One of the biggest mistakes a person can make with this box is judging it's tonal and effects capabilities by the standard presets. I almost returned mine because of that, but after giving myself time to roll my own rigs ... it's awesome. I'll put it up against just about anything. Dual amps and cabs capability and a looper that you can store loops and tons of already loaded Ir's too.
I completely agree but i still think a lot of these stock sounds are pretty good! especially ran into a power amp!... i have another video about this and im super impressed with this unit now... even right out of the box!
Yep same here. First thing I noticed is that none of the factory presets use any IR's. As soon as you add an IR and adjust the volume level the preset is instantly better. I only use my own presets nowadays unless I'm doing like a classic rock cover of a Stones or Zeppelin song. All the high gain presets I use are my own.
Regarding fizzyness: This can be virtually eliminated by putting the noise filter at the front of your rig and and then setting the high threshold for your guitar. This is done by setting the gate threshold to -120 dB (so it doesn't cut out when you're testing the decay) and then kicking in some high gain distortion and experimenting with the noise filter. Pluck a note and allow it to decay while cycling the noise filter bypass. It's set correctly when there's no noise at low decay levels when active but noise (and fizz) is present when bypassed. Check that the guitar sounds correct when playing normally. When cycling noise filter bypass, it's a good level if you can't tell the difference between active and bypassed. My wimpy strat requires a threshold of -35 dB. Hotter pickups will be significantly higher.
Simplicity is the reason I went for a Headrush pedalboard instead of the Helix or Fractal. The drag and drop smart phone style of interface just seemed right to me. I have had many other digital effects units where I wasn't to unlock all it's capabilities because navigating through the menu was either a huge hassle or too complicated. Very happy with the Headrush.
I will tell you that when it comes to simplicity, Headrush is at the top for sure! and i love helix and i want a fractal but hands down, headrush is the easiest to use
Your Helix is too big and heavy and bulky for today's standards! At the moment only HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL are the best choice for stage live usage. Although their modelling sound sucks comparing it to FRACTAL but dimensions decide everything there!
A POD GO? It sucks in many aspects for me. That's still too big with too weak DSP / modeling. Only HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL should be considered here because of their shell construction and really compact dimensions without that unnecessary pedal.
I have a Gigboard permanently fixed to my studio desk. Its a great studio tool. Best thing to do is make some Rigs, put them in a Setlist and you can always find your rigs when you need them.
this is exactly what I mean... what an amazing piece to have in the studio... im just so nervous about using this board with a touch screen on a dirty club stage where people are jumping up and spilling drinks... my helix has withstood soooo much of that but id be afraid with this... what do you think??
@@jimmyfranklin I think it has a touch-locked screen mode with just the text labels at the bottom so you can gig with only feet and not worry about accidentally changing a setting
Considering the price $399, MX5 is the game changer in the market definitely. Same DSP power with other larger pedalboard and the compact size is killing me. I bought this one right after official release and sold my Zoom G11. What Headrush Pedalboard has is in this tiny cute MX5. I strongly believe that those who love compact multi modellers and powerful machines, I think MX5 is the answer. I am in love with this tiny but growling machine. :)
dude! i hope you are right. I still fear touch screens and I had a friend who had the big headrush and switches stopped working. yes maybe it was his fault and maybe he got a one off bad one but this is my only experience with it so far!
Compact size with a power of big devices of recent past rules! I wish they released a model without that extra embedded pedal just like many competitors did.. I mean here Ampero II Stomp and GE-300 Lite and HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL models that are all compact in their own way. And FM-3 and Quad Cortex DSP of course.
Love that your approach is that you can’t compare these things to each other because they’re each their own thing. I owned a helix and an HX stomp and could never bond with the tones out of them. Bought the MX-5 recently and love it. It’s much easier for me to dial in great tones with and I don’t get sucked into the never ending tinkering black hole. Love the simplicity of the Headrush stuff and the tones. All of these units can sound awesome in my opinion.
@@MikeColeVocals right? That was wild. I got a helix lt recently and I’m really liking it. There ARE a lot of ways to make your patches sound bad, though, lol. Prior to the helix I was using a digitech rp360, and the best patches I made on that were pretty sweet. Point being: if you weren’t enjoying your experience with the helix, I’m glad you are enjoying the headrush. I guess we could arm wrestle about processing and modeling accuracy and other features, but “easier and more fun for you to use,” kind of defines the superior product for you…
All of the units do a pretty good job of modelling. The difference is minimal. All of them have a hiss or fizz in them. I found the best way to rid myself of that is to cut lows and highs around 90 and 7.5k. Your guitar isn't really pushing anything outside of those boundaries. The Headrush wins purely because of its simple interface. Nothing out there is easier to get a great sound out of quickly.
Like A Fox = Foxy Lady Jimi Hendrix. I had one.. for about 30 minutes. Then sent it back. Interface was excellent but default tones were horrible. However worst thing was the "digitisation" tail of the sound. This frequently showed up if you just touched the strings in mid gain settings and there would be a quick burst of digitised noise. It appears to be a common problem as I subsequently found out others had the same issue with it.
My buddy Francis - The Padded Pedal Room had the big Headrush and this new MX5 and loves them. I like using amp sims and plugins for recording then Marshall Halfstack for live. Rock on 🤘
I bought headrush gigboard and pod go same week let them go head to head I to am line 6 diehard since the bean I have em all and love them xT, x3, ampli forget about it love me …but to be headrush just gets better tones easy interface ..it was so easy to dial I killer stuff especially stereo tones …o awesome live
I bought a full Helix and I spent all my time tweaking, swapped to a headrush pedalboard and I spend all my time playing. The Helix is better in a lot of ways .. Build quality, Routing, Sheer number of effects, Mic input.. but the Headrush plays and feels like a real amp. I feel your pain man, nobody needs a transformer sag control ;)
@@StevePond tbh I've learnt so much in 3 months and I'm better for it, helix is good man it just took some time. Its probably the best modeller bro straight up.
I bought the MX5 after I had sold an HX Effects and to my ears I think the Headrush sounds are better! I do enjoy the unit. However, there are a few annoying things about it such as the footswitches not being as responsive as I would like, not having an additional FX Loop, and the expression pedal is hot garbage. I'll eventually sell it and get a GT1000Core to see how that fits with me. Your first impression I enjoyed though! I get all of your complaints and compliments of the unit. I think they're valid.
