HeadRush Flex Prime Electric Guitar Multi-Effects Pedal

I love the tones I hear on recordings of my favorite guitarists. THOSE are the sounds I want to hear when I’m playing. So my new ‘rig’ is a powered FRFR cabinet being fed by a digital modeler front end. I tried the $399 Tonex unit and found it mostly excellent except that it isn’t a true modeling amp but rather a unit built around specific tone samples. Some were fantastic, others much less so. The unit also had a handful of basic effects to complement those samples. In contrast, and for only $100 more, the HeadRush Flex Prime uses meticulously crafted models of LOTS and LOTS of actual popular amps, effects, cabinets and IRs too. I finally have the full spectrum of guitar tones spanning from the 50s through today, accurately and faithfully reproduced, right down to the feel of how the tones respond to my fingers, pick, dynamics and note muting techniques.I am currently feeding it into my Spark FRFR cabinet and it sounds terrific, and ay all volume levels too. Getting satisfying, album-like tones at low volume levels is one of the benefits of using a FRFR based system. A conventional tube amp has to be cranked to ear-splitting levels to get the tones we crave, but that our wives and neighbors hate to also have to listen to. This unit supposedly has the exact same technical innards and sound models as the bigger, more expensive HeadRush units, and each tonal patch allow up to fifteen ‘blocks’ including an amp and cab, and are almost endlessly tweakable, but easily and in instantly musically ways. I’ve had it now for about a month and have already created the dozen or so patches I need to cover 90% of what I need. The learning curve is about an hour, but the combinations of tonal elements near infinite, and so I’ve barely scratched the surface. But the results are accurate, satisfying and most importantly, INSPIRING! You just want to play for hours!But it doesn’t stop there. Included is their ‘Revalver 5.0’ software, a program where you can modify amp models’ internal circuitry and build rigs that can ultimately be transferred to your physical unit. There’s also their ‘Amp Cloner’ software for capturing your own amps’ tones should you have a specific amp sound you’d like to take everywhere you go without having to lug your heavy tube amp head/combo and half/full stack. I’m just getting into these so look for a follow-up review in another few months.Is the experience the same as standing in front of a raging stack blasting at 120 db while your pant legs flutter? No. But in my mind it’s better. You get to hear the tones you’re actually chasing, like you hear on the albums, at any volume you want. And they sound right because this little box has accurate models of the amps that created them, not just the one or two tones your stack provides.

The Core is amazing. First a bit of background. I have played guitar for over 40 years. These days I play mostly solo acoustic. I purchased the Core with an expression pedal to replace several older pieces of equipment. I have not been disappointed. I chose the separate pedal because I don’t like my expression pedal locked in one place.The Core does everything. If you don’t think it does something, you probably haven’t figured it out yet or have done something incorrectly. First bit of advice is read and print the manual off the HeadRush website.I can’t say this would be the best choice for a novice, and it is not plug in and play. You need an understanding of the equipment parameters you are asking it to simulate as well as the the key you are playing in if you intend to auto tune.The unit is all metal except the touch screen and feels very durable. It’s larger than I expected and given the build quality, it’s also heavier than I thought it would be. Whoever designed this has obviously spent a great deal of time on stage. It does EVERYTHING! Guitar, vocals, and has extremely well thought out features. Once you set up a rig, and fine tune each of the blocks, (effects) the sound quality is amazing. That being said, it can take time to get your sound just the way you want it. It’s a bit like having a 40 way adjustable driver’s seat. Editing is basically like editing a PdF. Just remember to Save. It is also helpful to review a list of effects, amps and cabinets so you know what HeadRush calls each of them. If you can’t find what you like, you can download or create your own sound in a few different ways.The core is able to run straight into a powered PA if you opt to leave the mixer behind. Input and output levels for guitar and vocals can be controlled from the touchscreen as well as controlling which outputs go where and at levels.The only problems I have had are some WI-FI connectivity. It actually seems to work best connected via cell phone. The other glitch is an occasional delay when switching between rigs. Not a big deal because it is between songs or when switching a rig to use with a different guitar. It would be nice to be see all effects when assigning hardware buttons, but that’s where having the manual available comes in handy.So far, (about a month) I’d say HeadRush has created a remarkably well thought out and capable piece of professional level equipment for this price point.

