Someone talk me out of getting a HX Stomp

tone1

Help...I’ve been looking at the HX Stomp as I’m bored of looking at pedals..... I hate digitally/USB/menus/scrolling etc but it would fit on my Smorgboard Ace and put an end to fannying about looking at Modulation and Delay Pedals.....Somebody stop me before it’s too late 

brucegill

If you don’t like menus, walk away.....

ive got a lovely Polymoon just gone up for sale along with a Gravitas  

razorblade_beat

I've always disliked line 6 over the years but after hearing a helix in action I was intrigued and bought a stomp since i can't plug my amp in in the house. It's pretty powerful and intuitive. I really like some of the mod stuff on it, delay stuff sounds great too! im selling my mobius since the stomp had more choice and parameters to tweak in certain areas. I use the software and laptop to make patches which is super easy!. It stopped me fannying round with modulation pedals that I couldn't quite connect with!

Sassafras

Pedals might not be as versatile as the Stomp but I reckon they're more fun.
I always get option paralysis with digital gear.

sgosden

Get one second hand. It's a Swiss army knife, and very easy to get used to the UI. If you don't like it , sell it second hand for the same price you paid. 

thomasw88

I'm selling if you want to scratch that itch.  I think they're great I just have gas for a new amp!

tone1

That’s my fear with the Stomp...I really want my guitar playing to be technology free..and I know I won’t use a fraction of what it can do....

Wazmeister

They are a delight to use I think... i love that coloured screen and interface 

chrisj1602

I love my HX Stomp. I have never liked menus or multi effects but I get on fine with this. Also, if you don’t like menus it’s really easy to edit on your computer with HX Edit. It’s great for just effects in front of an amp, but the amp sims are fantastic if you record or just want to practice with some headphones.

tone1

You lot aren’t helping....so it’s about 50/50 split 

Bidley

"option paralysis" is such nonsense. The time you apparently save by not fiddling, you spend looking for more pedals on eBay and plumbing and re-plumbing them into your pedalboard. Let's not kid ourselves that the only barrier between you and playing more guitar is dialing in a sound on technology less than 60 years old.

Just find a sound in the HX and use it. If you don't want to spend time fiddling, then don't. If you don't like the idea of a HX Stomp and want people to talk you out of it, then don't buy one.

Jota

Are you gonna use it with a real amp? Don't buy it. It changes your tone a lot. You can make it better with the Global EQ but I'd recommend the Boss MS-3 instead. Great buffers that slightly change the sound for better. Easier to work also since you have less fx and more switches.

If you want to use the Helix amps, get the Stomp. They sound fantastic.

I had the MS-3 and now own the Stomp because I use the Helix amps a lot but, when using real amps, sometimes I just unplug the Stomp.

sgosden

Jota said:

Are you gonna use it with a real amp? Don't buy it. It changes your tone a lot. 

Use mine with a real amp. Get a buffer in front and doesn't change the tone anymore than any other pedal ....

tone1

All interesting stuff...yes it’ll be used with an amp but I wouldn’t rule out some powered speakers later. Really I’m just looking to fill a space where I can throw a rarely used effect in or delay. Take the recent passing of EVH.... I’ve thought a flanger or phaser would be good for having a crack at a part. Any small footprint alternatives worth a mention? 
Yes I could just buy one and suck it see.... but I like hearing opinions first...

TTBZ

I'd get one, they're great! Not difficult to use at all, the menu system is very intuitive and I didn't need to look at the manual once when I had mine. Keep thinking of getting one again as they're so useful either as a multifx or as a complete direct to PA rig replacement, headphone amp for silent playing etc.

PC_Dave

sgosden said:

Get one second hand. It's a Swiss army knife, and very easy to get used to the UI. If you don't like it , sell it second hand for the same price you paid. 

Exactly this ^^^

I bought mine second hand thinking I wouldn't like it, now it's firmly on the board with an MC6 controller. Not going anywhere for the foreseeable.

newi123

tone1 said:

..... I hate digitally/USB/menus/scrolling etc

You don`t need us!

Not only is there this to deal with, but to make it sound neutral without the amp and cab modelling being used, you have to further fiddle with the global EQ etc............ Mine went back. 

If you really want a Helix for FX, personally I`d go for the HX version, as that did sound fine just plugged into an amp. But of course you lose the smaller form factor.

Good luck!

Daiganzen

As a HX-Stomp owner and user It quickly became the center of my guitar rig to a point that I barley use an amp live (pre - Covid) Easier to move about and great sound no matter where i was playing. The FX a top notch and very usable in and out of the studio/bedroom studio. All you need to do is learn the technology a little bit. It also has a great Desktop application. so you don't have to constantly be touching the unit to work with it.

Jota

sgosden said:

Jota said:

Are you gonna use it with a real amp? Don't buy it. It changes your tone a lot. 

Use mine with a real amp. Get a buffer in front and doesn't change the tone anymore than any other pedal ....

Even with a buffer in front, it didn't help.
Also, I've read that before but, why would you need a buffer befor it?!

builttospill

Sorry for fueling the fire here. I struggled with an L6 M13 many years ago. I vowed to never use multi fx again. Bought a Stomp during the worst of the pandemic. I sold off my entire pedalboard a few weeks later. It’s stopped me buying other stuff. Mine sounds great through my Princeton, headphones or monitors. I may get lolled for this but I think the amps and cabs sound great on their own without adding additional IR’s. Just be sensible with the gain and volume of the amp models. I exclusively use the Deluxe Reverb model and it sounds great! Just remember to start simple and read that manual.

meltedbuzzbox

tone1 said:

All interesting stuff...yes it’ll be used with an amp but I wouldn’t rule out some powered speakers later. Really I’m just looking to fill a space where I can throw a rarely used effect in or delay. Take the recent passing of EVH.... I’ve thought a flanger or phaser would be good for having a crack at a part. Any small footprint alternatives worth a mention? 
Yes I could just buy one and suck it see.... but I like hearing opinions first...

Save yourself a lot of money and grab a line 6 m5