Line6 Heeeeeelix!

[sopachrga]

Yeah the Vetta II was/is an amazing bit of gear. But in recent times they haven't really had anything on the market much above the $1k mark.

Might come as a bit of a shock to the young guys to see Line 6 releasing a bit of gear potentially above $2K NZD

[rickenbackerkid]

I think it looks the bizzo. Would be an incredible tool for a covers band.

[handsoffmatt]

Judging by the USD price of $1,499 - and the kiwi dollar at $0.70 (and tipped to go lower)

USD $1,499
Convert at, say $0.67 = $2,237
Add GST = $2,572

So they're effectively gonna go out the door at around $2,600. Still $1,000-ish cheaper than Axe FX II XL.......and you can HP one of these at your local friendly Rockshop.

[sopachrga]

If the sound is at AxeFx level, this could certainly shake things up a bit.
I'm excited to see what they are like.

[handsoffmatt]

If the sound is at AxeFx level, this could certainly shake things up a bit.
I'm excited to see what they are like.

All indications at this stage from people that have played beta versions are that the sound and FEEL are totally playing in the AxeFX ballpark.
POD's always sounded pretty great, but it was the "disconnected" feel of playing one that I could never hang with. I spoke to a Line 6 engineer who told me that when he was playing a beta version of Helix, it sounded great, but more importantly FELT just like he was plugged into the front of a tube amp next to him.

If all of this is true....I'm gonna say it, I think Helix will be better than AxeFX.
Much more flexible interface, better I/O options, better price.....

.....and it sure LOOKS way cooler

[StratMatt]

It definitely looks sexy as hell. I'm sure Line6 can get their shit sorted a bit better when it comes to distribution. If it can feel 95% as good as an Axe/Kemper then why shouldn't it give them a run for their money. The thing that makes those rigs just an extra step too far for a lot of people, is you gotta buy the floor controller as well as the actual unit. Adds another grand or so.

[handsoffmatt]

Did anybody listen to the video demo/tease on the Helix website? It sounds freakin' BADASS!!!!

[Kris]

thing that most impressed me was the user interface-menus and editing look very sharp..

[Eruera]

Fuck the FX8, I'm getting one of these instead. If it arrives in September it'll probably have the jump of FX8 as Fractal are currently up to like the 8th of October on the wait list (which opened in the 5th of October or something) and only seem to be getting about 2 a day made, so I don't see the FX8 hitting mass market any time soon.

[StratMatt]

The day after I buy a fricken GT100 too!

Bit of a different animal for what I want though.. just keep telling myself that

[handsoffmatt]

The day after I buy a fricken GT100 too!

Bit of a different animal for what I want though.. just keep telling myself that

I'll still be keeping my GT100 for my live FX-only rig. SERIOUSLY want a Helix for home use though

[StratMatt]

The day after I buy a fricken GT100 too!

Bit of a different animal for what I want though.. just keep telling myself that

I'll still be keeping my GT100 for my live FX-only rig. SERIOUSLY want a Helix for home use though

It certainly would pair nicely with the two L3 speakers I use for my home sound system

[Kloppsta]

Yeah, call me cynical or whatever but im not holding my breath that this unit will be an “axe fx killer”.
A couple of reasons for me…

