Helix discontinued - WTF? (EDIT: No it's not)

robinbowes

I have inside information from a major UK retailer - the Helix is being discontinued.

I didn't see that coming. I wonder what Line6 plans are?

R.

sgosden

Did they tell you that on Saturday?

Beexter

I thought April Fools was the first day of the month? 

EricTheWeary

Ahh, I wondered if it might be with the arrival of the LT. 

stickyfiddle

I find that very hard to believe unless there's a mark 2 version the replace it. 

fretmeister

@Digital_Igloo

??

guitarfishbay

Not sure if troll or typo.  Easter sales are surely coming up soon, it might get discounted...

Drew_TNBD

I heard Robin Bowes was being discounted.

robinbowes

Not a troll or typo. Am passing on what I have been told by my friend who works for the retailer.

R.

Teetonetal

@robinbowes post that on TGP... please! The big thread there will melt.
You'll also get a proper response.

robinbowes

Drew_TNBD said:

I heard Robin Bowes was being discounted.

Nah, I've always been cheap.

fretmeister

I've put the question up on the facebook group too. Eric (Digital Igloo) is on there quite a lot.

Gassage

robinbowes said:

Not a troll or typo. Am passing on what I have been told by my friend who works for the retailer.

R.

Did you record this on your iPhone?

MP3 of it or it dind't happen.

robinbowes

I don't do TGP.

robinbowes

(I think I may have an account, but I don't frequent the site)

Sporky

Does this mean that the original Helixes will be going up in value?

After all, we all know they sound better than the "lite" version, no matter what Line6 say. The aluminium casing makes a huge difference - the new steel casing for the LT makes everything sound brittle and there's a weird "mooing" sound at lower gain levels when using more than six delays. Also it smells strongly of cork.

fretmeister

The rack ones will go up. When used with the footcontroller they have an extra EXP input.

That's worth an extra, err, foot.

JayGee

Wouldn't be totally amazed if the coming of the LT heralded a cheaper to build (board relayout to use newer, denser, cheaper chips, etc, etc, etc) iteration of the full-fat version, possibly with a modest spec bump and a cosmetic refresh to go with it so I wouldn't completely discount stories like this.

Other possibilities are that everything stays the same or that they start shipping a revised, possibly cheaper to build V2 Helix without actually changing anything on the outside or passing the savings on...

Drew_TNBD

It's possible that they're discontinuing them... I suppose... but only for a hardware revision - like they need to change the SHARC chip because they can't source the original part anymore, or they need to switch their USB connector.. something like that. But I very much doubt they'll pull it from the market completely. That's just silly talk.

I think over the next few years we will see the Helix platform expand and grow. As soon as an M9 replacement is launched, I'll plonk some more money down for Line 6 gear!

fretmeister

The HD500 is still available too.

professorben

Helix does seem very popular. 
It would be sales suicide to pull it now surely??

but then this is Yamaha behind it after all.