We need to talk about Line 6…

I’ve been using the HX Stomp since 2020 for all kinds of gigs and musical scenarios. It’s a super flexible rig and the compact size is the big winner for me. I’d previously owned the HX FX as well as borrowing a Flextone back in the day, but didn’t gel with either of those so much.

As we’ve all come to appreciate by now, Line 6 have been solid with their updates, adding new effects and amp models on a yearly basis. The last big update was at the start of November last year, so this begs the question - what can we expect this week?


1) a few new amp models and effects (Eventide Micro Pitch finally?…), or…

2) a new range of larger format pedals??


It feels like as good as the Line 6 stuff sounds, the larger units in the Helix range have become quite long in the tooth. Almost every big competitor is now offering the ability to do amp captures, including even the Chinese budget brands like Hotone. We’re now seeing touchscreens as standard; whether it’s budget level brands like Sonicake or the industry standard brands like BOSS. 

I couldn’t give a flying shit about amp captures. Every other bit of comparable kit I’ve tried has been harder to use than Helix so I’m honestly not remotely bothered by the idea of a new big unit. 

To do amp captures you’d need to own the amp; not many of us own multiple holy grail amps. 

That is a immature click bait title… and not relevant imho, as L6 are neither irrelevant or likely to be a game changer.
YMMV etc =)

Thread title pissed me off even though it was tongue in cheek. 

I use the Yamaha THR100HD head as my modeller with my effects board.

The sounds are great it’s really incredibly flexible but the thing is it is exactly like using a valve amp because it’s designed to do that. You can load any IRs you like but the defaults are great so no need.   

rze99 said:

I’ve no interest in spending hours inside Line6 or anyone else’s menus. 

You only have to do that if you want to.

I reckon I've spent at least a hundred times as long playing through my Helix as I have playing with it. Partly it's just very quick and easy to adjust - no menus unless you're changing system stuff - and partly it's really easy to get good sounds. 

Nerine said:

Thread title pissed me off even though it was tongue in cheek. 

I can’t stand the YouTube channels that are slaves to the algorithm. 

It’s getting so the format is so samey between channels, too. Clickbait, nonsense title, audio clip, 12 mins waffle interspersed with the odd audio bit, end. 

No point made. Like, come on. You’re making too many videos to the point where you have nothing to say and have to rely on rehashing stuff that’s been said 1,000 times before by giving it a new buzzword title, with plenty of capitals for good measure. 

I used to enjoy YouTube, but generally I watch stuff completely unrelated to guitar these days as nothing gear related tends to be any good because it’s either to pander to the manufacturer or the algorithm, regardless of what the creator claims. 

I agree, I don't thing the current situation can last.  The cynicism and inauthenticity are getting ever more transparent.  I'm sorry, no matter how good a player you are I'm not interested in your opinions about a piece of gear you've only spent a few hours fannying about with because you need something to make this week's video about, and wouldn't have given a second thought otherwise.

I would like an "HX Effects Mini" (no not an HX Stomp). I don't need the amp sims that the stomp has. Just a mini version of the HX FX that still has the scribble scripts, haptic switches, snapshot/preset/stompbox modes, just 3-4 footswitches, and half the price of the HX FX. I'd call it HX Effects Fly Rig. 

LionAquaLooper said:

I would like an "HX Effects Mini" (no not an HX Stomp). I don't need the amp sims that the stomp has. Just a mini version of the HX FX that still has the scribble scripts, haptic switches, snapshot/preset/stompbox modes, just 3-4 footswitches, and half the price of the HX FX. I'd call it HX Effects Fly Rig. 

With you on this. As long as it still has fx loops and midi in in.

<lol and shudder at thread title> 

The thing I thought was brilliant about the full fat Helix I had (that tends never to be the topic of whatever clickbait/FOMO YouTube string of videos all the creators are doing that week) was how well thought out it was to integrate in to various different setups.

It can be a midi control centre for other stuff, or.controlled by other midi things. It can run as a simple DSP chain or have multiple in.out points for different parts of the signal. 

It can send a fully modelled chain one way and a no-cab-modelled split somewhere else. 

And the UI is fantastic. 

TimmyO said:

<lol and shudder at thread title> 

Needs a gurning face thumbnail. 

I was looking for some Charlie Baty videos the other day and one was of him having his amp captured by a Kemper. Jazz and blues guy who didn't even use pedals, I think the video showed that it worked but that for many people it's also probably pointless (no interest in multiple amps in one box or don't have them to capture). I'm fairly sure Charlie was happy with a toob amp until he passed away. 

