So many people seem to be unsatisfied with the wahs. I use virtually all the tips you mention and never use the default settings. The Mix and and Min and Max controls will make a great difference in themselves toward a better tone. You can get really any sound you can think of.
Very useful info. Peoples misunderstanding of how to use the helix complain about how bad the wah is. The problem is not the helix, it’s the user. I may just have to buy a helix after all. Thank you 🙏
I was a humbucker/Gibson guy for many years, never owned a single single-coil (yes, I realize I just said the) guitar. When I got my Variax, I ended up using the Tele and Strat models all the time.
The Vetta Wah is the sexiest to play the highspeed arpeggios and legattos from Steve Vai's "For the Love of God". It has the longest range for the higher notes in the first string at the 15th to 22th fret. I'd love a model of the Morley Bad Horsie or other Crybaby's custom models like Jerry Cantrell, Dimebag Darrel or Slash's... Something with a boost in the higher frequencies to make it snarl (hahaha meowing is also good)... Great video Jason... keep them coming!!! I'm expecting your in-depth analysis of the Deluxe Phaser. I could never make it sound decent to my ears (warning: I love trippy over-the-top sounds like the ones given by the Boss Ph-3)...
I struggled with the wah sounds when I got my helix. Especially with dirty or distorted tones. However that changed when I updated the firmware to 2.9. Now my problem is deciding which model to use, as they all sound great!.
Perfect timing - I was just playing with the whas and looking for a certain sound. Now I know I can sculpt it myself. I find they have too much high end toward the toe - so this is super helpful. Thanks!
I used to cover "25 or 6 to 4" which has a long wah section, but that was pre-helix. I can see that I'm going to need to spend some quality time with Helix to come up with a really workable wah setting. Also I have found the toe switch to be a real bear to trigger, but I read that you can rig it to sort of "auto-on".
This is a clear and fairly complete presentation, I appreciate that. But I have to say in the end I struggle to hear any meaningful differences between the wah models.
How so? I would like to do just that… activate fuzz with wah. Is that a snapshot functio? I have not learned snapshots yet. Thanks for any suggestions!
@@Uzurr69 This was 10 mos back, I don't remember the exact issue, I believe it was that when I would create a patch or use an existing one the pedal was assigned as wah, not by me just defaulting to wah. So when I would go to that particular patch, it would be in wah mode without me doing anything, so it would just sound weird, like in the low end of the wah tone , if the pedal was at 'zero' when I got there.
@@Uzurr69 Oops, I forgot to mention, I moved on to something else, that really was a problem, I'd asked around and never got it sorted out. I can say though Preset 11 was almost worth the 'price of admission', it was a really good kind of over driven clean that I could use as a base for Skynyrd / Duane Allman sounds. There were some other good patches as well.
I might know the issue you were having. If you have a volume block and a wah block, the expression pedal becomes the control for both. And thus, if you have the volume pedal on while also having the wah pedal on, it won't work properly. Instead, you will be trying to activate or use your wah, and the volume will also get messed with.
Great video! Now a question on the Helix. I have a line 6 pod xt pro that has a jim pre in the amp models, is there a way to download that to my helix or for that matter any presets from the xt pro to the Helix?
No. you have to rebuild them. I had to do this with my HD500X. Luckily, most, if not all of the older blocks on these units are in the Legacy sections of the Helix blocks. Probably the best thing to do is a fairly tedious documentation of the blocks and settings in your old units. Maybe a series of screen shots would make it easier.
It sounds surprising different. The before the distortion it changes the guitar tone hitting the distortion, which makes it more subtle and doesn't change the tone of the distortion so much. After the distortion, it will change the tone of the distortion. Way more pronounced
@@liamtahaney713 so to get a distorted wah, metal type sound, that boosts the mid frequencies I might put an eq before the wah and the distortion after?
Honestly, why can't I just find a video explaining how to ASSIGN the wah to the expression pedal? Good god.
So many people seem to be unsatisfied with the wahs. I use virtually all the tips you mention and never use the default settings. The Mix and and Min and Max controls will make a great difference in themselves toward a better tone. You can get really any sound you can think of.
Very useful info. Peoples misunderstanding of how to use the helix complain about how bad the wah is.
The problem is not the helix, it’s the user.
I may just have to buy a helix after all.
Thank you 🙏
I'm a Les Paul guy, but I must admit that Tele is absolutely gorgeous. Awesome tutorial as usual, Jason!
Cats and dogs. A well made tele is great. I'm mostly a lp guy as well... Recently I've been broadening my horizons... And breaking the bank.
I was a humbucker/Gibson guy for many years, never owned a single single-coil (yes, I realize I just said the) guitar. When I got my Variax, I ended up using the Tele and Strat models all the time.
I traded my LP for that model Tele and I'd do it again. The American Elites are badass.
The Vetta Wah is the sexiest to play the highspeed arpeggios and legattos from Steve Vai's "For the Love of God". It has the longest range for the higher notes in the first string at the 15th to 22th fret. I'd love a model of the Morley Bad Horsie or other Crybaby's custom models like Jerry Cantrell, Dimebag Darrel or Slash's... Something with a boost in the higher frequencies to make it snarl (hahaha meowing is also good)... Great video Jason... keep them coming!!!
