HeadRush PedalboardFrom real comments

Name: HeadRush Pedalboard
Rating: 5 (9 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 9 mentions across 1 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment100%

PROS 100%

Rank based on 9 mentions across 1 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want fast, menu-free patch building via touchscreen
You gig regularly and need a rugged, reliable FOH-ready unit
You prefer simple UI over deep tweakability

What users love

Intuitive touchscreen interfaceKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Skip this if...

You need extensive effects flexibility and chain routing depth
You rely on onboard overdrives/fuzzes without external pedals
You need PC editor software or preamp-only amp models

What users complain about

No cons data available.

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Mid

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate sound

Great with extended-range guitars

Strong overall tone quality

Price concerns

2Premium

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog tone

Long-term reliability and board loyalty

Simple, intuitive controls

High price point

Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable

Distortion at high settings

3Premium

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamics

Long-term favorite / durability of appeal

Sweet, low-gain tone quality

High price versus clones

Deluxe loses some original character

Limited mid control

Best value

4Mid

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatility

Natural, amp-like tone

Powerful 3-band EQ

Demo videos undersell the pedal

Noticeable noise floor

Volume drop when engaged

5Premium

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb quality

High-quality warm pitch shifting

Strong aspirational appeal

High price

Cheaper alternatives may suffice

Effect can feel like it plays for you

6Premium

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like tone

Excellent low-to-mid gain drive

Underrated favorite among owners

High price point

Limited gain-staging flexibility

No built-in reverb

7Premium

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drum

Warmer, more alive analog character

Cultural and historical influence

Extremely high collector price

Analog noise and static requiring EQ

Reliability concerns of aging hardware

8Premium

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to play

Warm, fat analog tone

Strong DAW/VST editor integration

High price for what it offers

Limited versatility outside bass range

Needs effects/partner gear to shine

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style tone

Convincing demo influenced purchase

Excellent clean boost

Not suited for metal tones

10Mid

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent tone

Versatile across genres

Works well across many guitar types

Two-channel routing complexity

Dry signal bleed-through

Inconsistent demo impressions

You are here

31Mid

HeadRush Pedalboard

Intuitive touchscreen interface

HeadRush Pedalboard

Intuitive touchscreen interface

Versatile
1. MXR Super Badass Distortionarrow_upward15
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward4
Expensive
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_downward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
3. Eventide Orvillearrow_downward4
Dynamic response
1. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward8
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_upward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_upward1

Overall Impression

The touchscreen interface wins over nearly every user who compares it to menu-based competitors. Commenters repeatedly say the HeadRush's touchscreen and scribble strips make dialing in tones dramatically faster than the Helix, often citing five to fifteen minutes to build a usable rig. Several switched from Helix specifically for this reason, even sacrificing some tonal flexibility, and multiple users say it's ideal for non-technical players or engineers who don't want to fight menus of menus.

Live reliability and build quality earn strong praise from gigging musicians. Multiple users report years of shows (one logging 75 live shows since 2019) with the unit performing flawlessly through FOH and IEMs, plus a heavy-duty chassis that withstands road use. The effects loop, setlist function, and dual amp/cab flexibility support cover bands playing varied genres, though the built-in tuner is called out as underwhelming and needing improvement.

Sound quality is generally strong but a few gaps frustrate specific use cases. Users say amp models and stock cabs sound convincing, sometimes rivaling Kemper or Axe-Fx, especially through FRFR speakers or mixed with real tube amps. However, several note weaker overdrive/fuzz emulations requiring external pedals, fizzy top-end on high-gain 4-cable-method setups, and no acoustic guitar demos or preamp-only routing, leaving some use cases unaddressed.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

touch_appIntuitive touchscreen interfaceKey factor

9 mentions

Strongly positive

Reviewers consistently highlight the large touchscreen and scribble strips as the standout feature, making patch creation far quicker and easier than menu-based competitors like Helix. Multiple users switched from Helix specifically for this ease of use.