I recently purchased a Line 6 Spider Mk2 240-Watt Combo Modeler. The 2x12 speakers are great. We have a few acres of property and the amp alone pushes so much. However, I only own one guitar, an Epiphone Special 2. The pickups are... just okay. Looking to start collecting more guitars. I've owned many guitars in the past but never owned a decent amp (apartment life). Now I finally have a decent amp, but too soon to tell how good modelers are with a 20+ year old guitar. I use D'Addario Pro Steels (light). Was going to get an Ibanez, but holding out for an AIO Wolf "Les Paul" or a Firefly LP.
@@jimmyfranklin I've been looking into the Ibanez Axion. It was recommended by a friend who lives and breathes everything Ibanez. I'm not entirely convinced yet.
What kinda music or feel are you after something to consider when picking guitar, ..strats or teles are always good choice American or even mex, I just got a “wylde instruments” barbarian it’s sick they have good stuff zakk wylde co
@@hierrogm That Barbarian looks like a nice SG style. Didn't even know he had his own line. I knew he partnered with Gibson Les Paul for his signature LP, but that's it. As for style, I'm trying to hone in on a deep chorus with a decent reverb to emulate a clean tone with those sweet (distortion/rush) spots in between (The Devil Wears Prada - Kansas, Motionless in White - City Lights). I wrote an animated series and am writing my own music for the stuff I'm not sourcing out. As for sourcing out, trying to get the rights to use some Breaking Benjamin, Five Finger Death Punch, State Of Mine, and Nothing More. There's no way I can match any of those tones with the current equipment. And right now, besides a few $500 or less guitars, I can't see myself being able to afford much more gear. But that Headrush MX5 looks sweet, especially with the right guitar... so it's going to be tough making decisions. Hope that helps give a better idea of tone and style.
I forgot to mention about what you said about the fizz in the MX5,i did not really hear it in your video but i have seen another video on youtube of the MX5 where you can adjust the low pass and high pass filters in the IR block not sure if you can do it on the factory cabs but i would adjust the the low pass to around 9 or 10k and see if that helps with the fizz!
YES!! I was palying with that today a little bit. they have that on helix and helix native as well! and its an EXTREMELY useful feature! that plus IRs is huge and can really clean up that fizz... also i should say, there sometimes is room for the fizz!!
I have a Mooer GE300 and a NUX MG300 , both sound good using my own custom presets and IRs , the places I play in ( I play once or twice a month ) either have inadequate amps or amps that just suck . Going DI is the only way and using these amp modeler multi effects units are the answer. You Love your Helix that's great , I hated the one I tried and in my world view it's not the gold standard and it's heavy as fcuk......the factory presets on these units all need tweaking but once you do that sonically the audience cannot tell the difference in a band mix . I think all these units are good for those willing to sit down and spend some time dialing in good tones. The presets on this one all sound like a tin can full of bees but I do believe in a short time I could dial in some good tones with this unit. Great demo !
Thanks for making the video! I just ordered this unit today, and I am 110% sure that there is no better unit in this price range. It probably has capabilities of a larger unit, minus more knobs. I previously had BOSS GT-1 which at certain point turns gain into synth so I kinda noticed that and decided to move away from it lol.
@@TheSason666 Last summer, I had the GT1000 CORE for a couple of weeks. I was so stoked about it. And it just fell so flat. The user interface and the app were like from the late 80's. It didn't FEEL good to play through. I got the Atomic Amplifire-box instead. Muuuuuch better FEEL! I also had the HR Gigboard, but it felt too big and clunky for my taste. This guy (the MX5)...is ticking all my boxes!
Great video. I have had the PODGO for about a year. I think it is a good unit with many pluses. However I've always found myself constantly tweeking and trying different IRs, not getting much else done and couldn't get to the place that I was really happy with the tone and feel. Then I bought the MX-5 a couple months ago because I really liked my Avid 11 Rack in the past. Within minutes I was grinning ear to ear with the tones I was getting. Without much aggravation, I have several usable tones I'm happy with that I don't sit and mess with and not play and record. I do agree that IRs and proper EQ is key with any modeler. Digging the York IRs at the moment. This is my experience and ears. That being said, I think the newer Line 6 stuff is good. I have the HX Effects unit which I think is phenomenal. I hear many Nashville Session guys have them on their board. Keep up the great videos.
I totally agree! My video today at 2 is me running the stock MX5 into my power amp and cab and let me tell you, stock sounds were VERY inspiring... I think the amp models sounded wonderful through my live rig. We all would like to spend more time playing than tweaking right??? i was considering the pod go for my b rig but now this is a HIGH consideration.. THANK YOU SO MUCH and let me know what you think of todays video!
I also love my Helix and Fractal stuff. Problem for me: I play a Godin with 13-pin output, and I always have to take a GP-10 or GR-55 with me. So I put the GP on a floor board in connection with an FM-3, where the GP is acting as several electric or acoustic guitars in different tunings, while the FM is for amps and fx. Because this ended in being a big board, I needed something smaller - which was an HX Stomp. The Stomp is good, and it unfortunately fitted onto the board right above the FM-3. Just because it could. And I needed something small, again. That's, when I tried the MX-5. In no way this unit can do crazy stuff, that my Axe Fx, GSP 2101, Helix, FM-3 could. But what it can do very, very, very well is something, that I was missing ever since I put a second processor into my GSP: Seamless program change. In combination with the ability to create setlists in the MX, that is a very powerful thing - that made me leave my racks or boards at home more often than I had expected... If you want to know what I'm talking about, watch thibderob playing his Pink Floyd set through the headrush :) ua-cam.com/video/Bhuutf30ZWA/v-deo.html
I think you should have created some of your own user presets to your liking for some better tones that being said the factory presets were not bad,the last tone you played with all the guitar tapping sounded really good!Most factory presets on many modelers do not sound so good but i guess these newer modelers now have better sounding factory presets?
honestly these presets were some of the better sounding ones! And i'm planning on doing a video where i make my own presets! I wanna see exactly how easy it is to do! so stay tuned for that!
