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How are you going to be using it, and what sounds do you tend to go for?
However, lugging a pedalboard (two actually as I have a looper, Superego etc on a smaller satellite board), amp head and large 1x12 cab to practise every week is becoming a bit of a chore - although it sounds great!
I'm hoping I can just rock up with guitar and AX8, plug into the PA and go!
THe band does basic rock/pop covers. Thing is , the Orange cuts through the mix like a champ and my previous attempts with modellers (POD, RP500) haven't had that cut. I'm hoping the AX8 changes that but it'll have it's work cut out.
I'm very interested in the AX8 tho.
I found making the change over to frfr monitoring made setting up my in stage sound easier though.
Put an order to hotrox a week ago for helix when they were selling it for £1099, then canceled it as I found a used one local to me, then again the seller changed his mind so I headed back to hotrox. They were great and kept the price I paid initially even though the site was already updated back to £1224 so nice one.
Got it today but after spending the whole day testing it (against my axe fx II+) I will return it.
I guess the store guys won't be happy and although the Helix UI is miles and miles better, the fractal just sounded better to my ears.
I'm considering the AX8 now as I need the pedalboard factor. I already have the FX8 but the additional amp modelling is definitely a plus.
Still, feel a bit shit for returning it after the guys kept the original price for me
Also, I struggled to get a higher gain sound I was happy with on the Axe, yet others get them quickly and easily, find it in seconds on the Helix. The Helix scribble strip LCDs amd coloured LED rings around the switches are a superb advantage over the AX8.
The main "amp" controls are right on top of the unit and the main effect parameter controls are one button press away (if I've got it right) so I'm hoping it'll be reasonably straightforward to make minor tweaks on the fly.
Just for the sake of discussion I have found that the default master volume settings are too high for most high gain amps. With most stuff I find myself setting it between 3 and 4 (and not 5 as default), and certain bassier amps really low like between 1.5 and 3 (Rectos usually). Its a taste thing though YMMV, you can feel the difference in response as you play.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
(The other guitarist in the band has a Helix - also sounds great, and the editing display looks amazing and (as has been said countless times) loads easier to use than the one on the AX8. I slightly prefer the sound from the AX8, but in fairness neither I nor the other chap have spent much time with the Helix as yet, so I reckon they are almost certainly on a par).
https://www.facebook.com/benswanwickguitar
At rehearsals/ gigs, I only ever make minor tweaks to volume, gain, tone and delay feedback / mix - all of which should be just as easy to adjust directly on the AX8 from what I can tell.
I've had my tracking update from UPS - it's on it's way....
Every time I have plugged in though I've got some wonderful sounds out of it - and some shocking ones!
I'm not delving into the all the sub menu parameters as I've never needed them in the real world. I'm trying to keep things as simple as possible and am prepared for the fact that when it comes to full band rehearsal I'll probably need to make changes and again when it comes to gigging.
Am thinking I'll go direct to PA and monitor with a Friedman ASM eventually.
My motivation was similar to yours: Less gear, less setup and also the ability to use the unit every time I play.
@Roland your output EQ trick so that patches can be dialled in with a monitor is a great idea.
Then I've added a nice clean amp / cab to match my sound while adding a parallel FX send.
So now I can use it with my current amp as a normal pedalboard and/or to monitors / FOH with the amp/cab simulation.
All in a few hours so very happy with that!