HX Stomp and Powercab 112+: Just 1 Amp?

[@RhettShull]

I think the Stomp is one of, if not the greatest single piece of gear on the guitar market right now.

[@kalkidasofficial]

With the exception of the power adaptor 😂

[@mirkaiser]

I'm in full agreement with Rhett

[@mirkaiser]

@@kalkidasofficial you may want to explore alternative power supplier

[@-JohnGalt-]

Just got one Rhett and I'm loving it.

[@fivewattworld]

Running mine off the Truetone cs6. I simply made a cable to make it work.

[@RickBeato]

The stomp is a great choice. I love the look of that Strandberg tele!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Hypes!

[@robertstan2349]

there's no accounting for taste

[@seenochasm7101]

@@robertstan2349 lmao I felt this to my core. Headless guitars are a thing I’ll never appreciate

[@worshiptutorials]

Stomp (and Helix and now POD Go) are just so good. In a strange swing of the pendulum, playing through these modelers for so long has got me looking into the real amps that I enjoy so much in the modelers. Great video, Keith!

[@BobJones-bh9qz]

Good to see you guys here! Love your patches

[@christopher.hallissy]

Literally looking to sell my Helix to fund a Boogie. I feel the exact same way. The Helix is very nice, but I want the simplicity that a tube amp affords.

[@Stashmanfpv]

@@christopher.hallissyHaha! Me too! I went out an got a Marshall #2204, A Dumble OTS clone and a JTM-45/100 "Experienced clone, and I'm feeling complete. (For now) I just had to have 'em, as they do that magic "Air" from the amp just so well... 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 I'll never part with my modelers, and its nice having a few tube rigs & pedals too, so I dont get stale and feeling that I'm missing something... I'm now covered! At least, I hope I'm covered? Thanks again Keith, for doing these videos for us all. They're Much appreciated! Best! ✌🏼

[@FredrikSorling]

Yep, the better the modellers gets the more gas for the real thing 😂

[@john808welk]

John Cordy is THE man for the stomp. He gets the most inspiring tones out of almost any modeler.

[@BrianVallotton]

He is a very good guitarist as well. I always love to listen to him. I bought his packs for my Pod Go. Now to become a better guitar player!

[@timwhite5562]

Man, that is one of the most tasteful and elegant looking pedalboard ever!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Tim!

[@alexnelson8]

So freaking clean. Great work.

[@docbobster]

I hated that blinking light too, but you can turn it off in the stomp: Global Settings > Displays > Tap LED (toggle it off).

[@DIGITAL7Media]

THIS!

[@blacktoothfox677]

I've settled on you as the BEST guitar related channel on youtube. I share your videos on Facebook & Twitter. The 'history ofs' are of particular interest, even though I'm pretty schooled-up as a player of 30 years, I always get some tidbit from you, and you're a good place to send my students who are getting some of this stuff for the first time; I used you to demonstrate the importance of the Beano album on modern lead guitar. You are a good trustworthy place for young players and old; Your humility of character in a previous comment-thread was a source of great contentment. Too many of us 'experts' are so far up our self-important asses... so much so that I've gotten used to it. Bless you and yours & hope y'all keep from the COVID. Regards, UK

[@blacktoothfox677]

- Much like yourself, I found the modelling route was by far the most practical. I have all-tube Champs for purity, a Deluxe 112 for hi-def super-cleans... But live? I'm locked into the COSM system. I think you have to be very hard-hearted these days to not give credit to the modelling sounds. It blows me away how good pretty much ANY modelling rig is now. I remember when Line 6 was a misery of fizz... But now I find most of the interesting tones in live backlines are coming out of Line 6 stuff. Good point about footswitches; ALWAYS maximise your gear! Eric Clapton once said; "Better to be happy with the gear you've got, than get the gear that makes you happy". Love that.

[@shellbournian]

the addition of the stomp and a guitar with fluence pickups to my collection has completely eliminated my gear anxiety. now the only thing that stops me from making the sound in my head is that I'm not very good at guitar.

[@stanisawpaskowski960]

Just FYI, tuner blinking can be disabled in the settings :)

[@fivewattworld]

I know, but the switch fit perfectly in that spot so...

[@FidelityBassist]

@@fivewattworld there was a time when I added way too many pedals to my board because of that observation as well XD.

[@scottakam]

I've had an HX Stomp for a couple of years and I love it. They main thing I find it lacks is some basic practice tools like a metronome, drum tracks, bluetooth support to play backing tracks etc. I know you can plug those things in but it's an uneeded barrier to practicing. Great take on the Stomp through the 5WW lense.

