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Helix Stomp or individual pedals

Tonecaster

Tonecaster

Dec 10, 2011
523
841
Carlsbad, CA
#1
Hey There!
Sorry that this has been asked before, but looking for up to date thoughts & opinions.
I play in a cover band. A small number of songs (e.g.: Love of Money, etc...), need effects. Generally don't use them on my own, or sparingly if so...
Would need to cover:
Chorus, Octave, Envelope, Synth, Reverb/Echo, Dist/Fuzz.
I'm tech savvy, so no issues programming the Helix. That said, I'm a KISS kind of guy. Price not really a concern
Thoughts?
Thanks in advance!
All The Best,
Ed
 
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#3
john hennessy said:
One good multi fx pedal is even more “KISS” than a board. My standard helix patches for bass are usually dead simple and 2-3 blocks like eq/comp/amp+cab, which leaves plenty of room for whatever one off effects a song might need.
Click to expand...
Hey John,
Thanks for taking the time to reply!
So, it seems that I'd be able to create one patch for each song if I'm correct? That would save stepping on separate pedals and occasionally bending down to tweak for a specific song...
Also, how are the synth sounds?
Any thoughts on whether the XL is worth the extra money?
Thanks,
Ed
 
#5
Tonecaster said:
Hey John,
Thanks for taking the time to reply!
So, it seems that I'd be able to create one patch for each song if I'm correct? That would save stepping on separate pedals and occasionally bending down to tweak for a specific song...
Also, how are the synth sounds?
Any thoughts on whether the XL is worth the extra money?
Thanks,
Ed
Click to expand...

1 patch per song is a good idea. If you do this on a stomp, it would make sense to 2 footswitches for navigating the patches and 1 for the tuner (can add 2 more with an external footswitch). On an XL, you will have more footswitches to toggle effects on/off or change parameters within each patch. For this reason i’d go XL

Synth sounds are quite good, don’t be afraid to use the “legacy” models too. They’re DSP intensive so you won’t be able to run crazy reverb/delays/etc with them, but in the realm of a cover band you shouldn’t come close to bumping up against those limits
 
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#7
john hennessy said:
1 patch per song is a good idea. If you do this on a stomp, it would make sense to 2 footswitches for navigating the patches and 1 for the tuner (can add 2 more with an external footswitch). On an XL, you will have more footswitches to toggle effects on/off or change parameters within each patch. For this reason i’d go XL

Synth sounds are quite good, don’t be afraid to use the “legacy” models too. They’re DSP intensive so you won’t be able to run crazy reverb/delays/etc with them, but in the realm of a cover band you shouldn’t come close to bumping up against those limits
Click to expand...
Thanks John,
Your explanation is perfect! Thanks again!
Ed
 
#8
Dabndug said:
The all-in-one nature if the Helix is brilliant. The only downside is being tempted down the rabbit-hole of alternative amp/cab/fx models and setting tweaks. You can lose entire weekends that way.
Click to expand...
Thanks Dabndug,
The "rabbit-hole" is always an issue with me, ("wait maybe just one more chorus...").
I'll be mindful of falling into it.
Thanks for the heads-up!
Ed
 
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#11
The issue is how the user interface works with the way your band does things, and how particular you are about a certain kind of effect.

Some of us, it takes a lifetime to find the right overdrive pedal - I can't see ever having an all in one box that has models that fulfill all my pickiness about even a few effects. I had a Source audio Aftershock, and despite it having a lot of models to work with, none of them were ever my thing. So, trying to do an all in one with overdrive, chorus, octave, and maybe another effect or two as needed - probably never gonna be really happy with that.

If I were touring (playing the same set list with the same musicians every night) I can see having everything pre-programmed song by song as an advantage.

But I don't tour - I play church gigs - every weekend is a different set, and even when I'm playing the same song, I have no idea how things are going to go - different lead singers, different keys, different musicians, different vibes - flexibility is key. For me, in that situation, having a few well chosen pedals, with on off switches is simple, intuitive, and flexible.
 
