11/05/2023
I had been selling guitars and amps about 14 years when the first Line 6 product launched in 1997, the AxSys 212 modeling amplifer, the first modeling amp ever sold.
5 professional self-taught know-it-alls, my co-workers and I, stood around kicking the sides of the thing, shaking our heads in skepticism and disbelief—both because the amp could never have fooled any of us into thinking we were actually hearing what its preset claimed to represent, but also because the thing just sounded so good irregardless.
That was nearly 27 years ago.
Since then digital amp modeling has become ubiquitous. These days probably more recordings and live performances are done using modeled amps and effects than those that use what we boomers would call “the real thing.”
I build custom all tube amps, naturally I prioritize them in all my rigs. Yet, I really like effect pedals. I have far fewer than some crazed enthusiasts, but still I have a couple dozen boutique pedals, easily worth about ten thousand bucks.
Nearly all my pedals are old school analog pedals, with no programmable presets, or very few, and no way to change the settings without bending over (plumbers butt) and twiddling the k***s. I was loathe to buy another multi effect pedal, because I consider them inferior and haven’t owned one since 1990.
But after hearing Andy Abel play lights out using a Line 6 Helix some time ago, I increasingly considered how that particular floorboard might make my life as a guitar player more satisfying and complete.
Finally I picked one up recently, taking advantage of a limited time offer for a free padded backpack with the purchase of a new unit.
My initial experience was much like my experiences with every other multi effect unit I’ve ever tried—a complicated piece of gear with nearly limitless possibilities, and not a single factory preset that sounds like anything I would ever use.
But I know better. Just like I know to build my own amps.
So finally today I found some time to clear myself some clean memory space and start anew from scratch.
Building from the ground up, I created a couple effect chains based on what I do with real pedals. The results are absolutely stunning. I couldn’t be happier with what the Helix allows me to do, the sounds it puts at my fingertips.
Line 6 grew out of Fast-Forward Designs, an electronic music company started by Susan Wolf, Marcus Ryle, and Michel Doidic, all formerly of Oberheim. As Fast-Forward they helped design and develop several important audio products, such as the Alesis ADAT, Quadraverb and QuadraSynth, and Digidesign SampleCell.
As they worked to develop a new line of products intended specifically for guitar amplification, they felt it was important to keep details of the project under wraps.
At that time Fast-Forward had only 5 phone lines. Thus, any time a potential competitor rang them up, “Call on Line 6” became their in-house code for “Mum’s the word,” “Keep quiet,” “Ixnay on the uitargay talk!!”
Line 6 was acquired by Yamaha in 2013. Yamaha is in my opinion the single biggest and best company in the world. Everything they do, they do exceedingly well. No higher standards to be found anywhere.