I'm expecting your in-depth analysis of the Deluxe Phaser. I could never make it sound decent to my ears (warning: I love trippy over-the-top sounds like the ones given by the Boss Ph-3)...
I struggled with the wah sounds when I got my helix. Especially with dirty or distorted tones. However that changed when I updated the firmware to 2.9. Now my problem is deciding which model to use, as they all sound great!.
Perfect timing - I was just playing with the whas and looking for a certain sound. Now I know I can sculpt it myself. I find they have too much high end toward the toe - so this is super helpful. Thanks!
I used to cover "25 or 6 to 4" which has a long wah section, but that was pre-helix. I can see that I'm going to need to spend some quality time with Helix to come up with a really workable wah setting. Also I have found the toe switch to be a real bear to trigger, but I read that you can rig it to sort of "auto-on".
This is a clear and fairly complete presentation, I appreciate that. But I have to say in the end I struggle to hear any meaningful differences between the wah models.
Thank you! Definitely going to be fairly subtle differences...
you can setup any FX to also turn on when your using the wah- like a fuzz, phase or delay
How so? I would like to do just that… activate fuzz with wah. Is that a snapshot functio? I have not learned snapshots yet.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Very informative. Thank you!
My mouth moves when i wah too, but my neck was moving listening to you
Haha, thank you 😊 🤘
Thank you.. great job as always!
Thank you for this video. It was extremely helpful.
nice tip on cutting the range with the controller assing! Also Works on the pod 500x
@Wesley Conor Did this work? Asking for a friend..
I believe the main difference with the teardrop is actually the input impedance.
great video Jason. thanks!
Does it allow for auto wah sweeping (with adjustments)? So that I don’t need an expression pedal?
Again: very useful. Thanks.
Is there a Wah in Helix that sounds and operates like the Dunlop MC404 CAE Wah Pedal?
Nice video. Very helpful.
I chose this vid on wah because he’s wearing the correct T-shirt.
Did you play with an Auto Wah or do you have another pedal under the table???
I just need to know how to set up the wah separate from the volume pedal,
it's just not working right, so far on my pod go.
Turn volume pedal off, while using wah, or else both effect blocks will activate when you attempt to use the pedal.
For me the wah sound isn't as big of an issue in Helix as the fact that it doesn't really work with snapshots.
I'm sure this is a great tutorial, but I just need to know
how to kill the wah in what could be my volume position of the pedal.
I don't know if I understand you correctly? Do you want to shut off your wah and return to for example 80% of the volume pedal?
@@Uzurr69 This was 10 mos back,
I don't remember the exact issue,
I believe it was that when I would
create a patch or use an existing
one the pedal was assigned as
wah, not by me just defaulting
to wah. So when I would go to
that particular patch, it would be
in wah mode without me doing
anything, so it would just sound
weird, like in the low end of
the wah tone , if the pedal was at
'zero' when I got there.
@@bikersoncall were you able to figure it out?
@@Uzurr69 Oops, I forgot to mention,
I moved on to something else, that
really was a problem, I'd asked around
and never got it sorted out. I can
say though Preset 11 was almost
worth the 'price of admission', it was
a really good kind of over driven
clean that I could use as a base for
Skynyrd / Duane Allman sounds. There
were some other good patches as
well.
I might know the issue you were having. If you have a volume block and a wah block, the expression pedal becomes the control for both. And thus, if you have the volume pedal on while also having the wah pedal on, it won't work properly. Instead, you will be trying to activate or use your wah, and the volume will also get messed with.
Do I have to buy an external expression pedal in order to use the Wah effect or I can use the exp 1or 2 from my helix floor. What is different?
You can use the Line 6 exp 1 or 2, the built-in pedal.
Great video! Now a question on the Helix. I have a line 6 pod xt pro that has a jim pre in the amp models, is there a way to download that to my helix or for that matter any presets from the xt pro to the Helix?
No. you have to rebuild them. I had to do this with my HD500X. Luckily, most, if not all of the older blocks on these units are in the Legacy sections of the Helix blocks. Probably the best thing to do is a fairly tedious documentation of the blocks and settings in your old units. Maybe a series of screen shots would make it easier.
Real noob question: benefits of placing a distortion before the wah, compared with after the wah in the signal chain.
It sounds surprising different. The before the distortion it changes the guitar tone hitting the distortion, which makes it more subtle and doesn't change the tone of the distortion so much. After the distortion, it will change the tone of the distortion. Way more pronounced
@@liamtahaney713 so to get a distorted wah, metal type sound, that boosts the mid frequencies I might put an eq before the wah and the distortion after?
it's funny to see him try not to make the 'wah' shape with his mouth
Which pedal did you use for Wah? Thanks
Mandatory “wah” mouth - tough to avoid for me too.
I noticed you can’t keep your mouth still when you use the wah lol
I thought that was a requirement to play wah 🤣