Jimmy is right, just like amps, all effects units have their own personality and voicings. They are all unique! Why do the pros have dozens of amps, because they all do different things, same with these modelers......all unique personalities.
Have you compared the Helix to the NEUTRAL DSP QUAD CORTEX DIGITAL EFFECTS AND AMP MODELER AND CAPTURE FLOORBOARD? This one looks similar, but it also has a lot of DSP, which it seems like a lot of units run out of and then can't save as many tones due to memory running out. The other great thing is that it can capture amp tones. Never seen another unit that can do that yet. I have a Helix as well. I saw a video on comparing the Helix to the Fractal Audio Axe Effects III Turbo. The Fractal won the tone possibilities, while the Helix was more compatible using for live gigs getting to change things on the fly.
Buying this soon. Also great to the point demos and stunning playing my dude! I fell in love with the variety of licks and forgot about the MX5 for a second lol
Just a suggestion, the audio would be much better if you muted the room mic while the DAW audio is active. The acoustic sound off the guitar strings is fairly distracting when trying to hear how the MX5 sounds.
Planning to buy this! I just bought an Epiphone ES-335 in Blueburst. I'm a bass player just looking for something to distract myself sometimes. And I think this is perfect for my basic use, it has every basic effect I need. I do hope it has patches for bass though since it's my main instrument, but anyway I have a setup for bass already.
I have to check if there are bass patches! I totally will! This is a fun piece for home practice and studio use! Hey! If you do pick it up, please use the link in the description! I don’t remember if I said it in the video but it’s no extra cost and it helps support my channel! Thanks in advance!!
This is a 100% pointless review. No one uses stock patches in a modeler. I have a Helix and Kemper and MX5. The MX5 sounds every bit as good as either if you actually set it up. But is 1 million times easier to use. Also,no one fidgets with a modeler on stage. That's what scenes, patches, rigs and sets are for. If you're looking for real reviews on this thing, look elsewhere. There's plenty.
I appreciate the concern. But I’ve used my helix on stages of all sizes from the crappiest dive bar to 10,000 seats, and I’ve been in situations where I’ve accidentally changed my setting in the middle of a song and had to figure out how to get back despite my snapshots being set up. And I will tell you as well that I can AND I do use stock patches with my rig. Eliminate the IR and run a cab properly and you can use any stock patch you want and they sound wonderful. Thank you for coming.
I think we can all agree that you never judge a unit on presets, which are created by software engineers and are just starting points. Presets mean nothing.
Every Headrush video , I noticed the fizz you mentioned. I just wonder how that would do in a live situation to help it cut. But by itself , it kind of doesn't sound great.
Well, like all pedals you have to play with then and adjust them accordingly. I have two different Headrush boards and I've been using headrush for 4 years and I'm still learning more about them and coming up with amazing rigs that sound amazing.
I've been using the POD GO for 6 months now, and the Helix LT for about 3 months. I love them both but this MX5 has my attention. It sounds phenomenal and its size really appeals to me. After 30 years of gigging my rig has gotten smaller and lighter...this MX5 would make my current rig even smaller and lighter. I've tried FRFRs but prefer an amp (I current run a Quilter into a light-weight cab with a 1x12" speaker). SO basically I use the POD GO or Helix LT as a pedalboard. With all that said, I'd like to see a video that shows the MX5 in action as a pedalboard. We all know the POD GO and Helix LT has plenty of foot switches but this MX5 only has three. The MX5 has 11 blocks that can be customized, but how can you switch between all those blocks on the fly with only three foot switches? Any chance you can do a video showing the MX5 in a "live gig" type of scenario? This was a great video. New sub here!
Size rules today of course! Especially comparing it to your Helix LT and even POD GO which is also too big for me! HX Stomp (XL) would be the right answer from Line 6 in terms of size.
My first modeler was the POD. Most recently playing a Boss Katana MKII. Bought the MX5 just a few hours ago. It included a download card for Celestion IRs. Do you think that will help? What do you think about the FRFR cabs?
WOAAAAHHH! I didn't receive the same card i dont think! ill check the box but that is HUGE. you can use those IRs for anything most likely and not only that BUT the IRs have a low and high pass filter adjustment in the MX5 allowing for even more tone editing! you will get some of the best tones with those! and if not, check out the company Own Hammer. I use all of there IRs for so many different things!
Just some food for thought. I've had my MX-5 for a couple of months. Loving it. My PODGO sits now. I've got a pretty good library of IRs. I'm digging the York IRs at the moment. But I also like Tone Junkies, Vox and Marshall IRs. I run it through an older Tech 21 Power Engine 60 which come with a Celestion speaker. This keeps the frequency response in the guitar ballpark. Also Keeping the frequency range in the 80- 9k ish range on the unit helps alot. IRs and EQ goes along way to tame the modeling fizz. My favorite patch at the moment is one called Matchbook-less by Jason Holler. I downloaded it off the artists section on the HeadrushFX website. I tweeked it slightly and use a York Matchless IR. Hope this helps.
I know that the HX stomp is reliable. im not sure about the MX5. ill tell you, the MX5 has won me over a lot though! i play it every day and have a huge smile on my face. im just worried about the touch screen in live bar settings and stuff. have you seen my video with it plugged into my amp??
Great review. I’m thinking about getting this to use 4 cable method with a Bluguitar Amp1 and some other beloved pedals. Could be sweet. Maybe a Boss Od-200 in front for drives.
Custom Aftermarket IRs like ML SOUND and Ownhammer can make every MultiFX modelers sound 10X better. I just don't understand why can't these manufacturers just put Aftermarket IRs, buy them from the creators and be done with it. I own/ed Fractals. A Kemper to the Helix, I'm just not sold on how they sound with their stock cab IRs, it's like eating a candy with a thin piece of layering wrap where you just can't get the full flavor off it. Right now I'm currently enjoying a cheap piece of gear called the NUX MG 300 and I just love how they sound with Aftermarket IRs! much better than my POD GO in my opinion
This is a total rookie question....can I use a single studio monitor? I’m in a tight space and only playing around 70db. Looking for versatility at home.