@perryd6761

Awesome tutorial. I think you may have persuaded me to plunk down a grand for this baby. It really is an awesome board. I heard you mention version 2.1 in the video. I can only imagine it has gotten better now that they’re up to 2.3. I’ve been looking at all the multi effects pedals and I really feel if the tones are good and there are enough IR’s this is a really great buy for the price. I don’t think the Helix is as user-friendly and easy to navigate as this pedal. And I love how almost everything in a rig is assignable and named automatically. Thanks for your time in making the video and showing people how easy this beast is to use. Keep on rocking!

smart_display

March 22, 2021

@mindstorms44

I'm absolutely blown away with this thing......the sheer amount of possibilities and quality therein is astounding!.....I've chased tone since the late 80s and never got near anything I was happy with and I have a JCM 2000 DSL and 1960 cab,various Jackson guitars and Seymour duncans in them,I'm basically crap or impatient to sit tweaking stuff but this thing is rediculas, the positioning of mics and selections are just absurd....I've had many multi effects pedals over the years but this thing is special!.....I work with very a talented sound engineer who just brings my sound alive with a crap sounding patch in rehearsal to crystal clear live!.....with this thing he can just leave me be and concentrate on the rest of the band instead of hearing me moan and moan (I'm famous for it in my band and its embarrassing to be honest) but to just watch him enjoy the night rather than constantly watching my frowns etc makes me feel so much better and as a result my playing is more relaxed and I can just zone out and appreciate my fellow bandmates playing and singing....I can not stress this enough and I'm 42 and been playing since 13.....I'm self taught with all my musical abilities and this has unlocked precious milliseconds of time that were previously used up by me thinking stuff like \"oh man that note should have sustained better or even crap like \"why dont I sound like those guys\" lol......at home with a practice amp playing along to songs with nothing but gain and reverb was perfect and my vibrato came from that but going from a 15 watt solid state to a valve stack is massively different for me.....I'm sorry for the long comment but this is my first experience with IRs and I've sat back and watched players argue and argue for and against and that made me apprehensive about them......sod that guys,my advice to any young shredders or whatever your thing is,this unit is your answer to all your needs and wants,I haven't even scratched the surface of the capabilities of mine yet and I'm amazed I truly am,I can't speak for other products but this touchscreen gives a dinosaur like me the power to get any sound i want when i want......I can't praise this enough!\nBest thing I've bought in years! Get one,you wont be remotely disappointed!

smart_display

April 8, 2020

@musicspace289

Thank You! Funny story... I went to the GC in West LA, they had a used Pedalboard for $750 in great condition... the plastic was still on the screen. The sales guy said it didn't t have a power supply so I knew from my line 6 pedals that is a problem. It was in a case so I didnt really look at it. Got back to the studio and looked it up and realized it just needed a standard AC plug. Ugh, went back and picked it up. Gotta say, one I love this thing and two I am a little overwhelmed by all the possibilities. I play in Country cover band but country can mean a lot of different tones from classic clean to really rocking out with effects. I was using some great tube amps with pedals but this thing seems to be everything in the box that I need and more.

smart_display

August 10, 2019

@UmVtCg

Got this board for about a month now, (new of course, I need the warranty and I'm not a cheapskate!) I love the GUI with touchscreen and the ability to change settings and move effects around with little to no effort. It is easy to get some great tones out of it. I got it hooked up to two Alto 310 frfr active monitor/pa speakers. A combination which I sometimes use to really piss off my neighbours that live 5 appartments away. When my GF is over I or I'm in a generous mood toward my neighbours I connect my studio headphones. (again, this sounds awsome). I Am able to compare it with my Line 6 DT50 212 amp which reproduces a Fender, Vox AC30, Marshall or Mesa Boogie high gain amp(not modelled but real analog circuits/tubes). Together with some custom IR's I am able to recreate these rigs very accurately. However in combination with the twin frfr speakers the Headrush creates come awsome stereo delay's, reverbs, etc which my singe tube amp obviously can not. The modelled amps react well to the volume knob on my Les Paul giving a clean tone when dialed back and some great plexi overdrive when turned up. But I guess the Helix and Kemper do the same, maybe better. I also really like the looper which has 20 minutes of looping time, I only wish it had banks to save to instead of some useless slow down/speed up/reverse loop options. Well, I guess they still need to sell the Headrush looper pedal. All and all, the biggest advantage of this pedalboard is the user interface, (big touch screen and the ability to change all pedal/amp effect settings with the hands free mode by using the expression/wah pedal). At that it stands lonely at the top, very lonely.

smart_display

May 25, 2019

HeadRush Pedalboardchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

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Who wins on what

Versatile

Expensive

Dynamic response

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

HeadRush PedalboardFrom real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression