Line 6 have a wide range of multi-effects pedals and it can be hard to figure out which may suit you the best.
In this brief guide, I will go through the main multi-effects product ranges Line 6 currently offers and give you a quick overview of each one.
Of course, you should compare Line 6’s products to other brands and options. The purpose of this guide is to explain the main differences between the many different pedals Line 6 offer and give you a starting point when looking for a new multi-effects pedal.
You won’t see me claiming I’ve found the ‘best multi-effects pedal’ like so many other websites or YouTubers claim because there is no one best pedal. Each pedal suits different people. Check out the following options and you might find the one that suits you best.
Once you find a multi-effects pedal that suits you, you’re going to find you have instant access to an overwhelming range of guitar effects. The more you understand about guitar effects, the better control you’ll have over them.
The Guitar Effects Course available here covers all common types of guitar effects, how they work, how to control them and how to position them for the best sound. This course is ideal if you want to learn how to set up your own presets with any multi-effects pedal.
Line 6 Helix Series
Line 6’s current top-of-the-line multi-effects pedals is called the Helix. The HX modelling engine along with a crazy amount of I/O & routing capabilities places this pedal as the ‘premium’ option for guitarists.
If you’re familiar with Fractal Audio’s highly praised Axe-Fx, the Helix is positioned to compete with it in terms of features and sound quality.
If you look at the other options and feel they don’t have enough flexibility, quality or features, then the chances are the Helix will have what you’re looking for. But keep in mind that this is a premium product, so the price really is a step above all other Line 6 options.
There are currently three physical options and one digital option in the Helix range to suit different needs (links to Amazon for price and full features):
- Helix Floor: this is a feature-packed floor multi-effects unit.
- Helix Rack: this model takes the floor unit and mounts it on a rack. It’s available with an optional foot controller called Helix Control)
- Helix LT: think of this floor multi-effects unit as a light version of the Helix Floor
- Helix Native: this is a digital plugin to use in DAWs and comes in AAX, AU, and VST3 formats
Most guitarists probably know out of the four options which one is likely to suit them just from the short description. If you’re not sure, think about what you want from a multi-effects unit and where you’ll be using it.
The above models were created for different needs and while there’s some overlap in what each of the above models can do, each has its own best-uses.
Who the Helix might suit:
If you want the top of the range multi-effects and don’t care about the cost, the Helix is the one to go for. It’s highly unlikely anything else will be coming out in the near future that comes close to the quality of the Helix. Of course, you should also compare it to Fractal Audio’s Axe-Fx II to see which one will suit you best.
If you feel that the Helix suits you, your next decision is which model. If you’re after a regular floor multi-effects unit, your choice should be between the Helix Floor and Helix LT. The model you choose will likely come down to your budget and which features you want to have.
If you’re a serious recording guitarist, the Helix Rack or Helix Native may suit you better. The Native gives you everything in software, so the main choice is whether you want hardware or not. You are able to connect a floor controller to the Helix Rack, so if you also tour, you may find it suits your needs more than a software-only version.
Any presets you create in Helix Native can be transferred to any Helix hardware, so you may decide to get Native as well as a hardware version for performances.
The Helix rack is the most expensive option in the Helix range and if you want to add a floor controller, the cost will skyrocket. My guess is for most guitarists, the Helix Floor will be the best choice.
Who the Helix won’t suit:
Many guitarists won’t need the level of features the Helix offers. The other below pedals all suit a wide range of guitarists and do a great job at an affordable cost. The Helix will no doubt have superior features and quality, but it comes at a massive cost. Paying $500 vs $1500+ is a big difference – especially if you don’t really need the extra features the Helix offers.
If you already have a few pedals in your rig, a full Helix floor processor is likely to be overkill. You may find you can get everything you want by adding one of the below options to your rig.
For example, if you’re looking for some high-quality effects to add to your rig, the HX Effects or HX Stomp may suit you better (covered below). You’ll get the same quality effects as a full Helix unit, in a compact pedal.
While I’d love to give a thorough review on the Helix, it’s way out of my price range. So check out the Amazon listing above for more details and reviews.
Check out the Line 6 Helix here for information on price and other details.
Line 6 HX Effects
The HX Effects takes the excellent quality effects from the Helix range and places them in a smaller pedal. Think of the HX Effects as an upgraded version of the M series (covered later).
If you like the idea of adding a wide range of high-quality effects to your rig but don’t need the extensive I/O capabilities of the Helix, then the HX Effects may suit you. It’s significantly cheaper than the full Helix Floor, while still giving you plenty of access to effects.
Who the HX Effects might suit:
The HX Effects suits guitarists wanting to have access to a wide range of high-quality effects, without needing to buy a full multi-effects floorboard. If you already have some pedals in your rig and you want to supplement those pedals with more effects, this is a great option.
