LINE 6 HX STOMP XL

Line 6 has spun its highly regarded Helix modelling multi-effects units into an impressive family of products, but this could well be the ‘Goldilocks’ choice. As with the smaller HX Stomp, you get full-fat Helix tones, plus five soft knobs, four buttons and eight footswitches to sculpt sound with, making the HX Stomp XL more user-friendly than its little brother and yet still £334 cheaper than the floorboard Helix LT. Unlike the LT, however, it’s still small enough to fit on a moderate-sized pedalboard. Put your favourite analogue stompboxes in the Stomp XL’s effects loops and you’ve got a pedalboard powerhouse that can also stand alone on stage or in the studio.