Ben Adrian on the Art and Craft of Component Modeling
May 28, 2025 Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Helix Amp & Effects Processor, Thought Leadership
As we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Helix, we’re taking a look back—and forward—at what’s made Line 6 amp modeling so innovative.
Dave Hunter: The Big Buzz – Origins of the Fuzz Box & Tips on Getting Fuzzy
Jan 16, 2024 Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Helix Amp & Effects Processor, Thought Leadership
Hunter recaps fuzz history, provides user insights, and spotlights vintage and modern fuzz pedals modeled in Helix that you can explore yourself.
Tags: Big Muff Pi, Effects Pedals, Fuzz Face, Fuzz Tone, Fuzzbox, Guitar Effects, guitar pedal, Jeff Beck, jimi hendrix, Jimmy Page, Line 6 Helix, Mick Ronson, Paul McCartney, Pete Townshend, rolling stones, stompbox, the kinks, Tone Bender
Mike “Puisheen” Adams — Guitar Whisperer, Offset Fanatic, and Atypical Picker
Dec 11, 2023 Artists, Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Helix Amp & Effects Processor, HX Stomp & Stomp XL, Line 6 Artists
The popular YouTuber discusses his bizarre musical background, his passion for offset guitars, Helix, and being an “influencer.”
Tags: dl4, DL4 MkII, Fender Jaguar, Fender Jazzmaster, Green Day, guitar tech, HX Stomp, Jimmy Eat World, Line 6 Helix, Nels Cline, offset guitars, Radiohead, Sigur Rós, smashing pumpkins, Tom Petty, Weezer
Jeff Schroeder: Ambient Sounds Pt. 2 – Attack of the Synths
Nov 2, 2023 Artists, Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Helix Amp & Effects Processor, HX Stomp & Stomp XL, Line 6 Artists, Recording, Thought Leadership
Schroeder shares three period-correct synth-based Helix presets inspired by Adrian Belew and other early guitar synth pioneers. Free download!
Tags: adrian belew, ambient guitar, Andy Summers, Guitar Effects, guitar synth, guitar synthesizer, Line 6 Helix, robert fripp, Roland GR-300, Roland GR-700
Eric Klein: At Least Half of Your Modeler’s Sound Is Determined by Your Playback System
Sep 15, 2023 Education, Gear Tutorials, Live Performance, Recording, Thought Leadership, Uncategorized
The Helix mastermind details the pros and cons of seven popular playback options and explains why your choice is critical to your tone.
Tags: cabinet IRs, FRFR, full range flat response, guitar amps, impulse responses, in-ear monitors, Line 6 Helix, Line 6 Powercab, Marshall JCM800, studio monitor speakers
Devin Townsend – From Extreme Metal to Ambient Explorations with Helix
Jun 26, 2023 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Helix Amp & Effects Processor, Line 6 Artists, Live Performance, Recording
The radically eclectic guitarist discusses his creative process, crafting “massive clouds of sound” with dual Helix processors, and much more.
Tags: ambient guitar, extreme metal, Guitar Effects, heavy metal, Line 6 Helix, Line 6 POD, new age music, progressive pop, Sex & Religion, Steve Vai, Strapping Young Lad
Jas Obrecht: Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “Texas Flood” Sessions
May 19, 2023 Artists, Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Recording
The inside story of the making of the landmark blues album and the gear used by SRV as told by people who were there.
Tags: b.b. king, blues guitar, buddy guy, Double Trouble, Dumble amplifier, electric blues, Fender amplifier, Fender Stratocaster, jackson browne, John Lee Hooker, srv, steel string singer, Texas Flood
Dave Hunter: Tone in a Box Part 2 – Tone Tweaking Via Speaker Swapping
Feb 4, 2023 Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Helix Amp & Effects Processor, Thought Leadership
Take a deep dive into the history of guitar speakers and explore how speaker swapping—physically or virtually—can reveal a treasure trove of tones.
Tags: Alnico Blue, Altec Lansing, Celestion Greenback, Celestion speakers, Fender Bassman, guitar speakers, James B Lansing, Jensen speakers, Line 6 Helix, Marshall stack, vox ac30
Dave Hunter: Tone in a Box Part 1 – Tone Tweaking Via Cab Swapping
Dec 21, 2022 Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Helix Amp & Effects Processor, Thought Leadership
Learn all about speaker cabs and how they affect your tone—then explore the new cabs and cab parameter options in Helix 3.50 “The Cab Update.”