[@robertw1871]

Most guitar rigs are pretty terrible for playing backing tracks though… I solved the problem you had with a $20 Bluetooth dongle from Amazon that has 1/4 inch output, then use a phone or cheap tablet to play backing tracks, metronome, have sheet music on ext… that Bluetooth dongle lives on my board connected to looper pedal, but you could add it anywhere… it’s super tiny and so cheap you could glue it or double side tape it anywhere… Add a cheap tablet and you’ve got an ultimate rig that does all that stuff and more… I treat the dongle and cheap tablet as part of the board, I don’t use it for anything else, the total cost is the same or less than one good pedal, so it’s economical to dedicate a tablet to your board, you could even Velcro or double side tape the tablet to the board too…

[@JohnShalamskas]

@@robertw1871 And there are drum machine apps for your smart phone.

[@Prettynoise]

Excellent video. I also have the Stormtrooper edition. I had a couple of buddies come over the other day and they wanted to work on a minimal low volume gig. Each of my friends ran into amps set to a very low level, basically the criteria was you had to be able to sing without a mic and be heard properly . I wanted to add an electric element into the mix so I ran my HX stomp into the mixer and used the pa for output. What a fun session it was to take essentially an acoustic gig but have overdrive and effects layering into the mix.

[@mjlettieri]

You rule, Keith! Thanks so much for you incredible demos and for the ML pedal love, dude!

[@fivewattworld]

Love that pedal Mark! Thanks for making them and for taking the time to play them for us.

[@arsafes]

I love the overall concept of your channel so much, Keith! Really enjoying your videos! :)

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

This is the reason why i bought an Axe-Fx III, you've got access to all the gear you could hope for and can recreate any tone or create any tone you wish. Another cool video Keith!

[@JeffHendricks]

The FM3 fills a lot of needs in a small package. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't eyeing those.

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

@@JeffHendricks they sure do Jeff, you won't be dissapointed if you invested.

[@russellzauner]

Nita Strauss does her solo tours with a Boss GT1000 and AxeFx run straight to house, and there are a LOT of players that do this now. The advantage Roland/Boss offer is a massive tone print and effects intellectual property catalog in their lowest to their highest end amps, you get access to all of it through Boss Tone Studio. Off the top of my head, probably only Zoom comes close in having flexible mature platforms in a lot of form factors with a large userbase and extensive IP catalogs of stuff people have liked using. If you want to go modular, Synergy has licensed most amp cores you'd want to run. I have been debating whether to pull one more engineering project onto my place but the fact that a modular form factor already exists and is shipping is SUPER interesting to a weirdo like me.

[@klinks67]

The problem I see with modellers like this is option paralysis; you end up tweaking more than playing

[@crsantin]

Not really. I have both tube amps and a Helix. Guitar players in general are notorious tweakers, always looking for something. I did plenty of tweaking over the years with my tube amps, adding pedals, taking pedals out etc. Once I got familiar with the Helix and how I wanted to run it I settled in nicely and I focus on playing. When I want to tweak I have lots of fun at my fingertips. I don’t really play my tube amps now. Helix feels just like my tube amps and sounds great.

[@READERSENPAII]

I agree but there a pros and cons to everything. tubes and analog gear are great but extremely limited especially when it comes to chasing vintage tones. Old tube amps can sound perfect but only sound that great when dialed in perfectly with the volume dimed. whereas modeling gives you the ability to get a great sounds with lots of room to experiment. different strokes for different folks.

[@SD_UK]

Thanks Keith, loved the video - and the ethos - as usual. @Samuel indeed ..I tend to 'suffer' from 'Option Paralysis' aka 'the paradox of choice' . I'm also heading digital and selling almost all of my analog gear . Boss Katana 100 is doing it for me right now. Just using the top panel - avoiding the deep editing where possible. Keeping it simple. With a TS808 in front and a Dispatch Master & RC-1 looper in the FX loop - I'm good, and for now, I think I'm done. (=more time playing).

[@russellzauner]

The cabinet modeler is the more interesting part here...on the "stomp processor/amp" front, personally, I'm a fan of AMP1 from Thomas Blug, so when I can afford something in the 800-1k range that's what I'm going for first.

[@Terrible_Peril]

I definitely felt some option paralysis for a bit while I was learning what all was inside the Stomp and checking out presets posted online. But once I learned the interface, and learned which things worked for me and which didn’t, I just felt like it was the brain of my rig. I can still get sucked into a black hole of tweaking, but I don’t generally. I’ve replaced almost all of the default presets over time, but 80% of the time I’m using maybe 4 presets regularly. The rest are options for situations I don’t OFTEN find myself in, but boy are they useful if any of those situations arise for me or a friend.

[@Brisco55]

Keith - thank you for your channel and the work you do. Thank you for keeping it simple but effectively giving the detail in a logically ordered manner. I also like the way you give credit where credit is due. I purchased your preset pack 1 and look forward to learning more. Many of us dilettantes need to declutter and simplify. Your concept is exactly what is needed.

[@devilsdoorbell]

When I started seeing the HX Stomp and the Strymon Iridium being talked about more as amp in a box style gear, I snooped around. People like Emily at Get Offset regularly use the Iridium for her demos, and Rhett had a good video on "Iridium or Stomp?" That more easily divided camps on who the likely users of each would be, and why. I come from a tech background as well, so I can enjoy some of the knob tweaking and preset sculpting, but my paradigm shift hasn't really pulled me into 'off gear computer editing' yet, but I see the value in that. Prior to this video, I would think "The stomp might be more than I need." but it makes me now think "I might never need many additional things after this. How far could I go before outgrowing it?" And I think the answer is a long way. Thanks for your exploration of this, Keith. I always appreciate your take on some gear that others are presenting differently. It makes me re-evaluate the HX stomp as a more viable future upgrade or migration than I thought of it before watching your video.

[@BillDutton]

Thank you Keith! I've had a Stomp for a while now and have enjoyed it but found that I've gotten tired of it and have gone back to my tube amps. You sparked some inspiration in me to work on implementing my Stomp into my pedal board (for those amazing lush reverbs and delays) to use in conjunction with my amp and have a built in backup whenever we get to start gigging again.

[@EWhite-95]

Over lockdown I only had a HX stomp going into the effects return of an old Blackstar HT-5. Having the EQs really helped me get something decent sounding but it did take ALOT of tweaking. Managed to get myself a new job and now I have a Victory V30 and a Two Notes Captor X. Damn I missed a good valve amp! Also just bought myself a True Fire course with your promo code, can't wait to get stuck into it!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Emilio.

[@prs22gt10]

Love your videos! I'm another type player that has enjoyed modelers. Having only started playing electric and mostly in church over the last 15 years I've never really learned playing real amps. Sure I've had a couple but products from Boss and Line 6 provided all I need over the years. I primarily use a Helix floor but also have an HX Stomp and a few nice pedals. The additional tap dancing with the Stomp and external pedals bring me back to the Helix for the ease of all in one. Over the years I've bought presets and developed my tone. I do love learning about amps and watching five watt world. Thanks Keith!

[@jeffkucera2032]

I have a Stomp I’ve used for about a year and just upgraded to the Helix LT. For a while, I used the Stomp with some analog pedals but I couldn’t get a solo boost from the dirt boxes if I put them in front of the Stomp. Have you noticed this or did you find a work around?

[@fivewattworld]

I haven’t had that problem with it...yet.

[@jeffkucera2032]

@@fivewattworld good to know, I’ll have to try some more tweaks. Thanks!

[@JohnShalamskas]

@@jeffkucera2032 Sounds like you are running too much gain/compression in the Stomp. Cranking up the level on the input to your Stomp is not resulting in louder output from the Stomp. You need to leave some headroom in the Stomp blocks for handling boosted inputs.

[@ChrisBuonoGuitar]

Great job on this one and thanks so much for the attention and good words for TrueFire. We try our very best at every turn.

[@joemadden4160]

That moment you realize you would need Keith on the U.S.S. Enterprise...the starship.

[@troyoswald5683]

genius

[@zacharykim295]

Have to say Im impressed by your eloquence, class, and presentational skills. Subscribed!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Zachary. Welcome to five watt world!

[@limpindug]

Another great day in skool bud, your 100% correct there are a lot of rabbit holes to go down, thanks for helping us stay above ground. Respect and stay healthy all

[@MrDieRebel]

I think by now I have seen every single one of your videos. Thanks for your amazing content. I'm interested, entertained, intrigued, RELAXED (thanks to extremely professional presentations by Keith) and inspired all at once. From South Africa with lots of love. ❤️ Amateur luthier/pedal-/amp-/cabinet builder here.

[@Brandontsmith85]

I'm super happy to see you shout out to John Cordy here! He's an incredible player and deserves a heck of a lot more views than he gets, I'm glad more folks will get to hear him, thanks to your channel!

[@fivewattworld]

John’s doing some great work. I’ve enjoyed getting to know him. Great player as well.

[@arthuralzamora7331]

Hi & thanks! I purchased a HX Stomp a few months ago & now picking up the powered Line 6 112 cabinet.

[@GrantM1337]

The presentation was so well put together I didn't even mind the plug. Bravo!

[@troyoswald5683]

As with all things FWW world, this is excellent. Thanks for all you do to help us Keith! We are so very lucky.

[@iNDERUdmg]

Great video as always! I vaguely remember commenting on one of your videos asking what your opinion was of the Stomp - and you said you didn't have it long... I'm also planning to get a Powercab Plus (once it's in stock locally). Since I haven't been going to rehearsals/gigs for a few months - this will let me start playing with amp models again, since I usually turn off the amp blocks at home and plug into a real amp. I probably have too many pedals on my pedalboard - but I also like having "real" gain pedals before the Stomp, and other pedals that can do things the Stomp can't. Instead of the 2 switches - I preferred to add an expression pedal. I usually use it as a volume pedal, but sometimes use it to control parameters of other effects.

[@galelongputt]

My guitar playing dates back to the early seventies. In my humble opinion the Helix is the greatest single purchase I have ever made. The Marshall 50 watt lead head that I bought new in 1974 for $399.00 sold for $2800.00 recently and paid for much of the gear I now own. Which to me is much more useful. Thanks

[@williamsanderson9279]

Great episode Keith. Using analog gain stages before the HX Stomp solves any of my remaining issues with it as a substitute for analog pedals. Well done!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks again Bill!

[@JohnShalamskas]

I have an AnalogMan germanium fuzz before the Stomp that works extremely well with the amp models in the Stomp.

[@fulltiltgonzales]

I never stop being amazed at the high quality of your videos - they are some of the best out there. I can't add much more, as this represents the most praise I can offer in the least amount of words!!!

[@fivewattworld]

Ha! That's the spirit!

[@Advosary]

Very well-thought out video 👌 Shows how well digital emulation is coming along and helping us streamline our gear. Your use of Strandberg is also cool, combining classic tone and modern innovation together.

[@tattoodan4277]

You put this video out on the Sunday and by Wednesday afternoon I drove 2 hours away from home to the nearest music store that had a line 6 hx stomp in stock and bought it (in lightning blue) and I have to say that It’s my first time going to digital instead of my tube marshall... but now I have all the tones I’ve always wanted and because it’s so light and I have a spinal injury I can carry it with me and play music out of my home without needing someone to lift and carry my gear.... thank you for your time and dedication because it only has your channel given me entertainment and education but it’s also helped give me the most music and inspiration from the least gear thank you from Sou’ West Nova Scotia Canada

[@fivewattworld]

Hey Nova Scotia. There’s a regular viewer from Newfoundland. ...ok that was a maritime non sequitur. Thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@roystonjames7794]

Hi, Got the Helix Floor 3 years ago and love it , I tried the power cab but was not loud enough on stage for me, I could not find anything that was loud enough, then I ended up with 2 laney ffr112 cabs but now they have gone and im back to Valve (tubes) using a Line 6 DT25 head and cab which works well with the Helix IMO. love the content BTW

[@zackguitar07]

Fantastic video, Keith! I love how much you care about each topic to be as thorough and honest as possible. Your channel is definitely therapeutic for me when the GAS starts to take over. I’ve bought 2 new guitars and only 3 pedals in the past year, but also sold 2 guitars, 1 amp, and 7 pedals I no longer use along the way and am much happier for doing that.

[@juanblanco3187]

What a Sunday treat. Thanks Kieth.

[@mockbear1]

I used to run my stomp into the power section of my hot rod deluxe. could get some fantastic variety of tones. However, i recently bought a helix effects and just run that straight into the amp and like it much better. i sold the stomp. I find that with just a helix effects running into the front of the amp, i play more guitar and mess less with knobs. TLDR ; the stomp is great but it opens up the door to option paralysis. Do you need 30 preamps?

[@robertw1871]

Great looking rig… My suggestion after working with the stomp and full helix, is cut the the highs in the global EQ lower than you think, I think I’ve cut the highs at 2k, then put a good analog compressor pedal on the front end… Those 2 things will get you way closer to dialed in for those who try it and immediately hate it… I’ve gone to using only the helix now because I know dang near every tone is in there… I keep a collection of pedals of course (🤓) but I only swap one or two in and out to more easily dial in specific OD or drive tones, mostly in the effect send/return as a patch block that I put in all my presets by default, from a saved favorite… With that I can add or remove other pedals just by turning off that block in the helix… But the two biggest by far things I’ve found, is analog compressor input and setting the global EQ for guitar so it’s not a full range vocal processor, which the helix actually does really well too btw… I use an MXR 10 band EQ, but only to dial in a tone, once I’ve got the sound I’ll transfer that into an EQ block, having real sliders is just way more fun. Nice rig, I love that clean white…

[@JohnShalamskas]

I run an SM57 into my Stomp XL for online meetings. It is way better than using the microphone built into my computer. I bought an impedance transformer to match the low-Z dynamic mic to the high-Z input of the HX Stomp. The impedance transformer also converts from XLR to 1/4 inch plug. Just plug into either the guitar input right channel, or the RETURN L or R channel. There's a studio microphone preamp model within the Preamp > Mic category. I recommend also using an EQ block and perhaps some light reverb. You could also add some compression, to taste.

[@angusorvid8840]

This is like the Pliny approach. I dig it. I want control and efficiency in a small package. I also want to save my back because I have issues when I carry my Marshall combo. I always pull out my back when I move it. I also like the idea of just going direct in to a PA or mixing board. It makes it easier to get a consistent, good sound live and for recording. Either that, or using a plug-in system in the studio. I love tube amps as much as anyone, but I can't deny how far solid state has come. When playing live it's easier to get a good sound when you don't have excessive noise from an amp on stage. If you go direct-in you get a pure PA sound. You really get to hear what the audience is hearing. What's great about modeling systems is that you can also use many amps in one box. That's just a miracle. You can have an AC 30 for one tune then a Plexi or Deluxe Reverb for the next. We dreamed of this sort of gear in the 80s and now it's here.

[@chrismunsonmusic3432]

Welcome to the club Keith! I'm a father of four, active duty military and a singer/ songwriter/music fanatic. Your channel has been BY FAR THE BEST GUIDE for acquiring the most music with the least amount of gear!!!

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Chris. And thanks for your service, wherever that takes you man.

[@midwest_muse]

One of the ways I have simulated the lack of feedback issue is by using a Digitech Freqout. I use it on momentary mode and it’s been a really nice addition to my board, especially for recording purposes. Additionally, there is a setting to turn off the flashing metronome light if you wanted to keep your tap tempo on one of the first 3 buttons.

[@97guitarzan]

Old tube amp player here. Great video. I've been thinking about getting one of these too....very good information. Thanks!

[@vdub1959]

Awesome video Keith - I’d like to request a future session with you playing thru your pedal board. That short teaser reminded me how great a musician you are!

[@fivewattworld]

You’re too kind Vernon. I’ll go practice and think about that. :)

[@srulifriedman2957]

I love that you now have a sponsor

[@orryfishburne5326]

This was the most honest and informative youtube gear video i have ever seen. Thank you

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Orry

[@JeffHendricks]

Finally! I've been wanting to slim my pedalboard/direct rig down for a while. Everybody said "Get a Stomp!" and then Boss came out with the GT1000 Core... so, looks like I know what direction I'm going in. As for the speaker, I use an old Fender solid state stereo Chorus. Just plug the modeler into the FX return, and you have a stereo solution. It's not really FRFR, but it "feels" more like an amp than studio monitors. Keith, keep up the good work! "Just enough" is still enough!

[@KleyDeJong]

I absolutely adore my stomp. It lives on my pedal board and love how well it covers so many needs in one box. I have a 2 button foots witch as well and affirm that it really open sup the functionality. I think it can add a lot to nearly any type of player's rig.

[@DennisJPolson]

Fantastic work, Keith. Such a cool rig! I am so grateful for the extensive work you (and your collaborators) put into your channel. I always learn so much and feel empowered to do more with less. Thank you!

[@tbone9347]

I just found you. I've been watching Rhett for a while now. You guys make it easy to understand. I am just now beginning to dip my toes into the DSP guitar world. I have been intimidated, but I'm starting to feel pretty good about it. I decided I wanted to try and build a guitar rig that could go straight to the FOH without a guitar amp. I started my research and everything led me to the HX Stomp.

[@fivewattworld]

Welcome to five watt world.

[@mcdonelly16]

Thanks for this video. HX Stomp owner always happy to hear more info. Love the channel!

[@-JohnGalt-]

Thanks Keith, I was hesitant to try the Stomp/modelers and boy am I glad I picked up the Stomp. It is absolutely amazing. The stereo reverbs and delays sound huge-the best I've ever used. Another thing the Stomp did for me is kill 90% of my GAS. I have everything I need in this little box; it's incredible. Any sound I lust after I can acheive or get extremely close. My peddle board and amp have been collecting dust since I bought this thing. If you're on the fence, just do it (if you can spare the cash), this thing rocks.

[@knifeswitch5973]

The modeler comes to 5WW and I have to say, you did it with class and fortitude. I also “fell” into this world recently with an Eleven I picked up on Reverb. Be it already a relic, it really started to open doors for me. Thanks man. Very informative

[@wrekkingcru]

Keith - You and your quality content are another prime example of how KZbin has become my "TV" :) ...Well, at least the Music part of KZbin. lol - don't care much about the rest. I got the HX Stomp recently as well. While I really like it - I notice that I can't get away from some form of "digital fizz" if you know what I mean. It's not a good fizz - it like digital noise on top of the guitar tone. If I could find a way to get rid of that, I'd be totally on-board with HX Stomp. My Strymon Iridium is much simpler, but has great Fender, Vox and Marshall tone...plays much more like a real amp and doesn't have that digital fizz thing going on. I'm not trying to slam the HX Stomp - just want to find a way to get rid of the "fizz". Any ideas you or anyone else has to address that would be excellent!

[@Brandontsmith85]

If you're listening to the Stomp through headphones, drop the cab block's high cut to about 5khz and then adjust from there to taste, and then add reverb - the reverbs in the Helix/Stomp are pretty lackluster, but the Plate, Room or Tile blocks will give the sound some depth and help it sounds like your ear isn't literally 2 inches from a guitar speaker. Both the high cut and reverb can completely change the experience for the better a lot more than I originally thought before I tried it.

[@InGratitudeIam]

It's funny how the Helix seems to be too big now that the Stomp has arrived. Thanks for sharing your valuable insights.

[@JohnShalamskas]

And the Helix is much more expensive.

[@guppybill]

You just keep answering all my questions. And again, I glean as much about the gear as I do about the approach to selecting that gear. Being forced to decide what gear to leave behind for a wildfire evacuation was transformative. It all survived, but my approach to it has flipped. Thanks, Keith, for the Zen of FWW.

[@paulsteds]

Thanks Keith! I still have a pod pro from the late 90s that stays in my home studio. maybe it’s time to upgrade😬

[@RobertNolan]

This might be just enough for me to consider finally purchasing one. I've been holding off on it because of the fact that I have a lot of pedals already to make my rig work exactly how I want it, but if this can also do it, I can make a lightweight board with versatility that can be used for various quick response situations. Chris Buck has said recently that it's important to have something like this ready to go when you're invited to show up at a quick sit in session or gig. That way you don't end up looking like the "make way, here comes my board" kind of player.

[@slowercrush6182]

The stomp is quickly becoming my favorite piece of gear

[@TLMuse]

I have an HX Effects, and am considering the HX Stomp; thanks for the informative treatment of it here. A big lure for me, as someone who mainly plays at home, but occasionally needs to bring my sound to a gig, is *Helix Native* (pretty cheap if you have an HX pedal). I can build a tone (with HX Effects for now) just in my computer, and use it for home recording. And when I head to the occasional gig, I can bring that tone with me. By integrating the operation of the pedals and Helix Native, Line 6 has cleverly created a dual-mode system-use it in-the-box or on-the-road, with consistent tone either way. Alas, at the moment I'm really loving S-Gear for in-the-box tone, but I may switch for portability. -Tom

[@cmbrules]

I’d like to say Thank you Keith. I added the last piece of my new “do all” pedalboard. Running HX Stomp-RC Booster-Protein-JHS Whitey Tighty and with help of Disaster Area MidiBaby3 and a Two button switch from Simple Switch Effects to add some functions. Couldn’t be happier, keep up the great videos.

[@cpnms5]

Thanks man! Your videos and Rick B's always inspire me to play more. I'm a bassist of almost 30 years and I'm slowly losing function in my hands because of MS, so I've gravitated towards guitar (easier to strum than pluck now). Your vids, Rick's vids, and my teenage son learning guitar help push me to pick up my instruments to continue making noise. Your vids aren't just great history and knowledge, they inspirational to guys like me. Thank you!

[@timbuktu7753]

Great review Keith 👍....and you have a great channel here and its very much appreciated so thank you.

[@fivewattworld]

Thanks Tim

[@sammyrabon7736]

Thanks Keith. Don’t think I’ll give up my tubes just yet. But like all your vids it was well worth the watch.

[@a.man_an.island]

I used to be a die hard tube amp guy, and then I had one burn out the power tubes before a gig. That was not fun. So I tried solid state amps. I had been resistant to digital tech and emulation until I picked up a Roland Blues Cube. Now? I sold all of my amps and bought an Atomic Amps Amplifire 6. It doesn’t have as many amp models or flavors of effects as a Stomp, but the things it does it performs EXTREMELY well. It answered the question to my desire for more amps/cabs/options. It is a critical piece of my board and is set up to where I can grab and go. I see the beauty of this new golden age of gear, and it has allowed me to minimize as well. This was a fantastic presentation and a really compelling argument both for (and against) this kind of tech. A + work Keith!

[@ChrisAnthonyGuitar]

Great video! I tour with the Helix/stomp and power cab on a theatre show, and various other gigs. It's incredibly versatile, CONSISTENT, and plenty loud enough.

[@savealta]

One of the best videos on gear I have seen. I have a Helix and absolutely love "trying new things" so it's a good fit for me. The stomp is a much smaller footprint and you overcome some limitations with your pedal board build. It's more than most need. Going to have to check out the power cab. Great video, thank you!

[@MaxPower-js1sk]

Great video Keith. Having just had my coronary arteries stented, I’m looking at streamlining my setup, and having a major gear purge. I think that the HX Stomp is very interesting. Good job, mate, and take care. Cheers, Stephen.

[@RonRuminski]

Love your videos. You are very clear and direct in your opinions and provide your reasons why which I appreciate. Thanks for the info and your time.

[@chrisyoung8062]

I've had a Helix floor since they first came out and have never regretted the decision to buy. Recently though I wondered if I was missing something by not having a real tube amp. I decided to get a Revv D20 because of its versatility. I wanted to find a way to incorporate it into my Helix and came up with a wet/dry/wet rig by using the 2 notes interface into the Helix by way of a send/return and I simply use the D20 as my amp/cab block. I can put Helix overdrives in front of the D20 but I also have a Zendrive 2 (which sounds wonderful) and a WTF in front of the D20. I put stereo wet effects provided by the Helix after the D20 block and then into a pair of powered FRFR speakers. That's my wet stereo sound. From the D20 speaker output I'm also using a 1x12 Celestion V30 cab. That's my dry. I must say it sounds great and it's really versatile. I'm a hobbyist and only play at home so I don't need to worry about taking this setup out. The great thing about the Line6 stuff is how creative you can get with it.

[@69telecasterplayer]

Those champ pictures brought back memories of my first very simple rig back in 1967. A Harmony electric and a Vibro Champ. Makes me appreciate the elegant simplicity.

[@fivewattworld]

Amen

[@brentheathersimons7042]

Hi Keith! I'm a bassist and really enjoyed your video on Rickenbacker basses. This was a great video as well as I am looking for a unit that would work well for both bass and guitar and I wanted to tell you what a small world it really is! Kevin was a year ahead of me in high school and was such a tremendous talent even back then! I see him from time to time when I pop in to Advance Music, Burlington VT and he is still such a nice, down to earth guy. Take care of yourself! Brent, VT USA

[@fivewattworld]

Kevin! I’d the best. I miss him.

[@budgetguitarist]

I did the SAME THING! I got rid of my pedalboard and got a Stomp. As a matter of fact, I started working on a video for my channel on this same topic. This (5 Watt World) video is a great overview. One thing I would say is that those with any kind of audio engineering experience will take to the Stomp very well, but I understand why people could be intimated by it having "too many options." Also, the presets kinda suck, and I'm not a huge fan of the built-in cabs... but for $20 you can get a set of IR files made from Friedman cabs that sound killer. They sell it on the Line 6 website. I play direct through my own PA as part of a one man band setup, and the HX Stomp is perfect for me. But for jams or playing with real drums, I bring my Fender Bassbreaker 15. I love having both.

[@johnpruett6980]

I recently ran across a pair of Atomic Reactor 112 Tube powered FR cabinets for $300 bucks. Maybe not perfectly flat, but they are nice & warm and now hooked up to my Mac M1 as tube powered monitors. Makes the Plugins come alive in the room better than anything else I have tried. Your video has convinced me I need to invest in an HX or Helix and see if they could replace my gigging rig, cheers!

[@64north20west]

Rhett Schull is a great complement to five watt world. Funny how I was alerted of this video after watching his with Rick Beato where they compared the HX stomp to a marshall amp. You guys all do great justice to guitar playing options. I hope I didn't miss out on something when my pre-order of the Boss GT-1000 core arrives.

[@richardgreen6857]

Been a weekend warrior for about 8 years now. I could never really find "my sound" using Fender, Marshall, Vox...but a Helix LT solved that problem and of course the musician's nightmare of lugging gear (and setting it all up!) Found a combination I love, and created additional blocks for anything I'd ever play, even my acoustics!

[@alasdairmunro1953]

I’m seriously considering buying one. Thanks for your input Keith.

[@chazdog789]

Keith... Thank you so much, I just got one 4 weeks ago and Im not looking back... Great video and thanks sharing ...

[@Lorneplumber]

I find the stomp incredibly useful, practice rig, computer interface, recording and matching up for a nice strymon board. Also great for feeding synths through

[@L.Scott_Music]

I so very much agree with the idea of using modelers to preview analog FX and other gear. I learned this lesson with Guitar Rig 4. The whole modeling industry has greatly improved and gets you much closer to understanding what things sound like and how they go together. You offer some great advice here for any modeler based rig. Right on! Regarding feedback, Pete Thorn uses the DigiTech Freqout for feedback on his modeling rig or where he just can't get the volume up.

[@tommallah4818]

Great video Keith. I've be following your channel for a few years now. Totally ascribe to your philosophy about playing more with less. I've tried and actually really enjoyed playing with a digital footprint. But truth be told, there is something magical about a tube amp as well as the craftsmanship in a world increasingly geared towards ease of use and options. To me, tube amps are one of the last connections we have to another era.

[@fivewattworld]

I can't disagree gentleman, I have my REVV d20 back out here this morning with that same pedalboard (amp models and cabs turned off). Next up is a Short History of the Klon, so this is a solid couple of weeks of analog for me. I'll do more preset packs in the future. I love the "producer" hat thing that brings out in me, but there are also more tube amps to be played in the future.

[@svenzia]

Love the video. Thanks man, such a great channel overall.

[@TheAdjacents-ABQ]

Thanks for this one. I own a Fender modelling amp now. Not one of the more refined contemporary ones, but I like it anyway for the office at home and small locations outside. I don't have the vocabulary to describe the sound, except to say "modelling amps sound hollow", there's no punch behind the music. I think this is why your REVV video still appeals to me and why I am still trying to sell a Mesa Boogie .22 caliber and Peavey 30 to get me to "the least gear". I also cannot commit the time required to get me to where I would make up the difference in the hollow versus punch tone in the stomp box. I am waaaayyyy on the north sode of 50 at 60+ and hauling 40+ pounds is just silly. I also never really went nutz with pedals, just a few I really like. Stay safe and well.

