As most of you tech room nerds know, I've spent the last 12 years of my life making digital effects and amp sims for Line 6, now including Ampeg and owned by Yamaha. I've somehow sliced out an extremely specific and very rewarding job. I feel lucky.

One of my greatest talents is being able to work with "famous musicians" and not really give a shit. This is thanks to a lifetime of being involved in DIY punk rock, where we actively ignore fame for the satisfaction of being involved in the making of our own music and records. Still, there are a few times where it gets me. There are points where I'm really proud of who plays the gear that I develop. The latest is this video.


Also, there's a video with Peter Gabriel's guitarist, and I recently have seen Robert Fripp using a Helix... so that's pretty flabbergasting.

So I hope it doesn't seem too stupid or arrogant that I've started a thread to talk about my professional gear life. Thanks!

There is a "Balls Effects..." thread, no?

As for Helix, this seriously impressed me a ways back.

Never mind these...

benadrian wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:41 pm ...The latest is this video.


Also, there's a video with Peter Gabriel's guitarist, and I recently have seen Robert Fripp using a Helix... so that's pretty flabbergasting.

Fantastic video, Converge dudes are always so thoughtful and insightful about what they're doing.

And don't forget some Helix content in the Duane Denison rig rundown video:

benadrian wrote: Thu Jul 13, 2023 5:41 pm So I hope it doesn't seem too stupid or arrogant that I've started a thread to talk about my professional gear life. Thanks!

Dude, you deserve a lot of praise and credit for whatever you've contributed to this technology. I own a ton of amps and love them dearly, and was definitely in the "nothing compares to the real thing" camp until the last few years. Both Kurt and FM Steve's contributions to drum samples, and the Helix in particular, have showed me how far this technology has come and how fucking amazing these digital supplements can sound.

I played guitar (for the first time in many many years) at a friend's memorial earlier this summer and bought a Helix Stomp XL for the occasion and it was so fun to use.

Ben, you're ushering us into the future in a very cool way.

I doubt I'm alone in thinking there was a pretty definitive line in the sand with Line6 products: some were derided, some liked, others were 'fine for X purpose etc. and then the Helix came out and it was universally great... and I want to think that it took someone who came from a vibrant, creative underground/punk/whatever it is background to make the 'good sounds' come through. Not even think, we KNOW that's what makes good things.

I have a quibble with the title.

It's not BS.

not bullshit at all in terms of quality of sound and range of options. I have zero judgement on those for whom modeling works.

For me, there are 2 big turnoffs, and I wonder if this is particular to my own preferences and idiosyncrasies. First, I do not like screens and menus when playing music. That whole thing kinda messes with the enjoyment of working with my hands. Screens in general are very distracting and take me out of my creative space.

The other thing is multi-effects/amp-sims introduce some choice paralysis for me and having fewer options, I'm spending more time playing and less time auditioning virtual doodads. I could probably be happy the rest of my life with tele>4-5 regular-ass boss pedals>princeton reverb.

We’re all super proud of you and always have been. Get your flowers!

twelvepoint wrote: Fri Jul 14, 2023 8:05 am not bullshit at all in terms of quality of sound and range of options. I have zero judgement on those for whom modeling works.

For me, there are 2 big turnoffs, and I wonder if this is particular to my own preferences and idiosyncrasies. First, I do not like screens and menus when playing music. That whole thing kinda messes with the enjoyment of working with my hands. Screens in general are very distracting and take me out of my creative space.

The other thing is multi-effects/amp-sims introduce some choice paralysis for me and having fewer options, I'm spending more time playing and less time auditioning virtual doodads. I could probably be happy the rest of my life with tele>4-5 regular-ass boss pedals>princeton reverb.

I feel compelled to reply to this. For some reason, modeling seems to incite commentary and stron reactions (either pro or anti) from many guitarists. We certainlyhave some people at the company with a competitive mindset. However, most of us who make the stuff use and love a bunch of gear. We've all bought and sold stuff over the years, and we know that certain things work for certain people.

Players like you are whey we also make things like the DL4, more straigforward amps, and a number of other more traditional guitar things. Even with the Helix, there are effects loops, CV out, MIDI, a mic input, etc. We know that people are going to use it with other gear, and we encourage it. Hell, I mostly use it as a pedalboard with my favorite old amps. Yet there is always the small subset of usually very vocal people who presume that players are supposed to use ALL THE FEATURES. Strangely, these players can be either very much pro modeler or very much anti modeler.

TLDR. Modelers bring out extreme feelings, but I just want people to use whatever gear makes them happy. If I made it, awesome. If not.. also pretty cool

THE ARROGANCE!


j/k keep up the good work and keep letting us know about it. Its awesome!