I always keep an open mind as well. I got mine with a great deal from my friend so I couldn't pass it up. Hands down, it probably won't leave my collection. I use it weekly and it's great for all the acoustic live stuff I do. Don't feel smug! It's an incredible investment investment. And the footprint of that pedal makes it worth the spot on my boards.
@@iamtorrego Sure, but $300 is a pretty far cry from a thousand… and then you still have another $200 to go. The closer to $1200, the better to push for the Floor. 🤷🏻♂️
I've bought 2nd hand home use-only Boss GT1000Core for £350. It sits excellent next to my Harmonious Monk and King of Tone pedal. I have no plans to change it for anything in the next few years. It works great for me.
The GX-100 is a great modeler all by itself, but I have coupled it in the loop to a Tonex pedal and have it synchronized with midi. Tap the foot switch on the GX-100 and have the Tonex change along with it to whatever amp setup you want to use. Boss GX-100 coupled to a Tonex pedal gives you a lot of continuous upgrades from Tonex. Maybe a future video could show a GX-100 with a Tonex pedal and using midi to make it act like a single unit. By using a midi cable and programming the GX-100 as the master you open up a whole new world of amps and effects at half the cost of a Fender Tone Master Pro.
Only thing I’d say is if you want this unit to replace your pedalboard, get an hX stomp xl. I think having the extra foot switches built in is way easier to program than setting up an external midi switcher. Then you can still use a trs to connect two inexpensive expression pedals and that can be your whole rig.
I had an XL Stomp in early-mid ‘22, then got an FM9 Turbo and QC at the same time. Returned the QC. I recently sold the FM9 Turbo and bought another Stomp XL. The Fractal was awesome except for its UI, and I don’t want to rely so much on the computer. The HX sounds much better after last year’s updates and is fun and easy to dial in tones on the unit. The smaller form factor is a big bonus as well.
Yeah, I have the original HX stomp and it's just so integral to every situation I play guitar in. For a gig it's just at the end of my pedalboard as a reverb and modulation box in front of a tube amp and at home it's a all in one direct solution. It's just about perfect.
For home use I can really recommend a plugin. They usually have standalone apps so you don't even need a DAW. All you need is a cable and any kind of interface with jack->usb. Neural DSP plugins are very nice if you want to sound like one specific thing. But personally I use BiasFX2 because it's a complete suite of everything you could ever need (and it's not that expensive).
The strongest deciding factor for me, earlier this year 2023, was the bundled software with the Helix Floor. As a predominantly DAW based player, Helix Native was a plugin that I had had my eye on long before I found that I had the cash to get the hardware. The floor unit itself had/has all the connectivity I could ever need and the sounds are entirely good enough, The 4 FX Loops mean that any pedal sounds That aren’t covered internally can be got from my pedal collection 1.e. ODR-1, Suhr Riot, Lightspeed, Broadcast etc Should I find that I need something smaller, like the HX Stomp, then Most of my Helix sounds would be transferable. Helix is getting long in the tooth I would agree but I feel it has more mileage left in it still.
GX100 is phenomenal. The feel is unmatched. I have the Fractal FM3, I use the Boss 99 percent of the time. If you are a gear man getting very happy about constant updates and nerding tone 24/7 instead of getting really good at playing, buy the Fractal. If you wanna get good at playing and get all the chicks, save your dough and get the GX100.
You are a wise man, my friend. Instead of nerding tone stupidly, you know that the real satisfaction comes with getting really good at playing. It’s not an easy, quick task and reward - anyone can buy a highend modeller and feel 24 h of happiness before they realize they’ve spent a ton of money for no good reason - but a long-term investment into a long-term satisfaction. And pretty girls don’t give a damn about what gear you use, they wanna be with a great guitar player.
Had a helix, then a fm3, because helix was too big. And now the gx100, because fm3 size was ok, but lacks of switches, and not very easy to use. For home use, and some gigs, and because it is easy, sounds awesome, and no one can beat boss switching.
