The Line 6 Firehawk FX is an app-controlled multi-effects floorboard, a multi-effect guitar processor that brings together a large library of Line 6 amps and effects in a single road-ready unit1. Line 6 positioned it as "a collection of the best-sounding and most popular Line 6 amps and effects ever, from warm vintage classics to high-gain powerhouses"1. Five footswitches with colored LED rings make it easy to change tones and switch effects on the fly1, and it carried a list price of $629.992. It is no longer made2.
The Firehawk FX is no longer made; Line 6's legacy product page states it plainly3. It remains of interest to players buying secondhand or comparing it against current Line 6 floorboards such as the Line 6 POD Go and Line 6 Helix.
What it does and how it is controlled
The Firehawk FX combines amp and effect modeling in a floor unit with five footswitches with colored LED rings for changing tones and switching effects on the fly1. The top panel carries dedicated, amp-style controls, drive, bass, mid, treble, FX and reverb, for instant access to key tone-shaping parameters without diving into menus2. There is also a tap tempo footswitch and an onboard expression pedal2.
Editing works two ways. The unit is app-controlled, launched as "Line 6's app-controlled multi-fx"42, and Guitar World's review describes programming effects directly from the front panel via Live Edit mode, which also adds a looper2. Navigating through the 128 presets is done with the bank and preset footswitches2.
In typical Line 6 fashion, the 200-plus models included cover nearly all the bases, and about 50 of them use Line 6's top-of-the-line HD processing2.
Power and connections
The rear panel is well equipped for a floorboard of its era. Guitar World's review lists the connections in detail2:
- 1/4-inch guitar input
- Variax Digital (VDI) input for Line 6 Variax guitars
- Expression pedal jack (in addition to the onboard pedal)
- Stereo FX send and return jacks with a stomp/line level switch
- Stereo XLR and stereo 1/4-inch main output jacks with a line/amp mode switch
- USB connectivity with ultra-low latency1
The two main outputs, stereo XLR and stereo 1/4-inch, plus the stereo FX loop, give it flexible routing for recording and live use2. The VDI input means a Variax guitar connects digitally rather than through the standard guitar jack2.
Line 6 described the enclosure as battle-ready construction capable of withstanding the punishment of the road1, and MusicRadar's later review echoed that with its reference to rock-solid build quality5.
What reviewers said
Guitar World gave the Firehawk FX its Gold Award in August 20152. The reviewer praised the front-panel workflow and the breadth of the model library2.
MusicRadar's review, by Trevor Curwen, took a broader view of where the unit fits:
"The Firehawk FX offers plenty of bang for your buck for home practice, recording and - given its rock-solid build quality - gigging."
Curwen's verdict described it as excellent value for money, extremely flexible with lots of connection options, and noted unlimited presets through the app, suited to home practice, recording and gigging5.
Where it sits in Line 6's range
The Firehawk FX arrived between the app-focused Line 6 AMPLIFi FX100 and the more advanced Helix line. Players comparing it today with current multi-effects pedals will find its role largely filled by units like the Line 6 POD Go and Line 6 HX Stomp XL, while its HD models trace back to the Line 6 POD HD family2.
Videos
Sweetwater
Guitar World
Andertons Music Co
Questions
How many presets does the Firehawk FX hold?
It holds 128 presets, and the Guitar World reviewer found moving through them straightforward thanks to the bank and preset footswitches. Presets can also be managed from the Firehawk app, which the reviewer noted gives you unlimited preset storage beyond what is stored on the unit itself.
Does the Firehawk FX have a looper?
Yes. A looper is available when you program effects directly from the front panel in Live Edit mode, as described in Guitar World's review. It is not a standalone looper pedal, but the function is built into the unit's front-panel workflow.
Does the Firehawk FX work with a Variax guitar?
Yes. The rear panel includes a Variax Digital (VDI) input alongside the standard 1/4-inch guitar input, so a Variax guitar can connect digitally. The unit also has an expression pedal jack, a stereo FX loop and USB connectivity.
Can the Firehawk FX be controlled from an app?
Yes. The Firehawk FX was launched as an app-controlled multi-effects unit, with a Bluetooth app for editing tones from a phone or tablet. Guitar World's review also covers editing from the front panel in Live Edit mode, so both approaches are available.
Sources (5)
- NAMM 2015: Line 6 unveils the Firehawk FX multi-effect guitar processor, MusicRadar, 2015-01-23
- Review: Line 6 Firehawk FX Multieffect Processor, Guitar World, 2015-08-13
- Line 6 | Legacy Products, Line 6
- The best new guitar effects pedals of NAMM 2015, MusicRadar, 2015-01-27
- Line 6 Firehawk FX review, MusicRadar, 2015-08-15