[@kevingriffin9893]

In the process of building my first ever pedalboard, I recently picked up a used HX Stomp. Fittingly it is the all white version :). Despite reading a lot of positive reviews about its capabilities, in hindsight I realized it was not quite as plug and play as I assumed it would be. Thankfully, KZbin is full of tutorials, and despite your channel only having one video that kind of features the HX stomp, here I am :) Look forward to exploring more of your videos ~

[@fivewattworld]

Check out John Cordy Kevin. He’s my Stomp guru.

[@latebloomer6179]

Just ordered an HX Stomp because of this video. Coming from you, as well as Rhett Shull and Rick Beato in the comments, it's much easier to make an informed decision whether to buy a product or not. Thanks for the great content!

[@mockbear1]

I highly recommend running the stomp into a powered PA. I feel that the powered guitar speakers are over priced for what they are. You can buy a 12" 1000watt PA full range speaker for your stomp and get much more use out of it than the powered guitar cab. This is especially useful if you like to play with backing tracks.

[@myfavoritemartian1]

Early on, I had a bad experience with a Line 6 amp. It would blow the amp chips of you ever turned the gain up much higher than the volume. Line 6 repaired it the first time, but after that, I was on my own. I had a local shop repair it after another 2 hours of use. (That is when I discovered what was causing the issue.) I started doing the repair myself after that. I even tried replacing the Amp chips with the next bigger ones listed. So, after 6 or 7 times of that. I traded it for a guitar and a Hammond M37. (With full disclosure to the guy who traded me) So I am a bit uneasy about trying a line 6 product even though it sounds as good as this. Thanks Keith for the well done video.

[@seb_thorel]

Exactly the type of video that I am looking for. Many thanks for all your pieces of advice !

[@jbencinitas]

Great video, thank you for making this. I have been waffling back and forth between analog pedals and digital stuff forever. I love the versatility of digital, but I also love the feel of analog gain stages. I already own the power cab plus and I love the speaker models. I’m getting HX stomp to pair it with and adding a Barber Gain Changer in front. I just play in my garage and I play a lot of different styles. This seems like a great solution. Thanks again!

[@alexensing1541]

Great video Keith, I like your approach to using drives to help with the HX amp feel. I use a combination of 2 amp blocks, 2 dual cab blocks, 2 compressors, and the mic preamp model and blend them all together to make my Helix LT sound and feel good, so your solution seems much easier!

[@JB_Eckl]

Revisited this video because I got an HX Stomp recently (longtime Helix user), and a Powercab 212+. So far I'm blown away by the Powercab. It really does add that AMP realism to the Stomp. I'm wondering how it's holding up for you a year after you made this.

[@demagmusic]

GREAT vid, thanks so much. and I love the rick beato mention and speaker importance. I hope to build a collection of speaker boxes now. 1x10. 1x12/ 2 x 10, 2x12, etc....each paired with dif amps.....

[@johnnathancordy]

Cheeers Keith!!!!

[@fivewattworld]

Thank you John!

[@johnnathancordy]

@@fivewattworld now I just need to work out if I need a powercab....

[@BrianVallotton]

@@johnnathancordy You might not need one, but you DESERVE one! I appreciate your channel Johnathan! Keep up the great work.

[@calebgrundyson2688]

Awesome video! Thanks for sharing! I have the stomp and it is quickly becoming my favorite amp! Might even sell my tube amp. The only thing I worry about is if it broke during a gig. Not sure if the stomp is as reliable as a tube amp.

[@nudsh]

Great video!! I have an HX effects, many tube amps and a complete analog stomp pedal board (all 4 cable rigs), but I still want to build a simple 'all-in-one' rig for those grab and run gigs. I've been eyeballing something like this for a while and your vid was just the right medicine for breaking down the right approach to building it and what should go on it. Cheers!!

[@no1brightonian425]

Another great video. Thanks. Can you do something on bass gear?

[@fivewattworld]

There will be more bass short histories but I’m really not qualified as a bassist. I’d need to find another collaborator for that.

[@shdwghst457]

Keith, you can also turn off the blinking LED in the settings. Found that accidentally the other day.

[@cironicholas526]

I think this just sold me. I've always been a bedroom player who's looking for "good enough" and this seems to surpass that. But I just checked out this Harley Benton multieffect pedal that might be all I need and it's under $200. Thanks for the great content, Keith. I don't know if I speak for anyone else, but I would like to see you review some Tech21 Fly rigs

[@Slaphitter]

I have also fallen down the modeling amp rabbit hole. Really convenient and practical, and more than “good enough”.