BOSS/Helix/Kemper/etc: Let's talk about MultiFX/Amp Profilers

[Telliot]

Thanks again to everyone for their feedback.

After reading your responses and spending more time diving into this world I've largely ignored, I started leaning more heavily into the Line 6 world and was pleasantly surprised to see so many options and positive reviews online. I watched a TON of head-to-head videos between the Kemper and Helix models and was blown away by the Helix's sound and flexibility. At first it was a bit overwhelming but then I decided I wanted something that would be an 'all in one,' including an expression/volume pedal. (While I don't tend to use expression pedals all that much, I do like to use a volume pedal from time to time, especially when I'm playing lap steel.)

This nudged me towards the 2 larger models, the Floor and LT. There's still a big difference in price between them so I kind of set my sights on the LT, which tends to go for ~$900 used these days (the Floor still tends to be ~$400 more), but today a Floor popped up on Reverb for $1k and free shipping, so I pounced on it. (I guess I ended up with their flagship model after all, even though I'd decided it was more than I needed.)

Even though I prefer the cleaner aesthetic of the more minimal LT, I like the screen-per-button aspect of the Floor (hopefully it will help ease the learning curve a bit), and the audio over USB is huge. I don't know if it will completely void my need for pedals, but I assume it will help with pedal GAS, and the fact it's got cab sims and IR's built into it was imperative in my search. I think this will be a good way for me to expand my studio pallet and workflow moving forward.

In any case, I'm excited about this purchase (seller's photo):

[andy_tchp]

Nice one. I think the larger units are a little easier to use than the ‘Stomp’, but once I figured out the basic functionality I had a new song demo down within an hour - with not just good, but great guitar and bass sounds.

Keen to hear how you get on.

[Telliot]

That makes me super happy to hear! I love that I’ll have bass rigs too. My plan is to create starter patches for my guitars, bass, lap steel, Rhodes, and synths.

[andy_tchp]

That makes me super happy to hear! I love that I’ll have bass rigs too. My plan is to create starter patches for my guitars, bass, lap steel, Rhodes, and synths.

I'm still in shock at the capabilities of these things and home recording in 2023 generally TBH (I mean... 'Drummer' is just worlds ahead of what I thought it could possibly be). I spent most of today dialling in sounds/tracking guitars and bass for what, I guess, will be a new song on my first 'EP' since my aborted second album ended up being scrapped.

I will most likely dry hire a local studio for vocal tracking (this house is not conducive to room treatment or building a vocal booth) as there's one 5 minutes from my work office that I stumbled across the other day.

I've never used a real Ampeg SVT-4 Pro in a real studio setting so I can't speak to whether it sounds 'the same', but does it sound 'good' and usable? Oh, hell yes. Assuredly better than any result coming from me attempting to mic my own amps in what is literally a bedroom.

The guitar amps (particularly the Fender based ones) nail the sound/feel IMHO.

[Telliot]

Oh, man. Drummer has been an absolute lifesaver for people like me who don’t have the capacity to record drums at home. I’m years into using it and still learning new techniques to wring every possible drop of inspiration I can from it. I really hope they expand into other styles of music in upcoming releases; a proper jazz player and kit would be awesome.

It makes me feel much better, reading your experiences with the Line 6 stuff. You’re confirming everything I was hoping to get out of it, and it’s only making me more excited. I’d love to hear your music when you’re ready to share!

[sessylU]

Was at a wedding last night and the band had three helixes between them, and an electric kit. They soundchecked more or less silently with in-ear monitors and sounded terrific.

[BTL]

I think you've sold me on the Helix. I was considering building a pedalboard from scratch, but I think this is just the better way to go for me.

[andy_tchp]

It makes me feel much better, reading your experiences with the Line 6 stuff. You’re confirming everything I was hoping to get out of it, and it’s only making me more excited. I’d love to hear your music when you’re ready to share!

I should point out - the standard amp+cab models did need some attention/tuning, particularly taming of the highs with the 'Hi Cut'; I found some sounded a little... 'hard' (almost that 'direct guitar' feel) around the pick attack whereas I like it fairly mellow (particularly with a Jazzmaster).

So many variables to tweak and I am still wrapping my head around them.

