Considering Helix, but not sure what model...

[pflash4001]

Hey, all. I hope everyone is doing well. So, I've been considering a few things. For a bit over a year or two I've been playing ampless. I've been going through a Shure GLXD-16+ into a SansAmp Programmable BDDI or a Walrus Audio Badwater PreAmp/DI to the FOH and into Sennheiser XSW IEMs. I've been happy with it for the most part, but there are some things that I may want to use some more f/x on or just have a pretty different tone for. Another thing is that my son and I both play with our church on Sundays and he doesn't have a lot of guitar gear past just his guitar. I was thinking about getting into a Helix setup that I could run for bass on my gigs, but he could use for guitar for church services. My question is which one to go with. I'm leaning hard toward the Helix Floor LT, but would the Helix Stomp be sufficient? I don't see a DI out on that one and I can't see why or how they'd overlook that. If you're running this, how are you doing it? I'd like to mount it on a pedalboard with my Shure wireless and have it all ready to just take out of the case and plug in power, so I was thinking about putting on a Pedaltrain pedalboard with a rolling hard case. If you're using the Stomp, how are you interfacing with the FOH? I'm just trying to get a better idea before committing to a major purchase. Thanks for your insight!

 

[furym]

Stomp has a TRS out that can use a TRS to XLR adapter. Many of us have a Stomp as part of a larger board and put something else after it with an XLR out. I use a tube DI after my Stomp so that's not an issue.
My son and I both play for our church as well, me with bass and him with guitar. While a Stomp has plenty for what we use it for with bass, he only uses it for Delay/Reverb/etc and it works for him. Think cheaper Strymon combo. If he were trying to use it as a stand alone, I am not sure it would have enough power for everything he wants in a guitar rig. For dual purpose use, I would recommend the LT or the Floor units. Plenty of DSP for what a guitarist might need.

 

[pflash4001]

Thanks. I was originally thinking the Stomp. It wasn't until my son and I were talking about the church stuff that I started to think harder about the LT. I appreciate the response.

 

[SteveC]

I love my Stomp, but my guitar player friend says he runs out of DSP. If you are going to double up I'd say maybe go one notch higher than a Stomp - just in case.

 

[skyline_01]

Always heard great things about the Stomp line, so probably can't go wrong there.

I'll be a sort of dissident here and mention the Headrush line. I replaced a ~9-pedal board with the MX5 and I use it right before a tube DI (although you can do the TRS to XLR thing too). The touchscreen and 11-block-per-rig capability make for a very versatile and easy experience.

 

[ItsmeSantiago]

Stomp is good for bassists, but I think a guitarist would find them cumbersome. When I was in the megachurch scene, we ran the full Helix units and some of the guys got the LT models for home use. The staff members would upload the patches into the Helix and the guitarists would bring their LT's to rehearsal and download the patches that night so they could practice during the week.

Not sure if you guys are that complex at your church, but the LT is a great unit for guitar.

 

[pflash4001]

Always heard great things about the Stomp line, so probably can't go wrong there.

I'll be a sort of dissident here and mention the Headrush line. I replaced a ~9-pedal board with the MX5 and I use it right before a tube DI (although you can do the TRS to XLR thing too). The touchscreen and 11-block-per-rig capability make for a very versatile and easy experience.

What I've read about the various systems is that Headrush, Kemper, and others are more "guitarcentric" and don't have as many features for bass.

 

[pflash4001]

Stomp is good for bassists, but I think a guitarist would find them cumbersome. When I was in the megachurch scene, we ran the full Helix units and some of the guys got the LT models for home use. The staff members would upload the patches into the Helix and the guitarists would bring their LT's to rehearsal and download the patches that night so they could practice during the week.

Not sure if you guys are that complex at your church, but the LT is a great unit for guitar.

We're actually a really small church and we're still establishing the music program. It's an Anglican church plant that was founded just over a year ago. We've been pretty much working with an acoustic coffee house kind of arrangement, but we want to do more and are starting to work towards that now.

 

[_One//Man//Mutiny_]

The stomp would be good, personally I had a stomp and used a 2 button footswitch to bank up and down, I used it for guitar and bass and enjoyed it. If I were to get one again I think I would spring for an XL. The frame work is there in the regular stomp but more footswitches makes for an easier time navigating the routing to be able to move around the system easier.

 

[Nakoatron]

Quad cortex. All day. Every day.
Helix is good, I wouldn’t go less than the LT.

 

[ole Jason]

The Stomp XL, and probably Stomp, are more than enough unless you're doing some pretty out there stuff on bass. If you're using conventional tones and playing in a mostly conventional way either of those will get the job done easily. As far as guitar goes it really just depends on what you need. I could cover any gig I'd want to do with the Stomp XL and a volume pedal.

 

[scuzzy]

Fractal fm3 is on my short list

 

[robertusf]

I am currently running an HX stomp into a Radial JDI to FOH/IEM. If I bring an amp I’ll run the thru from the JDI into the effects return on my amp. It sounds great and I have had nothing but compliments from FOH on the signal and sound.
I did try an LT but found that I didn’t need that big of a footprint. So, like One Man Mutiny said above , I also have a 2 button foot switch to change presets.

Guitar, I would probably stick with an LT or Floor as well

 

[prndltech]

Like everyone else has already said, I use the stomp just for bass… with an additional 2 button switch. if I played guitar as well, I’d get the LT or floor.

if I ever need more than the stomp, I’d just upgrade to the LT, which is my pick for your scenario. I’d choose the LT for both of y’all to use. If i lost everything as far as pedals go right now… I’d probably just buy a helix LT and DI straight out of that to FOH. Done. Simple. In fact, for the amount of money I’ve spent… Id get 2 LT’s and have extra money left over.

but currently:
Noble or khan after the stomp. That’s how I solve the DI problem, personally.

 

[Barticus]

Stomp XL, awesome tool… I actually have two, one for gigging and the other for rehearsal and practice (fly rig).

 

[tb-player]

I have an HX Stomp that I use as an all-in-one unit for guitar. I’m not a bass effects guy. But maybe it’ll give you some inspiration.

 

[Parzival]

If I were to be just jumping in with one unit, there is an LT in the classifieds for a stupid low price. I have been having to fight temptation hard, but I know I don’t need all that thing can do.

 

[mmon77]

If doing double-duty with guitar use as well, I would go for at least the LT.

 

[brocket]

I have an HX Effects going to a Two Notes Opus. The Opus sounds great for bass and guitar, has a good in/out setup, and frees up DSP for just effects. The Opus can be MIDI controlled and the HXE sends MIDI, so amp changes can still be done in the HXE. The Opus also has a great app to change settings. To me the Stomp wasn’t quite enough but the LT/Floor was too much, so this was a good middle ground. I have them mounted on a Pedal Train JR. I’m quite happy with this combination!

 

[SteveC]

Quad cortex. All day. Every day.
Helix is good, I wouldn’t go less than the LT.

I’ve heard some not great things about the QC. Power issues? Noise? You have to love the touch screen interface.