kemper profiling amp

[JeffB]

Yes, its as good as they say.

 

Just spent the day playing through one through various speaker and amp configurations.

 

Awesome...

[Kuz]

Cool, I look forward to hearing one myself!

[barrymclark]

That is very cool! Very interested in knowing how this thing works.

 

So, you just get an amp that you like the sound of, set it up the way you want it, and the Kemper mimics it? Once it does that, how is the flexibility? I mean... I assume if you mimic a JCM800 high gain sound, you can't roll off the gain and get the cleaner, bluesier sound of the JCM800. Am I right?

 

Still though, that is a very cool thing that you can mimic a great, great guitar tone.

 

Now.... say you really dig a guitar tone on a recording...... assuming you have a similar guitar as to the one on the recording... can you run that guitar bit through the kemper and model from a recording?

[JeffB]

Cool, I look forward to hearing one myself!

Im not a tech head so out of the box it wasnt looking/sounding great.

It took a while for the interface to make sense but when I finally got an inkling of what I was supposed to be doing I had a "whooaahh" kind of moment.

I havnt profiled any amps with it yet, I just spent time learning the interface using the amps already profiled in the presets.

I ran it through the fx loop on a Mesa roadster into an Egnater 412 cab, through a mixer into various 12' and 15" foh box's and then finally into various studio near field monitors.

As the day progressed the more I understood the more and more I became impressed with not only the unit and its interface, functions etc but with the sounds I was able to get and the feel of it. I laughed a few times when I looked at what I was playing through.

I was interupted regularly so its not like I spent all day.

I went into it a little dubious of what I had read about it and my expectations werent way high. After 4hrs goosing around with just presets and effects Im pretty much converted. Im sure there are some limitations yet to be discovered and a few more welcome suprizes yet.

Im looking forward to trying the profiling function as it is kinda the point of the Kemper for me.

That is very cool! Very interested in knowing how this thing works.

 

So, you just get an amp that you like the sound of, set it up the way you want it, and the Kemper mimics it? Once it does that, how is the flexibility? I mean... I assume if you mimic a JCM800 high gain sound, you can't roll off the gain and get the cleaner, bluesier sound of the JCM800. Am I right?

 

Its very flexible and is very responsive to touch, technique and guitar vol and tone controls. Yes it does clean up from high gain to light crunch. Very amp like.

I went straight to the JCM800 presets right out of the box.

Need to spend more time before I come to any conclusive and final opinion for myself. Its only been about 4hrs of interupted time and I havnt got through every function and every effect etc.

But so far I havnt been this excited about any digital modeler or even a "real, physical amp" for a long time.

 

Thats all I got for now.

[JeffB]

Should probably add the disclaimer that I do work in a guitar store and we do sell the Kemper but my excitement and hype about this is personal and just the same as any other gear junky here. If it was a crap item or I didnt like it I would be just as likely to say so or say nothing about it at all.

I dont think any one on the HOC is ever going to visit the store I work at so I feel like I can get excited about different bits of gear that come in and comment on them here in a gearoholic kind of way without it being a conflict.

If anyone feels like Im spamming with this thread contact the mod's and have the thread deleted.

Its all good.

[barrymclark]

Should probably add the disclaimer that I do work in a guitar store and we do sell the Kemper but my excitement and hype about this is personal and just the same as any other gear junky here. If it was a crap item or I didnt like it I would be just as likely to say so or say nothing about it at all.

I dont think any one on the HOC is ever going to visit the store I work at so I feel like I can get excited about different bits of gear that come in and comment on them here in a gearoholic kind of way without it being a conflict.

If anyone feels like Im spamming with this thread contact the mod's and have the thread deleted.

Its all good.

I certainly don't get that feeling. I rather appreciate it. This particular item has the fanboys on the Fractal forums up in arms about how it isn't real or whatever. So.. it is really cool to hear someone with first hand experience.

[JeffB]

I certainly don't get that feeling. I rather appreciate it. This particular item has the fanboys on the Fractal forums up in arms about how it isn't real or whatever. So.. it is really cool to hear someone with first hand experience.

Some one local I also know from another forum I visit passed through here read my post and then emailed me that I was spamming.

