Helix 3.80 Out Now

[Xaios]

Oh no, they forgot to add that signature line6 high end hiss to the Panama Red!!!

Literally unplayable.

 

[CTID]

Updated and took the EVH Red for a spin for about 10 minutes before I had to start getting dinner ready. Sounded pretty good and made me miss my 5153 50W I sold before I moved to Idaho a few years ago. Excited to mess with it some more at band practice this weekend

 

[budda]

Okay so it's been a long while since I used a Fractal but I think I prefer Line 6's EVH red over Fractal's lol. Line 6's take seems to be more aggressive and tighter.

(Deep edit time)

 

[STRHelvete]

Installed the update and I caught my Helix in bed with my wife...need advise...

 

[thebeesknees22]

I've been messing with the the xtra red most of the night. It sounds pretty killer for rock/hard rock when doubled or quad tracked once it's dialed in. At least on anything from C to standard tuning. It's like just a lot of great midrange goodness.

I'm still going to have to mess with it some more to get it sounding nice on 7 strings though. It's great with my ibanez 7 string with aftermaths, but i haven't hit that sweet spot yet on my skervesen with ragnaroks.

 

[Universe74]

Oh boy I updated and it told me I had to update the Helix Control, too. Now I'm stuck with the damn bank up and down switches to the left again. My snap A and OD stomp are supposed to be over there. Any help on this? I've tried Global Settings and nothings changing it. 8/10 switch mode does nothing now. Hope its not a bug in the new update. I even backed up from restore and still the same. HX Edit shows it as it was in Command Center, but the HX Control says different.

Did you full factory reset prior to restoring your backup?

 

[Badlander1994]

Played with the new EVH models for a bit tonight, red channel fucks hard for leads. Lots of nice compression and feels so easy to play, but the attack stays percussive and doesn’t mush out.

I need more time to mess with the Bogner models, but the Ecstasy Blue sounds great for mid gain to hard rock stuff. Gonna try to dial up some Cantrell tones tomorrow.

 

[ATRguitar91]

Got the update installed and the EVH is wicked as expected. Darker and much more mid heavy than the Vitriol is my first impression. Maybe a drier feel to it.

Sounds awesome though, may end up my new main amp model.

 

[OmegaSlayer]

Got the update installed and the EVH is wicked as expected. Darker and much more mid heavy than the Vitriol is my first impression. Maybe a drier feel to it.

Sounds awesome though, may end up my new main amp model.

I actually changed my main patch from the Vitriol to the Panama Red
But it was late yesterday, so I must check today with fresh and more relaxed ears

So, as I said it was late so I didn't fiddle that much but I really liked what Line6 brought to the table
Besides my ADA-MP1 meme, I only feel I miss some better synth stuff, but that is very niche and better done by stuff like the Fishman Triple Play

I still think that the Helix has enough gas to do awesome stuff at least 5 more years for non professional, non touring guitarists
Even because in this day and age the cost of chips and the such is so high that a device released by a non Chinese manufacturer will cost too much

 

[Kopeng]

Can anyone say how much the 5153 models are DSP wise compared to the Vitriol?

 

[OmegaSlayer]

Can anyone say how much the 5153 models are DSP wise compared to the Vitriol?

I can tell you that I swap the 2 amps in the patch and didn't had a single issue
My patch has a couple of EQ, 2 IRs, OD, Noise Gate, Compressor, Reverb and Delay, but keep in mind I use very basic Reverbs and Delay, because...it's a metal patch, no need for Gilmour lush effects

 

[Smoked Porter]

Praise the Lord then, we got a Fender Super Reverb

Wouldn’t mind a Vibrolux in the future tbh

Great update though, can’t wait to play around with all three amps and the new cabs.

 

[phillybhatesme]

Ahhh shit. Now I have to dust off my Helix and plug it in to something.

 

[Chri]

Okay so it's been a long while since I used a Fractal but I think I prefer Line 6's EVH red over Fractal's lol. Line 6's take seems to be more aggressive and tighter.

I don't have my Helix anymore to compare, but the last few Fractal updates really did a number on the actual preamp modelling. I'd say it's worth taking a second look. It was a legitimate night and day difference IMO on all the amps, but the high gain models really benefit from whatever Cliff's galaxy brain came up with. Plus, we've got a new Fractal model that's Cliff's take on the EVH blue that is pretty bonkers.

 

[Universe74]

Can anyone say how much the 5153 models are DSP wise compared to the Vitriol?

I swapped in the Super Reverb and 5153 Red. I am using pitch wham, wah, horizon drive, kinky comp, feedbacker, simple delay, volume block, la studio comp, parametric eq, dynamic ambience reverb.

 

[Shask]

I don't have my Helix anymore to compare, but the last few Fractal updates really did a number on the actual preamp modelling. I'd say it's worth taking a second look. It was a legitimate night and day difference IMO on all the amps, but the high gain models really benefit from whatever Cliff's galaxy brain came up with. Plus, we've got a new Fractal model that's Cliff's take on the EVH blue that is pretty bonkers.

I am a Fractal fan, but not wanting to come into a Line 6 thread to shit on other people's happy day, lol . However, yes, ever since Cygnus X-3, Fractal even has me questioning if I prefer it to my tube amps at times. That update forward has really cleaned up the lows and lower mids in the ca-chunk area.

 

[ATRguitar91]

Can anyone say how much the 5153 models are DSP wise compared to the Vitriol?

As far as I can tell, they're close. I'm using the Stomp and swapped it right into my main patch which has 3 drives, Horizon Gate, dual cab, and a simple delay. Didn't have any DSP issues.

 

[HeHasTheJazzHands]

@Guitarjon compared the 50W EL34 vs the Helix (100W 6L6) and yeah, I prefer the Helix here lol.

Still curious to hear how the Helix 5153 compares to the Fractal.

Also random comparison: The Helix 5153 unsurprisingly smokes my Mooer 005 pedal.

 

[budda]

To me it’d also be are they trying to 1:1 helix vs fas or “same ir stock settings here it is”

Im all for everyone having more 5150s. Even though i dont use that model

 

[Stiman]

To me it’d also be are they trying to 1:1 helix vs fas or “same ir stock settings here it is”

Im all for everyone having more 5150s. Even though i dont use that model

In this case, it's more about a better 5150 model. I tried getting the block letter and invective to work and never loved them. But this new 5153 model I got dialed in easily and it's awesome.

I would be happy if the next update was just Line 6 bringing all they older models up to today's quality/standard.