Helios 50 - 50-watt Handwired Tube Head Review

What an amp!

This amp is superb! Pretty simple to use and has tone for days. The Hot input is where it's at and both 70s and 80s mode are stellar. My SSS Strat sounds sweet through the 70s Hot input and I can sound like Jimi with my volume rolled off. My P90- and Humbucker-equipped guitars sound majestic on channel 2 Hot 70s/80s. I can get all the classic rock, hard rock, and metal tones (Jimi,… read more Led Zep, Van Halen, Alice In Chains) I want from this thing. Honestly, I don't play through the Plexi channel much, but it does sound nice…I just prefer a bit of dirt (or a lot of it) afforded on the Hot side. The master volume is super good, I can get bedroom level volume and killer tone at the same time. It does sound better when you turn it up though. The bass/mid/treble controls all make a big impact too. It's a wild amp that just oozes character; a tad bit impolite in a great way. I am so glad I bought it. Shout out to my SE, Nick Graham!

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I finally found my amp

I've had this for about six months now I played a few gigs and it is my favorite amp I've ever used to date. I have had Marshalls, 5150's,jet city , Fuchs ODS, I even have a Ecstasy 3545, but this Helios is the end all be all. My favorite is the 70's setting gain set pretty high and I just use my guitar volume knob to clean up. I usually buy and sell gear but this one is staying.

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Never Selling

I'm in love with this amp. Like everyone else, I kind of hate the two inputs and the inability to switch between them, but I'm perfectly happy using the Plexi mode for the best tones, and adding a dirty boost for that over-the-top grind. This thing sounds just freaking awesome, I never want to stop playing it. Even the clean does a great Hendrix/Frusciante tone. Amazing.

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Holy Crap!

I received this awesome amp on New Years Eve and felt I needed to put a review out there after just 1 day. I had this sound when I was playing as an early 20 year old player in Austin. Just like most things, I sold that amp and have been looking for the sound ever since. Well, my wait is over. This thing does the Plexi JTM 45 thing. It does the 70s and 80s thing. It even does the… read more country chicken picking thing along with an incredible clean almost as good as my Tone King Imperial. I thought my Friedman BE was the only way I would get close to the sound I had as a young player 30 years ago. I love my Friedman; its just this amp nails the sound. I will have this amp for the rest of my life and I will haunt my sons from the grave if they sale it. Just a little sad no one has the 2/12 CH cab in stock. Will wait until it is in stock. For now, I am playing it through a Dr. Z Z-Best Cab. I love this cab as well. You need to buy this one.

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Great Amp

Hand wired by the man himself. Gets beautiful cleans but I rarely use them because I love gain.

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