My preamp journey

[moon-bass]

Are the number of effects & features the same or at least equivalent to what is available in the HXS? Or does one have more to offer than the other?

I am intrigued by the better/easier UI of the Headrush system.

Since I am Linux only, I don't know if I can run HX Edit, so I would be interested in a system that is fully functional without a laptop/pc nearby.

Look at us, a bunch of IT guys!

My take on the two after a short bit - model/amp/effects offering wise, the HXS is definitely way more useful - more bass amp models, more bass useful effects, etc. It's honestly not even close.

Tone wise - it's a tie. Gun to my head, when doing like for like, I think the Helix sounds slightly better - but TBH, it's very, very close. The Headrush though it has way more options for the models that it has, but the HX just nails every single tone.

Ease of use? The HR wins by a lot. You kinda nailed it - you really need a laptop to take full advantage of the Helix, at least IMO/E. Now the downside to the HR is that there is no editing interface on a PC, so you have to do everything on the box itself, which some people may not like. But for me, I far prefer the UI of the Headrush, so much so that I am seriously looking at a Quad Cortex - which is supposed to be even better.

One note about the HX Stomp XL - it's very giggable. The additional footswitches are VERY handy. But again, that takes going into a PC or navigating menus on the screen to set up. It's very powerful for those that want to go that route, but I'm willing to forsake the additional footswitches for that touch screen.

 

[moon-bass]

I switched back to pedals because I like pedals more. Has my tone improved?
You ask me, I say yeah! In spades!

You got that right! The HR won't replace my main board, but it's gonna be a helluvan improvement for gigging.

 

[Mr_McBride]

Look at us, a bunch of IT guys!

My take on the two after a short bit - model/amp/effects offering wise, the HXS is definitely way more useful - more bass amp models, more bass useful effects, etc. It's honestly not even close.

Tone wise - it's a tie. Gun to my head, when doing like for like, I think the Helix sounds slightly better - but TBH, it's very, very close. The Headrush though it has way more options for the models that it has, but the HX just nails every single tone.

Ease of use? The HR wins by a lot. You kinda nailed it - you really need a laptop to take full advantage of the Helix, at least IMO/E. Now the downside to the HR is that there is no editing interface on a PC, so you have to do everything on the box itself, which some people may not like. But for me, I far prefer the UI of the Headrush, so much so that I am seriously looking at a Quad Cortex - which is supposed to be even better.

One note about the HX Stomp XL - it's very giggable. The additional footswitches are VERY handy. But again, that takes going into a PC or navigating menus on the screen to set up. It's very powerful for those that want to go that route, but I'm willing to forsake the additional footswitches for that touch screen.

Hey, we need money for toys and IT pays in spades.

The rest of your post was not very helpful. You weren't able to sway me either way. Seems like good features on both sides. I do hope to see more effects, amps, cabs, etc in the HR in the future.

I have not used either one, but I think I could be happy with either. I think most of what I would need from a digital box would mostly be one-time up front work. Once I find a tone I like, I'd most likely stick with it. Having a couple of effect that could be enabled/disabled might come in handy, though.

 

[moon-bass]

The story of our lives....

I think, for me, an advantage of the digital box is the ability to create presets for each bass. Like others here, I play active & passive basses and the digital box provides an added benefit of being able to create a preset that volume & EQ matches each bass, so to speak.

I will likely end up with a digital box at some point, but I do have pedals that I don't think a digital box will be able to *knock* off my pedal board. Off the top of my head, those pedals would be the Cali76 cb & the SushiBoxFx Neptunium. The SushiBoxFx Elementary may say as well. The rest is up in the air.

One thing I am missing right is the ability to surgically sculpt my tone, by that I mean that the Empress ParaEQ Deluxe is on my short list, but I don't know how this pedal compares with the EQ functionality of any of the digital boxes. More research is needed.

Yeah, I mean if I look at it, a lot of that is what I did with my analog boards. They are set up so I can easily switch basses, go from fretted to fretless, slap to smooth, beefy to distorted. The modellers get me there, but with some compromises. And even then, it's like you said - there are some pedals that it won't knock off my board, and they all sound better after going thru a Sushibox Finally.

