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No but if you are comparing about low and high cuts on a direct sound compared to playing through a combo then you’re not comparing like for like. A person would typically be applying similar cuts to a recording of a guitar is my point.
Plug and play Digital would be a Katana combo or a Blackstar ID.
The stock helix sounds have a harsh/unrealistic top end/digitised sound that is quite unpleasant to listen to.
Which is odd, because you should see me trying to choose a jacket or a bag.
Having been an early adopter of the FX8/AX8 and now Helix, I find myself increasingly moving back to the simplicity of my valve amps and analogue pedals.
The Helix is incredible, but more about options for me than sound - it just doesn't sound as good as say, a Big Sky into the Carr Rambler. It just doesn't.
The biggest difficulty of any modelling stuff, is the steep learning curve and having to learn a complete new language.
The Helix is an incredible device, and the new OX looks incredible too, but right now.... Im loving a Tele into a Rambler or a Redplate.
I can quickly and easily get a sound I like out of an amp.
for live work though I still think nothing touches a good valve amp, especially for the styles I play and what I’m interested in.
my opinion is that digital is a great tool, but for my creative flow, I’m more inspired by the way a valve amp.
if they could launch a hot valve smell plug in then perhaps we’d all change our minds
I'm not saying it's impossible to get that early Black Keys thing going with a digital amp, but I've never managed it and I've never heard anyone else do it either.
It's personal taste in the end, do you want to sound like Guthrie Govan or Albert Collins?
The earlier Voxes are really excellent, certainly - and they’re also ‘triple hybrids’ in that the preamp is digital, then there’s the miniature valve power amp, and finally a standard analogue solid-state power stage to actually drive the speakers. Overall, I think they’re the best modellers I’ve tried. Sadly they later simplified them (in the valve power amp area mostly, presumably to cut cost) and the later versions don’t sound quite as good.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
It's the same reason why there's still a few of us diehards left still using photographic film. You can get a much more polished result from digital but it lacks that certain difficult to define quality, you might call it "soul".
Contrary to popular fallacy, unlike all subsequent Valvetronix, the valves in the original blue amps are for all intents and purposes in the power amp section and just like an all valve amp the clever valve reactor design reacts with speaker impedance so the louder you crank it the better it sounds.
You really think this sounds shit @timmysoft ?
I probably shouldn't have sold it, but to be honest I was just never happy with the rather low-quality particle-board cabinet and the easy-tear vinyl covering - it just looked a bit rough. If it had a nicer cabinet I would have kept it. Shallow I know .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein