Brad’s Patch – Artist Series Line 6 Helix Patch

In this demo Brad is playing a custom built telecaster with Lambertones Blondies pickups. NOTE: This video was created with Version 1.0 of the patch. We’ve made updates – see the changelog below.

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 If you get an error importing a patch, the problem is most likely outdated firmware on your Helix/HX Edit.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. REVERBS: The 2.6 Firmware update changed the mix levels of the new (HX) reverbs. This patch accounts for those changes, so if you are not updated to 2.6 or later on your Helix, the reverbs will not sound right.

3. IR CAB INCLUDED: This download includes a premium IR from Tone Junkie. We matched this specific IR to this amp, but feel free to experiment with other IR’s for different tonal options. We’ve also included a stock cab version of the patch, but we urge to try the IR – it really does sound better – and it’s included for free :).

Here is the specific IR included, and its location in our Helix:

• TJ 23 MATCH25 R121+7B . In our Helix, it’s in IR slot 23 (this will always correspond with the number after ‘TJ’ in the file name).

To purchase more IR packs, visit the Tone Junkie store here.

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 appropriate slot (see note above). The image below shows the specific IR location for this patch.
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.

SIGNAL FLOW AND EFFECTS

Here is the signal flow and effects:

1. Input
2. Deluxe Comp – not mapped to a switch, always on
3. Valve Driver – Chandler Tube Drive OD – mapped to switch labeled ‘Valve Driver’
4. Scream 808 -Tube Screamer OD – mapped to switch labeled ‘808’
5. Teemah – Timmy OD – mapped to switch labeled ‘Timmy’
6. Amps – Matchstick CH1 & US Double NRM
7. Cabs/IR’s – 4×12 Cali V30 (in the stock cab versions) – see above for IR info
8. PlastiChorus – mapped to switch labeled ‘PlastiChorus’
9. Tremolo – mapped to switch labeled ‘Tremolo’
10. Adriatic Delay – 1/8 Delay – mapped to switch labeled ‘1/8Adri’
11. Plate verb – subtle ‘always on’ type reverb – mapped to switch labeled “Plate Verb’
12. Glitz Verb – big modulated verb – mapped to switch labeled “Big Verb (Mod)”
13. 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. See below for recommended settings.
14. Looper (6 switch) – mapped to button labeled ‘Looper’. If you prefer the 1-button looper, feel free to substitute it – just make sure to use the stereo version.
    

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 delays, reverbs, EQ, and Looper are in stereo. If you only use the L/Mono output of the Helix, everything will be summed to mono automatically.

DIRT PEDALS:

Feel free to stack drive pedals for bigger sounds. Bradford uses the Tube Driver for neck pickup lead lines or big chords on the bridge.  It has a big warm sound which is awesome, but the other drives are more suited for chime-y rhythm and lead parts.

DELAYS:

The delays sound big and wide if you’re able to run stereo. Bradford enjoys warm delay sounds, which is why his go-to are the tape and Adriatic (analog) delays.

SWELLS:

Bradford’s approach to swells is a bit different than other WT patches – they are more subtle, and Brad uses them more to add texture to keys-based pad sounds.

EQ AT THE END OF THE CHAIN?:

Typically when you record guitar parts in the studio, you’ll put EQ and compression on the final tone. We’ve replicated the EQ in this patch. You can use the Cali Q Graphic block for final tone shaping. See below for recommended settings.

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: AMBI CLEAN – Clean tone with big reverb.
• Snapshot 3: DRIVE. Light overdrive.
• Snapshot 4: DRIVE+: Bigger overdrive.
• Snapshot 5: LEAD.
• Snapshot 6: AMBI LEAD: Like snap 5 but more wet effects.
• Snapshot 7: CLEAN TREM: Tremolo is Bradford’s favorite mod effect.
• Snapshot 8: 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.

RECOMMENDED SETTINGS FOR SINGLE COILS:

The version of this patch you initially download is voiced more toward single coils. We built it primarily using a Telecaster style guitar. If you have a humbucker equipped guitar with low-output humbuckers, it should be perfect for your uses too.

Feel free to adjust the amp EQ and the settings of the Cali Q Graphic block (at the end of the patch) if you’d like to make the patch a bit brighter or darker.

RECOMMENDED SETTINGS FOR HUMBUCKERS:

If your guitar has traditional output Humbuckers, try the following changes (we recommend making a copy of the original patch)…

MATCHSTICK CH1 AMP SETTINGS:

• Drive: Change to 3.0
• Cut: Change to 3.5
• Bass: Change to 3.5
• Treble: Change to 4.3
• Presence: Change to 6.0

US DOUBLE NRM AMP SETTINGS:

• Drive: Change to 4.0
• Bass: Change to 6.4
• Treble: Change to 5.2
• Presence: Change to 4.0

Cali Q Graphic block settings:

• 2200 Hz Slider: change to +2.2
• 6600 Hz Slider: change to 1.0

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 2.0: 2019-05-08

• Added: Tone Junkie premium IR cab (included for free)
• Tweaked: Amp and end of chain EQ settings

Initial Release (1.0): 2019-01-21