Oh, and EQ wise - the EQ options and sound on the Helix and the HR are nothing short of outstanding. 10 band graphics, as many parametrics that you like, LPF/HPF, shelving ... I think you'll be happy

 

[Mr_McBride]

Yeah, I mean if I look at it, a lot of that is what I did with my analog boards. They are set up so I can easily switch basses, go from fretted to fretless, slap to smooth, beefy to distorted. The modellers get me there, but with some compromises. And even then, it's like you said - there are some pedals that it won't knock off my board, and they all sound better after going thru a Sushibox Finally.

Oh, and EQ wise - the EQ options and sound on the Helix and the HR are nothing short of outstanding. 10 band graphics, as many parametrics that you like, LPF/HPF, shelving ... I think you'll be happy

Thanks for sharing that last point.


<moves budget for Empress ParaEQ to HXS>

 

[el murdoque]

One thing about the HR Gigboard / Prime:
you can enter edit mode via Footswitch. Then the little screens above the footswitches display the names of the knobs and switches on the pedal you're editing and the expression pedal controls the value.

It really is possible to realize mid song that the drive on the dirt pedal is a little bit too low, enter the edit mode, select the drive knob, increase it a bit via the expression pedal and exit edit mode. It's literaly three or four button presses and one sweep of the exp pedal, done in five seconds without bending down or loosing a beat.

 

[el murdoque]

Look at us, a bunch of IT guys!

I thought this was a place for pedal nerds. Turned out there are also normal nerds present.

 

[moon-bass]

The rest of your post was not very helpful. You weren't able to sway me either way. Seems like good features on both sides. I do hope to see more effects, amps, cabs, etc in the HR in the future

LOL. I think it boils down to this - if I didn't have to change things on the fly, I'd go with the XL Stomp. It's more gigable, it's smaller/more portable, it has more assignable footswitches, and more models that pertain to bass. If someone is comfortable with menus and knobs as opposed to the touch screen and they are willing to put some time into learning it and getting used to the interface, the Helix series is awesome, especially with the Stomp XL and the extra button.

If ease of use, short learning curve, and editing on the fly is more important, the Headrush wins.

I have a (mostly irrational) fear of getting to a gig and finding out that I have to tweak a bunch of settings quickly and then fumbling through the interface while the band waits for me - or worse - mid song. Or that I set up this great new sound in my music room but it sounds awful live, or that I forgot to assign a footswitch to an effect and now it won't turn off .... That's one of the reasons why I find the HR so appealing. It's a compromise tho, as I need to get creative with only 4 foot switches on the HR.

And here's the rub with the digital stuff - the more that I use it, the more that I WANT to use it, dig? It's a blast trying out new effects and amp models - hell, quite a few of the guitar amp models on the HR are VERY useable for bass, with a little tweaking. I'd imagine the same for the HXSXL.

 

[moon-bass]

Here's the HR vs the Stomp XL, for size comparison purposes. Ignore the dog paw.

The Stomp is less than half the size. I also just realized that the HR won't fit in my Tick, so I'll have to find a separate bag for it.

 

[moon-bass]

One thing about the HR Gigboard / Prime:
you can enter edit mode via Footswitch. Then the little screens above the footswitches display the names of the knobs and switches on the pedal you're editing and the expression pedal controls the value.

It really is possible to realize mid song that the drive on the dirt pedal is a little bit too low, enter the edit mode, select the drive knob, increase it a bit via the expression pedal and exit edit mode. It's literaly three or four button presses and one sweep of the exp pedal, done in five seconds without bending down or loosing a beat.

Awesome and thanks for the tip! This is what I'm talkin' about

 

[moon-bass]

I thought this was a place for pedal nerds. Turned out there are also normal nerds present.

Proud nerd/geek all my life! It's led to so many good things in my life - it's how I met my wife (she is also a nerd and works in IT), how I ended up in New Orleans, and how I can afford so much awesome gear

 

[el murdoque]

Proud nerd/geek all my life! It's led to so many good things in my life - it's how I met my wife (she is also a nerd and works in IT), how I ended up in New Orleans, and how I can afford so much awesome gear

Yeah, the cool kids make do with a P-Bass straight into the amp.
They don't need nerd-level income to feed their addiction hobby.

 

[moon-bass]

Yeah, the cool kids make do with a P-Bass straight into the amp.
They don't need nerd-level income to feed their addiction hobby.

Hey! I can quit any time I want, I just don't WANT to!

