AC30 + JTM45 – Line 6 Helix Patch

Guitars used in this demo:

• MJT Thinline Telecaster (VTS) with Porter Pickups Vintage Tele pickups (single coil sounds)
• PRS DGT (humbucker sounds)

NOTE: This patch has been updated significantly since this demo. We’ll have a new demo up soon!

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 If you get an error importing a patch, the problem is most likely outdated firmware on your Helix/HX Edit.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 CAB INCLUDED: This download includes two premium IR cab files  – one from our WT Blue 2×12 pack (Vox AC30 w/Celestion Blue’s) and one from our WT G12H GB pack (UK Celestion G12H30 Greenback). These were chosen specifically to pair with the AC30 and JTM45 amp models.

Here are the IR’s included:

• WT Blue AC 2×12 121+SR25 (top row)
• WT G12H GB 160+SR25 (bottom row)
• As of firmware 2.90, Helix will automatically detect the IR’s regardless of what slot they are placed in the ‘Impulses’ column. You do have to make sure they are named correctly, though. If you change the names, you’ll have to re-set the IR blocks to the correct IR’s.

INCLUDED PATCHES

• AC30+JTM45 WT IR: This is the main patch with the IRs voiced for guitars with single coil pickups or low output humbuckers.
• AC30+JTM45 WT HB: This is the same as the first patch but set up for traditional or higher output humbuckers.
• AC30+JTM45 WT: This is the same as single coil version of the patch but with stock Helix 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),. You can drag it into any available IR slot. 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.

SIGNAL FLOW AND EFFECTS

1. Input
2. Triangle Fuzz – mapped to switch labeled ‘Fuzz (Pi)’
3. Deluxe Comp – not mapped to a switch, always on
4. Tremolo – mapped to switch labeled ‘Tremolo’
5. Minotaur – Klon OD – mapped to switch labeled “Klon’
6. Stupor OD – Boss SD-1 
7. Volume (log curve) – mapped to EXP 2
8. Vintage Digital – Quarter note delay – mapped to switch labeled ‘1/4 DLY’
9. Amps: A30 Fawn Nrm and Brit J45 Brt
10. Cab/IR’s
11. Cali Q Graphic – 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.
12. Vintage Digital – Dotted 8th note delay – mapped to switch labeled ‘1/8d DLY’
13. Transistor Tape Delay – Dual Delay (1/4 + 1/8d) – mapped to switch labeled ‘1/4+1/8d DLY’
14. Plate verb – subtle ‘always on’ type reverb – mapped to switch labeled “Plate Verb”
15. Dynamic Hall Verb – big modulated verb – mapped to switch labeled “Dyn Hall Cloud”
16. Glitz Verb – big ambient verb – not mapped to a switch (used for swells)
17. Looper (6 switch) – If you’d like to use the looper, you’ll need to assign it to a button and remove one of the other button assignments.

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:

The amps and everything after them are 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: Big drive with big delay and verb.
• Snapshot 5: CLEAN AMBI – Clean tone with big reverb.
• Snapshot 6: CLEAN TREM – Tremolo and verb. Delicious.
• Snapshot 7: FUZZ LEAD – Big huge fuzz lead tone
• Snapshot 8: SWELLS – Huge ambient swells tone. If you want to have some fun, kick on the fuzz and do some angry 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

Version 4.0: March 7, 2022

• Added WT IR cabs
• Changed amp/EQ settings (better tone)
• Added Dynamic Hall reverb

Version 3.0 (May 31, 2019)

• Added: Tone Junkie IR (included for free)
• Changed: Amp settings (to accommodate the new IR, better tone)
• Changed: Drive settings (better tone)
• Changed: End of chain EQ settings (better tone)

Version 2.0: Updated November 20, 2018

• Tweaked: Amp settings (better tone)
• Tweaked: Improved drive section settings
• Tweaked: Improved reverb and delay settings
• Added: Improved swells/ambient section
• Added: Better stereo imaging for effects
• Added: End of chain EQ – improved tone and tweaking for different guitars
• Added: Recommended settings for humbucker and single coil equipped guitars (via the ReadMe notes)

Version 1.0: Initial Release: 07/05/18

Updates are free and delivered via email. If you have an older version of this patch and have not received updates via email, please send us a support email and we’ll get the updated patch files to you.