My 5 Favourite Line 6 Helix / HX Stomp Amp Models - Littagator, Placater & More!

[@steveo44]

Epic tone on the friedman setting. Great video

[@DanLeggatt]

Thank you 👍

[@dver4624]

These are some of the best tones I've ever heard from a modelling device. Just shows how important the recording setup and playing is with these demos. I started playing 18 years ago and the original Line 6 Pod was making waves around the time. I remember thinking what an amazing concept it was. The stuff available today is so good. We are spoiled.

[@DanLeggatt]

Thank you 👍 Totally agree, so much good stuff on the market.

[@lebebop1682]

My favorite amp is the Cali Lead. As you said in the video, you need to know how it works because it's a very strange amp, but man if you know how to handle this amp you can have the best tones. So many possibilities.... I always use it with a "scream 808" before to hit the amp harder, and a "simple EQ" after it to control the tone and fit in the mix without "changing the tone" if that makes sense.

[@TVoltG]

My favorite as well. Along with the Placater and Das Benzin Mega. It's funny how these amps are his favorite to him as well. I stumbled on this video tonight and noticed I use these amps a lot like him.

[@d77sauce]

This video is more informative than most of the other Helix videos I’ve seen. Thanks a lot for your insight

[@DanLeggatt]

Appreciate the comment! Thanks for watching 👍

[@mikolaischiering9425]

Always nice to come across other FGN players.

[@jimmcdougall9973]

Yeah, another Kemper guy here, but, after watching many videos of the latest HX update, I’m seriously thinking about getting a HX Stomp. The one thing I’ve noticed, is they’re tons of fun. Thanks for the great videos. Cheers from sunny South Africa.

[@DanLeggatt]

Cheers Jim! My Kemper certainly isn’t going anywhere but the Helix stuff is fun and a totally different approach to the Kemper. I’m enjoying experimenting with routing and dual amps. I’m thinking about how to integrate it into the Kemper rig for additional tones!

[@goliathfx]

You make everything sound bloody good mate! Haha, skills!

[@DanLeggatt]

Dude, too kind! Can’t wait to see the new stuff you’re coming out with 👍

[@goliathfx]

@@DanLeggatt cheers dude, pedal wise will be in the new year. Got a few other things in the pipeline tho man.

[@ConstantineM]

Just made presets from this video of every amp and it's sounds killer. That free IR is fire

[@DanLeggatt]

Glad you dig it man 👍

[@Superstacco]

I think that these are the best, crunchiest sounds I've heard come out of Helix! I'll certainly experiment with some of these as a jumping off point. Thanks!

[@DanLeggatt]

Cheers! Thanks for checking out the video.

[@MrNeilfatmonkey]

I absolutely loved the litigator model for the same reasons you mentioned. Great video, Dan.

[@DanLeggatt]

It definitely gets that ‘boutique’ vibe. If you like that kind of tone, I have something cool heading my way soon that should make it in to video 👍

[@juricabura8967]

Great tones!

[@JamesBrown-ef4nc]

Totally agree with those picks - I also love the revv gen purple (aggression off) and the matchless clean

[@DanLeggatt]

Great shout! I was really close to including one of the Revv models! A close runner up. Do you use the stock cabs or IR’s?

[@waveshapes251]

Cool video! oh man 15:00 was so nostalgic. Spent too much time at some point trying to learn that song! Petrucci - Damage Control

[@DanLeggatt]

I still can’t play it 😂😂

[@MattCrill]

Great video! I'm a fan of the Matchless models they have. You should give them a try if you haven't looked into those yet.

[@DanLeggatt]

Thanks for the tip 👍

[@apfelmistnutte]

Love the Mandarin for clean tones. amazing

[@DanLeggatt]

I’ll check it out, cheers 👍

[@BrentIraEnman]

Great tones Great Player! Thanks for sharing!

[@DanLeggatt]

Cheers 👍

[@ConstantineM]

I was dumb when it comes to Mark IV and never liked it. But after learning how it works it became on of my main amps in Helix too :) Great sound.

[@DanLeggatt]

Not dumb at all, it’s not very intuitive to get dialled in. Worth the tweaking for the results though!

[@ConstantineM]

@@DanLeggatt yeah

[@victorgracia4754]

Best tones so far, i hope you make more helix tones related videos. New sub here

[@DanLeggatt]

Cheers! No plans for anything helix at the moment but hopefully in the new year 👍

[@GmanGuitarStuff]

Awesome video man! I was using the Uberschall and line 6 Badonk for a heavy high gain tone but since they added the Diezel that’s all I’ve been using recently! Such a brilliant update from line 6!

[@DanLeggatt]

Yeah man, really cool amp. Some of the new FX models are tight too. You checked out the precision drive?

[@GmanGuitarStuff]

@@DanLeggatt I haven’t dived into many of the new fx yet but I have swapped out the screamer for the precision drive and it blew me away! The gate on it is a game changer! I’ve also played around with the poly drop and very impressed with it!

[@DanLeggatt]

Not bad for a free update! I’ve played a bit with the new poly stuff but, as I’ve only got the HX Stomp, it sucks a whole lot of DSP. By the time I’ve got the poly, an amp model and IR that’s about it 😂

[@GmanGuitarStuff]

@@DanLeggatt 100% and yeah I’ve noticed a lot of the new stuff takes up a whole bunch dsp but definitely worth it!

[@Ray-um3if]

Hi Dan, some really great playing as always. As you know I’m a Kemper guy and not likely to change but for your followers who are into Helix another great video. Keep safe, cheers Ray.

[@DanLeggatt]

How’s it going Ray? I’m the same, the Kemper isn’t going anywhere but the Helix definitely has some cool stuff. Plus looking forward, for little gigs and jams whenever they restart, this little HX would be great to chuck in I reckon.

[@Ray-um3if]

@@DanLeggatt Hi Dan, Going alright cheers. All my guitars set up and I am half way through a Harley Benton kit build " with a difference". £77 got me a Tele kit which I am turning into a cross between a Thin line and a Deluxe with a beautiful flame maple top and back, Bare Knuckle old guard Humbuckers and a Wilkinson cut down Tele style bridge. Should be cool. Hope you start to get some more work soon, we are in tier 3 here in Gillingham.

[@DanLeggatt]

That guitar sounds cool! Are you going to do a little video to show off the results? Glad you’re keeping busy. Cheers mate, would be great to get back to gigs but certainly won’t be any time soon. At least it gives me time for videos 👍

[@Ray-um3if]

@@DanLeggatt Hi Dan, I don't really do videos (I leave that to people like you that know what you're doing) but when I get it finished I'll take some pics and maybe there will be some way of sending them to you. Don't know when it will be finished as it looks like I will be having to move again as the lady I am a carer for isn't settling in here very well.

[@DanLeggatt]

Ah sorry to hear that mate. I’d love to see it when it’s done. Are you on Instagram? Just hit me up on there if you are 👍

[@frmcf]

I’m gonna have to upgrade to 3.0!

[@DanLeggatt]

Definitely worth it. Be sure to check out the nee precision drive model too. It’s far more flexible than it first appears 👍

[@killerssoundstudiotimkille8387]

Nice Dan! Just finished a Metal riff using the Helix rack. Rev gen red=great tone

[@DanLeggatt]

The Revv nearly made the list. Killer tones. Do you use an IR or stock cabs?

[@killerssoundstudiotimkille8387]

@@DanLeggatt Lancaster Ir. Mesa 4x12

[@johnamorim]

I would like to check what IR you use on each preset but of course now I have something to play and figuring out what sounds better. Very nice choices. With your talent everything sounds better hahaha. Thanks

[@DanLeggatt]

Too kind man! It was the Redwirez IR free pack of a Greenback 4x12. 57, Cap, 0.5inchs.

[@markcottonmusic3056]

On each amp present ???? They all sounded great 👍🏻😎 love your playing

[@Pete_Harris]

Great playing and tones Dan! I'm still on the fence re a Helix mainly because so many of the higher gain demos I've heard have a top end 'fizziness' which I'm not sure can be dialled out. The MK IV sounded great but I'm no metal head : ), more old school prog like Floyd, Camel etc. Would be nice to see you do a vid on the Soldano model. Subscribed! Cheers.

[@DanLeggatt]

Cheers Pete! I know what you mean about the top end fizz. Using IR’s seems to get rid of it in a lot of cases. Combined with a bit of tweaking, I think it can sound great! As I mention in the video, I don’t think Line 6 have some of the amps dialled particularly well for the default settings. However that’s just my opinion and what I like, others may hate. I’ll see what I can do on the Soldano in a future vid. Thanks for watching 👍

[@guitardude1981]

High cut on cabs at 5k gets rid of fizziness on high gain models

[@muurimc]

Really cool video. Really simple presets you have and still they sound really good. I've tried the Placater, but on my setup is sounds a bit muddy. I guess I need to retry and tweak more.

[@DanLeggatt]

Cheers 👍 I try to get the ‘core tones’ set up first, spend time tweaking them. Then I can just drop them into more complex presets when needed rather than starting from scratch each time. It has taken me a while to get the tones where I want them but really enjoying the HX now 👍

[@gibs8412]

Just got my Hx, would love to see a vid on blending amps.

[@DanLeggatt]

I’ll see what I can do

[@thef4lsepr0phet]

I personally love the Elektrik with a Klon Cenataur for both cleans and distortions

[@DanLeggatt]

I’ll have to check it out. Thanks for the tip 👍

[@gilouch8975]

I personnally keep using my tube amp clean. I know I am missing on a lot of good stuff from the stomp but it does so much that is the beauty of it, you can use it in many different ways. Wonder how a pedalboard with stomp into kemper would sound ?

[@DanLeggatt]

If it works for you, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the way you’re running it! It’s got fantastic FX. I’ve been running it with the Kemper a bit. Perhaps it’s worth a video?

[@TVoltG]

I used the Line 6 HX Effects with a Kemper for 2 years. Worked great together. I loved my Kemper but have switched using the Line 6 Helix more this past year.

[@notalkguitarampplug-insrev784]

Definitely not Kemper level... hope you’ll try the Neural DSP Quad Cortex

[@DanLeggatt]

If you want me to check it out please drop the guys at Neural a message. I’d love to get one in but financially it’s just not a possibility at the moment! Thanks for watching man 👍

[@dver4624]

Disagree that it isn't as good as the Kemper. I have both and they're both capable of totally convincing amp sounds. The HX stomp is the best value unit ever, IMO. Totally realistic amp sounds and pro-grade effects at a brilliant price point.

[@nlmal4]

I thank Friedman. He give a tip to check you out.

[@MC-dj7ri]

Wow! 😧 Amazing tones man. Could these same tones be accomplished with the HX Stomp into tube power and guitar cab? Please elaborate. You definitely sold me on this thing.

[@DanLeggatt]

I assume you could get similar tones that way, I have never used it like that I’m afraid. I have used it with an FRFR cab and studio monitors.

[@ArthurMarksOfGod]

What iR used with placater ? Amazing sound... thanks !

[@jamshic]

I would love to know what specific IRs you're using from that list, since there are so many mic options, etc.

[@DanLeggatt]

57 cap 0.5 inches 👍

[@ConstantineM]

@@DanLeggatt 0.5 or 5?

[@ConstantineM]

@@DanLeggatt the brightest one?

[@jazzylei143]

Very cool and Nice playing. Are you using the same IR for all the amps here?

[@DanLeggatt]

Yep. 57, cap, 0.5inchs 👍

[@JoeGreenRocks]

This video has not helped me with trading that HX Stomp to you dude! 😆 That Mesa and the VH4 sounds are awesome. Gonna have to get out the big Helix again now...

[@DanLeggatt]

😂😂 You know you want to really!

[@JoeGreenRocks]

@@DanLeggatt I suppose I can just drag around the big one...it does have a cool backpack 😂

[@DanLeggatt]

@@JoeGreenRocks You’re right, it does... maybe I need the big one just for the backpack 😂😂

[@JoeGreenRocks]

@@DanLeggatt that's definitely my favourite thing about it, and that's no criticism of the Helix, I would genuinely use that backpack on a daily basis for laptop gear 😆

[@gaden579]

Hi nice demos, placater absolute a go to amp. What is yor go to reverb and delay and comp. What reverb to use as always on ?

[@DanLeggatt]

I tend to use plate reverb and either mod chorus echo or elephant man delay 👍

[@vg99]

How about doing a video on the Boss GT 1000 ?

[@DanLeggatt]

This is on the cards for the near future! Will hopefully have a GT1000CORE to produce some content with in the next month or 2. Watch this space 👍

[@simonwest8338]

I felt a tremendous mixture of childlike excitement and the need to brace myself for the rock when the Les Paul came into frame. Do you have go-to IRs that you load for each model or was there one that you found worked for all of them? Epic sounds as always

[@DanLeggatt]

The Paul of captain Lester and the rawk monsters 😂 From Redwirez pack it’s almost always 57 on the cap, 57 where the cap meets the cone or the 121 on the cap. Blending them works a treat too. Most, if not all of these are the same one, pretty sure it’s the 57 cap / cone. I’ll let you know when I next turn it on. All I know is it’s number one slot in the HX 😂 I’ve just purchased some official Celestion IR’s which are also great for some different flavours. Wanted to keep it free stuff for this vid though 👍

[@TheActressAndBishop]

@@DanLeggatt Yeah - I'm interested in this too

[@DanLeggatt]

All of these are the 57 Cap 0.5 Inches IR

[@TheActressAndBishop]

@@DanLeggatt ah cool. Playing with them in my two notes and they are extremely good I must say

[@xgregi]

The fact is that these own (Badonk, Littagator) Line 6 simulations are the best in Helix.

[@davidzais]

Hi would you mind sharing which actual IR you are using from that set? thanks, David

[@DanLeggatt]

Next time I’ve got the HX on, I’ll check it out and let you know 👍

[@DanLeggatt]

All of them are the SM57 Cap 0.5inches

[@davidzais]

@@DanLeggatt thanks so much!

[@jimsmith4611]

What do you prefer Dan the Helix or the Kemper. Or is there no point in comparing as they are very different beasts..! Just wondering..

[@DanLeggatt]

They are certainly different beasts. I’ve been asked this more than a few times now. I feel like I could probably bore everyone to tears with the answer, so maybe I’ll put it in a video? 😂 That said, I still personally prefer the Kemper. They are both capable of fantastic tones. For me the Helix needs more tweaking to get it dialled in but does sound killer when you get it. The Helix does have far more complex routing and configuration possibilities than the Kemper. However, there isn’t much I need that the Kemper can’t do. It would be nice if it could do dual profiles though! All personal preference at the end of the day. Be it for tones, workflow, form factor, features or user interface. See, I told you, boring 😂

[@jimsmith4611]

@@DanLeggatt Cheers. I ask cause I swithered between the two of them and thought that the Kemper would be the better for home recording. Impressed with it so fat but equally horrified at some of the 'rigs' uploaded. Getting to grips with it now and it clearly depends on which guitar I am using at any given time. The P 90's all sound amazing as do any of my Fenders. My Yamaha SA100o is also the business but I am really struggling to get a decent tone with my old Les Paul Studio. Too many times it sounds like a crappy fuzz boxed guitar. That said I have only tried about 200 of the uploads so only 18,000+ uploads to go. Surely I'll find something in there..

[@axelwendling7581]

Hello Dan, how do you amplify the Helix?

[@DanLeggatt]

In this video it’s running direct to my interface. Live I’ve used it with a Headrush 108.

[@yohaneskurniawanmusic5081]

Can i have ur presets?