To those that have moved on from a Tube amp to a SS/modeling rig.

[MatrixClaw]

Physical amp heads I have are a Mesa Triple Rectifier and a Bugera TriRec. Love them both, I've always been a Mesa guy. I also have an HX Effects and ISP Decimator II G-String on a PedalTrain. However at home I usually only play when I'm writing a new track, I don't practice anymore honestly, and for that I use Helix Native on my DAW as I can record on the fly and I absolutely love it. Also love how I can just remove the amp model and export the patches over to the HX Effects. When I go to the studio I try to use a Mesa Rectifier if the studio has one but I have to admit.... it's VERY frustrating!!! Most studio gear is beat to hell and I find 95% of the time they don't have the footswitch available... so how can I go immediately from distorted to clean while playing? Plus, I write songs that have some effects on some parts and a serial loop is needed and most Mesa models in studio are older parallel loops.

Anyhow, where I'm going with this is I just last night I impulse ordered a HeadRush MX5 since it's sooo small/lightweight, has preset switching effect tail spillover, and is so inexpensive. For a couple of years now I'd been thinking about getting something like the BluGuitar floor amp to use for the studio so I don't have to deal with the hassles but then I'd still have to carry my PedalTrain with HX Effects. With the MX5 coupled with a Seymour Duncan PowerStage I'd have a full rig that is super lightweight that I could use in the studio when needed or as a backup if there's a failure live.

So essentially for me there's 3 scenarios - 1) Home playing/writing/recording, and for that I use my DAW, studio monitors, and plugins. 2) Studio rehearsal, and for that either use the in-room gear or to avoid the constant need to adapt to different gear or missing components bring my own compact power amp and modeler. 3) Live, and for that you are bringing all your own gear so you can go for the gold with your best amp/effect gear but have a backup in case there's a failure.

The awesome thing is now we have all these options available!

Why not just sell your HX Effects and buy an HX Stomp or Helix LT...? Then you can use the same exact patches from Native live and in the studio. Buying another modeler seems sorta silly in this instance if you already like the Line 6 stuff and plan to keep using it.

 

[Rev2010]

Why not just sell your HX Effects and buy an HX Stomp or Helix LT...? Then you can use the same exact patches from Native live and in the studio. Buying another modeler seems sorta silly in this instance if you already like the Line 6 stuff and plan to keep using it.

Very very simple reason... the lack of snapshots in the portable Helix model variants. See, I absolutely need effect spillover and gapless switching of presets. The only way to achieve that on Helix units is via snapshots. The Headrush has spillover for presets so I'm free to just keep advancing to the next rig with no issues. My HX Effects only has four snapshots, the HX Stomp 3, and the Stomp XL 4. I really need 5-6 for some of my more complex songs. I had the Helix LT at first but returned it, was great but very heavy and at the time I didn't need the modelling for studio or home use. At home I use Helix Native.

So that's why. If I could get a compact Helix family unit that had 6 snapshots I'd be in heaven. Add to this, I have my HX Effects, ISP G-String, and an expression pedal on a PedalTrain. It's a great setup, but still bigger and heavier than if I were to bring an MX5 and Power stage 170 to a studio.

Luckily most of my tracks are far more effect simple so programming a new unit to match the sound should be fairly easy, but two of my tracks use a lot of more complex sound changes or effects and I really need the gapless changing and effect spillover.