I’m confused by some of the negative reviews. The thing requires a firmware update as soon as you get it in order to have access to things like vocal compression. However, it was functional out of the box. At least for me, the firmware update was seamless and took five minutesI bought this unit for one reason; Live pitch correction. I have always had pretty decent pitch, but better is better, and this makes it better. If you cannot sing at all, I do not see how this would be of much benefit to you. But if you can sing, you can set the parameter on this thing to “chromatic“ and dial in the return speed and the humanize knob until you get transparent vocal pitch correction.If you have never used live pitch correction before, it can initially be a little bit disconcerting because you hear the corrected pitch through your monitor while hearing the original pitch via bone conduction in your head. It is like hearing a sound slightly out of phase. But you are the only person who can hear that sound.Before I ever used this unit live, I hooked it up to a full PA and set up a microphone in front of the speakers and recorded me playing and singing a song with an acoustic guitar and my vocal. The recording sounds great and was totally transparent.I’ve seen some reviews that complained about being able to hear the correction. That’s either a defective unit or they haven’t tinkered with the retune speed or the “humanize” KNOB. The second of those is actually more important. The knobs on this do not work the same as they do in a DAW, so some experimentation is essential.The harmony feature is not something I care about which is good because I do not think it’s great. I do run a guitar through it and I run it in chromatic mode and it does make some harmonic sound but I have heard way better from other manufacturers. The reverbs in delays are pretty nice but I do wish I could EQ the reverb because they tend to be pretty bright. But that’s what board EQ is for.My rating is based on the transparency and effectiveness of the pitch correction, which is the whole deal. If you are a good enough live singer where you can run this in chromatic mode and only have to think about it whenever you wanna talk to the crowd (it has a full bypass mode by stepping on the right button for two seconds) then this is the unit you’ve been looking for

I bought the HeadRush VX5 to replace my trusted TC-Helicon PlayAcoustic. Having previously tried and returned both the BOSS VE-8 and the BOSS VE-500 due to workflow limitations and tracking issues, I was hoping the VX5’s licensed Antares engine would be the silver bullet for my setup.After an exhaustive bench test using a Shure SM7B dynamic microphone (with a Micfuns M1 inline preamp booster) and an acoustic guitar equipped with hot, passive K&K Pure Mini pickups tracking directly into a DAW via USB, here is my honest breakdown.THE GOOD: Elite Lead Pitch Correction & ReverbsIf you are strictly looking at single-line vocal pitch correction, the VX5 is highly capable.The Antares Engine on Lead: For locking down a single lead vocal track, the licensed Antares algorithm handles basic pitch correction tightly and quickly. If you want a snappy, modern pop effect, it transitions easily from transparent correction to a hard robotic snap.Premium Reverbs: The internal Hall and Studio space models sound pristine, deep, and high-fidelity, without muddying up the high frequencies of a dynamic vocal mic.THE BAD: Synthetic, Unnatural HarmoniesIf you are expecting smooth, natural, human-sounding background duets like you get from TC-Helicon units, you will be deeply disappointed here.Glitchy and Inconsistent Tracking: Even when ignoring the guitar input completely and setting the pedal to a fixed, manual musical key, the harmonies do not feel smooth or consistent. The pitch tracking feels jumpy and unstable, rather than a steady, reliable backing blend.The "Digital Clone" Problem: There is a severe limitation to the harmony selections. The generated output does not sound like a real second singer standing at a separate mic. Because the pedal lacks advanced human modeling or formant shifting, the backing tracks sound exactly like your own voice being mechanically stretched and digitally modified. It is an artificial, synthetic blend that completely lacks organic warmth.THE UGLY: A Dealbreaker for Acoustic DAW RecordingThis is where the pedal completely failed my workflow. If you intend to run the VX5 directly into your computer via a USB cable to record into a DAW, be warned: It cannot separate your guitar and vocal tracks.The Flattened USB Mix: Unlike the TC-Helicon PlayAcoustic (which can split discrete Left/Right channels over USB to keep your guitar and vocals completely isolated), the VX5 forces a fully mixed, flattened mono sum down the USB line.Acoustic Masking & Tone Ruin: Because the guitar and vocal signals are mixed internally before hitting the USB port, your raw guitar tone gets completely crowded out by the heavy vocal frequencies and the 30% Hall vocal reverb. This creates massive phase clashing and acoustic masking, making a premium acoustic guitar sound strange, hollow, and metallic in your monitoring headphones.The Defeated Guitar Thru: While the pedal features a passive 1/4" Guitar Thru jack, this is a purely analog circuit block. It cannot convert your guitar to digital data for the USB cable. Therefore, you cannot split the tracks in your DAW software.PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS: No Remote Pedal PortsFor a live solo performer, the physical design choices introduce immediate friction. HeadRush completely omitted standard 1/4" external footswitch or expression ports to keep the chassis small. If you want to toggle harmonies on and off between verses and choruses, you cannot use an external accent pedal. To bypass this, you have to use clunky software workarounds like duplicating identical presets side-by-side (one with harmony off, one with harmony on).Final Verdict:If you are a live pop/rock singer who uses a separate mixer, wants manual key selection, and demands aggressive Antares pitch correction on your main voice, the VX5 is brilliant.But if you are a solo acoustic singer-songwriter who relies on natural-sounding background harmonies and a clean USB connection to record pure, uncolored guitar tracks alongside your vocals, I would recommend to not buy this pedal. It requires too many external hardware splits, separate interfaces, or DI boxes just to protect your acoustic guitar tone from a synthetic internal vocal mix.

Great device and I love user friendliness of the 7” screen.Most people rave about Headrush for its guitar features, but my primary reason for purchasing was for its promised Vocal Processing features. The fact that both Guitar and Vocal effect are included in one unit is a huge plus.I own and have owned many T.C. Helicon vocal pedals as well as the BOSS VE-500 pedal. I believe the Boss is King in ability and Helicon Number 1 in user friendliness and both are Very Excellent pedals.During my first few days of use with the Headrush Core it looked like the Headrush Core was coming at third place on vocal capabilities and now after using it for awhile third place sadly is confirmed.However, after digging deeply into its settings I believe as a Vocal pedal the Headrush Core could be King but it needs a few more voice changing improvements especially the pitch and gender areas. For me final results mean everything and if you’re willing to spend the time learning the ins and outs it will meet most of your requirement however not yet in par with both the Helicon and the Boss.The T.C. Helicon is still Number 1 for ease of use and the Boss is still excellent number one in the results capability arena.Headrush Core has many presets for each of its vocal and guitar pedals and numerous adjustments for the presets. It also has the ability to arrange the order of each effects pedal and on top of that you can use any guitar pedal within your vocal setup. Even if the pedals were subpar (and they’re not) you still have a huge advantage in achieving you needed result. The catch is that it’s not as straight forward as the Helicon or the Boss which try to do most of the work for you, the Headrush’s extremely versatile and it requires putting time into creating that perfect sound. However, once you achieve your desire outcome and save it, it’s yours forever.I prefer the Core over the Prime because of the preferred size.Because the Headrush Core is an Electronic Beast I recommend you get a 3year extended warranty. Why only 3 years? Because others will be chasing the Headrush Core and by the end of 3 years you’ll want the next best thing. As an all in one pedal however it's hard to fine something better, but I'm always looking.

I picked up the HeadRush Flex Prime, and it’s honestly one of the most user-friendly multi-effects units I’ve used. It packs a ton of features into a compact pedal, but the touchscreen interface makes everything surprisingly simple to navigate and dial in. The effect patches are some of the best I’ve heard in a multi effects pedal. Plenty of adjustability and creativity!Right out of the box, the amp models and effects sound great—from clean tones to high-gain, plus solid bass presets. The ability to load custom IRs is a big bonus if you like fine-tuning your tone or matching specific cabinets. The onboard lessons and connectivity features are a nice touch, especially if you’re learning or want an all-in-one practice setup.What I liked:* Excellent sound quality with realistic amp and cab modeling* Touchscreen interface is intuitive and fast to use* Tons of effects and presets for guitar and bass* Built-in looper is great for practice and layering ideas* Wi-Fi & Bluetooth for updates and extra features* IR loader for custom tones and flexibility* USB connectivity for recording and editingThings to know:* There’s a slight learning curve if you’re new to multi-effects units* Not as many footswitches as larger boards, so patch setup matters for live useOverall:This is a feature-packed, great-sounding multi-effects processor that’s easy to use and versatile enough for practice, recording, or gigs. If you want a modern all-in-one pedal with a clean interface and tons of options, the Flex Prime is a solid choice and value for the money.

