If you don't need the dual paths the pod go makes the most sense as a all in one device otherwise I'd get the stomp xl
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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison
- Thread starter chadhargis
- Start date
First time playing out with the Khan this morning. Running the HX Stomp using the SVT amp sim into the Khan.
Unsolicited, the FOH engineer says, “What did you change? That’s the best your bass has ever sounded.” I told him it was the Kahn tube DI which is similar to something like the REDDI. He said, “I love the REDDI, but whatever your using keep using it”
Unsolicited, the FOH engineer says, “What did you change? That’s the best your bass has ever sounded.” I told him it was the Kahn tube DI which is similar to something like the REDDI. He said, “I love the REDDI, but whatever your using keep using it”
Just curious, are you running your Stomp as “Instrument” out or “Line” out in global settings into your Khan? Any output boosts at the end/output block of your preset or are you at +0? Are you running your Khan with the Pad -6db on or off? Reason I ask, every now and then I seem to get some unwanted overdrive from my path and am trying to troubleshoot where the extra gain is coming from. Thanks!
@SteveC Woowwwwwww... Getting rid of the REDDI?! I definitely would have lost money if I were a betting man. I didn't think you'd ever get rid of it, given the love you've shown for it throughout this thread!
I got my Stomp a couple years before the XL came out, and later added an external dual footswitch... then upgraded to a Morningstar MC6 and quickly figured out that the MC6 can do significantly more than the Stomp footswitches, so I've never had any desire to move to the Stomp XL. It's about what you need/want though. It sounds like a Morningstar may be quite a bit more than you'd need/use, but it does also sound like you'd rely heavily on the parallel path option. The XL would probably fit your needs and also meet the desire for an all-in-one unit without overly complicating things.
This has come in as a handy feature for me as well. We ran charts in a 14-piece horn band, I used ForScore on my iPad that allowed me to program in MIDI commands. Changing charts would automatically change up my board. I also had a bluetooth page turner, so I didn't even have to touch my board OR my iPad. I'm a nerd.
5sg.
I got my Stomp a couple years before the XL came out, and later added an external dual footswitch... then upgraded to a Morningstar MC6 and quickly figured out that the MC6 can do significantly more than the Stomp footswitches, so I've never had any desire to move to the Stomp XL. It's about what you need/want though. It sounds like a Morningstar may be quite a bit more than you'd need/use, but it does also sound like you'd rely heavily on the parallel path option. The XL would probably fit your needs and also meet the desire for an all-in-one unit without overly complicating things.
This has come in as a handy feature for me as well. We ran charts in a 14-piece horn band, I used ForScore on my iPad that allowed me to program in MIDI commands. Changing charts would automatically change up my board. I also had a bluetooth page turner, so I didn't even have to touch my board OR my iPad. I'm a nerd.
5sg.
Yeah, right now I’m thinking XL.
As for the REDDI, I still love it. I debated using it with the Stomp, but that kind of defeats my intent to downsize, get to a more minimal rig.
- 2 basses - passive P active 5
- a small board/unit for DI/IEM gigs which are my bread and butter
- my Genzler MG350/112 combo when I need an amp
As for the REDDI, I still love it. I debated using it with the Stomp, but that kind of defeats my intent to downsize, get to a more minimal rig.
- 2 basses - passive P active 5
- a small board/unit for DI/IEM gigs which are my bread and butter
- my Genzler MG350/112 combo when I need an amp
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I’m running line out with no boosts on the output block. The Khan pad is off.
I don’t get any unwanted effects from it. I’m t is a hot output, but the HXS has a volume knob so I can always dial it back.
The more I use/hear myself via a Stomp, the more I don’t really miss my analog rig - tubes and all.
With you, Steve! I think if you only know a little bit about the stomps feature set and capabilities, the analog stuff still has more appeal, but if you invest the time to really dig in to some settings, especially with preamps, EQ, saturation, etc., you really can replicate just about anything for a studio quality core sound on the stomp!
Same boat here. Love my HX Stomp. Even sold my Pod Go because it was redundant. I continue to get positive feedback on my tone.
I’m going to use my sons Pod Go next weekend and see how it goes. I made a couple presets to try. I don’t have the opportunity to workout the IEM part so I’ll use my Rolls, but eventually I may try to add that variable as well.
What would you recommend for those of us who are intrigued by the Stomp, but like the simplicity of an analog stomp box setup (click this on, click that off) and don’t want to become a serious Helix programmer?
I’m not a huge fan of most of the factory bass presets. I would also like the ability to switch specific effects on and off with a stomp button.
Should I look at purchasing some premade patches? Wish the Helix app had a plug-in play settings / patches for “Stevie Wonder’s left hand”, “Parliment bass tone”, or even something like “For the love of money” sound. My old Boss multieffects has those kinds of options, but with crappy fidelity. Are there options like this on the Stomp that I’m missing?
I’m not a huge fan of most of the factory bass presets. I would also like the ability to switch specific effects on and off with a stomp button.
Should I look at purchasing some premade patches? Wish the Helix app had a plug-in play settings / patches for “Stevie Wonder’s left hand”, “Parliment bass tone”, or even something like “For the love of money” sound. My old Boss multieffects has those kinds of options, but with crappy fidelity. Are there options like this on the Stomp that I’m missing?
jacoby75
Supporting Member
- Mar 11, 2010
- 5,661
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- Endorsing Artist: Mike Lull Custom Guitars, DR Strings
As a rabid Broughton fanboi for a few years (and I still am), I swore up and down by my ginormous analog pedalboard. I didn't believe for a second that the Stomp could ever replace my analog setup. But it actually has replaced a great deal of it. It has not replaced many of the Broughtons, mind you, nor can it. But most of the other stuff and a handful of Broughtons have been replaced, which for me is quite a statement.
