Just got my pedals to where I'm happy, and stupidly decided to add it up.
There's only 5 (wah, flanger, phaser, delay, reverb) plus an eq and a boost.
800 quid. I can't believe it.
I could have a Helix LT new for that. 100+ effects plus triple-backwards somersaults on demand.
Sobering. Thing is, I wouldn't swap, for all the usual reasons, like I cannot be arsed fiddling with crap, I don't enjoy the learning curves and deep diving, it takes away from the fun playing bit.
But, 800 quid, wow. If I was in a band playing out I could see the attraction in the modelling stuff.
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But hey, at least it’s not a bloody Helix.
However, I'm also putting together a board for my old band that's making a comeback - I'll be using the X88R preamp, so I need MIDI control, but I don't really need much else in the way of effects. In fact, what I need is two delay pedals and a phaser (all switched via MIDI) and a wah, that's it.
So...I'm going crazy and doing it on the cheap. I've got a pair of Joyo Quattro delay pedals (£50 each, and they have trails and great-sounding analogue/modulation modes!) and a cheapo mini-phaser. I'm building a MIDI switching unit with the Arduino which will actually use the bypass method in the pedals themselves - so buffered bypass with trails on the delays, but true bypass on the phaser. All that will be controlled on a per-patch basis along with the X88R from my ancient ART X-11 MIDI controller which - inexplicably - keeps on trucking despite 25 years of abuse.
From there, all I need is a switchless way (preferably a Weeping Demon Jr, but I'm curious about the Mooer Wahter), and I've basically built the whole board for about £200.
Later, at almost zero extra cost (but needing a bit more electronics and coding design), I might even add the ability for the Arduino to control the actual pedal parameters too (as opposed to just the bypass state), but I'm not sure whether I want to go down that road.
I'd suggest as a phaser the new addition in my place, the Phase 95, but I won't cos it's 100 quid
However, the most I've ever spent in one go is 200 quid, and the two times I did that, I'd just sold a bunch of cheaper pedals, and more or less funded the purchase from that. So, my net spend in any given month is never very high. It's taken me over 2 years to spend that net 900-1000 quid.
I've also had several modellers and multi-fx, and I get much more fun out of the pedals, and the sounds are better. I wouldn't want to make that claim against the Helix, and I have wondered about getting a Helix stomp and replacing the digital pedals on my board, and just keeping a few "mojo" things.
And you're right the Helix for example would be well over the top for what I personally want, I have what I need and anything else is a burden. Unless of course I was in a band needing those extras, fair enough, I'm sure the sounds from a Helix are good.
Ive tried both routes and real pedals/amps are by far my preference. The downside is that with real pedals, GAS is never far away, but at least there’s a huge choice and I can chop and change over time.
I originally planned to use it with my drives in the loops as a pedalboard, but now I’ve seen those Seymour Duncan power amps. I may go down that route.
The main FX I’ve used for the last 18 years has been the DL4/M5 modeller Pedal sounds. So that’s why a Helix felt like a no brainier.
Admittedly the drive sounds might be better on a full Helix as you could use the amp models as well (and i'd be lying if i said I wasnt interested in the Divided by 13 model) but whilst you could get a Helix LT for £800 you'd still be needing £300 on top for an amp be it guitar amp or frfr so it's not that much different unless you're the kind of player that needs lots of unusual effects or are in a covers band and need one of effects
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Last month I finally decided to replace my TC Electronic Rusty Fuzz and splurged on a Rotosound Fuzz Reissue, a Dunlop Mini Fuzzface in Germanium and Silicone, dislike them all (!) £350, then found sonic Nirvana in the new EHX Green Russian...another £75.......those four purchases would have paid for the FX which includes all the Fuzz Ill ever need and distortions, drives reverbs, delays...you get the picture, no patch leads or power supplies......
Lets say I see a video of someone playing a Klon and fancy trying one, ooo I have one on the HXFX etc.......
And after a few mins getting to grips with using the thing, its piss easy, really and I'm not the sharpest tool on the tech box......
So far it works for me
If after a period I’m happy with the change, the HX will be more than covered by selling the three pedals mentioned above, nevermind the other pedals I have knocking around, patch cables, pedaltrain etc etc
Neither sound objectively "better" but just different. There are tones I can get from a Source Audio Ventris and DD-500 that I cannot get in the box on the Helix.
The Helix platform is so flexible; you can go half pedals half Helix with the HX Stomp, you can go mostly Helix and a few pedals with the HX Effects, or you can go huge and go Helix with a couple of additional pedals too.
I can't quite chance going huge myself, because I'm still a pedestrian. So I need to be able to carry my board at the same time as a guitar. So I have multiple options, and I think that's the best way to go if you can afford it.
Also Line 6's customer support is second to none.
I think all the talk about how the Helix stuff works and all the options available has sort of confirmed my feelings that I'm happier where I am, there's just too much involved in modellers for my (home player) needs. I freely admit I'm a bear of little brain, all the options and choices that are gold to some just give me a headache.
When I'm feeling brave I might try the HX some time
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!