For recording?? Like I have in the back?? Yea technically you can do whatever you want. But if you are recording rock rhythm guitars for example you are going to want to pan them hard left and hard right for that big rock sound and if you do you couldn’t mix or hear one side. So 2 is definitely recommended
Does anyone know how to use a dual Ampero footswitch pedal with the MX5? I saw some videos with the M-Vave Chocolate, but it had an app for programming. However, my footswitch is basic, and I don't know how to configure it with the MX5.
Well. Everything now sounds very good. As far as a sound test goes, the boss is great. For me the interface of the me80 is clunky BUT it has that boss sturdiness to it. It’s built like a brick. While I think the headrush may have more to work with, I think it comes down to if you want knobs to tweak or software to dive into. The boss has knobs to work with AND software. The headrush is all software and touch screens.
I hated this unit. Reminded me of my OLD Rocktron unit from the 90's. I seriously was hoping for much better given that it was offering the same presets as the more expensive models in its range.
@@jimmyfranklin only the standard presets. My Hotone Ampero started at a better and more responsive place. Then when I was able to move microphones with the Hotone (which can't be done with this unit) it actually sounded workable.
The headrush stock IR.. ar so so. Get to sonic DNA.. and buy their pro I.r. I did and deleted all the stock crap preset. Then the headrush surpass the helix...kamper..etc. It becone on par with them on many thing.. for 3x less money.
Just got one of these today and... hmmm. Everything sounds fake to me 🤔 which is really depressing as was super excited to order one. Just spent the day arsing around with it trying to make a great natural sound like my 1976 Bluesbreaker and it just isn't giving me that. So I thought I'd watch your video and see if I could convince myself to keep the unit. It seems as though if you want metal sounds this is amazing. If you want to do anything else, look elsewhere. Next port of call is gonna be Boss IR-200 - as need something for home recording but really don't need to stack sounds in the endless hunt for the perfect chugging metal tone. 18 year old me would have gone mental for this little monster but 50 year old me?? Nope, I can't handle the tyranny of choice. The 270 presets are - in general horrible. Like karaoke guitar sounds. I just want something that gets out of the way so I can concentrate on playing/writing/recording so sadly this technological marvel is going back on Monday. It's not a pro piece of gear imho but could be amazing for younger musicians who aren't as fussy/grumpy as me and want an entire music store of amps and effects in their backpack.
If you want classic vintage amps for classic rock & 80s rock get the headrush. If you want amps that don't sound vintage then get a Helix. Personally I cant stand Helix. Thin fizzy ear piercing model amps that make me want to through the Helix from Mount Everest so It can suffer its demise as long as possible!!!
@@jimmyfranklin true dat and great playing by the way. At least your playing did justice to the headrush. Some of these other you tubers reviewing modelers don’t and I too want to throw them off Mount Everest
I’ve had my Helix for about 3 years now. No fizziness at all. And it doesn’t need IRs to sound great. The stock cabs and speakers are great. Learn how to dial it in and it sounds and feels just like a tube amp.
Let me know BELOW what your experience with different modeling units has been! I try my best to respond to all of you!
One of the biggest mistakes a person can make with this box is judging it's tonal and effects capabilities by the standard presets. I almost returned mine because of that, but after giving myself time to roll my own rigs ... it's awesome. I'll put it up against just about anything. Dual amps and cabs capability and a looper that you can store loops and tons of already loaded Ir's too.
I completely agree but i still think a lot of these stock sounds are pretty good! especially ran into a power amp!... i have another video about this and im super impressed with this unit now... even right out of the box!
Usually a Reverb before a cranked amp doesn't sound all that great.
Yep same here. First thing I noticed is that none of the factory presets use any IR's. As soon as you add an IR and adjust the volume level the preset is instantly better. I only use my own presets nowadays unless I'm doing like a classic rock cover of a Stones or Zeppelin song. All the high gain presets I use are my own.
I really like some of those out of the box presets better than other units, nice video
Regarding fizzyness: This can be virtually eliminated by putting the noise filter at the front of your rig and and then setting the high threshold for your guitar. This is done by setting the gate threshold to -120 dB (so it doesn't cut out when you're testing the decay) and then kicking in some high gain distortion and experimenting with the noise filter. Pluck a note and allow it to decay while cycling the noise filter bypass. It's set correctly when there's no noise at low decay levels when active but noise (and fizz) is present when bypassed. Check that the guitar sounds correct when playing normally. When cycling noise filter bypass, it's a good level if you can't tell the difference between active and bypassed. My wimpy strat requires a threshold of -35 dB. Hotter pickups will be significantly higher.
Simplicity is the reason I went for a Headrush pedalboard instead of the Helix or Fractal. The drag and drop smart phone style of interface just seemed right to me. I have had many other digital effects units where I wasn't to unlock all it's capabilities because navigating through the menu was either a huge hassle or too complicated. Very happy with the Headrush.
I will tell you that when it comes to simplicity, Headrush is at the top for sure! and i love helix and i want a fractal but hands down, headrush is the easiest to use
And Rockchip 3288 rules in Headrushes !!!
Your Helix is too big and heavy and bulky for today's standards!
At the moment only HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL are the best choice for stage live usage. Although their modelling sound sucks comparing it to FRACTAL but dimensions decide everything there!
And new compact dimensions of new MX5 are simply amazing !!!
But I wish it had no pedal with it so thus it would be even smaller !!!
A POD GO? It sucks in many aspects for me. That's still too big with too weak DSP / modeling.
Only HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL should be considered here because of their shell construction and really compact dimensions without that unnecessary pedal.
I have a Gigboard permanently fixed to my studio desk. Its a great studio tool. Best thing to do is make some Rigs, put them in a Setlist and you can always find your rigs when you need them.
this is exactly what I mean... what an amazing piece to have in the studio... im just so nervous about using this board with a touch screen on a dirty club stage where people are jumping up and spilling drinks... my helix has withstood soooo much of that but id be afraid with this... what do you think??