[burpgun]

Looks like Fender's taking direct aim at the Line 6, Fractal and the other modeler folks with a floor unit Tone Master. https://www.gearnews.com/fender-tone-ma ... ix-killer/

[Embenny]

I wondered what took them so long. I owned the excellent Mustang Floor about 8-9 years ago, after being impressed with their Mustang III amp. Its Fender models were great. The high gain models sucked though.

By licensing the 5150, it sounds like they're trying to improve their high gain reputation this time.

Will have to see how it performs. The TM amps won people over by having analog simplicity to them and being 1:1 amp replacements. Once you step into the floor modeler/multiFX arena, people no longer want simplicity. They want accuracy and flexibility. Not sure if Fender will be able to deliver.

I do like the large screen and scribble strips, so at least they appear to have UI at the forefront of their design. My AxeFX is superlative in terms of tone and feel but it's not designed to be edited away from a computer unless you're feeling partocularly masochistic.

[burpgun]

I had one of those early Mustang amps--I think i paid $99 for it--and was surprised at how good it was all things considered. I now have a Super Champ X or whatever it's called and again, the modeling options on it are pretty good for the price. The nice thing about this floor unit is the big screen which I assume makes it easier to program without resorting to plugging it into a computer. I had an HX Stomp for a while and just could not deal with the programming part of the puzzle -- trying to do it on the hardware was no fun at all. I got Native for cheap because I owned that unit and even there I struggle to get decent sounds. We need to see a price on this Fender unit and I wonder how it handles bass stuff.

[N0_Camping4U]

So this is what they were talking about back in January. Interesting. Not sure how I feel, I was hoping for some Brownface Tone Masters! I'm not out on this, seems like it has a lot of potential if the sound is good.

[simonhpieman]

My assessment as a dyed-in-the-wool Helix power user:

Amps: Nearly all Fender (no great surprise) but seriously lacking in variety vs Helix.

Effects: A really good, usable selection. Missing the synth-y generating stuff of the Helix but a really good selection of stomps IMHO

Compressors: No studio compressors like the Helix has, which are really useful as a "mastering effect" at the end of a chain.

Screen: looks really nice but some beer spilled on it and an errant stilleto heel landing on it make me nervous!


As it stands, it's way too expensive for me with not enough variety in amps. Double the number of amp models, with none of the new lot being Fenders, and we might be talking.

Holding out for Helix 2 here, tbh.

[Embenny]

My assessment as a dyed-in-the-wool Helix power user:

Amps: Nearly all Fender (no great surprise) but seriously lacking in variety vs Helix.

Effects: A really good, usable selection. Missing the synth-y generating stuff of the Helix but a really good selection of stomps IMHO

Compressors: No studio compressors like the Helix has, which are really useful as a "mastering effect" at the end of a chain.

Screen: looks really nice but some beer spilled on it and an errant stilleto heel landing on it make me nervous!


As it stands, it's way too expensive for me with not enough variety in amps. Double the number of amp models, with none of the new lot being Fenders, and we might be talking.

Holding out for Helix 2 here, tbh.

Where did you find the list of specific amps and effects? I don't see it in the review or on their web site. Edit: Oh, just noticed the user manual is up on their web site. Yikes. A paltry selection of Mesa/Marshall/others.

I think the Fender combo-looking FRFR speakers are a smart idea, I definitely bought my Mission Engineering Gemini 1 8 years ago because I wanted something traditional-looking.

I just noticed the price. Yeah, that's a hard sell. The Fractal FM9 is the exact same price, includes 3x as many amp models, and has almost as many types of effects blocks as the Fender has of actual effects. I think my list of Chorus options on my AxeFX is similar in number to the Fender unit's total number of effects.

I don't see how that's worth the price vs their competitors. I think they're going to be relying on brand recognition to sell these units. Maybe some people who have been afraid of modelers will be willing to buy it after playing a Tone Master amp. That'll probably be their demographic.

For people wanting a simple but great sounding modeler, they can get a ToneX for like 1/4 of the price. For people wanting a flexible amp and effects platform, Helix and Fractal offer much more for their money.

I think this really needed to be $500 or so cheaper to find its place in the marketplace.

[JSett]

Full list of amps and effetcs