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#13
micguy said:
The issue is how the user interface works with the way your band does things, and how particular you are about a certain kind of effect.

Some of us, it takes a lifetime to find the right overdrive pedal - I can't see ever having an all in one box that has models that fulfill all my pickiness about even a few effects. I had a Source audio Aftershock, and despite it having a lot of models to work with, none of them were ever my thing. So, trying to do an all in one with overdrive, chorus, octave, and maybe another effect or two as needed - probably never gonna be really happy with that.

If I were touring (playing the same set list with the same musicians every night) I can see having everything pre-programmed song by song as an advantage.

But I don't tour - I play church gigs - every weekend is a different set, and even when I'm playing the same song, I have no idea how things are going to go - different lead singers, different keys, different musicians, different vibes - flexibility is key. For me, in that situation, having a few well chosen pedals, with on off switches is simple, intuitive, and flexible.
Click to expand...
Hey Micguy,
Thanks for your thoughts!
What you describe is about what it for. The same set, more or less each night.
At this stage, I'm OK with 90% of my dream sound. The venues are always different, so the sound changes anyway.
I do a worship gig each Sunday as well, but only use my tuner for that.
Thanks again!
Ed
 
#15
A used Zoom B3n would be an inexpensive way to try out the concept. Maybe $125 used, less than one pedal.

The bottom three switches make navigating patches or tuning easy. They also scroll across the patch “pedal board” you created. Keep the three you need to switch on and off in view, leave the always on hidden.

Just a few patches would be enough, unless you really like organizing to the last degree. A patch for every song? I’d never get that far.

I’ve bought and sold dozens of pedals. Power sources, batteries, cables, Xpresion pedals, more cables….hiss, hum, bad cables, it was a never ending rabbit hole.

Today’s multi fx are huge bang for the buck. Sit at your computer and tweak away, no groveling on the floor over a tangle of expensive boxes.

And that used Zoom will also have a usable looper, usb interface, beats (that synch with the looper) and great headphone sound. The Swiss Army knife for bass.

I’m firmly in the multi camp. Buy used and your dough goes twice as far.
 
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#16
singlemalt said:
A used Zoom B3n would be an inexpensive way to try out the concept. Maybe $125 used, less than one pedal.

The bottom three switches make navigating patches or tuning easy. They also scroll across the patch “pedal board” you created. Keep the three you need to switch on and off in view, leave the always on hidden.

Just a few patches would be enough, unless you really like organizing to the last degree. A patch for every song? I’d never get that far.

I’ve bought and sold dozens of pedals. Power sources, batteries, cables, Xpresion pedals, more cables….hiss, hum, bad cables, it was a never ending rabbit hole.

Today’s multi fx are huge bang for the buck. Sit at your computer and tweak away, no groveling on the floor over a tangle of expensive boxes.

And that used Zoom will also have a usable looper, usb interface, beats (that synch with the looper) and great headphone sound. The Swiss Army knife for bass.

I’m firmly in the multi camp. Buy used and your dough goes twice as far.
Click to expand...
Hey SingleMalt, (my fav)
That's kind of along with what I'm thinking. If I used individual pedals, I'd have to make tic marks for different songs/settings and remember it. If we go to "for love of money" by the O'Jay's, I only have to hit one or two buttons.
Also, being able to tweak it at home and not waste band time is nice...
Thanks!
Ed
 
#18
Not necessarily in line with the rest of this thread…

I did a hybrid approach with my Boss Core. Had a few dirts/drives that I liked as their own pedals (sometimes in the effects loops), and a VTDI at the end of the chain. Core was somewhere in the middle.

Depending on the tune, the Core would be completely bypassed, or certain effects mixed in, or the only pedal doing pedal stuff.

All secured to a single board, of course.
 
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