As an intermediate guitar player and home hobbyist recorder, what I love about all the new modelers is the first adopters selling their old gear. I have a tone of tone at my fingertips all with used gear. My favorites? Used Avid Eleven Rack. Used DigiTech RP-500; old VOX ToneLab DE; a bunch of Boss COSM tone in used recording gear; and my most frequently used piece of gear, a true secret gem in my book, a used Fender Mustang V1 modeling amp. Everything I have is used. Audio interfaces, drum machines, compressors, mic preamps, line strip, patchbay - all used. I have nothing against new gear. People work hard for their money and they can spending it in any way that makes them happy. PS - I second Scuffham S-Gear. A++.
But consider how much better you would be if you bought a new Axe FX III mkII turbo for $5090 and then spent almost $2,000 for a 12 button foot controller, another $240 for an expression pedal, and a Fractal FRFR speaker - wouldn't that make you feel better! John Cordy says yes.
+1 for the Eleven Rack, esp. if you'd like something sitting above the floor. I have mine sitting in a home-built rack and it's about at the height where an amp's panel would be, and it's just convenient. I have a Helix XL, and for plug-ins, Helix Native and S-Gear (really worth checking out), but when I just want to quickly jam, I still reach for the switch on the Eleven Rack. And it still really sounds good. I do find there are certain tones I need to go to the plug-ins to get. But one of my favorite tones on the Eleven I haven't yet been able to duplicate elsewhere (it uses Eleven's Lead 800 Marshall JCM algorithm; I'm not even much of a Marshall fan but something about that algorithm just really works for edge-of-breakup tones). -Tom
I had a lot of gear during time. Line 6 Helix LT, FM3, NUX, Boss GT 100 Core, ToneX, etc. I'm not a pro musician, but i always had the idea - like most of us amateurs who love to play guitar - that i need to reproduce the sound like a Strat played thru a real Fender Tweed or a Deluxe Reverb or, or, or. But then i realized, that the only thing i wasted was time and money. Let's be honest, how many of us really know how all those different amps sound in reality, especially in conjunction with a certain guitar (Fender Strat, Fender Tele, Gibson Les Paul, and so on...) and on which settings. And how does a guitar made by Yamaha, Ibanez, PRS, etc. sound? As soon as you get some effects in your signal chain it becomes nearly impossible to hear what guitar plays through which amp. At least for me it's hard to figure that out and the other thing is, as soon as you start recording it gets even harder to find out which part is played on which guitar thru which amp, when the drums and bass is on the recorded track as well. I kept my Quad Cortex just for sentimental reasons and i'm doing my home recording since a few weeks more or less with plugins. Do i hear a difference? Not really! It's like tasting old and expensive red wine...simply because the wine is old and expensive, it doesn't mean automatically that it's at your taste or that you have to like it. My experience - and im not a great guitar player at all - is, that the more i practice and the better i get, the more fun i have and with a few presets at my flavor, i'm happy and my recordings sound great. My 2 cents from my journey ;)
I got back into Guitar in a similar way as the person asking the question. Difference being I went Line 6 Power Cab 112 for the cab, HX Stomp then Helix LT. Couldn't be happier.
Computer / software plugin rig works great for me at home, and I built a portable rig dedicated to guitar; I have another computer rig dedicated to keyboards/synths.
FM3 for 999 and my American tele with Fishman pickups is still a strong combo for home playing. I think if i were gigging again I’d move to the FM9 or quad cortex, though.
I tend to agree, but I generally prefer the Boss effects in the GT1000 core more. But I do like the ability to capture and add my own rare pedals into the QC, so that’s the one I use most often when I need something not prebuilt in the GT1000 or HX.
I don't know if Joe got anything from this video but it did help me a lot! Coming from someone who has used all these modellers and plays live with them I do trust your opinions on the matter. Thank you.
For home I´d go plugin + midi controller and possibly a power amp with a cab to run it through. The reason to for the latter is to create some separation between what´s coming from the monitors and your playing.
After using the touch screen on the Quad Cortex, not having a touch screen, and one as good as the QC is a deal breaker. I hope Helix 2.0 comes out soon.
It depends on whether you are using a computer or not. As I do, at home, I use a mixture of analogic and modeling I swap between preamps with valves (AMT SS11, and a couple from Eastern artisan geniuses) and modeled amps (Tonex or UAFX Dream) connected to the OX Stomp. Overdrives, compressors and boosts are pedals and time and modulation effects are either pedals or plugins. I found I get the best sound and also the fastest setup. If I start messing around with plugins or complex modellers, I never start playing.