Tags: Fender Bassman, fender deluxe, Fender Tweed, fender twin, guitar amplifiers, guitar speakers, guitar tone, Helix 3.50 Update, Hiwatt, Line 6 Helix, Marshall 4x12, Roland Jazz Chorus, Sunn, vox ac30
Sarah Lipstate – Crafting Cinematic Soundscapes with Guitars, Bows, and Pedals Galore
Oct 6, 2022 Artists, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists
Whether performing solo as Noveller, or collaborating with the likes of Iggy Pop, Lipstate evokes majestic waves of sonic splendor.
Tags: Effects Pedals, Fender Jazzmaster, Fender Stratocaster, Guitar Effects, guitar pedals, Iggy Pop, Line 6 Helix, Line 6 HX Effects, Line 6 HX Stomp, sonic youth, St. Vincent, stompboxes
Jeff Schroeder: Ambient Sounds Pt. 1 – “Frippertronics”
Aug 25, 2022 Artists, Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Thought Leadership
The Smashing Pumpkins guitarist offers insights into ambient guitar playing and shares his “Frippertronics” Helix presets. Free Download!
Tags: ambient guitar, Brian Eno, Chords of Orion, Effects Pedals, Guitar Effects, helix floor, king crimson, Line 6 Helix, Line 6 HX Stomp, live looping, robert fripp, smashing pumpkins, tape loops
Paul Richards – Guitar Craftiness, Shepard Tones, and Echoes (plus free Helix/HX presets!)
May 10, 2022 Artists, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Uncategorized
The California Guitar Trio guitarist talks about Robert Fripp, using effects with acoustic guitar, covering Pink Floyd’s “Echoes,” and more.
Tags: acoustic guitar, dl4 delay modeler, guitar circle, guitar craft, Guitar Effects, HX Stomp, king crimson, Line 6 Helix, pink floyd, robert fripp
Dave Hunter: What’s Behind the Sag, Bias, and Bias X Controls in Helix Amps?
Apr 19, 2022 Education, Gear Tutorials, Uncategorized
Sharpen your Helix and HX tone-crafting skills by better understanding these critical tube amp parameters.
Tags: Fender amplifiers, fender champ, fender deluxe, fender princeton, fender twin, guitar amplifiers, guitar tone, Line 6 Helix, tube amp bias, tube guitar amps, vox ac30
Julien Baker – Indie Rock’s Reverb Queen Shimmers with HX Effects
Jan 31, 2022 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists
The singer, songwriter, keyboardist, and guitarist employs pedals and live looping to sculpt sounds as adeptly as she sings and turns phrases.
Tags: boss rc-3 loop station, electro-harmonix, fender telecaster, fractal axe-fx, Guitar Effects, HX Effects, kemper profiler, Line 6 DL4, Line 6 Helix, live looping, shimmer reverb, strymon bluesky
Reeves Gabrels – Is Art-Rock’s Jedi Master Really a … Blues Rocker?
Jan 7, 2022 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists
James Volpe Rotondi talks tone, effects, whammy bar technique, Helix, core influences and more with the former David Bowie and current Cure guitarist.
Tags: David Bowie, Grey Jedi, Leslie West, Line 6 Helix, Line 6 HX Stomp, Michael Schenker, Mott the Hoople, Neil Young, Ollie Halsall, Peter Frampton, Steven Stills, The Cure, Tin Machine
Jeff Schroeder on the Virtues of Running Delay and Reverb Before Distortion
Dec 7, 2021 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Recording, Uncategorized
The Smashing Pumpkins guitarist challenges convention and shares three vibey Helix presets as we mark the two year anniversary of Model Citizens.
Tags: billy corgan, Delay Pedals, distortion pedals, Echoplex, Guitar Effects, multi-effects, psychedelic-rock, shoegaze, smashing pumpkins, wah-wah pedals
Dave Hunter: Output Tube Types – Setting the Foundation of Your Tone
Oct 14, 2021 Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Thought Leadership, Uncategorized
Learn why output tubes are an essential factor when it comes to tone, even when you’re choosing and dialing in amplifier models.
Tags: 6550, 6L6GC, 6V6GT, EL34, EL84, electric guitar, Fender amplifiers, guitar tone, jtm45, Marshall amplifiers, power tubes, tube amplifiers, Tube amps, tube tone
Jeff Schroeder on Sonic Inspiration and His Multi-Modulation Helix Preset (Free Download)
Aug 16, 2021 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Recording, Thought Leadership
The Smashing Pumpkins and Night Dreamer guitarist shares musical ideas inspired by his super-vibey post-punk-style preset—with audio examples.
Tags: Cocteau Twins, Durutti Column, Guitar Effects, guitar tones, John McGeoch, Line 6 Helix, Robin Guthrie, Siousxie and the Banshees, smashing pumpkins, Vini Reilly
Not Guitar: Touch Guitarists Markus Reuter and Trey Gunn Conjure Cosmic Tones and Soundscapes From Helix
Jul 31, 2021 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists
The singular progressive rockers divulge their deepest and darkest Helix secrets—and Reuter shares his “Glitch” and “Lead” presets.
Tags: chapman stick, Guitar Effects, helix floor, Helix Native, king crimson, POD HD500, prog rock, progressive rock, robert fripp, tony levin, warr guitar
Garbage In, Garbage Out: Super Producer Butch Vig Digs Through Helix for Trash & Treasure
May 28, 2021 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Recording
James Rotondi and the renowned producer/multi-instrumentalist discuss Garbage and Helix, with additional insights from engineer/mixer Billy Bush.
Tags: garbage 2.0, guitar amplifiers, guitar pedals, helix rack, helix stomp, music production, nirvana, no gods no masters, record production, recording engineer, silversun pickups, smashing pumpkins, sonic youth
Bill Kelliher – The Mastodon Guitarist Riffs on Helix and Heaviness (and bestows a free preset)
Apr 15, 2021 Artists, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Recording, Thought Leadership
The past master of mammoth riffs initiates Barry Cleveland into the dark art of conjuring monster Helix tones.
Tags: Amp Modeler, brent hinds, david bottrill, Effects Pedals, electric guitar, guitar amps, guitar pedals, guitar technique, guitarist, heavy metal, helix floor, progressive metal, rhythm guitar, rock guitar
Helix for Neanderthals – Butch Walker’s Beastly Bag of Tricks
Mar 8, 2021 Artists, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Recording
James Rotondi and the celebrated guitarist, producer, songwriter, and performer talk tone, tech, and shoe size.
Tags: amp modelers, Avril Lavigne, Green Day, guitar, Guitar Effects, guitarist, helix rack, HX Stomp, Line 6 Helix, Multieffects, The Struts, Weezer
Barry Cleveland: How Les Paul Created His Extraordinary New Sound
Jan 20, 2021 Artists, Education, Gear History, Gear Tutorials, Recording, Thought Leadership
Barry Cleveland details the singular techniques behind the visionary guitarist and inventor’s revolutionary recordings.
Tags: guitar, home recording, les paul, mary ford, multi-track recording, music production, recording guitar, recording studio, recording techniques, sound-on-sound
Jeff Schroeder: When I Dream of Amps …
Dec 31, 2020 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Thought Leadership
The Smashing Pumpkins and Night Dreamer guitarist shares four of his “dream” multi-channel amp and effects Helix presets.
Tags: billy corgan, Boss Effects, guitar, Guitar Amplifier, guitar pedals, guitarist, Joe Satriani, Line 6 Helix, night dreamer, Roland JC-120, smashing pumpkins, Surfing with the Alien, The Cure
The Man Behind the Modelers – Eric Klein Talks Helix 3.0 with Joe Gore
Nov 27, 2020 Education, Gear Tutorials, Thought Leadership
Helix mastermind Eric Klein discusses Helix 3.0 highlights and personal favorites with veteran journalist, guitarist, and fellow Helix geek Joe Gore.
Tags: Amp Modeler, effects models, Effects Pedals, guitar, helix 3.0, helix multi-effects, Helix Native, HX Stomp, joe gore
How Producer Michael Beinhorn Records Humongous Walls of Guitar
Oct 30, 2020 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Recording
Producer Michael Beinhorn (Soundgarden, Ozzy Osbourne, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Aerosmith, Korn, Hole) shares his guitar recording techniques.
Tags: aerosmith, beinhorn, korn, music production, ozzy osbourne, recording, red hot chili peppers, rock guitar, soundgarden
Jon Herrera: What Is Re-Amping and Why Should You Care?
Oct 5, 2020 Education, Gear Tutorials, Recording, Thought Leadership
Bassist and recording engineer Jonathan Herrera expounds the nearly limitless tone-crafting power of re-amping.
Tags: di box, helix lt, Helix Native, re-amping, reamp, reamping, recording, recording bass, recording guitar, recording studio, recording techniques
Jeff Schroeder Shares His Helix Shoegaze Tones
Sep 21, 2020 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Line 6 Artists, Thought Leadership
Jeff Schroeder (Smashing Pumpkins, Night Dreamer) offers a shoegaze guitar tone primer with audio examples and downloadable Helix presets.
Tags: Brad Laner, Guitar Effects, Helix Guitar Processor, My Bloody Valentine, psychedelic guitar, shoegaze music, smashing pumpkins, Swervedriver
Mary Halvorson’s DL4 Time Warp
Aug 24, 2020 Artists, Gear Tutorials
Barry Cleveland discusses delay tactics with the highly acclaimed NYC jazz and free-improvisational guitarist.
Tags: Code Girl, dl4 delay modeler, Effects Pedals, free jazz, guitar, guitar pedals, guitarist, Improvisation, jazz, Mary Halvorson, princeton reverb, stompboxes
Dan Boul: You’ve Never Actually Heard That Amp
Jun 30, 2020 Education, Gear Tutorials, Thought Leadership
Having trouble sounding like the guitarists on your favorite records? Tube amp guru Dan Boul explains why.
Tags: 1959 les paul, 65 Amps, dan boul, guitar amp, guitar tone, la-2a, ln 1176, Marshall amp, mic preamp, microphone, paf pickups, recording, recording studio, vintage guitar amps
Joe Gore: Breaking the Analog Model
May 18, 2020 Artists, Gear Tutorials
Joe Gore explores what happens when you disregard the conventional rules of analog signal flow in the digital modeling realm.
Tags: Amp Modeler, Effects Pedals, Guitar Effects, Helix Guitar Processor, Helix Native, HX Effects, HX Stomp, joe gore, Multieffects, Signal Path, Signal Routing
Michael Ross: Gainful Deployment – Stacking Overdrives
Apr 27, 2020 Education, Gear Tutorials, Uncategorized
Michael Ross dishes the dirt on combining overdrive, fuzz, and other distortion pedals to open up whole new worlds of gain.
Tags: distortion, distortion pedal, fuzz pedal, guitar, guitar effects pedal, guitar tones, guitarist, Helix Native, Line 6 Helix, Overdrive effects pedal, pedalboard
Video: Tom Salta on Scoring Games With Helix Native
Apr 8, 2020 Artists, Gear Tutorials, Recording, Thought Leadership
Award-winning composer Tom Salta demonstrates how he uses the Line 6 Helix Native guitar and effects plug-in to create monumental sounds when scoring major video games.
Tags: AAA Games, Effects Plug-Ins, Game Scoring, Ghost Recon, Halo, Helix Native Guitar Plug-In, Red Steel, Tom Clancy, Tom Salta, Video Game Scoring, Virtual Instruments, Wolfenstein: Youngblood
Joe Gore: The Secret Power of Helix Snapshots
Dec 4, 2019 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials, Recording, Thought Leadership
Snapshots is one of the most powerful, yet underutilized, features in Helix. Joe Gore unveils its secrets, step-by-step, with images, sound clips, and downloadable examples.
Tags: guitar amps, guitar effects pedal, Helix, Helix presets, Helix Snapshots, joe gore, Line 6 Helix, multi-effects processors, signal chains
Barry Cleveland: A Young Person’s Guide to Speaker Cabinet IRs
Nov 21, 2019 Education, Gear Tutorials
Speaker cabinet impulse responses are all the rage—but what are they and how can you use them when crafting great guitar tones with your modeler?
Tags: Cab IRs, guitar cabinet, guitar speaker, guitar tones, impulse responses, IR, Line 6 Helix, Line 6 Powercab
Matt Scannell on Using HX Effects with 4-Cable Method In His Live Rig
Nov 3, 2019 Artists, Education, Gear Tutorials
Curious about 4-Cable Method? Matt Scannell runs Matt Blackett through how he employs it with his HX Effects-based live effects rig.
Tags: guitar effects pedal, guitar tone, HX Effects, line 6, Matt Scannell, pedalboard, stompboxes