 

[el murdoque]

Hey! I can quit any time I want, I just don't WANT to!

Same here my friend, same here.

 

[Mr_McBride]

LOL. I think it boils down to this - if I didn't have to change things on the fly, I'd go with the XL Stomp. It's more gigable, it's smaller/more portable, it has more assignable footswitches, and more models that pertain to bass. If someone is comfortable with menus and knobs as opposed to the touch screen and they are willing to put some time into learning it and getting used to the interface, the Helix series is awesome, especially with the Stomp XL and the extra button.

If ease of use, short learning curve, and editing on the fly is more important, the Headrush wins.

I have a (mostly irrational) fear of getting to a gig and finding out that I have to tweak a bunch of settings quickly and then fumbling through the interface while the band waits for me - or worse - mid song. Or that I set up this great new sound in my music room but it sounds awful live, or that I forgot to assign a footswitch to an effect and now it won't turn off .... That's one of the reasons why I find the HR so appealing. It's a compromise tho, as I need to get creative with only 4 foot switches on the HR.

And here's the rub with the digital stuff - the more that I use it, the more that I WANT to use it, dig? It's a blast trying out new effects and amp models - hell, quite a few of the guitar amp models on the HR are VERY useable for bass, with a little tweaking. I'd imagine the same for the HXSXL.

Good post.

I'm still on the fence. If I got Stomp, it will be the HXS due to that smaller footprint. I can add extra buttons and will have a smaller foot print than the XL.

I know I am taking the long road here, but I am going to stick with pedals until I get my tone to where I want it to be (never-ending, I know), then I will have a reference point from which to begin emulating digitally. So, I'll end up digging the same hole as everyone else.


Sometimes it's all about the journey, not just the destination.

 

[Mr_McBride]

Here's the HR vs the Stomp XL, for size comparison purposes. Ignore the dog paw.

The Stomp is less than half the size. I also just realized that the HR won't fit in my Tick, so I'll have to find a separate bag for it.

View attachment 6984995

Wow, I didn't realize how big the HR was. That will definitely affect my decision.

Yeah, the cool kids make do with a P-Bass straight into the amp.
They don't need nerd-level income to feed their addiction hobby.

I have a p-bass, sort of. It's an FSO, but with 5 strings. It is my only passive bass. I am really wanting a passive 5 string j-bass, though. Although, I'll have to find a company that makes one that I can get along with. I'm picky.

Gotta get rid of some basses though. I'm up to 7 now.

 

[moon-bass]

Good post.

I'm still on the fence. If I got Stomp, it will be the HXS due to that smaller footprint. I can add extra buttons and will have a smaller foot print than the XL.

I know I am taking the long road here, but I am going to stick with pedals until I get my tone to where I want it to be (never-ending, I know), then I will have a reference point from which to begin emulating digitally. So, I'll end up digging the same hole as everyone else.


Sometimes it's all about the journey, not just the destination.

I mean, this thread is all about the journey, and it's been a blast

And I forgot that you could add extra buttons to the HXS - good call!

 

[moon-bass]

Gotta get rid of some basses though. I'm up to 7 now.

I think the market is soft right now. I've had a few basses for sale for awhile at what I think are good prices. I'm making a real attempt at thinning the herd. After I get back from an upcoming trip, I'm going to be posting a few more up for sale and most likely more pedals. I figure I'll let the honeymoon period wear off on the HR before I make any rash decisions.

I kinda took the same approach to basses as I did pedals - I wanted to try them all, so I bought and sold a ton over the years. At the highest, I owned around 70 basses, I've easily bought and sold 300 or so in my time, probably more ... I'm down to ~40 right now, and my immediate goal is to get down to 30, then 25 ...

 

[moon-bass]

And it always goes without saying, but I'm going to say it anyways - HMU if there's anything that I'll be selling that you're interested in.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Well as UNIX INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIALIST/SR. UNIX SYSTEMS ADMINISTRATOR. I missed out on the CloudStrike all night all day party.

Security in the IT world relies heavily on 3rd party software run in the infamously touted Cloud. Solar Winds, & Splunk have had days like CloudStrike is having today. Developers look for short cuts galore today just proves it. This is wake call for all CIO, CTO, etc. Stop letting 3rd party push updates to your production environments freely untested in lower environments. This exposed how easily it can be bring down global infrastructures.