@@jimmyfranklin I think it has a touch-locked screen mode with just the text labels at the bottom so you can gig with only feet and not worry about accidentally changing a setting
Considering the price $399, MX5 is the game changer in the market definitely. Same DSP power with other larger pedalboard and the compact size is killing me. I bought this one right after official release and sold my Zoom G11. What Headrush Pedalboard has is in this tiny cute MX5. I strongly believe that those who love compact multi modellers and powerful machines, I think MX5 is the answer. I am in love with this tiny but growling machine. :)
dude! i hope you are right. I still fear touch screens and I had a friend who had the big headrush and switches stopped working. yes maybe it was his fault and maybe he got a one off bad one but this is my only experience with it so far!
Very cool machines….I have the gigboard and I’m in love with it also have a pod go wireless …it’s pretty awesome to but lately all headrush baby
Compact size with a power of big devices of recent past rules! I wish they released a model without that extra embedded pedal just like many competitors did..
I mean here Ampero II Stomp and GE-300 Lite and HX Stomp and HX Stomp XL models that are all compact in their own way. And FM-3 and Quad Cortex DSP of course.
@@jimmyfranklin Touchscreens is the way of unevitable progress evolution every manufacturer will be forced to follow...
@@hierrogm Gigboard today is way too big to consider it again... We all often need compact sizes.
Love that your approach is that you can’t compare these things to each other because they’re each their own thing. I owned a helix and an HX stomp and could never bond with the tones out of them. Bought the MX-5 recently and love it. It’s much easier for me to dial in great tones with and I don’t get sucked into the never ending tinkering black hole. Love the simplicity of the Headrush stuff and the tones. All of these units can sound awesome in my opinion.
Yep your right on dood
@Arturo Gallegos thanks for the passive aggressive comment.
@@MikeColeVocals right? That was wild. I got a helix lt recently and I’m really liking it. There ARE a lot of ways to make your patches sound bad, though, lol. Prior to the helix I was using a digitech rp360, and the best patches I made on that were pretty sweet.
Point being: if you weren’t enjoying your experience with the helix, I’m glad you are enjoying the headrush. I guess we could arm wrestle about processing and modeling accuracy and other features, but “easier and more fun for you to use,” kind of defines the superior product for you…
All of the units do a pretty good job of modelling. The difference is minimal. All of them have a hiss or fizz in them. I found the best way to rid myself of that is to cut lows and highs around 90 and 7.5k. Your guitar isn't really pushing anything outside of those boundaries. The Headrush wins purely because of its simple interface. Nothing out there is easier to get a great sound out of quickly.
Had the Helix, Bought the Headrush floorboard!(half the price) returned the Helix! nough said! P.S foxy lady (Hendrix) equals "like a Fox"
Have it, love it, any rating below an 8 on this is from a lack of understanding and time spent with the unit..... It is a game changer.
i am starting to find that out... how do you use it primarily??
Like A Fox = Foxy Lady Jimi Hendrix. I had one.. for about 30 minutes. Then sent it back. Interface was excellent but default tones were horrible. However worst thing was the "digitisation" tail of the sound. This frequently showed up if you just touched the strings in mid gain settings and there would be a quick burst of digitised noise. It appears to be a common problem as I subsequently found out others had the same issue with it.
My buddy Francis - The Padded Pedal Room had the big Headrush and this new MX5 and loves them.
I like using amp sims and plugins for recording then Marshall Halfstack for live.
Rock on 🤘
you are the man! im not willing to carry my marshall stack any more! lol
I bought headrush gigboard and pod go same week let them go head to head I to am line 6 diehard since the bean I have em all and love them xT, x3, ampli forget about it love me …but to be headrush just gets better tones easy interface ..it was so easy to dial I killer stuff especially stereo tones …o awesome live
Everytime I hear headrush it's exactly what I want my helix to sound like..... Helix is hard work. Too much hard work.
I bought a full Helix and I spent all my time tweaking, swapped to a headrush pedalboard and I spend all my time playing. The Helix is better in a lot of ways .. Build quality, Routing, Sheer number of effects, Mic input.. but the Headrush plays and feels like a real amp. I feel your pain man, nobody needs a transformer sag control ;)
@@StevePond tbh I've learnt so much in 3 months and I'm better for it, helix is good man it just took some time. Its probably the best modeller bro straight up.
To get rid of the fizz just cut your highs at around 6K.
You can lock the touch screen for stage use.
I bought the MX5 after I had sold an HX Effects and to my ears I think the Headrush sounds are better! I do enjoy the unit. However, there are a few annoying things about it such as the footswitches not being as responsive as I would like, not having an additional FX Loop, and the expression pedal is hot garbage. I'll eventually sell it and get a GT1000Core to see how that fits with me. Your first impression I enjoyed though! I get all of your complaints and compliments of the unit. I think they're valid.
I recently purchased a Line 6 Spider Mk2 240-Watt Combo Modeler. The 2x12 speakers are great. We have a few acres of property and the amp alone pushes so much. However, I only own one guitar, an Epiphone Special 2. The pickups are... just okay. Looking to start collecting more guitars. I've owned many guitars in the past but never owned a decent amp (apartment life). Now I finally have a decent amp, but too soon to tell how good modelers are with a 20+ year old guitar. I use D'Addario Pro Steels (light). Was going to get an Ibanez, but holding out for an AIO Wolf "Les Paul" or a Firefly LP.
dude! what ibanez were you thinking about getting???
@@jimmyfranklin I've been looking into the Ibanez Axion. It was recommended by a friend who lives and breathes everything Ibanez. I'm not entirely convinced yet.
What kinda music or feel are you after something to consider when picking guitar, ..strats or teles are always good choice American or even mex, I just got a “wylde instruments” barbarian it’s sick they have good stuff zakk wylde co
@@hierrogm That Barbarian looks like a nice SG style. Didn't even know he had his own line. I knew he partnered with Gibson Les Paul for his signature LP, but that's it.
As for style, I'm trying to hone in on a deep chorus with a decent reverb to emulate a clean tone with those sweet (distortion/rush) spots in between (The Devil Wears Prada - Kansas, Motionless in White - City Lights). I wrote an animated series and am writing my own music for the stuff I'm not sourcing out. As for sourcing out, trying to get the rights to use some Breaking Benjamin, Five Finger Death Punch, State Of Mine, and Nothing More. There's no way I can match any of those tones with the current equipment. And right now, besides a few $500 or less guitars, I can't see myself being able to afford much more gear. But that Headrush MX5 looks sweet, especially with the right guitar... so it's going to be tough making decisions. Hope that helps give a better idea of tone and style.
