jcm800 sounds ??

bordonbert wrote:Are you saying that, if Steve Vai was playing a no-name Strat direct through a no-name amp and cab you would not like his sound?  For me, at the end of the day the guitarists I love sound incredible no matter what their setup is when I hear them.  It may be slightly different to what I am used to but that is of no consequence.  Yes, they would choose great gear and make sure to get the sound they want in general, but that doesn't mean I am not thrilled at what I hear when I see them with run of the mill kit.  I've seen someone I suspect you may like, Guthrie Govan, get up and jam in a local pub with borrowed gear and he is still amazing, with the ability to coax astounding tone out of that unfamiliar gear.  That's a great guitarist with the tone in his fingers.

Coachz wrote:When track order changes, it's always fun re-ordering the patches in the unit.

bordonbert wrote:

Coachz wrote:When track order changes, it's always fun re-ordering the patches in the unit.

I don't get that Coachz!  If track order changes you just reorder the names of the numbers on your list, you keep the same patch numbers and don't need to touch the FSM432 to reprogram at all.

Surely your list

Track	Title	Bank, Patch
Trk 1	Hotel California	4, AB
Trk 2	Tender Surrender	7, ABC

just becomes

Track	Title	Bank, Patch
Trk 2	Tender Surrender	7, ABC
Trk 1	Hotel California	4, AB

bordonbert wrote:I'm definitely on the same page with the impact thing.  I was always one of the lean on the stage guys when I was following the likes of Humble Pie many years back.  If it don't flutter your hair it 'aint really there.  But that to me isn't a tonal issue involving things like valve choice.  I agree, it's a cabinet issue and I'm with you in using a 4x12, (late 1960s 1960a with G12M Greenbacks, if you get the sense of that.)

I wouldn't say it was the definition of rock and roll for me either.  Going to see someone from the balcony of the Albert Hall is just as great an experience as seeing them from the edge of the stage in a standing club for me.  It's a different experience but just as valid though it presses different buttons.

coachz wrote:

spikey wrote:

coachz wrote:Seems like a waste of money, since the helix already has all the fx and amp models, not to mention adding the complexity of managing presets on two units.

It's only a waste if I used "your" money. For me and my money, it was very "very" well spent. And with that Bogner pedal listed above, it does a Marshall Plexi pretty well too! See I don't do metal and was skeptical about how this would sound esp. with Helix in the loop. It worked like a charm. With Helix added I can use my choice of a wah, compression, EQ where needed, up to 4 FX loops, etc etc... YMMV but I'm as Happy as can be with my set up, the best blues rock and rock&roll tones I've heard in a while. And since I running into Helix 1st I can use the foot controller for both, I can just change patches and be right back into using Helix for the Fenders and AC-30s. Best of both worlds for me! Oh, and if yer still worried my finances just send me some EB 9-42 Slinkys and a few guitar pics  

ha ha.  Do you use patches on both the helix and the GM40 ?    Do you play live because I"m wondering how you manage the presets.  Do you have both the footswitch to the GM40 too ?    Thanks for any ideas.   It just seemed redundant so I appreciate the explanation.   You might like to try the EB cobalts too if you have not.  My hero Steve Vai is a fan.