In the world of electric guitars, effect processors will always have a special place. Regardless of style, these pieces of gear, which often come in different sizes amp will always be a thing for the guitar player.
This is because most electric guitars can barely satisfy the tonal needs of both players and listeners without using some tonal modifications. In genres like rock, blues, jazz, and metal, there is a tonal color and character expected from the electric guitar.
The rock guitar player is expected to sound a certain way. The same goes for other styles and genres. This is where effect pedals and processors come into play.
They work by taking the guitar signal at the input and modifying it by applying the effect. It then proceeds to output the affected signal.
The effect pedal, then, fits into a signal chain and has both an input and an output. In this article, we will compare two amazing effect processors available today.
Table of Contents
Line 6 POD Go
Line 6, a subsidiary of the Yamaha family, manufactures the line 6 pod go Guitar Multi-Effects Processor from China. It’s a pedalboard that simulates amplifiers and cabinets and offers a variety of effects.
The Line 6 is a powerful all-in-one setup that makes the fantastic sounds of cutting-edge modeling technology available to guitarists at an astonishingly low cost.
The Line 6 pod go is a simple multi-effects pedal with a wide range of amp tones and effects. It lets you play with distortion, delay, reverb, and other effects to create a distinctive sound.
This lightweight, small pedal has over 275 effects, 85 guitars and bass amp models, and 39 cab versions hand-picked from various Helix, M-Series, and vintage Line 6 devices.
Up to six emulations can operate simultaneously and are readily controlled by the stompbox-style footswitches and expression pedal.
There is also editing software available, such as the POD Go Edit, a computer-based editor and librarian, which can be accessible by USB and is a convenient method to get started immediately.
For guitarists worldwide, the POD Go is a game changer. This little, user-friendly effects processor delivers a powerful punch regarding variety and functionality. It’s the ideal gear for achieving the ultimate guitar sound, whether playing live on stage or in the studio.
With over 300 presets and the possibility to build custom settings, the possibilities with the line 6 pod go are unlimited.
If you’re new to these units and find the number of possibilities and how they might be configured frightening, here’s a manual to help you maneuver.
You can also check this video demo of the go pod for better illustrations. We’d bet afterward, you’ll design your signal chains and store them in no time.
Helix
Line 6’s flagship HX Guitar processor, the Helix, is available in floor and rack versions. While designed in the USA, it’s manufactured in China, and it’s an all-in-one pedalboard that lets you change almost every aspect of your guitar sound.
The Helix has many presets to help you get started quickly with dazzling cleans, powerful distortions, and a range of colorful effects. Helix is an ambitious multi-effector with approximately 200 amp and pedal types, a built-in expression pedal, and an excellent rear-panel connection.
It has over 1000+ preset locations organized into 8 setlists with 32 banks of 4 presets each. Each preset can include up to 4 stereo signal paths powered by Dual-DSP, each with eight block amps and effects.
Therefore, there is a lot of possibility for sound creation with the 35+ modeled amps, 7 bass amps, 16 microphones, 30 cabs, 80 effects, and the option of loading speaker impulse responses.
Line 6 has created a simple editing system equipped with a touch-sensitive footswitch and a joystick that give a shortcut to parameter modification; you can also use your feet to choose a parameter before changing it with the pedal treadle!
As simple as editing directly on the Helix is, programming gets much simpler when you utilize Helix Edit, Line 6’s free editing tool.
The interface resembles that of the Helix, however, the parameter adjustments are available via huge graphical sliders rather than physical encoders, and nested menus may display substantially more options on your computer screen than on the LCD.
The connections on the rear are extremely diverse, particularly for the gigging guitarist.
Along with the standard jack ins and outs, you’ll discover many port options such as balanced XLR connectors, one in and two out, allowing quiet connection to mixing desks.
These diverse connections and many more features demonstrate that Line 6 is confident in the quality available in the Helix and wants users to make use of it, making the Helix the crucial nerve center of their whole rig.
Check out the Line 6 Helix demo here.
Line 6 POD Go vs. Helix
The POD Go and Helix, manufactured by Line 6, share many similarities. They’re two multi-effects processors featuring digitally modeled onboard effects, various amp models, and many i/o options.
But what are the differences or similarities between them? In this guide, we’ll review the two gears side by side.
Features | Features POD Go | Helix |
Simultaneous Processing Blocks | Up to 32 (DSP permitting) | Up to 10 (semi-fixed, DSP permitting) |
| Amp Modelling | Yes(88) | Yes(93) |
| Tuner | Yes | Yes |
| Expression Pedal | Yes(1) | Yes(Up to 3) |
| Price | $449.95 | $1400.00 |
| XLR Inputs | No | Yes |
| Weight lbs/kg | 5.5/2.5 | 12/5.4 |
Design
Pod Go is a small but powerful guitar amp. It’s sufficiently small, weighing 5.5 lbs/2.5kgs, and 14′′ wide, 9′′ deep, and 3.5′′ high, thus fitting in any gig bag or backpack, making it an ideal on-the-go companion for gigs and rehearsals.
On the other hand, the Helix is bigger and heavier than the Pod Go, weighing 12 lbs/5.4 kgs, which is twice as much as the Pod Go. However, its sleek form gives it a nice appearance, and the weight is still bearable.