Earthquake at 13:31 😆👌. Great video dude. Subbed
I forgot to mention about what you said about the fizz in the MX5,i did not really hear it in your video but i have seen another video on youtube of the MX5 where you can adjust the low pass and high pass filters in the IR block not sure if you can do it on the factory cabs but i would adjust the the low pass to around 9 or 10k and see if that helps with the fizz!
YES!! I was palying with that today a little bit. they have that on helix and helix native as well! and its an EXTREMELY useful feature! that plus IRs is huge and can really clean up that fizz... also i should say, there sometimes is room for the fizz!!
The fizzy sounds are all that prevent me from buying the unit. Otherwise it ticks all my boxes.
Good information, just purchased one. Good place to get the IRs like the Journey ones you used ? Thanks
I have a Mooer GE300 and a NUX MG300 , both sound good using my own custom presets and IRs , the places I play in ( I play once or twice a month ) either have inadequate amps or amps that just suck . Going DI is the only way and using these amp modeler multi effects units are the answer. You Love your Helix that's great , I hated the one I tried and in my world view it's not the gold standard and it's heavy as fcuk......the factory presets on these units all need tweaking but once you do that sonically the audience cannot tell the difference in a band mix . I think all these units are good for those willing to sit down and spend some time dialing in good tones. The presets on this one all sound like a tin can full of bees but I do believe in a short time I could dial in some good tones with this unit. Great demo !
Thanks for making the video! I just ordered this unit today, and I am 110% sure that there is no better unit in this price range. It probably has capabilities of a larger unit, minus more knobs. I previously had BOSS GT-1 which at certain point turns gain into synth so I kinda noticed that and decided to move away from it lol.
Boss is out of this guitar amps modelling game surprisingly today!
They lost almost everything...
@@TheSason666 Last summer, I had the GT1000 CORE for a couple of weeks. I was so stoked about it. And it just fell so flat. The user interface and the app were like from the late 80's. It didn't FEEL good to play through. I got the Atomic Amplifire-box instead. Muuuuuch better FEEL! I also had the HR Gigboard, but it felt too big and clunky for my taste. This guy (the MX5)...is ticking all my boxes!
Great video. I have had the PODGO for about a year. I think it is a good unit with many pluses. However I've always found myself constantly tweeking and trying different IRs, not getting much else done and couldn't get to the place that I was really happy with the tone and feel. Then I bought the MX-5 a couple months ago because I really liked my Avid 11 Rack in the past. Within minutes I was grinning ear to ear with the tones I was getting. Without much aggravation, I have several usable tones I'm happy with that I don't sit and mess with and not play and record. I do agree that IRs and proper EQ is key with any modeler. Digging the York IRs at the moment. This is my experience and ears. That being said, I think the newer Line 6 stuff is good. I have the HX Effects unit which I think is phenomenal. I hear many Nashville Session guys have them on their board. Keep up the great videos.
I totally agree! My video today at 2 is me running the stock MX5 into my power amp and cab and let me tell you, stock sounds were VERY inspiring... I think the amp models sounded wonderful through my live rig. We all would like to spend more time playing than tweaking right??? i was considering the pod go for my b rig but now this is a HIGH consideration.. THANK YOU SO MUCH and let me know what you think of todays video!
I also love my Helix and Fractal stuff. Problem for me: I play a Godin with 13-pin output, and I always have to take a GP-10 or GR-55 with me. So I put the GP on a floor board in connection with an FM-3, where the GP is acting as several electric or acoustic guitars in different tunings, while the FM is for amps and fx. Because this ended in being a big board, I needed something smaller - which was an HX Stomp. The Stomp is good, and it unfortunately fitted onto the board right above the FM-3. Just because it could. And I needed something small, again. That's, when I tried the MX-5. In no way this unit can do crazy stuff, that my Axe Fx, GSP 2101, Helix, FM-3 could. But what it can do very, very, very well is something, that I was missing ever since I put a second processor into my GSP: Seamless program change. In combination with the ability to create setlists in the MX, that is a very powerful thing - that made me leave my racks or boards at home more often than I had expected... If you want to know what I'm talking about, watch thibderob playing his Pink Floyd set through the headrush :)
ua-cam.com/video/Bhuutf30ZWA/v-deo.html
I think you should have created some of your own user presets to your liking for some better tones that being said the factory presets were not bad,the last tone you played with all the guitar tapping sounded really good!Most factory presets on many modelers do not sound so good but i guess these newer modelers now have better sounding factory presets?
honestly these presets were some of the better sounding ones! And i'm planning on doing a video where i make my own presets! I wanna see exactly how easy it is to do! so stay tuned for that!
Crazy like a fox!!! That friggen Headrush MX5 is on my wish list... Its pretty cool!!
I love it! really some great sounds on here! are you looking at any others??
Jimmy is right, just like amps, all effects units have their own personality and voicings. They are all unique! Why do the pros have dozens of amps, because they all do different things, same with these modelers......all unique personalities.
Have you compared the Helix to the NEUTRAL DSP QUAD CORTEX DIGITAL EFFECTS AND AMP MODELER AND CAPTURE FLOORBOARD? This one looks similar, but it also has a lot of DSP, which it seems like a lot of units run out of and then can't save as many tones due to memory running out. The other great thing is that it can capture amp tones. Never seen another unit that can do that yet. I have a Helix as well. I saw a video on comparing the Helix to the Fractal Audio Axe Effects III Turbo. The Fractal won the tone possibilities, while the Helix was more compatible using for live gigs getting to change things on the fly.
Buying this soon. Also great to the point demos and stunning playing my dude! I fell in love with the variety of licks and forgot about the MX5 for a second lol
THATS AWESOME! thank you so much for the kind words!! come back and let me know what you think!
Just a suggestion, the audio would be much better if you muted the room mic while the DAW audio is active. The acoustic sound off the guitar strings is fairly distracting when trying to hear how the MX5 sounds.
