I purchased one of these little units a couple of weeks ago. After a few days of fiddling around with it (not liking the presets) and not getting any good tones out of it ... I damn near took it back. I did however manage (by accident) to create a preset that sounded and felt really good. After another week with it I'm now up about 20 home spun presets that run clean to mean and I am really enjoying the sounds. I'm a huge Chris Buck and Rabea Massaad fan and those are the types of tones I'm trying to craft. After getting the compressions, gains and levels set correctly per rig it actually "feels good" through the strings. For now I'm going to hang onto this little box as it's starting to amaze me. I believe this is one of the cheapest units you can purchase that allows you to craft dual amp and cabinet rigs (which is my thing.) I'm hoping Headrush will in the future offer a few more effects, amp models and cabs we can load into this little box. I'm running mine straight out to a pair or large powered studio monitors and or headphones for reference.
I would love you guys to do a direct comparison between the MX5 and the Boss GT 1000 CORE. I thought that the CORE was pretty reasonably priced, but the MX5 is half it's cost! Also, the patches you guys did for the GT1000 are my favorite tones, so it would be awesome to hear a direct comparison between the GT1000 patches and the MX5 patches you create.
Hi. Had than both toghether with Kemper and HX Stomp for a while. The Headrush is by far the easiest to edit and the coolest practice toy, but Boss GT1000 is closest to analogue-feel. It has the quickest response (lower latency), amazing DSP and the greatest dynamics of all. UA-cam comparisons tends to be unfair as they all emulate A or B amp. You only feel the difference when you play them at the same time. Sold them off, kept the GT.
James, maybe consider doing the extensive tutorials like Paul did with the Katana? I would have sold my first Katana if it hadn't been for those videos. I think Boss should have sponsored Paul's vids. Who knows, maybe HeadRush will step up. I would buy one if you did that. It looks very appealing for the price. Great job guys.
My only complaint on this unit and Headrush in general is that they don't have a computer software interface for editing sound. Line 6 has Pod Go Edit, Boss has their own as well. I'm an older guy and I don't like bending over to work on the effects, and it isn't very intuitive to place on a desktop to edit either.
Great video. I got an 11R in 2009 when a mate asked me to check out the sounds on one as he had bought one online without trying it. I had never heard of it before. So off I popped to a guitar shop and tried one out....I walked out the shop with one under my arm. It felt like a real amp. I loved it and used it right up to last year when the screen died, but I still loved the sounds. I have a QC these days, but this little floor unit looks very interesting. Thanks for the video and I look forward to a deep dive.
What do you guys use for speakers? Regular studio monitors or an FRFR speaker? Looking into getting into the modeling world with one of these but confused as to how to use it without plugging into a powered amp or cab? I think that kind of kills the point of using the modeler's cabs and IRs, etc. What would you use for a Surface computer to get a decent sound with decent volume, to almost get that "amp in the room" sound and feeling if you want it, but also great tones at low volumes? Sorry new to the modeling world as I think I mentioned.
Paul, you have your conversions backwards. 429 pounds is almost $600.00 USD (don't know how to get the pound sign on my American keyboard). However, you can get them here for $399.00 USD. I might order one right now!
So to begin you guys tried here which is fine but you never spoke about the setlist feature which is a game changer for most gigging guitarists. You can literally make a setlist of your show and just scroll down it with the pedals. You should also show the acoustic sim which is fantastic as well... that clean shivers rig sounds like it is corrupted, mine sounds much better and totally different. This little unit, with the setlist feature, is a game changer. Check out Jason Rollers rigs and for the love of god use the SWELLA rig with a volume expression pedal next time lol.
I’m using a Quad Cortex now for live and recording. But I need a lesser expensive unit for a backup on live shows. Something easy to use and sounds good. Many choices available between Line six, Boss, headrush and a couple others.
I preordered the QC and backed off when I realized that its a half baked product. They rushed it, and it shows. I am currently on a wait list for a Fractal FM-9 which is a very solid product based on almost a decade of expertise in creating not only excellent sounding models but also a phenomenal PC editor.
Great overview. I’m trying an mx5 now, and there is lots to like. A small annoyance = some changes during editing (like selecting a different amp or cab) can bring a momentary surge of high volume, like a pulse when the new sound arrives…then it’s ok. Have you guys run into it? Hoping a sw update will remedy that. Also…in the looper, I find it really helps to have the expression pedal setup as a planner, so each layer can be placed at a different point in the stereo spectrum. I’d love to see you explore that in an upcoming video.
I like it, but if you want a small portable effects box with a wah pedal built in, the Boss GT-1 sounds better in my opinion, is simpler to use, costs half the price, and has more physical knobs so you don’t have to fuss with the touch screen as much.
@@accentontheoff The GT-1 sounds amazing. The reason it’s less expensive is that is has fewer input/output jacks available. (ie, no XLR jacks, no midi, etc) It does have stereo output jacks, but not an effects loop if you want to use the 4 cable method. But if you are just plugging in your guitar and amp/pedalboard to a cabinet, PA, or PC, it is the best value out there. Great tones that sound very close to the originals, and tons of pedal and amp models to choose from.
@@accentontheoff Yes. However, like any multi-effects pedal unit, your results will vary based on which output method you choose. If you’re starting out, you can send the signal from your GT-1 directly to your recording software using either a usb cable, or using the line out jack into a DI box, then into your DAW software. It sounds great, and is super simple. You don’t even need an amp. However, I personally prefer the tone I get from any effects unit when I use a combination of one line out to an amp/cabinet (sending the mic signal to my Universal Audio DI and PC DAW software), and blending that with another line out directly to my DI and DAW with nothing in between. That way I can blend them together to get it sounding closer to the actual room sound. (Plus, the UA has the 76 compressor built in which sounds awesome) But if you’re starting out, you don’t need any of that. You can take the line out from from the GT-1 straight into your DAW and get a great sound.
Tengo el mx5 y el boss gt1000 core . Me gustan los dos. Mx5 para mi es mejor en las frecuencias del amp+ cab se siente dentro de un dormitorio. Tambien me gustan las cabs. Boss gtk se siente mas rapido al toque pick respira . Se siente mas dinamica mas sutil, pero no tiene ese room . Hay que equalizar bastante . Creo que con irs York le iria mejor . Me gusta el core pero tendre que adicionar el Opus two notes. o probar con irs York .
Do you still use your 11r? The only real downside to it is the lack of ability to use 3rd party IRs. Can you put an iR loader in the effect loop and fix that?
@@RyanAmplification I can’t say it was vastly better but it did change the sound quite a bit. Probably like you, I like having the flexibility to change IR to make the sound better or just different. I think the Flamma FS07 is good choice BTW since it is stereo and the 11r has a stereo effects send. The Flamma FS07 also always you to have a different IR on the left and right channel.
@@RyanAmplification I tend to bounce between a super crunchy tone (SLO100) or a super clean tone with chorus and reverb. The Flamma FS07 runs around $90 currently. It comes with 11 different IR’s but you can replace them all with your own IR’s.
Forgive my naivetivity, I own a Les Paul with a small amp since the early 80’s which spent more time is storage than my home. I recently gave it to a friend to fix it. Bottom line, I’ve not played it in…20-30 years? I’ve owned a 6-string acoustic Takamine guitar for 25 years and love it but I’ve recently bought a Strat and I’m completely ignorant to pedals and effects. I’m looking for anything that can make any of my guitars sound like a piano or keyboard, is there anything out there you’d suggest? I’ve also got a 12 string Takamine. Thank you.
If you don't want to go the "special pickup" or "13 pin" route, there are options for making your guitar sound like various keyboards or synths with just a regular pickup. Check out the Boss SY-300 or one of several pedals from Electroharmonix (such as the Key9, the B9, the C9, or Synth9) which also let you create piano / organ / keyboard / synth sounds with a regular guitar pickup. The Boss is more expensive (like around $ 700), but also is more flexible and programmable; the EH pedals are more limited, but also only cost about $ 250 a pop. Demos for all these are available on UA-cam and others.
1) Buy a cheap audio interface (behringer $50) 2) Download reaper on you laptop (free) 3) Download a Guitar midi vst software (Jam origin) 4) Download any of the free Synth vst software Done.
You can play it with a regular amp but make sure you turn off the amp/cab sims. This pedal has a lot of options and takes tweaking. It has some pretty good effects.
I think problem with presets they never mention what preset was made with what guitar ?? Because if I make clean preset on Stratocaster bridge pickup i will make it sounds good , if I change pickup position to neck the preset will suck !! And that’s the main problem , presets should be labeled what pickup and positions the preset was made on !!
I think its better, sounds better and easier to use just gotta spend about 20 minutes on youtube to actually learn all the ins and outs of it. Once you do that, it's an amazing little pedal board.
Think it's made in Taiwan... there's a battery in there too, like a watch battery, to keep your presets saved, or something. Uses an ARC processor... it's cheap...
people always criticize the presets on all these modelers. this one's good, this one's not. theryre all subjective imitations anyway right. theyre modelers. built to create your own thing. just seems odd for ppl to pick tht as a gripe on a modeler.
