Do You NEED Different Presets For Different Guitars? (Line 6 Helix/HX Stomp/Pod Go)

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In this video I discuss my philosophy on a question I receive a lot, which is if we need to create a preset for each different guitar or type of guitar we have. Using sound examples and a studio mix, I show how we can utilize the same presets with different guitars as an amazing sonic tool that open up a lot of wonderful possibilities. I really hope you enjoy the video and find it useful...
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[@timothyjohnson9739]

Right on, Jason. I've been building my guitar collection for just this reason. Currently have Tele w/Duncan SC's, Strat w/boutique SC's, LP w/P90's, 335 w/Humbuckers and SC tap, and a Gretsch Electromatic w/Filtertrons for exactly this reason. It's why different guitars are made! Of course, EQ is variable, but I mainly use the guitar tone controls to find the 'sweet spot' Bravo!

[@giovandenberghe1628]

When I make a preset, my approach is that it is one system, person-fingers-Guitar-FX-Amp-Speaker. It is a tonal quest and I can't just change something without changing the whole tone. And ears are so deceptive. I can work on a tone for 5 hours and it sounds fantastic, the next day it's just so and so. It starts with knowing what you're after and how to get it with your equipment. And if something is not feeling right knowing what to change and how. Maybe all it needs is a little twist here and there. Focus, learn to understand, tweak. It's only recent that I am happy with my sounds. I know that 'cause the tweaking for my basic tones stopped. I played tube amps in the past and most of the time I wasn't that happy with my sound, unless I could play really loud. One thing is for sure, if you can't get your tone out of Helix, it's not about hardware. Thanks for your video's Jason, they are so helpful and you are a great guitar player, it is so nice to grab a beer and watch your video's and learn. And thanks to line6 for such a great tool.

[@johnperkins2174]

Right there with you man. I never change my amp drastically when switching guitars so why would I freak out with my modeler? I’ve always used a compressor with single coils and that’s it. 👍🏼

[@alexwong7]

I keep an analog cleanboost before the Helix with arrows marked on it for my different guitars. I dont want the tone to change but when I have a Rickenbacker with low output toasters and a PRS with ceramic humbuckers, I find the clean boost can bring up the low output guitars to make the patch work but they still have the character of the guitar. It works for me anyway. :)

[@leocubiasmusiclifestyle7460]

I agree with everything. I do own two Strandberg Prog 7 and one Music Man Majesty 7 and they sound completely different so for some songs I use the same preset for both style guitars however for other I have independent Presets for each

[@MikeColeVocals]

I found the difference in tone was most substantial on the clean snapshot. In fact I liked the tone of the single coils a lot (both S and T style) but found the humbuckers a bit muddy sounding. I didn’t find much tonal difference in the lead sound between the guitars. Just goes to show that everyone has to trust their own ears and find sounds that they can be happy with!

[@danielbarth]

This is actually completely in line with my own experience. The same preset will sound great for lead sounds on all guitars, but clean and breakup tones will have substantial differences between humbucker and single coils... with humbuckers sounding muddy or bringing in too much drive (although for that you can just roll off the volume)

[@pauljsmith2113]

That's one of, if not THE, greatest aspects of owning different instruments. A LP doesn't sound like a Strat which doesn't sound like a Super Strat which doesn't sound like a Tele which doesn't sound like a 335 ... and on and on. If they did, you'd only need to buy one guitar. Where's the fun in that? I've always thought that was the whole point of owning different instruments. Another great video, Jason.

[@albert4321234]

I agree with what you said. But I recently got a Music Man JP15, the active pickup are much hotter so I have to dial down the gain or volume.

[@StephenSpelman]

Interesting video. This MAY be the first time I’ve ever disagreed with you. But it may just be a difference in interpretation. I have found that to me, presets that sound great on my Strat don’t sound as great on my Les Paul, and vice versa. But I also know that when I play through my main amp, a Mesa Boogie Fillmore 50, I use different gain and EQ settings for the Strat vs the Les Paul. So, in essence, the separate settings on the amp may be the equivalent of a separate preset on a the Helix. But just adjusting the EQ on the amp block of a Helix preset doesn’t seem to have the same satisfactory sonic change (to me) as it does on the amp. Thus, I have separately adjusted presets for my Strat and my Les Paul. (This includes on the superb preset packs I’ve bought from you - American, Essex, and Fullerton - on which I’ve set up completely different tweaked presets for Strat and Les Paul, which I did by comparing their sound through my PowerCab 112+ to the sound through the actual amps in my studio). In every case, I found I had to set a separate preset for Strat and Les Paul, in order to either match the sound of an amp I have, or to get a tone I really liked for amps I don’t have. Part of this may be because I’m a rhythm player who almost always tries to get as clean a tone as possible, even with the Les Paul. And to do that with the Helix, I’ve found I do need separate presets. But thanks yet again for another great video, and I’ll try my Strat and Les Paul through your Matchless preset, and see if you’ve changed my mind!

[@ghost79ish]

Even a simple gain and\or eq block near the beginning of a preset could "fix" a lot of potential discrepancy between guitars. Obviously humbuckers tend to have significantly higher output than single coils so just a little 3-6 db boost would fix a lot of people's perceived problems.

[@lorenzoantenucci7216]

You should try with a Jaguar and see if you can limit the treble without affacting the tone of other guitars.

[@curefan28]

I'd like to take this approach but my Epi Les Paul and strat copy sound so unbelievably different on the same patches, just in terms of high end. With the LP bridge pickup, a patch sounds dark/dull like the tone knob is rolled off a bit, then I plug in my strat and it's piercingly full of treble. There's a much wider variance than what you demoed here. With so many patches available on Helix, it is better for me to have humbucking and single coil versions of the same patch. I'm still getting the tone variance you should with the different guitar types, but it's more usable.

[@accidentals_hacks]

I wish there was some kind of a global gain block to compensate for different guitars' output levels.

[@kane6529]

I like this approach ! My issue is i go from stock Squire Strat to Agile Les Paul Style with EMG 85/81 so they are completely different worlds, by the way i regret the EMG'S i was in a little Zakk Wylde phase 😆

[@coolnout3765]

I prefer different preset adjustments for particular guitars. Do I have presets that work for both? Yes, but more don't than do.

[@johnware5605]

I dig these sounds-are they Helix only, or also compatible with HX Stomp and/or Pod Go? Thanks!

[@joelweinstein9301]

I'm probably missing the point here, but nice solo! Is tab available for that anywhere, I'd love to play around with it...? Also, I'll echo another commenter that I agree with you on ALMOST everything, but not this one :) I get very unusable results when I dial in for one guitar, then switch to another. Usually the issue is excessive brightness/harshness when switching to a strat. I also struggle with this issue between different playback methods - headphones, monitors, amp, etc. So not only do I feel like I need a preset for every guitar, I need one for every guitar for every playback method. It's a mess!

[@rtroiani]

I saw a video on Gear Gods using a Boss 1000 core where he set different input gain profiles for his different guitars so he can switch between them. He mentioned the same should be available on others, but I didn't see anything like it on the Pod Go. Do you know if there is a similar way to use all the same presents, but only change the guitar profile when you pick up an different guitar? Example, my Kiesel is hotter than my Ibanez with DiMarzio pickups and very different gains. I would cut back on the Kiesel's profile and increase on the Ibanez so they neither clip nor are too weak.

[@sjsphotog]

Good advice as always Master Sadites ;) you 🎸 🤘 🥌

[@ghost79ish]

Haven't watched the video yet but I can say this; Need? No. Would it be preferable? probably.