Planning to buy this! I just bought an Epiphone ES-335 in Blueburst. I'm a bass player just looking for something to distract myself sometimes. And I think this is perfect for my basic use, it has every basic effect I need.
I do hope it has patches for bass though since it's my main instrument, but anyway I have a setup for bass already.
I have to check if there are bass patches! I totally will! This is a fun piece for home practice and studio use! Hey! If you do pick it up, please use the link in the description! I don’t remember if I said it in the video but it’s no extra cost and it helps support my channel! Thanks in advance!!
@bassyey the bass presets are not that good. It's more a guitar pedal
This is a 100% pointless review. No one uses stock patches in a modeler. I have a Helix and Kemper and MX5. The MX5 sounds every bit as good as either if you actually set it up. But is 1 million times easier to use. Also,no one fidgets with a modeler on stage. That's what scenes, patches, rigs and sets are for. If you're looking for real reviews on this thing, look elsewhere. There's plenty.
I appreciate the concern. But I’ve used my helix on stages of all sizes from the crappiest dive bar to 10,000 seats, and I’ve been in situations where I’ve accidentally changed my setting in the middle of a song and had to figure out how to get back despite my snapshots being set up. And I will tell you as well that I can AND I do use stock patches with my rig. Eliminate the IR and run a cab properly and you can use any stock patch you want and they sound wonderful. Thank you for coming.
My man. U got some gear ..guessing you are in a studio.
@@jimmyfranklin 10,000 seats huh..
I think we can all agree that you never judge a unit on presets, which are created by software engineers and are just starting points. Presets mean nothing.
Totally..at the end of the day mx5 can't be compared with Helix. Doh
This review made me buy one. 🤟
Every Headrush video , I noticed the fizz you mentioned. I just wonder how that would do in a live situation to help it cut. But by itself , it kind of doesn't sound great.
Well, like all pedals you have to play with then and adjust them accordingly. I have two different Headrush boards and I've been using headrush for 4 years and I'm still learning more about them and coming up with amazing rigs that sound amazing.
only drawback with headrush is there are fewer amp models than with line 6 especially in regards to high gain
I read on the internet that patches 56 - 60 are all Hendrix patches. So, Like a Fox would be Foxy Lady. :)
Thinking of getting one of these and selling my few pedals,i have spark amp aswell but like the extra tones plus wah and recording options are good
Yes! And truly the spark is great but it’s mostly meant to practice and learn. The MX5 can be used as a live tool!
@@jimmyfranklin Does it have Whammy,droptune and wah effects?
Wow - nice chops JF!
...Like a fox?...Mabey "Jimi", Foxey Lady?....Peace & much-love from Southern Illinois...
for live use you make a setlist- and put in order
Ok, you broke into Donna Lee! Wha!? Schweet! :) I'm subscribing just for that! ;)
Great video, just purchased one from Sweetwater. Sound pretty damn nice !! Very Happy so far.
Your playing is so good it makes me want to quit.
WHAT!!! NO!!! dont do that.. keep going!! im not really that good. and i promise you ive felt the same way watching some of my heroes
Amazing playing!
I've been using the POD GO for 6 months now, and the Helix LT for about 3 months. I love them both but this MX5 has my attention. It sounds phenomenal and its size really appeals to me. After 30 years of gigging my rig has gotten smaller and lighter...this MX5 would make my current rig even smaller and lighter. I've tried FRFRs but prefer an amp (I current run a Quilter into a light-weight cab with a 1x12" speaker). SO basically I use the POD GO or Helix LT as a pedalboard.
With all that said, I'd like to see a video that shows the MX5 in action as a pedalboard. We all know the POD GO and Helix LT has plenty of foot switches but this MX5 only has three. The MX5 has 11 blocks that can be customized, but how can you switch between all those blocks on the fly with only three foot switches? Any chance you can do a video showing the MX5 in a "live gig" type of scenario?
This was a great video. New sub here!
Size rules today of course! Especially comparing it to your Helix LT and even POD GO which is also too big for me!
HX Stomp (XL) would be the right answer from Line 6 in terms of size.
You can set it up so all presets can be selected with just one switch (the one on the far right).
Didn't quite expect to hear Donna Lee... :)
Hey cool guitar! What model Ibanez is that? Have you tried the Headrush Prime yet?
Like a Fox, would be the Hendrix "Foxy Lady" preset.
My first modeler was the POD. Most recently playing a Boss Katana MKII. Bought the MX5 just a few hours ago. It included a download card for Celestion IRs. Do you think that will help? What do you think about the FRFR cabs?
WOAAAAHHH! I didn't receive the same card i dont think! ill check the box but that is HUGE. you can use those IRs for anything most likely and not only that BUT the IRs have a low and high pass filter adjustment in the MX5 allowing for even more tone editing! you will get some of the best tones with those! and if not, check out the company Own Hammer. I use all of there IRs for so many different things!
Just some food for thought. I've had my MX-5 for a couple of months. Loving it. My PODGO sits now. I've got a pretty good library of IRs. I'm digging the York IRs at the moment. But I also like Tone Junkies, Vox and Marshall IRs. I run it through an older Tech 21 Power Engine 60 which come with a Celestion speaker. This keeps the frequency response in the guitar ballpark. Also Keeping the frequency range in the 80- 9k ish range on the unit helps alot. IRs and EQ goes along way to tame the modeling fizz. My favorite patch at the moment is one called Matchbook-less by Jason Holler. I downloaded it off the artists section on the HeadrushFX website. I tweeked it slightly and use a York Matchless IR. Hope this helps.
You can run your Headrush through the powered in jack on the back on your Boss katana.
Hi Can I ask something ? This all presets you are using in videos, are they all factory presets ? Especially last one ?
Yes! These are all factory presets!
Nice honest and entertaining demo , great playing sounds good 👍 but who the hell comes up with the names for these presets ? 😬
he def knows what's like a fox means, he's even playing the jimmy chord right after saying that.
I had no idea! I hear a blues tone and I just play that chord naturally! Haha
…unless it’s Hungry Like The Wolf
Nice, so would an HX Stomp may be a better option than this HR MX5?