At home, all in the DAW.. Amplitube has been my go to for years. And the reason I use a DAW plug in, is after I have recorded my guitar and I want to change the amp or tweak the amp change the cab or mic, I can.. Because it records the dry signal.. If you use a boos GT what preset you use, is what you are stuck with. Thats why I think you’re absolutely correct with suggesting a plug in instead, for home use.. Monitors I use and best bang for the buck. Kali LP6 I have the LP8 and find them too bass heavy for my room, the LP6 is perfect for my room with plenty of low end for jamming or recording. Let a real mixer person mix anything you want to actually put out there for people to buy. Oh and Kali LP6 version 1 is perfectly fine, and cheaper than the version 2 there isnt much difference for the money. Live I just use the Boss Core for FX through my 30w amp. Just for FX no amp sim.
@mrbwoll I use the Boss GX100 and an Eventide H90. The Eventide is LUSH. The super low latency of the GX100 makes this even possible without losing too much feel. The GX100 chain is the XDrive, Butique amp, nois gate, and parametric eq to "kill the fizz" rolling off the highs and targeting a few "honking" mid frequencies. Then the Space Echo, ping pong delay and ambient reverb on separate signal paths. Looper at the end. Jackson soloist guitar with humbuckers.
The JBLs are nice. And if anyone is looking at those, the Kali LP-6 are a nice full sounding alternative too. For electric guitar monitoring, I think I'd prefer a 7 or 8 inch woofer speaker. Then the 3-way Kali IN-8 above those, where the extra driver gives more clarity. Above that, I upgraded from ADAM T7Vs recently, skipped the A7V, and went from a pair from the Polish company APS, they're APS Klassik 2020 and they sound fantastic. Those more classic amplifiers give a more forgiving guitar tone than the newer Class D which can sound a bit cutting. Don't have that incisive ribbon sound (which I don't think sounds great with guitars), and have a lovely vocal midrange, and great soundstage. They aren't so fussy about listening position as the AMT tweeter ADAMS, which I think is important if using monitors to play guitar. Where the players tends to move around a little more, and angle their head more than someone just sitting at a computer.
Great to read your take on speakers size for guitar monitoring. I had always the impress that, although guitar frequency range don't actually reach that low, having big speakers like 6,5 and 8" could possibly enhance the experience, just by the fact that it approximates the size of real guitar cabs. Do you think there would be any noticeable difference between HS7 and HS8 Yamaha monitors, considering this use case?
@@vladrapchan5330 They're both pretty beefy sounding, those Yamaha's, but maybe check the specs. A professional bass player used the HS8s, but for guitar probably similar. The difference in the -3db points might only be a few db. Whereas, I do think the 5" woofers tend to sound a bit small and lean. But then it does depend, because those new small Neumann's KH120s mk.IIs that are $1500 have damn good bass. I think anything with a -3db point in the mid 40hz area is plenty good, if you aren't playing bass guitar. Yamaha quotes there specs with LF at -10db, which is a bit cheeky though. Depends on the guitar(s) you play, and their pickups too. And the style. If you are playing jazz rhythmn guitar on big hollow/semi-hollow body Gibsons with humbuckers mostly in neck position, into a Fender style clean/loud then maybe worth the size difference. But if you like to play single coil telecasters, bridge pickup, through a Tubescreamer or bitey Klon ... then you won't miss the bass. There's a difference in sound between the very open backed speakers, especially close against a wall (like ADAM T8V, or KRK, thick, heavy, boomy but not so tuneful or with articulate timing), and something with more of a tight closed back sound (Neumann). The APS Klassiks are rear-ported, but only very slightly, and are deep, but fast and tuneful. But, I find that none of them really _feel_ like playing through a guitar cab. At moderate volume I much prefer playing through my Vox AC-15. Then again, at low volume, or if I'm leaning a lot on stereo chorus, ping-pong delay, lush stereo reverb, modeler into the speakers can be morer satisfying. I started to wonder this week what it might sound like with the Vox as a centre channel, clean/crunch/dirty/fuzz/OD, no modulation/delay/reverb. And then with the cleaner stereo effects running, L/R on the studio monitors. FWIW, I do think the Yamaha HS7 or HS8, or the Kali LP-6 / IN-8, and the JBLs 306 are all good affordable options. The ADAM T7V are good too, but I prefer them as critical mixing monitors, with Soundworks applied. The AMT tweeters are just a bit unforgiving with processed electric guitars.
If the guy likes Marshall tones then the IRX might be worth a shout. What you see is what you get controls, analog front end, and then can be routed to monitors or a poweramp/cab. Simplest option.
I got a great deal on a used Helix rack and floor controller a few years back. I usually run my Helix into the effects return of my 1x12 combo. Sounds tremendous with 6L6 power. Use the big volume knob to control overall volume for home use. I’m very happy.
I have a Zoom G11 for home use practice using looper drums aux in etc - I also use it for live use it’s really easy to use dialling in tones/presets & accessing presets live - it’s not been aggressively marketing like other brands but I use my ears & personal needs in these matters rather than hype & marketing perspectives
Hi John, I'm a helix user, but recently bought a headrush core, and it is an amazing piece of kit and plenty of great downloads, for the price well worth a look at
Best moddeler for home use is Guitar Rig 7. Does so much more than modeling. It's a sound design platform for any audio source, be it guitar, bass, synths, vocals, or any acoustic instrument. It has the best control facilities in any modeler rivaled only by Fractal units.
Very much appreciate the thoroughness of these recommendations. However it does highlight the option paralysis that gear causes for new/returning players in general. Let alone finding the right solution for your individual scenario. It's why people tend to buy more than they need.
I have owned an FM3 and loved it, but I sold it after I bought a Quad Cortex. There wasn’t much to choose between them to be honest. Both are great. I only use them for home use. What I do miss is having graphics like the Neural DSP plugins.
I went fractal since the Axe FX 2 and havent looked back. Got myself a 3 when it came out, sold the 2 and got myself an AX8 when I dont feel like carrying a 3 unit rack when I gig (didnt feel I need an FM3 since i got the 3 at home so i found a used ax8 for cheap). Fractal stuff is expensive and its GUI is a pain to learn but they really do pack everything youll ever need for guitar and bass sorta thing. The reverbs and delays are phenomenal especially
I started modelers with the HX Stomp XL. Its amazing. I quickly wanted more DSP, and footswitches. I sold the Stomp, and bought a used Helix Floor for $1000. In my area you can pretty easily get a used Floor LT for $800 or less. That's honestly what I would do.
I love my Boss GX-100, and think it's such an underestimated system. It is kinda annoying how there isn't much in terms of updates, but at the same time there were very little issues upon release. For under £500 you lots of signal chain flexibility, footswitches, expression pedal and desktop editor which can't be said for other modellers at that price range (and above). People always praise the Katanas but the GX-100 doesn't get that much love strangely.
I’ve got a Helix floor. I just bought a Tone Master Pro. I’ve never played a Kemper, or Quad, or Fractal. Comparing just to the Helix, I’m shocked at how much better the models are. I love the Helix. The updates and support Line 6 have provided are second to none. Having said that, the TMP has floored me. There is more fidelity, dynamic range, warmth to the models in this thing than the Helix can provide. I wasn’t expecting the TMP to be this good. I thought they probably did a lot of work on the u.i. But wasn’t expecting the models to be any better than the other flagship modelers. Not having played the others I can’t compare to anything other than the Helix, but I am amazed with this thing. I wondered how they could be at the same price point as the Helix, with not as many models or fx. That is not a concern for me any longer, the first update has already added the Jubilee and a ton of fx. I have a Jubilee, the model in this thing sounds exactly like it. You talk about the best modeler for home use. The u.i. on this thing makes it perfect for home use or someone who is new to this type of gear. It is the most intuitive interface I can imagine. I have never so much as glanced at the manual or quick-start guides. Anyone can sit down with this and be building rigs in no time. I haven’t been this enthusiastic about a piece of gear ever.
One thing I would also recommend is the Kemper head. It's a desktop unit, normal power cord, most controls are on the front or you can use the editor. May need to buy a couple of profiles but many good ones are free from Kemper on the editor. I have a Fractal AX8, Strymon Iridium, HX Stomp and a Kemper and for home use the kemper is my go to, always hooked up. One other recommendation is for speakers, the Headrush FRFR 108's are pretty cheap and do a great job in a room.
For home users, the helix line for sure as all the products from the stomp through to native are cross compatible with each other. You can go from jamming live, to writing, recording etc easily. None of the other companies seem to really do this.
It always amuses when people call modeler hardware outdated or legacy. People seem to forget that these devices emulate electronics that have been around 75 years to start with so in that sense they are legacy already. What drives it home for me is proven technology and stable and regular update cycles. The Helix Floor ticks all those boxes for me.
I have the gx100 & the FM3. I dont spend time with the FM3 at all and to me, it sounds way better than the boss too. Call it what you want, but perhaps it's the fact that am able to understand technical concepts easily. You get what you pay for, this is unavoidable. I'll be flogging the boss soon, even though I dont expect to get much, if anything for it.
I went away from modelers for home use, bc I was just tone hunting all the time and never just played my guitar :) Bought 2 Tech21 Fly Rigs (RK5, PL1) a Lehle Switcher and an H9 for some effects and stereo out. Less parameters more fun and the clean channel of the PL1 is for the gods.
I think the one thing you miss about "home musicians" is that doesn't necessarily imply a shoestring budget. You don't need to be a working musician to need or simply desire to use high-end equipment. It's almost insulting to gatekeep the expensive, nice stuff from us measly "home users."
I was at the same place as Joe is a few years ago : In 2015, I equiped myself with a Mesa Boogie Mark V and a bunch of pedals. Lots of fun but too loud and for my small gigs, very difficult to use. I bought a Helix LT in 2018 wich i connect direct to FOH and get sound back on stage through wedge monitor and it worked great so, i stopped hauling my amp and pedals and also started to use Helix Native for recording. I sold most all my pedals and pedalboard since then and my Mark V got sold yesterday. I'll stick with my Helix for gigs but decided to go full Plug-Ins at home. With the money I got from the amp, I'm sure I can buy a few NeuralDSP plug-ins :)
A few years ago I was seriously considering “upgrading” from my Helix LT to an FM3 to get a better Marshall or Mesa Boogie higher gain sound. I’ve subsequently purchased a few IR’s for just a few pounds which do the job in the Helix admirably. If there was a Fractal version of Helix Native it would be a no-brainier to pick up: But until we really do get the next-gen modeller; or perhaps pedals like the Friedman IR-X or the UA Lion 68 can scratch the itch, but until then the Helix still puts out great sounds both at home and in the village hall.
13:59 - I mostly agree about the Marshall models, but the Park 75 Bright, Friedman BE, and the Soldano SLO Crunch channel are exceptional for Marshall tones
I'm dipping my toe in the modelling world for the first time. I've bought a couple of units over the last few years, a zoom G5n, a boss GT1, and recently a Boss GX100. I could never get something I liked with the first two going into the power amp in or effects return on my katana, and my vox AC15 has no effects loop. With the GX100 I bought a headrush frfr108 and that turned out to be the missing link. All 3 units came alive through it, and I'm probably going to get a second one so I can run stereo. I can highly recommend the boss / headrush combination, although as I say even the little GT1 sounded great. There is a huge range of budget modellers available these days that give pretty decent sounds, but if the boss is at the price point you want to spend, it's a good buy.
Boss GT1000 core....period. Best price, highest performance, industry standard effects, 50 years in guitar effects. Amp models, every boss effect, tuner, expression pedal (gt1000), bluetooth, IR loader, stereo effects loops, XLR outs, 32 bit processing, a full featured looper, etc You cant beat the GT1000 or core version.
The bottom of your HX Stomp is downright nasty. The velcro is packed to the point of failure with bar grime, hair, and general floor refuse. Clearly a much-loved item. In a strange way, it's more of an endorsement than what you're actually saying.
100% agree.. the fractal universe is simply awesome! ive owned tham all on my GAS jounrey .. Value for money and also the tones.. fractal win By far for me .. new updates all the time too,,
My opinion…after 8 hours of working in front of a computer, I don’t enjoy using computer plugins. I’m a beginner, and for core sounds I prefer using iOS apps. I use the stuff from GarageBand, which will allow to record my playing as well. Having said that, I’m looking forward to the Ampero 2 Stage. With Bluetooth audio plus Bluetooth control via iOS app I will probably get better sounds and keep the clutter free setup I like.
I really appreciated this video. So many aspects brought into consideration. In my case, I spend the whole day in front of a computer, so the last thing I want to do is to play guitar using a computer. Therefore plug-ins are not for me. I have been playing straight into an Orange Rocker 15. Now I am considering something small and with higher quality such as the Boss 1000 Core, Hotone Amparo or the Helix Stomp. Thanks for the video!
I am very happy with the helix stomp in my home rig... but i somehow want to try the FM3... on the other hand i also think about going the synergy route and ressurect my pedalboard...
I have an LT and tried an FM3 a while back. I think the amp tones are a little better than helix (the IR used is a huge factor). The FM3 felt to me more like an amp in the room with more low mid thump and a more pleasing top end than the helix. However, the programming on the device is rough and the complexity of deep diving in the editor is not that appealing to me (stayed on the simple settings most of the time). If I didn’t have the LT already, I’d do fractal but I don’t see a need to switch or own both yet.
Great videos, John. I always look forward to your new releases. Do you do online lessons or lick vids? I would be very interested in learning a few. I have found that many of your licks and patterns would work really well at faster tempos and a lot more drive.
If home use is all you need I'd go for a half decent interface and a plug in. You can get for a good price a pretty good quality interface if all you need to do is plug a single guitar, and even that might come with a decent modeller bundled in. If not all major players do vst and standalone versions of their products, also allowing week long trials of them so you can try, play around and ultimately choose what works for you. If gigging wasn't a possibility I'd be more than happy with a focusrite interface and a neural or metallurgy plug in
So far I have been satisfied with a Nux MG-30. The price of that unit justifies my HOME usage. I wouldn't consider the Fender Tone Master at 1700$ for home usage unless you get paid for your guitar playing or you are a rich hobbyist.
The only problem with the plug-in thing is that generally you can't bring it to the gigs. So all that time you've invested on improving your tone at home just doesn't worth it when it comes to a live scenario. That's the big thing with the Helix hardware and the Helix native plug-in. They're completely interchangeable, so all the good things you do at home can be brought to the stage with no compromise. That's simply unmatched in the industry. When NDSP finally make their plug-ins portable to the Quad Cortex, then we'll have another great option for this kind of work flow.
Perfectly timed vid… looking to upgrade from pod go and just can’t decide… large older Helix LT but all the tones, GX100 seen some great reviews but bit of an unknown quantity for upgrades and the new head rush core. ‘Looks’ perfect with great UI, Wi-Fi, 5 min looper (not 20 secs), but very new to the market… decisions decisions.
I had a Stomp XL for 2 weeks and hated the UI and hated having to pull out a laptop to make patches. I am looking that the Fender TMP and I think the UI is a game changer and the Fender models sound better than anything out there IMO. The price is whack though. Should be 1199
Plugings those days are truly awesome those days. The only thing I am still finding problematic is the sense in hands... I feel that plugins are not there as far as the response mostly on right hand, basically if you play rhythm metal guitar. Axe fx for example is like an amp as far as the sense.
Long time helix owner. 8 years? The TMP is growing on me fast. Let’s compare it to the original helix QC etc. It’s all around better and has more potential with future updates.
I prefer to play at home with the same gear that I use to gig, so for me the question is: What's the best gear to use both at home and for a gig? Capture tech isn't a factor for me since I'm fully digital already, and my budget isn't tight, so I ended up upgrading to the Fender TMP from a cheaper modeler. I have to say that while it's not as flexible as some modelers out there, it does the sounds I'm looking for well, and it's stupid-easy to use either at home or performing. I'm happy with my purchase. If I had a tighter budget though, I would be eyeing the Stomp.
For me Scuffham S-gear does everything I need at home in conjunction with a midi foot controller. These hardware boxes are fine but they are not my cup of tea.
I'm surprised you were steering towards the QC given the failure rate on the units that you had previously mentioned. I was looking into re-visiting the QC but longevity has changed my mind.
The Fractal FM3 actually costs more than the Fender TMP here in Australia! Yep, you can certainly tell you are a Fractal guy. "Hey, forget about everything I just said about price for features and buy a Fractal". And the Fractal Axe FXIII Mk II turbo Alpha Beta Gamma costs over $5,000 "without" any type of foot controller, so, it's not overkill, it's actually a little bit stupid to buy one for home use only!
I primarily use the HX Stomp + ToneX at home and when playing with others. But for home use alone, the Ampero II Stomp has very good sounds (except for the unusable pitch effects). But, the update cycle is terrible. They have not released a significant update yet, and the pedal has been around for 2 years. I sold mine, and bought an Ampero Mini - sounds are also very good (though not as many choices), and it is half the price. John - you should review the Ampero Mini some time, but it defintely will not replace your HX Stomp :)
I bought a HX Stomp on Sale new for 400€ some years ago ... the software is the easiest to setup that i have fiddled with, i also have a Kemper but the interface's ease of use (lack of) pisses me off.
pity Boss does not spend more time updating there products and adding more amps. I love the low latency, the X amps can be set up to emulate a lot of other amps, but really needs a good hear and understanding each parameter. You could compare the boss modellers to the bluguitar amp1. CAn get a lot of tones but really need to know exactly the sound you want and how to get there.
I sold my amps now I run my remaining pedals into my stomp (sometimes just straight in since the stomp has good pedals anyway) then into a Catalyst in Power Amp in mode, or just use my monitors. I cant recommend an HX stomp enough, seriously. If you sit at a computer and play you could easily just get a plugin and be pretty happy but I don't have a separate audio interface as I am 100% content with my HX Stomp.
Funny that you didn't even mention Tone X, which you covered before. Or even just using plugins, briefly covered, (which is what I use almost exclusively).
I'm a home user hobbyist, and have an FM3. Can't see myself ever wanting anything else. Full disclosure - I've never played through a "real" amp. I wouldn't be able to do that at home anyway (without something like an ox box), so FM3 is perfect for me.
To answer Joe's question....Get the Fractal! If you like Marshalls and Gibsons, like me...the modeler that will get those tones the best is Fractal. All the rest are not even in the same league. In my home music room, I have several Marshall amps and cabs. I will 99.9% of the time play through my Fractal Axe FX III into my JBL LSR 308's MKI. If you want a more "in the room" sound the bigger monitors are way better.
Hey John, incredible playing as always and one of the best phrasings one can hear! I just wanted to ask you, I've been willing to buy an amp and haven't been finding the right one but I'm on somewhat of a tight budget and it seems to me the HX Stomp is the best option for home/studio/recording/live use for the money. However can I run it straight through a cab or do I need to go through a certain pedal preamp before. Thanks again for the videos and reply!
My problem is switching patches at home on a computer. I like different amp tones from different plugins so a generic midi pedal board won’t allow me to change patches between plugins. I can obviously switch to drastically different amps/patches in a modeler.
I use Blue Cat Audio PatchWork as a VST3 host. In my PatchWork patches, I use different PatchWork utilities such as Gain, EQ, Noise Gate, etc. so I have control over each patch without having to go into each plugin; and my patches use different plugins including PolyChromeDSP McRocklin Suite, NeuralDSP Archetype Petrucci and Mesa IIC+ Suite, Helix Native, Softuble Marshall Amp Room,... To control it, I use a KMI SoftStep2 MIDI floor controller. I have different board layout patches I create, that use PatchWork patches which in turn use different software plugins. When I first start the system, I step on each of the 10 SoftStep2 buttons to load each patch the first time; after that, switching between different patches is quick. The SoftStep2 can do even more, so next up is to create a board layout patch with 3-5 patches, and 5-7 or more, parameter change controls. Each button (shaped like a plus sign +) on the SoftStep2 can have up to 5 functions, including a parameter sweep and more. I also have external wah, volume and expression pedals freeing up more SoftStep2 controls for other things.