u/endustry1994

I’ve got a 1997 American Stratocaster that I really love. Someone reached out offering a straight trade for their 2022 Fender American Ultra. The Ultra is a few hours away, so I haven’t been able to play it in person. It’s the blue finish with a maple neck, while mine is black with rosewood.

On paper the Ultra looks amazing, and everything I’ve read makes it sound like a serious upgrade in terms of modern features. At the same time, my ’97 is a classic and has that older American Standard vibe that I’m pretty attached to.

Has anyone here spent time with both models or done a similar trade? I’d love to hear how they compare in feel, tone, and overall character before I decide whether it’s worth the drive.

Any input is appreciated.

New user here. I recently picked up a HeadRush and ended up loading a huge library of over 2000 rigs. It was fun at first, but now it’s overwhelming and kind of getting in the way of actually using the unit.

I want to do a full factory reset and start fresh, but I’d like to keep around 50 or so rigs that I actually like. My question is:

How do I back up individual rigs instead of the entire library?
Is there a way to export only selected rigs, or do I need to manually pull them one by one from the file system?

Any tips from experienced users would be appreciated.

I grew up playing guitar in the 80s and after a long break I recently jumped back in. I was shocked at how fast everything came back. Back then I was strictly an amp guy. I played through a Peavey Black Window, a Fender Twin Reverb, and later a Marshall JCM. I barely used pedals and if I did, it was only one or two.

Fast forward to now. I picked up a HeadRush, and this thing is awesome. But I am a bit lost on one part of it.

What exactly is the FX Loop for

I understand what it is in theory, but I do not really know when I should use it or why. Everyone says time based effects go in the loop, but I am not sure how that applies in a modeler where everything is already virtual.

My setup right now

• HeadRush
• Kurzweil K2K synth/sampler
• Drum machine
• All three going straight into a mixer
• The mixer also has an FX loop, which adds to the confusion

Can someone explain like I am 5

• What the FX loop on the HeadRush actually does
• When or if I should be using it when everything is going into a mixer
• Whether the mixer’s FX loop changes anything
• Whether I should ignore both loops and keep doing what I am doing

I am loving the HeadRush so far, but this is one part of the modern setup I never learned. Any simple breakdowns or diagrams would help a lot.

So I grabbed a few *.rig files online and they came with a bunch of IRs. When I load the rigs in the web editor, the amp/cab blocks show big red question marks. I’m guessing that means the Core can’t find the IRs it’s supposed to use.

I put all the IRs into the Impulse Response folder, but now I’m wondering:

• Do IRs HAVE to be in the root of that folder?
• Or do some rigs expect them to be in a specific subfolder?
• And if the creator used a custom folder name and didn’t include it… am I screwed?

Also, can rig files themselves be organized into subfolders, or do they all need to sit in the root of the Rigs folder?

Trying to clean things up and actually get these presets working. Any guidance from the HeadRush veterans would be awesome.

Trying to avoid turning my Core into a digital junk drawer. Any help appreciated.

New to the HeadRush Core and I’m trying to figure out the whole rig library situation. I’ve been browsing around for good tones and came across the Komposition101 site. Some of the clone packs look interesting, but the prices are… pretty premium.

For anyone who’s been around the HeadRush ecosystem longer...

1. What makes these paid rigs different from the free ones on the Cloud?
   Are they doing something special under the hood, or are they just well‑tuned presets?

2. Are these tones actually unachievable by tweaking a user rig yourself?
   Like, are they using specific modeling tricks or IRs that we can’t replicate?

3. Why are these packs so expensive?
   Is it the quality, the time investment, the IRs, or just the niche market?

4. Are they worth the price?
   I’m not opposed to paying for good work, but I’m trying to understand the value.

5. How are these rigs copy‑protected?
   Just curious how creators keep their work from being freely shared.

Before I drop money on anything, I’d love to hear what the community thinks.

I just grabbed a HeadRush Core and I’m digging into it, but I’ve got a couple things I’m still unsure about.

1. Editing software
   Right now I’m using the browser editor at:
   http://headrushcore.local/#rig
   from my notebook to access and tweak presets. Is this basically the “normal” way to edit, or is there better software people prefer? I haven’t found an official standalone editor yet.

2. Home monitoring setup
   For playing at home, if I’m running into a line‑in stereo speaker, should I be using the headphone jack or the main outs on the Core? I want the cleanest, most accurate sound without blowing anything up.

3. Presets & tone libraries
   I’m enjoying the unit so far, but the factory presets aren’t really grabbing me yet. Is there a community preset exchange or library anywhere? So far I’ve only seen Komposition, and that one’s paid.

I’m mainly looking for:

• Psychedelic / trippy tones
• EVH‑style patches
• Anything with big ambient space or weird modulation

If anyone has recommendations, favorite creators, or downloadable rigs they love, I’d really appreciate it.

I’m new to the HeadRush and DAW world and could use some routing advice.
I just picked up a HeadRush Core and a Harbinger LX8 8‑channel mixer. I also have a Kurzweil K2000 sampler and a PC running Ableton, plus a pair of studio monitors.

What’s the best way to hook everything up so I can record cleanly into Ableton and also monitor through my speakers?
Ideally looking for a setup that keeps noise low and makes it easy to switch between playing guitar, using the sampler, and recording into the DAW.

I’m considering picking up a FTM but I generally play through headphones in a spare room. Is an amp recommended, or can I play through some studio monitors or headphones?