However, POD Go external hardware mainly comprises plastics compared to Helix, which has a metal structure(pun intended!). Therefore, this depicts that Helix has more external quality than POD Go which is likely less durable.
Performance
The Pod Go guitar amplifier has two views: play and edit. A play view for performance and an edit view for tone creation are provided.
The play view is often used for playing or jamming, whereas the edit view produces tones and modifies presets. It also has two operating modes: present and stomp, and Presets has more than 250 presets listed.
The stomp mode displays which effects are designated by color code and if they are engaged. The POD Go is outfitted with a strong expression pedal. It lets you change your signal level or add cool wah or rotational effects!
The ability to make snapshots is another fantastic feature of the POD Go! Snapshots allow you to generate different preset variants, and you can generate snapshots and switch between them on the fly if you wish to have various sounds.
The Line 6 Helix includes over 300 amps, cab, mic, and effects models, and enough power under the hood to operate all these amps and effects with plenty of headroom. There is no latency while executing many effects at the same time.
The secret to its distinctiveness is found in its components: it utilizes dual Digital Signal Processors (DSPs) to ensure the most realistic response, organic sound, and numerous possibilities.
In this manner, your sound will appear to have been generated in a studio or by a true professional. When it comes to connectivity, you have a plethora of alternatives. It gives you a variety of signal route configurations to experiment with to find the one that works best for you.
You now have a fundamental grasp of the features of the two. The most crucial question is how they sound.
Tone and Sound
The Line 6 POD Go and Helix are powerful multi-effects processors for guitarists, although they have significant tone and sound differences. The POD Go includes a variety of amp and effect models, as well as the ability to build and save custom patches.
The Helix, on the other hand, comes with even more capabilities and possibilities, and it has many amp and effect models and complex features like custom signal routing methods.
In terms of tone and sound, the Helix is often regarded as more versatile and high-end than the POD Go. It has more depth and richness of sound and can produce a wider range of tones.
However, both units can create high-quality tones, and the choice ultimately comes down to personal preference and the musician’s demands. Both units are excellent for guitarists, and it’s worth experimenting with to discover which one you like.
Line 6 POD Go Pros and Cons
- Very good and usable tones for guitar and bass.
- It has a strobe tuner that is accurate for intonation
- Enables you to craft the tone and effects to create the exact sound you want
- You can’t access the Looper with any real effects enabled.
- The unit is so easy to use, and the editor is brilliant
- It isn’t featured with the I/O that the Helix has.
- Limited DSP
| PROS | CONS |
Lightweight and portable. | Plastic Hardware, thus less durable |
Loadable third-party IRs offer unlimited cab sim options. | Limited DSP |
Packed with a variety of effects and amp models. |
Helix Pros and Cons
- Great sounds
- Variety of Effects
- Solid Construction
- Cool designs
- Mainly made for live gigging
- Much more durable and stable
- Has 2 dedicated DSP chips
| PROS | CONS |
| Top-of-the-line tone quality | Highly Priced compared to the POD Go |
| Accommodates additional pedals into the signal chain | It takes time to navigate your way |
| Offers both presets and room for personalized settings | |
| Stunning versatility over other types of pedals |
LINE 6 POD Go Summary
POD Go is light and fits effortlessly into a concert bag, making it the ideal road companion for fly dates, weekend tours, and last-minute rehearsals.
Leave the cumbersome pedalboards at home and know you’re covered with a treasure trove of cabs, classic amps, and effects, plus a sturdy foot controller for volume, wah, and real-time parameter control.
And that’s everything you’ll need to rock the performance like a pro.It is incredibly simple to use and includes some fantastic sounds and features.
You truly can’t go wrong with the price, and it might help to simplify your rig when you need something tiny, light, and portable. You can use it for various playing styles since it’s versatile.
You may be disappointed if you possess a Helix because the POD Go lacks more powerful capabilities. However, Line 6 stated that this was the plan. They chose a low-cost multi-effect processor that was easy to operate.
Helix Summary
The Helix is one of the most amazing effects processors in terms of technical capability and audio quality.
There are hundreds of effects to pick from, and it can replace all of your pedals if that is what you want to do.
It can assist in combining a cluttered collection of stompboxes into a single, portable machine with a substantially broader sound range.
Furthermore, you may swiftly switch between significantly different tones without manually toggling three or four effects on and off.
The major takeaway here is that the Line 6 Helix is quite versatile. However, the major draw is the high price of $1400 compared to the POD Go. If you can afford it, don’t hesitate to explore more of it!
Frequently Asked Questions
Connecting Helix to your amp is as straightforward as connecting any other pedal: put the guitar into Helix and Helix into the amp.
It may appear simple, but remember that guitar amp inputs require an instrument-level signal, and transmitting a signal already amplified by Helix would result in a very loud signal.
Both provide a variety of new features for the finest possible experience. The Pod Go is an excellent choice for traveling because it is small but powerful.
On the other hand, Helix is a high-end, highly sophisticated guitar amp with more effects and higher sound quality.
The Helix’s major selling point is guitar processing, but you can also record vocals using a microphone.
Conclusion
The Line 6 POD Go, and Helix are high-quality guitar processors with diverse capabilities and tones.
Because of its more realistic and genuine sound and comprehensive routing and control capabilities, the Helix is typically more suited for professional musicians and studios.
On the other hand, the POD Go is more adaptable and can be utilized for various playing styles, making it an excellent choice for mobile artists.
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