Who the HX Effects won’t suit:
Think of the HX Effects as a way to set up and access a full rig of stompboxes at any time. That’s great for some guitarists, but that might not suit your needs. For example, if you want to use amp modelling or have one pedalboard for your entire rig, the HX Effects isn’t the best choice.
The HX Effects shines when it’s used to supplement your rig. If you want a multi-effects pedal to take control over your entire rig, there are better options as covered below. While you may not get the high-quality effects found in the Helix or HX range, they may suit your needs better.
If you like the idea of having a multi-effects pedal focusing on stompbox effects and you feel the HX Effects is out of your price range, check out the HX Stomp or the older M series. Alternatively, check out the HX Stomp XL, which packs in more features with the same number of footswitches as the HX Effects.
Check out the HX Effects here for the current price and full details.
Line 6 HX Stomp
The HX Stomp gives you access to the high-quality effects from the Helix range and provides it in a compact pedal. This tiny pedal packs in a lot of features such as amp models, impulse responses, MIDI control, and more.
HX Stomp is incredibly flexible. You can use it as a simple way to add effects to your rig or you can do anything all the way up to control your entire rig. While there’s still a big difference between using a full floorboard such as the Helix and using this tiny pedal, it gives you a surprising amount of flexibility.
Who the HX Stomp might suit:
What impresses me with the HX Stomp is how many features are crammed into such a small pedal. You could buy this pedal today to add a few effects to your rig. Then in two years’ time, if you want to experiment with impulse responses, your HX Stomp will be ready to go. If you decide to experiment with the 4 Cable Method, the HX Stomp can do it.
You can do many of the things a full floorboard can do but in a tiny unit. This makes it a great addition to any guitarist’s pedalboard. If you want to add something to your rig but don’t want to use up much pedalboard space, then the HX Stomp is worth considering.
Who the HX Stomp won’t suit:
While the HX Stomp is incredibly flexible, it does have limitations. With only three footswitches, it’s not going to give you the same level of control during live performances that you would get from any other full floorboard.
Most of the full floorboards in this guide have 12 footswitches to allow you to switch between presets, turn individual effects on/off at any time, and more. If you’re a live performer, you may prefer a larger unit that gives you more on-the-fly control.
If you like everything about the HX Stomp except for the size, check out the newer HX Stomp XL below.
Check out the price and details of the HX Stomp here.
Line 6 HX Stomp XL
New in 2021, the HX Stomp XL takes the compact HX Stomp (covered above) and adds in more footswitches and improved MIDI capability.
The HX Stomp XL gives you eight footswitches (the HX Stomp only has three footswitches), which opens up the ways you can use the pedal and jump around between effects or presets.
One nice advantage of the extra footswitches is the ability to use the inbuilt looper with features spread over six of the footswitches.
One change I like over the HX Stomp is that all of the I/O connections are now on the back of the pedal.
The original HX Stomp spread the connections around the pedal, which packed in amazing flexibility but made the pedal awkward to place on a pedalboard. Note that the HX Stomp and the HX Stomp XL both have the exact same number of connections – so you’re not missing out on anything with either pedal. The HX Stomp XL simply places everything on the back.
Who the HX Stomp XL might suit:
If you like everything built into the HX Stomp, but you feel the compact size is too limiting, then the HX Stomp XL will be perfect for you.
Guitarists who are using older multi-effects pedals such as the Line 6 M series (covered later) may decide that this is the right pedal to upgrade to.
Who the HX Stomp XL won’t suit:
The HX Stomp XL is a strange pedal. It extends the flexibility over the HX Stomp, but it doesn’t go as far as the full Helix pedalboards. Whether you’re happy with the range of features and control the HX Stomp XL gives you or not depends on how you plan on using your pedals.
Line 6 POD GO
The POD GO was released in 2020 (with a wireless version in 2021) and was designed to be an all-in-one pedalboard for guitarists who don’t want something that integrates with an existing rig. For example, if you only have a guitar and an amp right now, the POD GO might suit you.
This is different than the HX Stomp or HX Effects, as they were designed to integrate with existing rigs. So you can use those units to connect with your other pedals and use them in combination with other gear.
The inclusion of an expression pedal and having eight footswitches is a step-up from the HX Stomp or HX Effects in terms of having everything all in one unit. While the HX Effects has more features, the POD GO suits somebody wanting a simple unit that does everything.
The large color display takes a different approach compared to the HX Effects (which has a display above each footswitch). Once you get used to Line 6’s color-coding, you’ll find it ridiculously easy to use.
Taking a look at the back of the POD GO, you can see that you have all the essential options you would expect from a pedalboard today such as using the 4 Cable Method, USB recording, playing with headphones, etc.
