Tripehound

I used to have a Helix LT then got rid and bought an Atomic Bassbox in my quest to find something simple to use, portable, great-sounding and suitable for use in a band where I go straight into the mixer (along with the rest of the band) with an FRFR speaker as my monitor. Don't use pedals much if at all. I keep looking at the B6 as an alternative but am yet to be convinced. The question from me is - why would I buy a B6 over a Helix Stomp?

You know that old saying about if it's too good to be true it probably isn't? It wasn't.

Bass Direct advertising these at £280... over £100 less than Andertons!

Surprised me at the time. No sign of the sax solo sadly.

Sorry if this has been covered but maybe an update wouldn't hurt - if there's already a thread then grateful for a link! There's a perpetual argument in my band about how much we should be charging (coming mostly from those who don't get any of the bookings) with the assertion that - surprise, surprise - we should charge more than we do. Alongside the questions of "what's the meaning of Life?" and "is there a God?" you can add "what should a reasonably competent and established covers band charge for a pub/small club gig?". I guess there are a huge set of variables including, number in the band, location, size of the pub, competition from other, cheaper bands etc. but I'd be grateful for anybody's thoughts and the benefit of their experience. We're now fully booked for 2022 and have bookings for next year which is fuelling the argument. FWIW typically around the Notts/Derbys areas it seems to be between 2 and 3 hundred quid regardless of whether you're a power trio or the Band of the Grenadier Guards.

Here we are at The Castle Inn in Castle Donington the other week. Playing a Dingwall SP4 through an Atomic Bassbox for the first time (replacing my Helix) straight into the PA. This is probably one of the few places where anyone would care about that information!

Full circle from pedal to digital and back to pedals... It's a journey not a destination as they say.

Home from the gig and buzzing. Helix never even got fired up and the Bass Box just acquitted itself with honour. I managed to immediately get a tone every bit as good as my best efforts in all this time with the LT and it's now going to be used on a regular basis. I still think that the Helix is an amazing bit of gear and it's only the weight and effort of carting it around in its flight case that I need to dodge now (arthritis - boo) and the ABB is going to do a job for me. Happy boy - and thanks to Jimfist for advice.

They've got house monitors but I'll probably use one of our Alto TS212s which sounded better to my ears (considering whether to get a QSC K12 ATM) and playing my Dingwall SJ5. I'll take the ABB along and give it a go if the opportunity presents itself after setting up the Helix. Will report!

Got the ABB yesterday and although I've only had a quick dibble at bedroom volumes the initial impressions are very encouraging. I've found that the 'valve amp' c/w the 8 x 10 fridge gives me the most pleasing result - I've not mastered the overdrive/boost yet but that's not a shop stopper. This could probably replace dragging out my LT in its bombproof flight-case - should I risk it at tomorrow's gig where we'll be playing through the venue PA with a good sound guy?

Playing an LT straight into the PA with an Alto TS212 (the older 550w model) as floor monitor in my covers outfit that plays pop, R&B, rock and disco, everyone direct and electronic drums. It does the job. I've just joined a second (classic rock) band with 'proper' drums and one guitar-operator where at some point I'm going to need forward-facing amplification (hired rehearsal room has a rig). Is it worth the considerable expense of getting a QSC K12.2 which seems to be a popular choice amongst the FRFR community? Will it be noticeably better as a monitor and will it cope/sound good as a powered speaker for bass in a conventional rock band or will the Alto (or two Altos) do? I'd really welcome any opinions, experience etc!

Looking forward to hearing that.

Thanks for the advice and yep - I've noticed you need to be very much an early-adopter to get a QC just yet hence no rush!

That seems to be the feedback. Seems not a lot there in the B6 that the LT does albeit in a smaller format and I'm suspicious that it might be a bit - dare I say - tacky? You've persuaded me! I've taken the plunge and just ordered the last ABB in Andertons. Will give it a go and maybe later get in a B6 (they're out of stock but in soon) to evaluate returning whichever doesn't convince. Longer term thinking of parting with the Helix and getting a Quad Cortex for home, guitar playing etc and the ABB or the B6 for bass gigs.

I'll definitely have a look at the Fishman - thanks for the lead. If I had to name one feature on the Helix that I don't think is up to much it's the tuner! I carry a TC pedal in my bag rather than use the one on the LT. The apparent attraction of the B6 is that it has all the things that the older Zoom units don't have - the DI, ground lift, touch screen etc. On paper it looks great because it offers many of the features of the Helix but in a smaller footprint and aimed squarely at bassists but responses I've seen thus far are lukewarm.

Be very interested to hear that - opinions on the B6 seem mixed at the moment.

Looking for something to use as an alternative to lugging around the Helix (I use one sound and rarely employ effects!) I came across some videos of this pedal. Sounded very good in the demos (don't they all?) but is it going to be trumped by something like the Zoom B6. I'm also wary that it might not have been a success and will get dropped fairly soon - it's clearance price at Andertons and the Atomic site says sold out... Has anyone had a go with one of these?

I've followed this discussion with great interest - I have an LT that lives in a flight case (it's up for sale ATM) and I'm looking for something to replace it that's at least as good for my simple needs (one SVT amp model, a bit of chorus, distortion and octave) and much smaller/lighter. I thought this could be the answer but I'm definitely not getting that vibe here and form factor apart, sounds like it would be a retrograde step.

Now that I only play Helix straight to PA (and through an FRFR speaker for rehearsals) I'm aware that I'm vulnerable to it lacking out on me on a gig and that I should have something in reserve. Just a straight bass tone would do - classic SVT or GK etc for a pop/rock/disco covers band. I keep looking at the Atomic Bass Box which looks good in the few videos of it and is now heavily discounted (is this significant?) - there don't seem to be many reviews. The GK Plex is also a possibility if I could pick one up used. I know the obvious answer is probably a Stomp but cheap git that I am I'd like something less expensive. Any suggestions?

The one I used didn't make any discernible noise although I'm not sure whether the vibrations would be heard in a room below. I doubt it because it doesn't have to vibrate that much to get the desired effect! You feel the vibration through your whole body rather than just in your feet - I had a Backbeat pack for a while and my impressions that it seemed more localised in effect than the floor boards. They really are very impressive but I was put off because of a) it's a hell of a thing to lug around, b) you'd probably want the bigger model (see point a) and c) not being the tallest of people and being at the front singing, well - standing on my own little platform would be too much for some...

Great review - I'm getting very interested in these. Could you compare it to a Helix in terms of the quality of the models?

The RCF line array PA is a marvellous thing - I should probably look at the ARTs as well as the QSC speakers. Farting out has been an issue with the Alto but I think that may be curable with a HPF in my Helix patch. When it comes to IEMs - well I've tried repeatedly (even had a Backbeat for a while) but just couldn't get on with them. If I was doing this for a living then I'd probably persist but they took the joy out of it for me. A bit like Wintermute I like 12" speakers as well but suspect it may be one of them plus a sack truck...