So - will I regret it if I buy a Helix?

gearaddict

John_A said:

I suggest you stop asking questions and just play with it, if they were shit they wouldn't have sold 1000's, they're not

I'm not all that interested in actual playing. I just like gear

gearaddict

Seriously though, I am keen to try out something like the Alto TS210 - not super expensive and only 10Kg...that would be awesome.

I'll need to shift some gear before I'm allowed to buy more stuff though. I might see what is hanging around our practice space. I've not been all that interested in PA gear before so I haven't really noticed. I think they use mostly HK stuff.

Musicman20

How good are these Altos though? They seem almost too good to be true.

John_A

Musicman20 said:

How good are these Altos thought? They seem almost too good to be true.

Great 'for the money'  definitely not as good as more expensive speakers, but I gigged with a used TS110 that I got for £100 and it was fine

gearaddict

Man, this GAS is leading to more GAS...I really want to try these FRFR things now....need to sell stuff.

John_A

gearaddict said:

Man, this GAS is leading to more GAS...I really want to try these FRFR things now....need to sell stuff.

Sell your Helix

gearaddict

John_A said:

gearaddict said:

Man, this GAS is leading to more GAS...I really want to try these FRFR things now....need to sell stuff.

Sell your Helix

Ok, you talked me into it.

gearaddict

Well, I did the ultimate test last night...got my wife to sit and listen as I toggled between Helix pre-amp and full TH30 (in 4CM) and got her opinion. She came firmly down on the side of the Helix. So that's that decided. I'm sending it back.

siraxeman

You have to take them to a rehearsal room and crank them both up to gig levels....then the amp should win easily. At least it would if you had guitarists who're not afraid of volume judging em blindly.Your amp at home volumes isn't even on ticking over levels...power amp might as well be solid state!

Jonathanthomas83

Think we're fighting a losing battle here. Page 5 and @gearaddict is still insisting on making the wrong decision.

;-)

John_A

siraxeman said:

You have to take them to a rehearsal room and crank them both up to gig levels....then the amp should win easily. At least it would if you had guitarists who're not afraid of volume judging em blindly.Your amp at home volumes isn't even on ticking over levels...power amp might as well be solid state!

What do you mean by 'the amp would win easily'  ?  on what basis?

siraxeman

well on feel for the player, and realism/punch in the ears of a discerning listener. I played a Helix for about an hour at PMT music Manchester last year - and I really liked it, only had the rack model in stock and I wanted the floor, so I walked out without splurging. Then I cooled down a bit, and its taken me a year to actually splurge on one since! Anyway I remembered as great as it was it still felt and sounded like I was playing through a sim......I'd go as far as to bet money if someone handed me a guitar and i was blindfolded and plugged me into *something* I'd have known it was a digital modeller. There's a certain feel to the player and you can hear it too if you are discerning enough. Real amps always seem thicker with a certain presence to e'm that is basically 'real'. That all said I still can't wait for my Helix to come and get messing with it. But mine is basically (at least as of now) going to be for the home practice/recording setup rather than gigging. I fully intend to continue with my amps and pedlaboard live....but we'll see. I actually want to be proven wrong and change my mind on this!

John_A

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.  I've gigged the Helix for over a year and the feel is all there, and in terms of sound, I've moved from a Plexi and a pile of great pedals to the Helix, and hand on heart the Helix sounds better to me

siraxeman

Nothing will please me more if you're right! But my doubts at least for now are reinforced by the fact I've seen a good few Helix's up for sale with the "I'm going back to my amp and pedals......" as the reason.

robinbowes

siraxeman said:

Nothing will please me more if you're right! But my doubts at least for now are reinforced by the fact I've seen a good few Helix's up for sale with the "I'm going back to my amp and pedals......" as the reason.

I'm pretty sure that's because folk don't understand the difference between sound in the room and mic'd up sound. And it is quite a difference. Once you get your head around that, and set your expectations correctly then the Helix sounds great. A Helix rig is never going to sound like an amp-in-the-room (well, not *never*, but that's a pretty specific circumstance) but it will sound more consistent than an amp in most situations.

siraxeman

That's it though..a lot of the pleasure the player gets is from that amp in the room sound. Tis why mine as of now is reserved for home recording/practice though my HS7's. Live I wanna feel that 'real amp in a room' sound! That's why I'm dead clever.

gearaddict

Jonathanthomas83 said:

Think we're fighting a losing battle here. Page 5 and @gearaddict is still insisting on making the wrong decision.

;-)

Page 6

TBH I'm convinced the Helix is excellent...I now have it sounding (to my ears) at least as good as my valve amp. Bear in mind, this is running through the power stage of said valve amp. But even with my Magnum 44 it's not far off - just a bit stiffer. I might be able to compensate for some of that with sag settings.

I can totally see the benefits and for 725 quid it's pretty much a bargain. If I am torn, it's more about my Presbyterian guilt about spending that much on something I don't really need coupled with my mentalness around option paralysis.

It's a great thing, no question. Everyone should buy one.

Jonathanthomas83

Only joking fella.

@siraxeman I don't actually prefer the sound of a real amp to my Axe FX. Think you'll find a lot of people will say the same. Fact is, you're getting the whole chain with a modeller, you no longer need to factor in mics and speakers - it's taken care of...that there is a huge factor in why a modeller sounds 'better', for me as it gets that part right. As for feel, I never spent enough time getting the Helix to feel right for me, given more time, I think it absolutely would feel great. But the Axe FX absolutely does feel like my old amps, gives me that under the fingers feedback I used to love...it all depends on what power and speakers you're using.

peteri

I think lots of people sell because it's not a magic bullet.

When I first got my LT I found it flat and compressed sounding. Initially a little impressive but at volume not real.

Nearly, nearly sent it back.

Now I truly love it - took a good month/6 weeks to get a real understanding of programming it, not the interface - but what was needed to get my version of the best out of it.

I use a mix of pre-amps and pedals when in front of a valve amp, and I hate to say it - but at the moment I'm planning on re-wiring/ordering my main G2 board to try and see if I can make that sound as good as the Helix

gearaddict

Well, it has gone back. Sorry all but tbh it's probably a huge relief all round.

Thanks all for answering all my stupid helix related questions over the last few weeks!