Some people may have trouble choosing between the POD GO vs HX Stomp or HX Effects, but if you think about what features you want in your pedal, it should be an easy choice. There is a lot of overlap of features between the pedals, so you’re unlikely to feel like you’re missing out with any choice.
With the release of the HX Stomp XL, you now have a harder decision over which pedal may suit you best. The POD GO and the HX Stomp XL are similar enough that you might want to spend some time thinking about what features are most important to you.
Wireless model: as of early 2021, Line 6 has released a wireless version of the POD GO. The only difference with the wireless version is that it has an inbuilt wireless receiver and you get a Relay G10TII transmitter with the pedal.
The transmitter charges directly in the POD GO, so you don’t need to buy a separate charging unit. You can learn more about Line 6’s wireless systems in my review of the older Relay G10 here.
Keep in mind that you can still choose to plug a guitar cable into the wireless POD GO – so you aren’t forced to always use the wireless transmitter.
Who the POD GO might suit:
The POD GO suits guitarists wanting an all-in-one pedalboard, but don’t have the budget or want something as big as the Helix or Helix LT.
The POD GO gives you all the essential features you may want in a fairly compact unit. If you want one device to handle all of your effects and amp tones, this is a good option to consider.
If you like the idea of having a wireless rig, you might want to buy the POD GO Wireless.
Who the POD GO won’t suit:
The POD GO was designed to be an all-in-one unit, so if you want something that integrates with other pedals, this may not be for you. Something like the HX Effects or HX Stomp may suit you better if you already have a number of pedals you use.
Also, if you have a higher budget and want the best possible modeling technology and effects, I highly recommend something from the Helix or HX options. The POD GO was created to be a lower-priced option, so it doesn’t use the high-end technology found on the HX pedals.
Line 6 POD HD Series
The POD HD series has a few options: HD300, HD400, HD500 & HD500X. My review of the POD HD500X covers the newest pedal in the POD HD range in detail.
The POD HD series is a multi-effects pedal with ‘HD’ amps and effects. The HD series is an upgrade from the earlier POD X3 & XT that were so popular. Compared to many of the pedals below, the HD series offers superior amp models and effects.
Who the HD series suits:
If you’re looking for an all-in-one pedal (eg: effects, amp simulation, expression pedal, effect banks, etc.) to take to gigs or use at home for playing and recording, the HD series is an excellent line to research. You have a lot of control over your tones and presets – more control than many of the below options.
A lot of guitarists prefer using the HD series pedals for live use as you have a lot of flexibility in outputs (eg: direct to mixer, to amp, amp simulation, etc.). If you have a Variax guitar, the HD500X will suit you as you can control your guitar via the pedal and vice versa.
While the HD series may not be at the same level in terms of quality as the Helix range, it does come at a far lower cost. They’re older units so you’re able to buy new or second-hand models for significantly lower prices than a Helix.
If you don’t need the top-of-the-line features found in the Helix, the HD500X is the next best choice for a large pedalboard.
Who the HD series doesn’t suit:
If you want the best quality effects possible, one of the Helix pedals may suit you better. It comes at a higher cost, but you’ll get the best quality effects coming out of Line 6.
If you want something simpler to use or you don’t need the flexibility found in the HD500X or the Helix, you may find the AMPLiFi or Firehawk pedals suit your needs better. They’re simpler pedals with different needs in mind.
The HX Stomp and Effects pedals are also worth considering if you want high-quality effects, but you don’t need a large pedalboard. The HD500X is significantly older than the HX Stomp and uses older technology. You may find that one of the newer pedals covers the features you want.
Read my review on the HD500X for more information and to help you choose between different options in the HD series.
Line 6 M Series
The M series is the oldest product line in this guide – but it’s still a very popular range and you can usually find second-hand units for cheap. There are three different options in this range: M13, M9 & M5.
The M series is designed to act as a set of stompboxes. The four columns you can see above in the M13 photo act like four stompbox pedals chained together. Each screen controls each stompbox. The three rows allow you to switch between different stompboxes in that slot. This is a very different type of multi-effects pedal compared to the HD series as it focuses on stompboxes rather than presets.
Who the M series suits:
If you’re on a tight budget, but want to play around with a wide range of effects, the M series may suit you. Being able to access a massive range of effects and have different stompbox rigs instantly accessible makes the M series stand out over the other options.
While I highly recommend either the HX Stomp or the HX Effects over the older M series, they’re still great pedals worth checking out.
Who the M series doesn’t suit:
Compared to other options such as the Helix, POD GO, or HD series, the M series doesn’t offer an all-in-one solution. So if you want to chain your effects together, use amp modeling or run your rig directly to a PA, the M series isn’t the best choice. It’s also not a good choice if you don’t like the stompbox style layout.
While many guitarists do use an M series pedal for gigs, in many situations the Helix, POD GO, or HD series will be a better choice. It simply depends on what type of multi-effects pedal you prefer to use.
Also, if you’re looking for the best quality tone, keep in mind the M series uses older technology. So while many of the effects sound great, other effects such as the drive effects may not compare well to newer pedals such as the HX Effects or HX Stomp. If you’re willing to spend more, you may find either the HX Effects or HX Stomp to suit you better than an M series pedal.
Find out more on the M series by reading my review of the M13.
Line 6 AMPLiFi FX100
The AMPLiFi FX100 came out shortly after Line 6 released their AMPLiFi amps. You can read my review of the AMPLiFi 75 here to find out about the amp. The FX100 basically takes the electronics out of the AMPLiFi amp and places it on to a pedalboard.
The whole idea behind the FX100 is that you can connect to either an amp or hi-fi system at home and use your smartphone to edit your presets. The focus is on making this pedal easy to use at home for the casual player.
As you can see from the photo above, there are minimal knobs, footswitches, and screens when compared to the HD series. That’s because you need to use your smartphone to set up your effects and presets.
The free iOS or Android app gives you complete flexibility over how you use your pedal. You can even stream your music from your phone/tablet to the pedal so you can jam along with any tracks you have in your music library.
Who the AMPLiFi FX100 suits:
If you want something simple to use at home at an affordable price, this is a great option. A casual player can jam along with tracks, easily download presets to match songs in their music library and edit effects quickly and easily without having to touch the pedal.
While it could be used for live purposes, it’s not the best option. You would be better off with a Helix or HD500X for live performances.
If you don’t have an amp or you already have a hi-fi system at home, this is a great way to play guitar without the need for an amp.
Who the AMPLiFi FX100 doesn’t suit:
If you don’t like the idea of using a smartphone or tablet to edit your presets, this isn’t for you. If you’re looking for a high-quality tone for live use, the Helix or HD series will be better as the FX100 uses older modelling technology.
If you like the idea of the FX100 but want more features and better quality, the Firehawk FX will be a better choice.
If you have a Variax guitar, the FX100 isn’t suitable for you.
Find out more about the AMPLiFi FX100 here including reviews and price.
Line 6 Firehawk FX
The Firehawk FX pedal is basically an advanced version of the AMPLiFi FX100 mixed with the HD series. It uses HD models from the HD series and combines it with the smartphone editing capability of the FX100. The multi-color footswitch indicators is an idea taken from the M series and can be surprisingly useful.
The main reason to consider the FX100 over a higher quality pedal such as the Helix or HD500X is the smartphone connectivity. If you like the idea of setting up your presets on your smartphone instead of on the actual pedal, this is a solid option.
While other pedals such as the Helix or HD500X have PC/Mac editors, it’s very different than connecting your smartphone via Bluetooth for some instant editing.
Who the Firehawk FX suits:
If you want a more advanced version of the AMPLiFi FX100, then the Firehawk is a good choice. You will have iOS or Android editing capabilities along with other features such as Variax support, more presets and banks, FX send and return and the ability to connect a second expression pedal.
Who the Firehawk FX doesn’t suit:
As this pedal also relies on smartphones (or PC/Mac) to set up your tones and presets, if you don’t like that idea, this won’t be for you.
I haven’t heard of many guitarists using this for live performances and while it could work, you won’t be able to simply bend over and adjust an effect or preset if you need to.
Check out the Firehawk FX here for more information, price, and reviews.
Line 6 Pedals Summary
There is no one best pedal and the right pedal for you depends on what features you want to have.
If you’re a casual player and want a simple pedal to use at home, then the AMPLiFi FX100 is a good choice. If you like the idea of using your smartphone/tablet to edit your presets but want more features and better quality than the AMPLiFi FX100, then the Firehawk FX is suitable.
If you want to supplement your existing rig with various stompbox effects, look into the HX Effects or HX Stomp (or the older M series).
If you want more control over your tone and you play live as well as at home, the Helix or HD series will likely meet your needs.
Finally, if you want the best available and don’t care about cost, one of the Helix models will give you the best results.
This guide only compared Line 6’s multi-effects pedals against each other and you should also look at what other brands offer. Some people love Line 6’s gear and others don’t so instead of letting other people’s personal opinions sway you, think about what you want and what features appeal to you.
The good news is that when you buy a new pedal today, the chances are you will end up with a fantastic sounding piece of gear. Technology and competition have dramatically improved the quality of pedals so the problems people had 5 or 10 years ago are almost non-existent today.
Check out my reviews for specific pedals and check out reviews on Amazon to get a better idea of how guitarists are using pedals today.
If you want to learn more about the guitar effects built into these pedals, check out the Guitar Effects Course available here.
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