I cant see how being that I live up in the Southern Hemisphere in the worlds most isolated city and almost every one here lives in the Northern Hemisphere at the bottom of the world.

I thought I was just a guy talking about gear and guitars after a day at work.....pfffft

[barrymclark]

Some one local I also know from another forum I visit passed through here read my post and then emailed me that I was spamming.

I cant see how being that I live up in the Southern Hemisphere in the worlds most isolated city and almost every one here lives in the Northern Hemisphere at the bottom of the world.

I thought I was just a guy talking about gear and guitars after a day at work.....pfffft

So... you can't have an opinion because you work for a dealer? Would he feel the same if you said you like Gibson or Fender? I mean... really. It isn't like you gave a shop number to call with our orders. I think your friend might be a little over-senstive here.

[JeffB]

So... you can't have an opinion because you work for a dealer? Would he feel the same if you said you like Gibson or Fender? I mean... really. It isn't like you gave a shop number to call with our orders. I think your friend might be a little over-senstive here.

ya.

Then I created a storm in a teacup because I felt bad. DOH!!!

[barrymclark]

So this thing sounds and reacts just like the real deal?

[JeffB]

So this thing sounds and reacts just like the real deal?

I was very impressed Barry. I liked the Marshall and Vox profiles very much.

Some of the profiles/presets left me a little underwhelmed but then I havent played every amp in the presets so I dont know if I would like them or not.

I used a 335 studio, an ESP strat and a PRS CU24 and found that the guitars lost nothing of there own nature through the Kemper, just like a real amp in that regard.

The response, feel and articulation was very much as I would expect the amp to respond.

I think as my ability to tweak it and navigate its interface develops I will only find better sounds and dynamics in it.

Its not really a difficult piece of gear to use but I am very much an amp, stomp, analogue sort of player and try to stay away from anything that even looks complicated.

[pegleg32]

Tully, don't give a thought to those naysayers. You just keep doing what you are doing. I love hearing all the different gear reports you pass on to us. I can agree or disagree with them (we all see though our own prism's), but it is always helpful to hear from someone who personally gets to try a lot of different gear.

 

Also interesting that the Fractal folks have taken a dim view of the Kemper, but I guess we see that type of thing going on with guitars every day too, so I guess that would be expected.

 

Would love to hear some sound clips if you get a chance.

[barrymclark]

Tully, don't give a thought to those naysayers. You just keep doing what you are doing. I love hearing all the different gear reports you pass on to us. I can agree or disagree with them (we all see though our own prism's), but it is always helpful to hear from someone who personally gets to try a lot of different gear.

 

Also interesting that the Fractal folks have taken a dim view of the Kemper, but I guess we see that type of thing going on with guitars every day too, so I guess that would be expected.

 

Would love to hear some sound clips if you get a chance.

Really only the hardcore fanboys of Fractal really that I noticed. Most seem open to the experience.

[mars_hall]

Some one local I also know from another forum I visit passed through here read my post and then emailed me that I was spamming.

I cant see how being that I live up in the Southern Hemisphere in the worlds most isolated city and almost every one here lives in the Northern Hemisphere at the bottom of the world.

I thought I was just a guy talking about gear and guitars after a day at work.....pfffft

I've never seen spam from you and have rarely seen it from anyone here.

[big bob]

We eat ham, and jam, and spam-a-lot!

[barrymclark]

We eat ham, and jam, and spam-a-lot!

I have to push the pram a looooooooooooooooooooooot!

[Guest HRB853370]

Yes, its as good as they say.

 

Just spent the day playing through one through various speaker and amp configurations.

 

Awesome...

 

I thought profiling was considered illegal in some states!

 

All this fractal and modeling stuff, is it just a fad that will pass by the end of this decade or sooner?

[barrymclark]

 

I thought profiling was considered illegal in some states!

 

All this fractal and modeling stuff, is it just a fad that will pass by the end of this decade or sooner?

I'd wager no. The reasons I say this are that modeling has already been around for approaching 2 decades as available to the market. On top of that, over the last several years, we have seen the traditional amp companies start to offer their own modelling amps as well the companies that focus on it. I don't think traditional amps are in much danger of being over-run at the moment by modelling amps. However, if there are major breakthroughs and quality like the Fractal becomes the rule and very affordable, then it is HIGHLY likely that the mass buying market will swing to modellers. Traditional amps will always have their place I believe. It could just be greatly reduced place and built by boutique builders such as KBP and so on. That could also mean that the parts to build them will go up a great deal.

