Line 6

T
he original HX Stomp
gives players access to
Helix sounds without
having to buy one of the
large Helix fl oorboards,
but while its diminutive form may
be ideal for adding to a pedalboard
set-up or as an easily-portable ‘fl y
rig,’ the fact that it only has three
footswitches limits its onstage
fl exibility. That has now been
addressed by the XL version which
adds fi ve footswitches for a total of
eight while retaining a workable
form factor – it’s about fi ve inches
wider but now has all the socketry
round the back rather than on
three sides.
While the HX Stomp XL has the
same eff ects, amps, cabs and IR
loading as full-size Helix, some of
the more complex signal chains
are not available. What you do get
though are 32 banks of 4 presets
constructed from up to 8 blocks
(DSP permitting) in a serial signal
chain with parallel routing
possibilities. There are over 300
models to populate the blocks,
including over 80 amps and
pretty much every eff ect type
you’ll ever need. The upshot of
that is a real sonic fl exibility that’s
got you covered whatever type of
music you play. Setting up sounds
is straightforward, especially if you
use the computer-based editor
and you can use the unit for a full
signal chain, amp sim and cab
included, or set up presets without
amp and cab to use purely for
eff ects – there’s a ‘Stomp’
mode that gives you individual
footswitch access to six blocks
from the loaded preset for an
instant ‘pedalboard’ with six
eff ects, and it’s that kind of
fl exibility off ered by its extra
footswitches that sets the XL
apart from the smaller version.
A dedicated ‘Mode’ footswitch lets
you toggle between ‘Stomp’ mode
and ‘Preset’ mode where each
preset in a bank has its own
footswitch and you can change
banks with the up/down
footswitches. Besides these
there’s a ‘Snapshot’ mode for
access to the four snapshots
available for each preset – each
snapshot can have altered
parameters an/or a diff erent
number of active blocks. You can
also have looper controls spread
across 6 footswitches, and extra
performance capabilities can
be opened up by using the
expression pedal input.
Either version of the HX Stomp
off ers real versatility for both
home use, (with USB recording
capability and headphone socket
for silent practice), and onstage;
each is compact enough to be
a practical travelling asset for use
with your own amp or direct into
a PA. The XL, though, has the edge
in the latter context where more
onstage footswitches will give
you more options more quickly
– defi nitely worth the extra money
if you have the space for it.
Trevor Curwen
1
DISPLAY
The display offers
either Play view or Edit
view, toggled with the
adjacent View switch.
Play view, typically
used when
performing, shows
footswitch
assignments.
2
MODE
FOOTSWITCH
This toggles between
Stomp and Preset
footswitch modes.
Hold it for one second
to engage Pedal Edit
mode for hands-free
editing using just
footswitches.
3
USB SOCKET
Connect to
a computer via USB
for audio interface
capability and for
access to the HX
Edit software which
makes easy work
of all editing.
ORIGIN China
TYPE Multi-FX pedal
with amp/cabs and
effects
FEATURES Selectable
buffered or true
bypass, 128 preset
locations (32 banks
of 4), 8 in /6 out audio
interface, looper,
tuner, MIDI, regular
firmware updates
MODELS Over 300
effects and models
from Helix, M-Series,
and legacy Line 6
products
CONTROLS Volume,
soft knobs x 5, buttons
x 4, footswitches x 8
CONNECTIONS
Standard inputs
(L/Mono, R), standard
outputs (L/Mono, R),
Stereo Send, Return/
Aux In (L/Mono and R),
Exp pedal, MIDI In,
MIDI Out/Thru,
standard stereo
headphone output,
USB
POWER Supplied
9VDC DC-3G adaptor
3000 mA
DIMENSIONS 316 (w)
x 120 (d) x 68 mm (h)
CONTACT Yamaha UK,
www.line6.com
AT A GLANCE
THE XL’S ADDITIONAL
FOOTSWITCHES ARE DEFINITELY
WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
Photography Olly Curtis
1
3
2
LINE 6 HX STOMP XL
Expanded stompbox puts Helix sounds on your
pedalboard with flexible switching options
£769
REVIEW
93
SUMMER 2021 TOTAL GUITAR
TGR348.gear_line6.indd 93TGR348.gear_line6.indd 93 14/07/2021 19:2314/07/2021 19:23