With the 5.0 firmware update and the new Drum Kit feature, the Prime has taken a major step forward. This is my second unit, and HeadRush continues to show strong long-term support and commitment to updating the platform.The sound quality through my two FRFR 108 speakers is excellent, and the Prime still delivers some of the most realistic amp, cab, and IR tones in its class. Functionality is a real standout. You get a powerful looper, a deep drum machine, an amp cloner, a full suite of guitar and vocal effects, USB audio, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and a large touchscreen that makes building rigs fast and intuitive.Control options are extensive, from assignable footswitches and scenes to onboard and external expression pedals. The global settings and remote editor add even more flexibility for live and studio work. The included power supply is solid and reliable, and the overall build quality feels ready for heavy gigging.For the price, the Prime offers tremendous value for money considering how many devices it replaces. Updates like the 5.0 release make it an even better investment over time. If you want an all-in-one unit that keeps expanding in capability, the Prime is an easy recommendation.

The Headrush Core has completely transformed my guitar rig. It’s hands down one of the most powerful and versatile multi-effects processors I’ve ever used. The amp and cab models are incredibly realistic, and the tone-shaping options are deep yet intuitive. It responds beautifully to dynamics, which makes it a dream for expressive playing — from bluesy bends to fusion-style legato runs.What really stands out is how reliable and flexible this unit is. I’ve built several rigs on it now, including ones that emulate Eric Johnson, Greg Howe, and Andy Timmons — and it nails the feel and tone. The fact that I can stack overdrives, tweak delay timing, and sculpt EQ curves all in one compact unit is a total game changer.The touchscreen interface is fast and responsive, editing is smooth and enjoyable, and the sound quality is absolutely studio-grade. Whether you’re gigging, recording, or crafting tones at home, this unit delivers consistently and effortlessly.It’s also worth noting — I haven’t even touched the looper yet, which is one of its headline features! That tells you how deep and inspiring the Core already is before even unlocking its full potential.If you’re on the fence, don’t hesitate. The Headrush Core is inspiring, expressive, and built to handle whatever style or setup you throw at it. A true workhorse for modern guitarists.

Prima werkend systeem voor Bas

Overall it’s a pretty good unit that’s packed with features for a fair price.My issue is mainly with the phantom power - there’s terrible noise. I wanted to utilize the vocal aspect with a condenser mic and that just won’t work. Don’t include features that can’t be properly executed.

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L’appareil qu’il faut avoir pour celui qui aime l’ultra qualité.Pas assez d’éloges pour cet appareil qui me comble au quotidien sur mes 5 guitares et basse.Je n’utilise que 13 presets très finement réglés selon mes goûts (vintage, son rond et chaud légèrement crunchy qu’aucun multi n’a su m’apporter jusqu’ici)Connexion Bluetooth et Wifi géniales pour MAJ et contrôle distant.On peut aller très loin dans les sons bizarres, mais là où il excelle c’est dans les sons faiblement crunchy avec reverb et Delay avec simulation de stack Marshall.Son soliste en disto sur le même concept assez hallucinant, 0 bruit de fond et sustain infini avec une profondeur et une rondeur de son inédites.Headrush a mille lieux des Boss et autres Zoom de même format. C’est plus cher, mais mieux vaut payer une fois et en prendre plein les oreilles que de changer d’appareil tous les3 mois sans jamais être satisfait… (on pourrait étendre ce concept sur tous les objets deConsommation…)

Venia usando el flex prime desde hace 1 año tanto en ensayos como directos y nunca me dejó tirado, antes tuve el mx5 que usé varios años y muy bien.Cogí este por la pantalla (con 51 años ya me cuesta leer en pantallas de 4') y por las opciones de salida que en el flex prime siempre la vi limitada porque no puedes enviar una señal sin IR a un ampli y otra a un IN EAR y otra a una mesa, con volumenes independientes, con esta si y además de manera rápida, sin tener que editar los presets justo antes del concierto. A parte que se agradece tener los 5 pulsadores, que para mi son lo mínimo que necesito sin tener que recurrir a pedaleras MIDI como me pasaba con el flex.Por otro lado he visto que idéntica cadena de efectos consume más CPU en esta que en la Flex, aproximadamente un 5-6%, indagando un poco vi que no usan la misma CPU. La de la Flex es teóricamente más actual (ARM CORTEX A-55 vs ARM CORTEX A-17)