Presets are the first thing a customer tries out in a shop, they can make or break a sale. Personally I don’t think there’s any excuse for bad presets.
@@NoiZeTribe4Life so you’re supposed to like every preset...as if they made this box for you personally? Headrush has to cater to a variety of players. For instance, that preset with the high compression sounded fine to me, it seemed perfect for a highly compressed 80s studio funk rhythm sound, add a little modulation and off you go...What sounds were you looking for. When you guys are just riffing the presets to me it’s like a beer commercial from 1989, so maybe the unit is not packed with those sounds.
@@TheStudioRats this! Yes they’re subjective/personal opinion however they could have 25% that impress each person that tries them out. They DO help sell the product when demoing in store etc and first impressions last. Yes some people will see through the inadequacy of the presets and use their better judgement to realise the potential of the unit with some home tweaking once purchased however they still could apply their knowledge a little better at factory to help sell it to each and every potential customer by way of “better for all” factory presets
I purchased one of these little units a couple of weeks ago. After a few days of fiddling around with it (not liking the presets) and not getting any good tones out of it ... I damn near took it back. I did however manage (by accident) to create a preset that sounded and felt really good. After another week with it I'm now up about 20 home spun presets that run clean to mean and I am really enjoying the sounds. I'm a huge Chris Buck and Rabea Massaad fan and those are the types of tones I'm trying to craft. After getting the compressions, gains and levels set correctly per rig it actually "feels good" through the strings. For now I'm going to hang onto this little box as it's starting to amaze me. I believe this is one of the cheapest units you can purchase that allows you to craft dual amp and cabinet rigs (which is my thing.) I'm hoping Headrush will in the future offer a few more effects, amp models and cabs we can load into this little box. I'm running mine straight out to a pair or large powered studio monitors and or headphones for reference.
I got one too and did not like the presets it came with. Have made my own and sounded much better as well as using the Celestian IR you can download.
@@saepiumv3813 I'll be loading those IR's soon.
Please share your presets in in HD cloud
I would love you guys to do a direct comparison between the MX5 and the Boss GT 1000 CORE. I thought that the CORE was pretty reasonably priced, but the MX5 is half it's cost! Also, the patches you guys did for the GT1000 are my favorite tones, so it would be awesome to hear a direct comparison between the GT1000 patches and the MX5 patches you create.
Hi. Had than both toghether with Kemper and HX Stomp for a while. The Headrush is by far the easiest to edit and the coolest practice toy, but Boss GT1000 is closest to analogue-feel. It has the quickest response (lower latency), amazing DSP and the greatest dynamics of all. UA-cam comparisons tends to be unfair as they all emulate A or B amp. You only feel the difference when you play them at the same time. Sold them off, kept the GT.
Patch 011!!!! sounds great to me..... I think liking stock patches is different for each person... Really you cant judge any board by the patches!
James, maybe consider doing the extensive tutorials like Paul did with the Katana? I would have sold my first Katana if it hadn't been for those videos. I think Boss should have sponsored Paul's vids. Who knows, maybe HeadRush will step up. I would buy one if you did that. It looks very appealing for the price. Great job guys.
My only complaint on this unit and Headrush in general is that they don't have a computer software interface for editing sound. Line 6 has Pod Go Edit, Boss has their own as well. I'm an older guy and I don't like bending over to work on the effects, and it isn't very intuitive to place on a desktop to edit either.
Anxiously awaiting a deep dive, especially using it live w/ additional footswitches.
I did some research - you can add footswitches only via MIDI, not the expression input.
Great video. I got an 11R in 2009 when a mate asked me to check out the sounds on one as he had bought one online without trying it. I had never heard of it before. So off I popped to a guitar shop and tried one out....I walked out the shop with one under my arm. It felt like a real amp. I loved it and used it right up to last year when the screen died, but I still loved the sounds. I have a QC these days, but this little floor unit looks very interesting. Thanks for the video and I look forward to a deep dive.
It is really amazing that you don't make any eye contact with him, kind of a BOSS GT1000 style.
Bought one and i love it!! Also it is 499 is the U.S.A.
What do you guys use for speakers? Regular studio monitors or an FRFR speaker? Looking into getting into the modeling world with one of these but confused as to how to use it without plugging into a powered amp or cab? I think that kind of kills the point of using the modeler's cabs and IRs, etc. What would you use for a Surface computer to get a decent sound with decent volume, to almost get that "amp in the room" sound and feeling if you want it, but also great tones at low volumes? Sorry new to the modeling world as I think I mentioned.
Paul, you have your conversions backwards. 429 pounds is almost $600.00 USD (don't know how to get the pound sign on my American keyboard). However, you can get them here for $399.00 USD. I might order one right now!
So to begin you guys tried here which is fine but you never spoke about the setlist feature which is a game changer for most gigging guitarists. You can literally make a setlist of your show and just scroll down it with the pedals. You should also show the acoustic sim which is fantastic as well... that clean shivers rig sounds like it is corrupted, mine sounds much better and totally different. This little unit, with the setlist feature, is a game changer. Check out Jason Rollers rigs and for the love of god use the SWELLA rig with a volume expression pedal next time lol.
I love my head rush yeah but I don’t play it for the presets all eczema on editing has great amp simulation
Look forward to the future vid’s
I am a Kemper user, but tempted to get this as a back-up 🤔
I’m using a Quad Cortex now for live and recording. But I need a lesser expensive unit for a backup on live shows. Something easy to use and sounds good. Many choices available between Line six, Boss, headrush and a couple others.
I preordered the QC and backed off when I realized that its a half baked product. They rushed it, and it shows. I am currently on a wait list for a Fractal FM-9 which is a very solid product based on almost a decade of expertise in creating not only excellent sounding models but also a phenomenal PC editor.
@@shaharbar I’m looking forward to the comparison review between the two though I know the FM9 will be a solid product.
Great overview. I’m trying an mx5 now, and there is lots to like. A small annoyance = some changes during editing (like selecting a different amp or cab) can bring a momentary surge of high volume, like a pulse when the new sound arrives…then it’s ok. Have you guys run into it?
Hoping a sw update will remedy that.
Also…in the looper, I find it really helps to have the expression pedal setup as a planner, so each layer can be placed at a different point in the stereo spectrum. I’d love to see you explore that in an upcoming video.
I like it, but if you want a small portable effects box with a wah pedal built in, the Boss GT-1 sounds better in my opinion, is simpler to use, costs half the price, and has more physical knobs so you don’t have to fuss with the touch screen as much.
Agreed!
Really? Does the GT1 sound really good? It’s actually half the price.
@@accentontheoff The GT-1 sounds amazing. The reason it’s less expensive is that is has fewer input/output jacks available. (ie, no XLR jacks, no midi, etc)
It does have stereo output jacks, but not an effects loop if you want to use the 4 cable method.
But if you are just plugging in your guitar and amp/pedalboard to a cabinet, PA, or PC, it is the best value out there. Great tones that sound very close to the originals, and tons of pedal and amp models to choose from.
@@IamMusicNerd Yeah interesting thanks for replying. What about recording. Would you say it is album worthy.
@@accentontheoff Yes. However, like any multi-effects pedal unit, your results will vary based on which output method you choose.
If you’re starting out, you can send the signal from your GT-1 directly to your recording software using either a usb cable, or using the line out jack into a DI box, then into your DAW software. It sounds great, and is super simple. You don’t even need an amp.
However, I personally prefer the tone I get from any effects unit when I use a combination of one line out to an amp/cabinet (sending the mic signal to my Universal Audio DI and PC DAW software), and blending that with another line out directly to my DI and DAW with nothing in between.
That way I can blend them together to get it sounding closer to the actual room sound. (Plus, the UA has the 76 compressor built in which sounds awesome)
But if you’re starting out, you don’t need any of that. You can take the line out from from the GT-1 straight into your DAW and get a great sound.
Did Headrush update any of the old Eleven Rack amp models or add new ones?
Tengo el mx5 y el boss gt1000 core . Me gustan los dos. Mx5 para mi es mejor en las frecuencias del amp+ cab se siente dentro de un dormitorio. Tambien me gustan las cabs. Boss gtk se siente mas rapido al toque pick respira . Se siente mas dinamica mas sutil, pero no tiene ese room . Hay que equalizar bastante . Creo que con irs York le iria mejor . Me gusta el core pero tendre que adicionar el Opus two notes. o probar con irs York .
I had an eleven rack kind of regret selling it
Do you still use your 11r? The only real downside to it is the lack of ability to use 3rd party IRs. Can you put an iR loader in the effect loop and fix that?
I actually tried that this evening with my 11r and it worked fine with the Flammable FS07 (stereo cab) pedal.
@@Tone-Quest nice! I was going to try the mooer radar with it but I didn't want to buy it if it didn't work. Did it make a huge difference?
@@RyanAmplification I can’t say it was vastly better but it did change the sound quite a bit. Probably like you, I like having the flexibility to change IR to make the sound better or just different. I think the Flamma FS07 is good choice BTW since it is stereo and the 11r has a stereo effects send. The Flamma FS07 also always you to have a different IR on the left and right channel.
@@Tone-Quest cool. What kind of tones do you use the 11r for? I mostly use it for tight, heavy tones or super clean. Is the flamma expensive?
@@RyanAmplification I tend to bounce between a super crunchy tone (SLO100) or a super clean tone with chorus and reverb. The Flamma FS07 runs around $90 currently. It comes with 11 different IR’s but you can replace them all with your own IR’s.
Forgive my naivetivity, I own a Les Paul with a small amp since the early 80’s which spent more time is storage than my home. I recently gave it to a friend to fix it. Bottom line, I’ve not played it in…20-30 years? I’ve owned a 6-string acoustic Takamine guitar for 25 years and love it but I’ve recently bought a Strat and I’m completely ignorant to pedals and effects. I’m looking for anything that can make any of my guitars sound like a piano or keyboard, is there anything out there you’d suggest? I’ve also got a 12 string Takamine. Thank you.
If you don't want to go the "special pickup" or "13 pin" route, there are options for making your guitar sound like various keyboards or synths with just a regular pickup. Check out the Boss SY-300 or one of several pedals from Electroharmonix (such as the Key9, the B9, the C9, or Synth9) which also let you create piano / organ / keyboard / synth sounds with a regular guitar pickup. The Boss is more expensive (like around $ 700), but also is more flexible and programmable; the EH pedals are more limited, but also only cost about $ 250 a pop. Demos for all these are available on UA-cam and others.
1) Buy a cheap audio interface (behringer $50)
2) Download reaper on you laptop (free)
3) Download a Guitar midi vst software (Jam origin)
4) Download any of the free Synth vst software
Done.
The first preset impression by James.😂😂😂😂😂
Your talking is much louder than your playing - so the sound of the unit is hard to hear clearly
Can you play this with an actual guitar amp and use the modeler and IR, not just effect? Or people always play these with frfr?
You can play it with a regular amp but make sure you turn off the amp/cab sims. This pedal has a lot of options and takes tweaking. It has some pretty good effects.
I think problem with presets they never mention what preset was made with what guitar ?? Because if I make clean preset on Stratocaster bridge pickup i will make it sounds good , if I change pickup position to neck the preset will suck !! And that’s the main problem , presets should be labeled what pickup and positions the preset was made on !!
James pops over with a Headrush MX5 and Paul tries his best to not say it sounds crap. lol.
How would you compare to the POD GO?
I think its better, sounds better and easier to use just gotta spend about 20 minutes on youtube to actually learn all the ins and outs of it. Once you do that, it's an amazing little pedal board.
@ 12:33.... Sold!
Think it's made in Taiwan... there's a battery in there too, like a watch battery, to keep your presets saved, or something. Uses an ARC processor... it's cheap...
Is it necessary to have ladies fingers to use the touchscreen? It looks tiny.
Are you saying James’s fingers are like ladies fingers or the touch screen is small? Both questions still get a yes.
Fat fingers will work just fine - male or female. As long as you have the dexterity of using touch screens you will be just fine.
people always criticize the presets on all these modelers. this one's good, this one's not. theryre all subjective imitations anyway right. theyre modelers. built to create your own thing. just seems odd for ppl to pick tht as a gripe on a modeler.
Presets are the first thing a customer tries out in a shop, they can make or break a sale. Personally I don’t think there’s any excuse for bad presets.
@@TheStudioRats I own 3 modelers & not one of em was bought because of good or bad presets.
@@NoiZeTribe4Life so you’re supposed to like every preset...as if they made this box for you personally?
Headrush has to cater to a variety of players. For instance, that preset with the high compression sounded fine to me, it seemed perfect for a highly compressed 80s studio funk rhythm sound, add a little modulation and off you go...What sounds were you looking for. When you guys are just riffing the presets to me it’s like a beer commercial from 1989, so maybe the unit is not packed with those sounds.
@@TheStudioRats this!
Yes they’re subjective/personal opinion however they could have 25% that impress each person that tries them out. They DO help sell the product when demoing in store etc and first impressions last. Yes some people will see through the inadequacy of the presets and use their better judgement to realise the potential of the unit with some home tweaking once purchased however they still could apply their knowledge a little better at factory to help sell it to each and every potential customer by way of “better for all” factory presets
The unit lost my interest with the preset switching delay. Seems like Boss have it right, but few else…
delay? mine doesn't have any delay in switching
Rip off UK price.
Butchers😂