Buy a used Helix??

[DavidP]

So... I'm seriously considering a Helix to try out for live and studio use. Probably the LT as the Floor is more than I want to invest at this point. I do see some come up on the local market for approx 2/3 of a new unit, many say 'like new' but usually more than a year old so out of warranty.

Given I'm a decades-old tube amp guy where I can fix as required, there's some apprehension over buying a used digital piece of gear... I figure these are like computers -- if something goes wrong it happens pretty soon vs. later.

For long-time Helix users, what's their reliability, and given your experience, would you buy a used one? Other than turning it on to see if it lights up, anything else to look out for?

 

[Frodebro]

Line6 has really good customer service, I wouldn't worry too much about buying used.

 

[Danjabellza]

The only one I’ve put hands on that was used, I would not have bought. It was trashed. Not well cared for at all. If the screen/buttons/expression pedal all look ok I’d grab it. You’ll make your money back no problem if you don’t like it.

 

[-Hawk-]

Excellent reliability and customer service.

 

[codamedia]

Other than turning it on to see if it lights up, anything else to look out for?

• Fire it up, and check to see that every switch/button works as well as the joystick.
• Plug in a guitar and make sure it is producing sound.

Since you are looking and an LT, you need to know that some earlier productions of the LT had a faulty expression pedal that would break. You don't need to worry about this... as Line 6 WILL fix/replace the problem if it ever occurs to you, regardless of warranty period and regardless of you being a 2nd hand owner.

 

[Nick-O]

They are a strong bit of gear. They have solid tech help and unless the unit is damaged somehow I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[Bob Womack]

I bought my Helix Floor used last year from a guy on the other side of the continent. It was in virtually new condition with all the packaging material and plastic over the displays and the Reverb seller had good pics showing its condition. The previous owner hadn't even saved any presets or snapshots. I sensed that perhaps it overwhelmed him.

You can pick up on little clues like this when you are shopping and find a cherry. One hint: you often won't pay bottom price for a perfect one but you just have to balance between your desire for a good example and price.

Bob

 

[Rayf_Brogan]

Helix is a solid piece with a good track record. Also Line 6 is standing behind this more so than any previous modeler. I think they want the Helix viewed the same way as Kemper. A digital unit but not disposable.

I bought a used Helix rack a couple years ago. No issues. In my case, I bought off eBay and paid with PayPal. That gave me 6 months essentially where I could return it if I was sold a lemon.

First test is to plug into your PC, run HX Edit and try updating. The only thing that's flaky with all these types of gear is the usb connection. Sometimes it doesnt like the cable or driver, etc. This applies to Helix, Kemper and Fractal. Just something I would check as soon as I bought it.

 

[jvin248]

.

Can you find a friend who has a Helix that you can borrow? A week with one may tell you a lot.
Does Guitar Center have a floor demo you can get for extended testing?

How about something different?

Around 18mins+ Lee concludes that the 20yo tech is still pretty good (and cheap).

 

[FluffyDog6]

• List price is not the price the item leaves the store at. Dealers can't officially discount "new" Helix units, but New York City dealers and Musician's Friend have an awful lot of "open box" <WINK, WINK>units.
  
• Most dealers will bundle other items, even if they won't discount. One my friends got a Helix carry bag for $25 to go with his Helix Floor.
• Dealers like Musician's Friend have a loyalty program. The 8% in spendable points on a new Helix is $135 you can use for something else.
  
• Most of the online places have 24-36-48 month 0% financing. I have a credit card that pays me 3% back on purchases, and another card that gives free extended warranties on purchases. Any of those opportunities are worthwhile.

That said, a used unit better be ONE HELL of a deal before I would buy it and not have a warranty to boot.

Unfortunately, most of the people I see selling these things think that $200 less than the total of what they paid after the tax (plus $50 in shipping) is somehow an AWESOME DEAL.

Just like in marriage, it's well worth the extra to get an unused one.