1. Cliff Chase the mastermind behind Fractal is a certified prodigy genius. That sort of “freak” specialist knowledge and experience is not easily replicated or found elsewhere. Line 6 have been in the DSP game for a long time, but not at Cliff’s level.
2. Every single component in Fractal gear has been rigorously tested and selected for optimum results, longevity and reliability. Hence the cost of Fractal products. I would seriously worry about the quality and reliability of things like footswitches (Line 6 M series et al were dodgy and cheapola) on this new Helix.
3. The effects modelling on the Axe Fx is 100% pro-level, to the point where people compare the new redesigned ‘high-quality’ reverbs in the axe to verb’s from bricasti’s flagship models. Keep in mind we are comparing a standalone reverb at USD$5k+ to a multi-fx modeller at less than half the price. That’s just the reverb too, people in the know RAVE about the other effects in the Axe. I have my doubts that Line 6, even with Yamaha’s financial backing and experience would put the same amount of time and effort to deliver competing quality algorithms into a device that sells for less than half the price of its closest competitor. Could be wrong though.
4. When it comes to a large corporate like Line 6/Yamaha, I imagine the bean counters have a LARGE part to play during R&D and the total manufacturing cost if the final product. Something has to give right?
5. Small owner/operator company like Fractal can invest more as their overheads are much smaller and they are specializing in one product type in a relatively niche market. Line 6 is trying to be a bit of a jack of all trades with his product variants….perhaps a master of none?
6. PC editor? Axe-Edit is, at least in my experience, a million times better than any editor Line 6 has ever put out!
7. I also very much doubt the level of support direct from the engineers, designers etc. will be anything NEAR the level you find with Fractal
8. Lastly, anyone who has owned Line 6 gear in the past can attest to the frustration that is a serious LACK of updates! When the new firmware eventually does come its often really limited in what it offers. In contrast Fractal has put out more updates for their gear in the last 6 months than Line 6 have ever done in the history of the company! Lol

The proof is in the pudding as they say but I can’t help but feel that you really do get what you pay for. This is cheaper than an Axe Fx…..for a reason. If I was a betting man I’d be willing to put money down on once the Helix is released we might see a handful of updates at the most before the company focus shifts elsewhere. I also reckon we’ll start seeing 3rd party outfits offering “hardware” upgrades and modifications to things like the footswitches etc. like they have done for previous line 6 gear, none of which has ever happened, or needs to happen with fractal gear.

Not a fractal fan boi specifically…just think that bold statements like “axe fx killer” are just that….bold.

[handsoffmatt]

Do I detect just a small hint of cynicism there? hahaha

A few things regarding your points...

Point 1
Cliff Chase is a clever guy indeed, but Line 6 INVENTED digital guitar amp modelling. His work led on from where Line 6 started. So they could pick the ball back up and move forward from HIS work, right?

Point 3
I think it's safe to say that Line 6's effects modelling is also "pro-quality". On account of the fact that about a gazillion pros have been using Line 6 effects for years. DL4 and MM4 are industry staples...... The Edge has had a ton of L6 effects in his rig for more than a decade. If it's good enough for the guitarist in pretty much the world's biggest band playing stadiums worldwide....surely that qualifies as "pro quality"?
Bear in mind that most of the people who obsess over FX are the ones that spend their lives playing in their bedroom. I bet I can find you more famous/pro players that use Boss pedals than use an Axe FX.

Point 4
Large corporates become large corporates for a reason. They (at some point in time) are very good at making cool stuff that lots of people want to buy. That's how they got large in the first place. Sometimes they make cheap price pointed stuff. Sometimes they make legit top-end gear.
Bean counters just count beans..... if the bosses decide they can make lots of beans releasing a high-end product.... they'll do it.

Point 5
I'm pretty sure L6 can invest WAAAAYYYYYYYY man-hours into developing a product than Fractal can. They are a highly resourced company.
L6 are also a pretty passionate group of guys. That company is a seething mass of guitar players hahaha.

Point 6
I've got no idea if a PC Editor will be any good or not - but the onboard editing capability of Helix is pretty damn impressive. Why bother with a PC Editor?

Hey in the end you're right..... it might not live up to the hype and might be relegated into the bin of products that never should have been.. But I gotta tell you from all the info I have seen so far, it's looking pretty good. The cynicism / Fractal fanboi defensiveness is to be expected and inevitable across the world (especially over the new few weeks hahaha). I, like many, will look forward to actually getting my grubby hands on this thing and seeing how well (or not) it will actually deliver..

[Bg]

lets not forget that Line 6 are owned by Yamaha, I suspect they can chuck a few bob that way....

I am a Line6 fanboi though.... dyed in the wool. digging the fx100 at the mo just because it sits under my desk ready to jam out when I want it.