I know that the HX stomp is reliable. im not sure about the MX5. ill tell you, the MX5 has won me over a lot though! i play it every day and have a huge smile on my face. im just worried about the touch screen in live bar settings and stuff. have you seen my video with it plugged into my amp??
Hey mate. What’s the riff you play at 7 minutes in? Sounds awesome
No Idea HAHA I was just making things up and having fun!
@@jimmyfranklin I’m gonna have to learn that!.. lol
Great review. I’m thinking about getting this to use 4 cable method with a Bluguitar Amp1 and some other beloved pedals. Could be sweet. Maybe a Boss Od-200 in front for drives.
You can do that! OR you can Check out my video that is going live at 2 today! I use the MX5 and run it into my orange pedal baby!
ALSO... there is an FX loop to add in one of your favorite pedals
You’re a good player
Custom Aftermarket IRs like ML SOUND and Ownhammer can make every MultiFX modelers sound 10X better. I just don't understand why can't these manufacturers just put Aftermarket IRs, buy them from the creators and be done with it.
I own/ed Fractals. A Kemper to the Helix, I'm just not sold on how they sound with their stock cab IRs, it's like eating a candy with a thin piece of layering wrap where you just can't get the full flavor off it. Right now I'm currently enjoying a cheap piece of gear called the NUX MG 300 and I just love how they sound with Aftermarket IRs! much better than my POD GO in my opinion
Im between hx stomp and mx5. Which one you choose and why? Help me here please hahahaha 🤯
Hello Sr. Do you know which one have better option to drop tune? Thanks!
Awesome review man!
This is a total rookie question....can I use a single studio monitor? I’m in a tight space and only playing around 70db. Looking for versatility at home.
For recording?? Like I have in the back?? Yea technically you can do whatever you want. But if you are recording rock rhythm guitars for example you are going to want to pan them hard left and hard right for that big rock sound and if you do you couldn’t mix or hear one side. So 2 is definitely recommended
Isnt that the very smallest unit from the headrush series??
Yes it is!
6:59 whats the name of that song? Is thay your original riff.. Sounds tasty!!!!?
Rockchip 3288 rules !!!
Mx5 or hx stomp?
Stomp XL
Does anyone know how to use a dual Ampero footswitch pedal with the MX5? I saw some videos with the M-Vave Chocolate, but it had an app for programming. However, my footswitch is basic, and I don't know how to configure it with the MX5.
Can you use this just as a pedal board and run it through my mark v?
Yes you can! You can even rout the pedals to go through your effects loop and other effects to not using what’s called the four cable method.
@@jimmyfranklin nice! Just looking for a different way from having so many effects plus a digitech whammy. Thank you!!!
Can u run it directly into the headrush monitor speaker?
Yes! Of course!!
Thanks
im assuming Like a Fox is similiar to Foxy Lady sound Hendrix.
I bought a Helix and was not impressed, I sent it back.
how much time did you spend with it?? also what kind of music do you play??
How does it compare to Boss ME80
Well. Everything now sounds very good. As far as a sound test goes, the boss is great. For me the interface of the me80 is clunky BUT it has that boss sturdiness to it. It’s built like a brick. While I think the headrush may have more to work with, I think it comes down to if you want knobs to tweak or software to dive into. The boss has knobs to work with AND software. The headrush is all software and touch screens.
the reverb at beginning of chain ???
It’s all how it came stock. Idk.
Foxy Lady 🤘
I hated this unit. Reminded me of my OLD Rocktron unit from the 90's. I seriously was hoping for much better given that it was offering the same presets as the more expensive models in its range.
were you using only the stock models?? or did you make some of your own patches??
@@jimmyfranklin only the standard presets. My Hotone Ampero started at a better and more responsive place. Then when I was able to move microphones with the Hotone (which can't be done with this unit) it actually sounded workable.
Hope its better than the hotone emp
The headrush stock IR.. ar so so.
Get to sonic DNA.. and buy their pro I.r.
I did and deleted all the stock crap preset.
Then the headrush surpass the helix...kamper..etc.
It becone on par with them on many thing.. for 3x less money.
Just got one of these today and... hmmm. Everything sounds fake to me 🤔 which is really depressing as was super excited to order one. Just spent the day arsing around with it trying to make a great natural sound like my 1976 Bluesbreaker and it just isn't giving me that. So I thought I'd watch your video and see if I could convince myself to keep the unit. It seems as though if you want metal sounds this is amazing. If you want to do anything else, look elsewhere. Next port of call is gonna be Boss IR-200 - as need something for home recording but really don't need to stack sounds in the endless hunt for the perfect chugging metal tone. 18 year old me would have gone mental for this little monster but 50 year old me?? Nope, I can't handle the tyranny of choice. The 270 presets are - in general horrible. Like karaoke guitar sounds. I just want something that gets out of the way so I can concentrate on playing/writing/recording so sadly this technological marvel is going back on Monday. It's not a pro piece of gear imho but could be amazing for younger musicians who aren't as fussy/grumpy as me and want an entire music store of amps and effects in their backpack.
Didn't love it, though it was okay. Having said that though, the factory presets on a helix wouldn't exactly inspire anyone to buy a unit.
Like a fox = Foxy lady
AAAAAHHHHHH!!! THATS IT!!
Like a Fox=Foxy Lady?
Prefect RX = NIN PERFECT DRUG
😮😮😮
Like A Fox = Like a Vox amp.
LIKE A FOXEY LADY
Foxy lady
Foxy Lady
One ballet must be Metallica One
If you want classic vintage amps for classic rock & 80s rock get the headrush. If you want amps that don't sound vintage then get a Helix. Personally I cant stand Helix. Thin fizzy ear piercing model amps that make me want to through the Helix from Mount Everest so It can suffer its demise as long as possible!!!
I enjoy your passion and your fury... Truth is I think both units have their perks. The major similarity is that they both need IRs
@@jimmyfranklin true dat and great playing by the way. At least your playing did justice to the headrush. Some of these other you tubers reviewing modelers don’t and I too want to throw them off Mount Everest
I’ve had my Helix for about 3 years now. No fizziness at all. And it doesn’t need IRs to sound great. The stock cabs and speakers are great. Learn how to dial it in and it sounds and feels just like a tube amp.
To hard to watch. Next!