 

There is even tube modelling now. Not Tube amp modelling, but tube modelling. Take a look at RetroValve. They are supposed to have a lifetime warranty and so on.

[barrymclark]

I'd wager no. The reasons I say this are that modeling has already been around for approaching 2 decades as available to the market. On top of that, over the last several years, we have seen the traditional amp companies start to offer their own modelling amps as well the companies that focus on it. I don't think traditional amps are in much danger of being over-run at the moment by modelling amps. However, if there are major breakthroughs and quality like the Fractal becomes the rule and very affordable, then it is HIGHLY likely that the mass buying market will swing to modellers. Traditional amps will always have their place I believe. It could just be greatly reduced place and built by boutique builders such as KBP and so on. That could also mean that the parts to build them will go up a great deal.

 

There is even tube modelling now. Not Tube amp modelling, but tube modelling. Take a look at RetroValve. They are supposed to have a lifetime warranty and so on.

Let me clarify, though. IF the modelling world overtakes the traditional amp world, it won't be a lightswitch sort of thing. There are over a half century of traditional amps out there. Even if all of the worlds' best guitarists went modeller, and the manufacturers stopped making traditional amps all together, it would take years upon years before those bleed out to a barely noticible minimum. At first, this would likely make the cost of tube amp parts plummet. Reason being is there would be a HUGE supply and not many people buying. Once the market adjusts and the manufacturers stop making the tubes and what not, the prices of those would go up possibly making a traditional amp fincially impossible to own for most.

 

There are a lot of ifs in there. Right now, most of the modeller users that have some market visibility are pretty well all in metal with some exceptions. I mean really visibly using them and as their primary and not just their gigging amp. These days, Fractal is the modeller du jour and just too expensive for your average guitarist to stomach paying for. So... even with that visibility, there just aren't enough buyers to challenge the makers of traditional amps.

 

Now.... what is an interesting side note to that is, even the newer generation of metal guitar players still want the tube amps. By and large, I have noticed, not because their is something mystical about the tube amp's voodoo. Not at all. They like that many of them are modifiable. Many a person getting the Jet City amps are buying them for just that reason. Before it even hits their doorstep they have the mods in mind or on order.

 

Even I would like to do some mild upgrades to increase clarity of notes at high gain.

[pegleg32]

Amps aren't dead, but they may be seriously ill. I would prognosticate that it won't be a very long time until most professionals will be walking around with a modeling amp the size of your cell phone and they will simply plug into the sound system wherever they are playing. It will all be wireless and programmed at home to produce the sound they want when they appear on stage.

[barrymclark]

Amps aren't dead, but they may be seriously ill. I would prognosticate that it won't be a very long time until most professionals will be walking around with a modeling amp the size of your cell phone and they will simply plug into the sound system wherever they are playing. It will all be wireless and programmed at home to produce the sound they want when they appear on stage.

Absolutely. I have already seen laptops at shows.

[JeffB]

 

I thought profiling was considered illegal in some states!

 

All this fractal and modeling stuff, is it just a fad that will pass by the end of this decade or sooner?

Amps aren't dead, but they may be seriously ill. I would prognosticate that it won't be a very long time until most professionals will be walking around with a modeling amp the size of your cell phone and they will simply plug into the sound system wherever they are playing. It will all be wireless and programmed at home to produce the sound they want when they appear on stage.

I dont think its a fad.

Floyd Rose tremolos, two hand tapping were called fads.

[JeffB]

More spam.

 

Ive some amp profiling today, Mesa LSC and Royal Atlantic.

I ran it through various power amps and speakers etc. Every format I could think would be useful for recording, home playing to out and about jamming and gigging.

Im only more impressed now that Ive done the profiling for myself.

Also, the profiling itself is silly easy. Nothing to it and really quick.

I like some of the preset profiles but I like the profiles I did better. Just seem "more" real. Helps to have the profiled amp next to you to do the A/B test with rather than relying on some vague recollection of what you think an amp sounds/feels like.

 

Its just a good fun really cool unit.