holger Strunk - Oooooo. I'm looking forward to hearing your first videos with this. Do you follow Leo Gibson on YouTube? He covers a lot on how to dial in these digital solutions and does a lot of comparison videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwxwFduyvic
Let us know when you get it!
I watched sooo many comparison videos and also had a Axe FX II for direct testing here. I didn't know Leo Gibson before but like his way of comparing the devices. Like him I am more a person who likes to tweak as much as possible on a device :-)
It is really difficult to describe but all those reporters are right, that the Axe FX is "more direct". The Helix is a little bit more muffle sounding in the default presets, but that ist no problem and fixable via EQ and other settings. The point is: The optimization always goes one direction to make the Helix sound like the Axe FX, never vice versa.
And with "more direct" I mean that playing the device feels a little bit more real for me (very subjective). Perhaps the Helix takes a few Milliseconds more than the Axe FX to generate the sound so that smaller latency feels more direct? I really don't know. But the difference is there and I can feel it. Something like that is not possible to show in a comparison video, but if you have the chance to get both devices for testing, I would encourage you to do so. I am convinced that you will have a similar impression.
I am currently in the waiting list for the Axe FX III ... but there are rumors that G66 (European department for Fractal) get a bunch of devices in November. So keep fingers crossed that I don't have to wait toooo long.
It arrived, and the first impression is "whooohoooohooooooo!" :-)
Awesome!! Congrats on the new gear!
Here is the first selfmade-preset with the new device. I forgot to switch to the neck-pickup in the middle section, that's why it is sounding a little bit too sharp in this recording. But please listen to the acoustic section at the end. The Piezo of the Majesty reacts totally different on the Axe FX in contrast to the HX stomp. I will have to spend years of tweaking but I am already very happy with it.
@Holger Strunk Oh awesome! Mini-unboxing. Sounds like you've got loads of tone creation hours ahead of you. It sounds great! Love the Stream of Consciousness riff you threw in there.
Sorry, I meant Leon Todd for the YouTuber not Leo Gibson. Here is Leon Todd's YouTube channel. You probably already know about him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6YTM2OxB4c
... the "nest" for the Axe FX III is made up, embedded in cable-salad :-)