The Stomp wasn't terribly easy to dial in, and I'm still figuring it out. I have seriously aggravated my tinnitus from sitting and tweaking for hours on end. I have a few great core tones that I've dialed in, but there are so many options at times it is a bit overwhelming. I don't even want to think about all of the time I've spent trying to craft a good crossover distortion or fuzz patch.
I have not purchased any presets, but am still considering it. The factory presets are awful, IMHO. You will learn a great deal from downloading other people's patches and seeing how they create a patch, or watching videos on Youtube of how people create bass patches. The first thing I did was got presets from another Talkbass member to get me started. I didn't use any of his stuff as is, but many of them were a great starting point to help me learn how to dial things in. Dr. Tone also has some great free presets available which will cue you in on how to do some things. A lot of his stuff seems geared towards Billy Sheehan dual-pickup bass tones. I haven't really been able to get much out of it with my own setup. But again, it showed me how presets can be created. I can't really wrap my head around his stuff. A lot of his tone seems to come from compression and EQ's, as opposed to cab sims, for example. Which blows my mind. It's a whole other way of thinking of things. In his demo videos on his site, his stuff sounds awesome. But it does not sound like that with my bass and setup. But again, there were some great starting points in there, and they might work great for you as is. I also got some halfway decent tones from the Custom Tone community on the Line6 website. They have all required tweaking to be usable for me, but there are some great starting points out there.
But most people probably would not do what I have done. My three core tones are a Sunn, Fender, and Ampeg SVT CL. But I'm an Ampeg guy at heart, so each patch has a fairly similarly dialed in Ampeg SVT4-Pro feeding the other amp(s). It's unorthodox, to be sure, but I really love it. the SVT4-Pro is what has taken the place, mostly, of my Broughton SVPre, which was otherwise always on in my analog setup. And even that was feeding another SVT sim with a Mesa 8x10 cab sim at the end.
For the overwhelming majority of the time, most of the tones I've downloaded from others . . . not to mention the factory presets . . . did not sound very good in my setup and required at least some tweaking. But I take what they offer, and incorporate it into the sound I'm looking for, add some cab sims from Shift Line's bass IR pack, and I'm off and running. Now I'm down to just a handful of Broughtons and other things and the Stomp. And my lower back couldn't be happier.
That being said, I'm also not someone who incorporates a ton of different tones in any given set. I find one great core sound and stick with, then add some drive on occasion, maybe some octave, maybe both, maybe some chorus, or all of the above. And the Stomp has plenty of options for those things to keep you happy for a very long time.
The HX Stomp and the Pod Go, using the same settings....sound identical. If you like the HX Stomp, you'll love the Pod Go.
I didn't spend a great deal of time dialing everything in. I basically treated the amp sim in the HX Stomp just as I would the actual amp. Just because you can do EQs, split paths, etc.....doesn't mean you have to. My most used preset is just the SVT emulation running with the bass "knob" turned up a good deal, a slight mid bump in "Position 2", and flat treble. That's about it. I don't run any EQ or other trickery. I do have an outboard compressor that I run in the FX loop, but that's it.
I also run a HPF and LPF set at 30hz and 6k respectively as a global EQ setting for all patches.
I haven’t used effects forever. I use an Empress EQ and Comp and a REDDI. Sounds amazing. HXS can’t compete with that. But…
…the HXS comes close. Close enough for live. I have a gig next weekend and I think I’m going to bring my sons Pod Go. I did a basic comp/SVT 4 patch. Chorus. Drive. Filter. Going to see if anyone even notices that I use effects or if they really make a difference live.
Then I’ll have some decisions to make. Keep what I have. Go all in for effects. Go all in for an all in one but not worry about effects and make size the deciding factor.
…the HXS comes close. Close enough for live. I have a gig next weekend and I think I’m going to bring my sons Pod Go. I did a basic comp/SVT 4 patch. Chorus. Drive. Filter. Going to see if anyone even notices that I use effects or if they really make a difference live.
Then I’ll have some decisions to make. Keep what I have. Go all in for effects. Go all in for an all in one but not worry about effects and make size the deciding factor.
I’ve got a *ton* of analog and tube pedals. I’ve got 2 amazing pedalboards put together.
They don’t leave the house for gigs anymore.
My Helix Floor sounds so stupid good, does everything I could ever want, and I don’t have to worry about knobs accidentally getting turned in transit.
Plus, if I decide I want a new sound, or just get bored with my current presets, I can sit down with my laptop and come up with a whole new “rig”.
If I were you, I’d go with the XL. I think you’ll be glad to have the extra switches.
Yeah, I haven’t used my REDDI for a while. No one really misses it. (I do love the Empress Compressor and the new Empress Para EQ Deluxe with the REDDI but it’s a lot of expensive stuff and lots of knobs.) I was thinking XL but I think I’d probably just go Stomp, put it on my Nano with my tuner, my Rolls for my IEM’s and be set. I think if I had a good basic preset (been using the SVTPro4) and 3 foot switches for 3 effects (more than I’ve used in years) I’d probably be set.
I’ll use my synth for synth (as you just can’t quite get the sustain thing of a keyboard with a bass) so I don’t feel like I’d need lots of presets per gig, like I said above.
And like you said, if you want to change it up, you easily can. If my REDDI would sell, I’d be all set.
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