Watching the launch of the new JHS delay the other day it's sort of a stripped down DL4 (otherwise I was deeply underwhelmed, but there you go) and it seems a shame that Line 6 didn't keep pursuing the single pedal market but I understand that it's an horrifically crowded market place. Maybe a DL1 or DL2 for those who are put off by anything much larger than a Boss. 

jamesguitar said:

I
It feels like as good as the Line 6 stuff sounds, the larger units in the Helix range have become quite long in the tooth. Almost every big competitor is now offering the ability to do amp captures, including even the Chinese budget brands like Hotone. We’re now seeing touchscreens as standard; whether it’s budget level brands like Sonicake or the industry standard brands like BOSS. 

As much as I love the HX Stomp, it took me a while to get there. The user interface is way too fiddly and most guitarists don’t want to know about menu diving and guessing which buttons / wheels do what. I think Neural and Fender have set the standard for form factor / user interface. A full sized Helix feels ginormous and heavy these days compared to say the Quad Cortex. We’ve also got ToneX offering amp sims and a full chain (compression, a range of different modulation and delays and verbs) for as little as £149 (with arguably better quality end results than units costing 6 times the price).

I’d say Line6 have been very lucky to have players on YouTube creating regular tutorials and preset builds (nod to John with the post title). They’ve managed to maintain interest and showcase what the units are capable of if you really put the work in.

So, my closing question - what can we expect next from Line this week / year and can they stay relevant?

1. Touchscreens are overrated.

2. Hotone do amp captures: do they actually do them well? Are Hotone amp captures better than Line 6 modelling? 

3. Neural size is indeed great. What does Neural have to do to get to Helix levels of love? 

4. Tonex offers great sound but the entire UI is absolute dogshit. 

5. Line 6 is absolutely relevant and the sounds are still relevant now. 

If anyone is wondering about the real world usability of the HXStomp in 2024, I took a fly rig of HX Stomp and 2 dirts (Harlot and JanRay) to Spain for a gig a month ago - played a whole wedding set plugged in direct and using comp, mod, delay and amp/cans from the Helix with de minimis tweaking. It sounded epic, weighted bugger all and fitted in my suitcase. 

ADMIN: Thread title amended. No clickbait, please....

digitalscream said:

ADMIN: Thread title amended. No clickbait, please....

I was getting really confused by the discussion on the thread title until I saw this… 

rze99 said:

I use the Yamaha THR100HD head as my modeller with my effects board.

 

I’m sure Yamaha don’t mind which Yamaha owned modeller (THR or Line 6) you’re using as long as it’s a Yamaha one :lol: 

digitalscream said:

ADMIN: Thread title amended. No clickbait, please....

Some of you guys are being a bit sensitive about the thread title. More old men shouting at clouds.

I dont think we need to talk about Line 6... I dont think they done anything suss, inappropriate or generally awful. They make a great range of products and are well liked. 

I think anyone pretending an "amp capture" has some secret sauce is frankly, mental. Its a digital representation of a certain set of EQs that the unit "hears". Kemper has been doing it for years and if you want that technology, you go to them.  

I’ve really enjoyed my Helix - it’s had almost every sound I’ve wanted somewhere within it, and I still feel like I’m only scratching the surface. I’m looking at pedals again, because I want more physical knobs to tweak, rather than having any issue with the sounds, but will end up with a HX something on the board - there’s just too much good stuff in there.   

 I originally got the unit having joined a band with a big eclectic back catalogue to learn, some of which needed some specific sounds, and it was fab for that, then for writing and recording loads of new stuff. I’ve used it as a pedalboard, audio interface, DIed it, run amp sims into a power amp, and it’s done a fab job every time. The frequent updates have been a massive bonus too - always loads to explore.

The only downsides for me have been (1) size/weight, but then again those scribble strips are pretty nice to  have, and (2) option paralysis - though I got over that some time back.  I’m really looking forward to seeing what comes next - however there’s not much not to like with the current line up.

