AC30/6 TB TM – Line 6 Helix Patch

IMPORTANT NOTES

1. UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE: Please upgrade the firmware on your Helix and the HX Edit software from Line 6 to the latest before installing this patch. Even if your Helix is up to date, the ‘HX Edit’ app needs to be updated as well. If you get an error importing a patch, the problem is most likely outdated firmware on your Helix/HX Edit.

2. IR’s INCLUDED: This download includes an Impulse Responses that is custom made for this preset. The IR acts as both the cab/speaker portion of the signal chain, and the tone matching that makes this patch sound just our Vox AC30/6 Top Boost. For this reason, we do not have a ‘stock’ version of this preset, and you must use the IR to get the intended result.

Here is the IR included:

• WT AC30-6 TB TM HX

With Firmware 2.90, Helix should recall the IR based on its name rather than slot number, so it shouldn’t matter which slot you import the IR into. If you do get an error regarding IR locations, simply confirm that the IR’s are loaded into the correct blocks in the Helix and re-save the patch.

PATCHES

This download includes two patches as well as the IR cabs. The patches are:

• AC30TB TM WT SC – This patch uses the IR’s and is meant for guitars with single coils or low output humbuckers
• AC30TB TM WT HB – This patch uses the IR’s and is meant for guitars with more traditionally voiced humbuckers
• NOTE: There is no stock cab version of this patch – tonally it is dependent on the included IR cabs.

HOW TO IMPORT THIS PATCH AND IR

1. Connect your Helix to your computer using a USB Cable
2. Download and instal the ‘HX Edit’ app from Line 6
3. In the ‘HX Edit’ app, drag and drop the patch into a slot in the ‘PRESETS’ column
4. To import an IR, switch to the ‘IMPULSES’ column (next to the PRESETS column), and drag & drop the IR into the an open slot.
5. PLEASE NOTE: If you do not have the IR loaded into the ‘IMPULSES’ column, the patch will not sound correct, even if you have the IR block on – you must drag and drop the IR into the IMPULSES column.

 OUR KORG-ERA VOX AC30/6 Top Boost — NOW IN YOUR HELIX

For this preset, we matched the Vox AC30 Top Boost amp model in the Helix to the our Korg-era 2002 Vox AC30/6 Top Boost amplifier. Our Vox features two Alnico Blue speakers. We matched the Helix amp model to the Brilliant channel on our Vox (our favorite). The result is an impulse response that completely transforms the HX amp model – it sounds exactly like our Vox. 

SIGNAL FLOW AND EFFECTS

1. Input
2. Deluxe Comp – not mapped to a switch, always on
3. Heir Apparent (low gain) – mapped to switch labeled ‘KOT Yellow)’
4. Heir Apparent (high gain) – mapped to switch labeled ‘KOT Red)’
5. Scream 808 – mapped to switch labeled ‘808’
6. Volume (log curve) – mapped to EXP 2
7. Amp – Essex A30
8. IR – see above for IR info
9. Cali Q EQ – Always on EQ – Use this EQ to make tonal tweaks for your guitar/setup. These controls will affect your tone differently than the amp controls.
10. Tremolo – mapped to a switch labeled ‘Tremolo’
11. Trinity Chorus – mapped to a switch labeled ‘Chorus’
12. Transistor Tape – 1/8 note delay – mapped to switch labeled ‘1/8 Delay’
13. Vintage Digital – 1/8d delay – mapped to switch labeled ‘.8th DLY’
14. Dual Delay – Dual Delay (1/8d + 1/8) – mapped to switch labeled ‘Dual ST DLY’
15. Plate – Mapped to a switch labeled ‘Plate’
16. Dynamic Hall Verb – ambient reverb – mapped to a switch labeled ‘Dyn Hall Big’
17. Glitz Verb – used in swells
18. Output

USAGE

This patch is meant to be used in either stompbox or snapshot mode. We recommend setting up your Helix to use all ten stomps (stompbox mode) or all eight snapshots (snapshot mode). The Helix LT does not allow 10-button stomp mode, so you’ll have to re-arrange the button assignments to suite your preferences.

STEREO:

Everything after the EQ block (after the amp) runs in stereo. If you are able to run stereo, the wet effects will sound bigger and better. If you only use the L/Mono output of the Helix, everything will be summed to mono automatically. NOTE: Do not use just the Right output of the helix – some of the delays will not be audible if you do this.

SNAPSHOTS:

There are eight snapshots included in this patch to get different sounds (all patches feature the same snapshots).

They are:

• Snapshot 1: CLEAN. This is the base clean tone with delay.
• Snapshot 2: DRIVE. Light overdrive.
• Snapshot 3: DRIVE +: Bigger overdrive
• Snapshot 4: P&W LEAD – Lead tone with lots of reverb and delay
• Snapshot 5: AMBI CLEAN – Ambient Clean tone
• Snapshot 6: 80’s CLEAN – Clean tone with chorus
• Snapshot 7: TREM CLEAN – Clean tone with tremolo
• Snapshot 8: SWELLS – Big ambient swells

MAKING ADJUSTMENTS FOR YOUR SETUP

SETTING THE PATCH UP FOR YOUR GUITAR

All guitars are different, so you may want to make changes to suite your playing style and guitar. We set this up with a variety of guitars, including both single coils and humbuckers (primarily a Telecaster style guitar). If your guitar has humbuckers, please refer to the suggested settings below.

We recommend making a copy of the patch and changing the copy just in case you want to revert back to the original. 

We’ve included both single coil and humbucker voiced patches to serve as starting points for your guitars. To make adjustments, we recommend starting with these parameters:

• Amp Gain: Adjust the min/max values of the amp gain so that your guitar is slightly breaking up with big chords on the bridge position (without any drive pedals on)
• Amp EQ controls: Adjust these to suite your individual guitars/taste
• Cali Q Graphic EQ block: This is a simple way to adjust the overall tonal characteristics of the patch.

VOLUME CHANGES

If you would like to make this patch louder or quieter without affecting tone, the following adjustments can be made:

“Ch Vol” control on the amp module. This will increase or decrease volume without affecting the tone of the amp. This is the primary level adjustment tool I use for changing patch volumes.

Output block level. Changing the level control on the output block (the very last thing in the signal chain) will increase or decrease overall volume. We typically have this set at zero, but feel free to adjust this as you see fit.

CHANGELOG

Initial Release (1.0): 2022-04-29