 

[scooteraz]

Like any piece of gear, plug in and if it works to your satisfaction, you’re good to go. My Helix was bought new, and it is a tough piece of kit. Every bit as tough as any other piece of gear I have. Maybe tougher than most of my amps.

 

[jageya]

i would consider a used headrush too...

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/?Ntt=headrush&Ns=r

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/F...lix&postalCode=80160&radius=100#narrowSideBar



https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/?Ntt=helix LT&Ns=r
seems used helix keeps better value

 

[Ian T]

I was an early adopter, have had mine since January 2016. The other guitar player in our band has one, too, for just as long.

We use them as work tools in a Florida wedding/corporate event band. We play 80 gigs a year, so around 250 shows it has been through.

Playing Florida weddings is rough on gear. Many of them are outdoors, some of them on stages placed on the beach sand where sand gets kicked all over the gear. We get rained on a couple of times a year and it takes a few minutes to roll the tarp out. A few times a year we have shows where it doesn't rain yet all of our gear gets covered in condensation, which is even worse.

Thus far, my Helix has one of the editing knobs that has become intermittent. A few of the rubber feet on the bottom have torn off. Just the other day, the expression pedal stopped working with the wah, but I think that may have been software related. Otherwise, it is still working like a champ - knock on wood.

The other guitarist's Helix has one of the scribble strip LCDs acting up. No other problems that I'm aware of.

 

[reckless meanie]

I have had one of the LT's for about 3 years with no issues. I think it's one of the better sounding all in one processors you can buy regardless of cost. It does so much that you can waste a lot of time messing around with all the stuff you don't really need. It's a great unit though.

 

[jageya]

I was an early adopter, have had mine since January 2016. The other guitar player in our band has one, too, for just as long.

We use them as work tools in a Florida wedding/corporate event band. We play 80 gigs a year, so around 250 shows it has been through.

Playing Florida weddings is rough on gear. Many of them are outdoors, some of them on stages placed on the beach sand where sand gets kicked all over the gear. We get rained on a couple of times a year and it takes a few minutes to roll the tarp out. A few times a year we have shows where it doesn't rain yet all of our gear gets covered in condensation, which is even worse.

Thus far, my Helix has one of the editing knobs that has become intermittent. A few of the rubber feet on the bottom have torn off. Just the other day, the expression pedal stopped working with the wah, but I think that may have been software related. Otherwise, it is still working like a champ - knock on wood.

The other guitarist's Helix has one of the scribble strip LCDs acting up. No other problems that I'm aware of.

good case for buying new for sure on any tech gear.

 

[TX_Slinger]

good case for buying new for sure on any tech gear.

Unless you can find what I did...got a Firehawk that someone opened up, tried once, and realized they still didn't know how to work the computer in their house. Saved about $150 off a new one. A few of those out there, especially because everyone wants the latest thing shown at NAMM, when most of us would be well served by a used $150 POD HD500X. Went to a show last night where a friend was using Helix into a Powercab. That Helix is a beast. Options for routing/effects loops are really good. They just recorded a home studio EP with it also, it just does so much. The Firehawk has some limitations but most have workarounds, and you can tweak most parameters with a few buttons with your feet on the fly or the most common amp tweaks have rotary knobs on the face of the unit if you like to twist those things. Nice thing is you can adjust any parameter from via bluetooth with android or ios. You just don't want to have your bluetooth connected at a gig as it causes some switch lag, but you could tweak then disconnect. I think most Tele players would be happy with the Firehawk but if you play with multiple effects loops and want to overlay multiple chorus'/delay pedals then the Helix is for you. The HD amp models in the Firehawk are outstanding. Matchless, AC30, etc. are all there.. doesn't allow downloading of 3rd party IRs but it does allow you to tweak the cab/mic parameters which is cool, as well as letting you play say a matchless chieftain through the cab of Twin Verb, then adjust early reflection and select a different mic or mic position (4 options)... invest the money you save on the unit to get a nice powered speaker ;-)