Line 6 Helix vs. Helix LT vs. Stomp XL

[_godspeed_]

For me, HX Stomp was an entry into the world of Helix. I found 3 footswitches very limiting. I thought about adding another 2-button switch, but that would mean putting it on some sort of a board, etc. Also, it was quite hard to edit presets without using the computer. In the end, I ended up trading Stomp for LT with only $150 on my side! Couldn't be happier - much easier to edit and navigate plus additional DSP is always a bonus!

 

[4Mal]

I want a Helix, but have decided to wait just a bit. The Helix is 6 1/2 years old and NAMM is coming up shortly. I'm betting a Helix 2 will be announced.

That is not a bad idea.

NAMM.... Not available. Maybe May... which this year means Dec 2022 ;-)

FWIW - I just moved from a Stomp XL back to a Stomp for the size factor. I also have morningstar MC-6 on bord as well as a Future Impact in the Stomp EFX Loop. It just made more sense to me to utilize the MC-6 more.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

NAMM.... Not available. Maybe May... which this year means Dec 2022 ;-)

Yeah, I forgot there is no Winter NAMM when I typed that earlier. I still think there is something coming. They dropped the price of the Helix $200 when everything else is going up, up, up in price. Could also possibly be a play against the Quad Cortex. The Quad Cortex look interesting but the Helix has the mature offering of models and you can get a Helix.

 

[_godspeed_]

At this point, I'm not sure what kind of advanced modeling Helix 2 will have. Current Helix will probably cover all of my needs for years and years to come both for bass and guitar

 

[SLPimp]

Considering they just upgrade firmware, the new stuff will last awhile without having to buy a new gen unit. At least until internal storage runs out?


I just grabbed an HX Effects to replace my POD GO. I liked the PG, but I had a pedalboard lying around and wanted to build it out.

 

[promdates]

To quote one of the helix devs:

Which is what I've been saying for over a year now. It also may not even be a multieffects. It may not even be guitar-centric. It may not even be hardware. It very well could receive a :mobrule: from TGP. All I'll say is that if someone's sitting around waiting on a new Helix, they're gonna be waiting a LOOONG time. We have 3.15 locked down, 3.20 all but figured out, and are pretty sure what'll be in 3.30.

Marcus came into my office years ago and casually slipped that we could've easily patented a few things from Helix, but the 12-months-after-shipping-product deadline had passed. Bummer. So we have plenty of time.

They even said that LT is *years* away from being discontinued.

 

[Striver]

snipped...
FWIW - I just moved from a Stomp XL back to a Stomp for the size factor. I also have morningstar MC-6 on bord...snipped

Having had the XL, do you find the standard Stomp/MC-6 combination more "powerful" than the Stomp XL in any way? The MC-6 doesn't have the lighted capacitive footswitches, but it would seem MC-6 programming is capable of functions the Stomp XL might not have.

 

[jbybj]

My relationship with pedals is comparable to King Henry VIII and wives. After a few month honeymoon period, I get bored or want the pedal to sound different than it does. For these reasons, I'm considering jumping into the world of multi-effects, specifically Line 6 for their frequent updates and almost endless supply of pedal options.

I most likely won't use all of the features of the flagship Helix but I also don't want to buy a Stomp XL or LT and later wish I would have ponied up for the flagship. I did briefly own the original Stomp and hated only having three buttons.

For those of you have that have the Stomp XL or LT, do you feel like you are missing anything or feel limited in what you can do with the pedal? Are only eight blocks enough on the Stomp XL? Is the flagship more intuitive to use and adjust? Is the flagship overkill for someone that doesn't need all of the features? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

You left out my favorite form factor of the Helix line, the HX Effects. For me, the I/O options, 8 switches, and scribble strips, in such a small footprint make it a winner. Just looking at a Stomp triggers nightmares from using my Zoom MS-60B

 

[Ryan L.]

You left out my favorite form factor of the Helix line, the HX Effects. For me, the I/O options, 8 switches, and scribble strips, in such a small footprint make it a winner. Just looking at a Stomp triggers nightmares from using my Zoom MS-60B

As long as the amp/cab sims aren't needed, the HX Effects is a great choice. I had one on my gigging board for a couple years, and loved it. I later added a Stomp when we went ampless on stage, so I basically had a modular Helix.

I've since moved on to the Helix Floor, with a few outboard pedals.

 

[iTzPrime]

I want a Helix, but have decided to wait just a bit. The Helix is 6 1/2 years old and NAMM is coming up shortly. I'm betting a Helix 2 will be announced.

They update things through software now. THe helix is nothing more than a computer with software slapped on top. Helix 2 might have more processing power, but the functionality will be the same. Kemper does the same thing. They release newer models, but functionality is the same.

 

[Skybone]

I use a POD GO. Not as fancy, but same effects and patches, with a pedal.

Downside is you MUST have an amp and cab in your chain (along with a wah and volume) which takes up unnecessary space. But cheap...

Bizarrely, I quite like the limitations of the POD Go. It makes you think about what you actually need, rather than just piling unnecessary stuff into a patch/preset.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

They update things through software now. THe helix is nothing more than a computer with software slapped on top. Helix 2 might have more processing power, but the functionality will be the same. Kemper does the same thing. They release newer models, but functionality is the same.

I maxed out the processor on a Helix when I had one 3-4 years ago. The SHARC chip that they're using and the platform are both over 7 years old now. The Helix is also missing capture capabilities that the other players now have. The Helix isn't obsolete, but it's getting close. Six to seven years is a typical lifetime for a hardware platform. The PS5 didn't make my PS4 obsolete, but I wouldn't buy a PS4 six years after it was released knowing that the PS5 is on its way.

 

[4Mal]

Having had the XL, do you find the standard Stomp/MC-6 combination more "powerful" than the Stomp XL in any way? The MC-6 doesn't have the lighted capacitive footswitches, but it would seem MC-6 programming is capable of functions the Stomp XL might not have.

More powerful... maybe not. Easier to program ? Absolutely. Truth is I'm not fully tapping midi. My needs are more simple so I might not be the best to answer that. The MC6 makes controlling my other midi pedal, A Future Impact a breeze. It can also control functions on the HX so I pretty much ignore my HX bottons.

 

[SLPimp]

Well, if anyone's needs are simple enough to use a POD GO PM me. Mines on the market after building out a board based around the HX Effects.

 

[Bassiclees]

Another Pod GO adherent here. I've an unduly large pedalboard which goes into the LittleMarkIII/810 but my PodGO which goes into my practice combos (Rumble or Ampeg depending on the room) is about 110% of what I usually need. Filled with some tasty Choptones IR's, I find the PodGO is superb for all my sound modeling needs and I, like others previously mentioned, appreciate it's limitations. The sound quality of it is excellent and the functionality is really really well laid out.