Just to weigh in on the actual topic at hand...the thing with the Helix is that it's hands-down the most usable and flexible bit of gear out there for a reasonable price. Yes, the Fractal guys will scream me into oblivion, but...I maintain that they're wrong ;)

Fractal - vastly overpriced
Kemper - extremely limiting, missing most of the useful features of the Helix
ToneX - the only commonality is that it does amp sounds and a few effects, it's not really a competitor
Boss stuff - never really sounded as good to my ears, and doesn't have anything like the signal path flexibility
Quad Cortex - sounds better, possibly even the gold standard for captures, but is still missing the QOL features and effects models even though it has more power

No, it's not the most authentic-sounding unit on the market. It's also not the most powerful. In terms of what you need for gigging, you just can't beat the Helix family in my opinion. The Stomp in particular is a ridiculous bit of gear - it's possible to fit a power amp, two delays, a couple of extra footswitches and a couple of mini pedals with it on a Metro 24, FFS. There's nothing else on the market that would get you even close to that, and it's a rig on a pedalboard.

So no, it's not the best-sounding, it's not the most authentic, it doesn't have the most effects...but it's probably the most practical bit of gear you'll ever buy. It's certainly the best thing I ever bought for gigging.

(caveat: now that I'm not gigging, I've got a ToneX ONE....)

Agree with @digitalscream 's points here - the Helix is a great example of a sweet spot product - just enough at a great price before you hit diminishing returns. The Stomp in particular - it feels too good as a product; like there is too much in there for it to make commercial sense in this cynical day and age. Great stuff all round.

ElectricXII said:

Some of you guys are being a bit sensitive about the thread title. More old men shouting at clouds.

However I disagree with the OP. I don't need to talk about Line 6, because I gig with real, heavy, loud valve amps and real pedals. I will admit to owning a Line 6 wireless unit, but I couldn't care less about HX.

What a delightfully narcissistic post! :) 

The OP is like a poundshop version of KDH.... on discount day.

What a load of shit.

fretmeister said:

The OP is like a poundshop version of KDH.... on discount day.

What a load of shit.

Hey @fretmeister  I noticed that your reply is a bit more pointed than what’s typical on the forum. I’m here to learn and contribute. Friendly discussions make this community enjoyable for everyone, and I’d love to keep it that way.

If there’s something specific you think I could improve on, I’m open to constructive feedback—just within the bounds of the forum guidelines. Thanks!

digitalscream said:

Just to weigh in on the actual topic at hand...the thing with the Helix is that it's hands-down the most usable and flexible bit of gear out there for a reasonable price. Yes, the Fractal guys will scream me into oblivion, but...I maintain that they're wrong ;)

Fractal - vastly overpriced
Kemper - extremely limiting, missing most of the useful features of the Helix
ToneX - the only commonality is that it does amp sounds and a few effects, it's not really a competitor
Boss stuff - never really sounded as good to my ears, and doesn't have anything like the signal path flexibility
Quad Cortex - sounds better, possibly even the gold standard for captures, but is still missing the QOL features and effects models even though it has more power

No, it's not the most authentic-sounding unit on the market. It's also not the most powerful. In terms of what you need for gigging, you just can't beat the Helix family in my opinion. The Stomp in particular is a ridiculous bit of gear - it's possible to fit a power amp, two delays, a couple of extra footswitches and a couple of mini pedals with it on a Metro 24, FFS. There's nothing else on the market that would get you even close to that, and it's a rig on a pedalboard.

So no, it's not the best-sounding, it's not the most authentic, it doesn't have the most effects...but it's probably the most practical bit of gear you'll ever buy. It's certainly the best thing I ever bought for gigging.

(caveat: now that I'm not gigging, I've got a ToneX ONE....)

I Did a Gig last Sat with all my Main Sounds coming from my HX Stomp Which i have owned from Launch, Nobody in the Audience Cares if i have a real amp on stage or i am not using a better Modeler.They care that the music they want to hear is Great and Sounds OK. And L6 have made a great product at a great price

Daiganzen said:

I Did a Gig last Sat with all my Main Sounds coming from my HX Stomp Which i have owned from Launch, Nobody in the Audience Cares if i have a real amp on stage or i am not using a better Modeler.They care that the music they want to hear is Great and Sounds OK. And L6 have made a great product at a great price

my sentiments exactly...

Sporky said:

ElectricXII said:

Some of you guys are being a bit sensitive about the thread title. More old men shouting at clouds.

However I disagree with the OP. I don't need to talk about Line 6, because I gig with real, heavy, loud valve amps and real pedals. I will admit to owning a Line 6 wireless unit, but I couldn't care less about HX.

What a delightfully narcissistic post! :) 

Just off to the acoustic section to mention I don't play much acoustic guitar, then onto the recording section to opine about how I don't care about recording equipment. Busy day