Another Kemper vs. Axe Fx II thread...

[TrueTone500]

I use two of these: http://www.performanceaudio.com/item/JB ... MDP/18733/

They destroy all,

But still 45lbs. That's cool though. Anything meeting OSHA I'm good with - it's those 4x12s loaded with EVs I won't lift anymore.

Well, if they sound good...

 

[amiller]

I can't speak to the Kemper vs. Axe debate but I do have a few thoughts (very few ) on the Kemper vs. real as it pertains strictly to recording. I've got a very small home recording setup. My live rigs sound great to me but I could never capture what I was hearing no matter how hard I tried...years. The Kemper just sounds great recorded and there's no screwing around with mics, cabs and bad studio acoustics. I plug in hit record and ...bliss.

 

[TrueTone500]

I've been hung-up on the "Both Worlds" profile. If all the KPA did was this one sound, it would still be worth what I paid for it.

Archive YT video...

 

[Shark Diver]

I've been hung-up on the "Both Worlds" profile. If all the KPA did was this one sound, it would still be worth what I paid for it.


Sounds great

 

[TrueTone500]

Here's an informative post by 'Nuke' at the Marshall forum:

- Literally any amp you want at your fingertips
- Unbelievable cabinet modeling, first product I would endorse for that
- No noise and a very well done noise gate if you get noise.
- The effects are awesome and you get everything in stereo when recording. Hell I got $2000 in pedals I could sell and pay for another one
- Best piece of guitar amp recording gear I have ever used
- Headroom is no longer in my vocabulary, neither is buz words like thin, fizzy, or dull.

Now for live use.

Had a huge problem with it sounding like shit when I amplified it. I was terribly disappointed tow because it sounded so goo with direct recording. I did not buy the unit with the 600 watt class D included, only the preamp version. Come to find out after two days of frustration what I was doing wrong. I did not turn off the cabinet modeling which has to be done when going into a tube amp. Once I did that, holy sheep shit.

My chain is this:
Guitar>Kemper>ART Tube Preamp>100 watt EL34 Slave amp.

The reason for the ART tube pre amp is so I can get the most out of the Kemper. While the tones are as good as anything I have used in a amp, the delivery into the head was inconstant. By running it into another tube preamp I was able to solve this.

Bottom line....

The models sound as good as the real thing if not better in many cases. By running it into a EL34 power amp this thing is the best preamp I have ever used. I can go from a nice Fender twin, switch to a nice JTM crunch then light it up with a Diezel.

Also, by going into the amp the way I am, I absolutely can get these same tones at lower volumes. I control the volume with the ART preamp. The Slave amp is dimed and the Kemper is set to 50% output. The ART preamp works as a clean boost for the slave amp.

Bottom line is every amp company better pay attention. What I have is thousands of dollars worth af vintage and modern amps with a wealth of quality stereo effect with no noise. I can record or perform and be consistent night after night.

I have not profiled any of my amps yet, only because The Amp Factory not only sold me every Marshall, but also gave me some modded ones also. No hurry, I will want to profile the Vintage Modern and the YJM, it has everything else.

I agree with Tony Mckenzie's review of the Kemper, it's a game changer! I wish Tony could try adding this tube preamp as a booster for live performance, unbelievably loud. I will get a youtube video this weekend and run through just a few presets and show the chain.

- Nuke

This KPA user is using a Radial to profile his amps using its XLR output. The Rivera Rockcrusher also has an XLR direct output, so I'm going to try using it instead.

 

[gtr31]

Here's an informative post by 'Nuke' at the Marshall forum:

- Literally any amp you want at your fingertips
- Unbelievable cabinet modeling, first product I would endorse for that
- No noise and a very well done noise gate if you get noise.
- The effects are awesome and you get everything in stereo when recording. Hell I got $2000 in pedals I could sell and pay for another one
- Best piece of guitar amp recording gear I have ever used
- Headroom is no longer in my vocabulary, neither is buz words like thin, fizzy, or dull.

Now for live use.

Had a huge problem with it sounding like shit when I amplified it. I was terribly disappointed tow because it sounded so goo with direct recording. I did not buy the unit with the 600 watt class D included, only the preamp version. Come to find out after two days of frustration what I was doing wrong. I did not turn off the cabinet modeling which has to be done when going into a tube amp. Once I did that, holy sheep shit.

My chain is this:
Guitar>Kemper>ART Tube Preamp>100 watt EL34 Slave amp.

The reason for the ART tube pre amp is so I can get the most out of the Kemper. While the tones are as good as anything I have used in a amp, the delivery into the head was inconstant. By running it into another tube preamp I was able to solve this.

Bottom line....

The models sound as good as the real thing if not better in many cases. By running it into a EL34 power amp this thing is the best preamp I have ever used. I can go from a nice Fender twin, switch to a nice JTM crunch then light it up with a Diezel.

Also, by going into the amp the way I am, I absolutely can get these same tones at lower volumes. I control the volume with the ART preamp. The Slave amp is dimed and the Kemper is set to 50% output. The ART preamp works as a clean boost for the slave amp.

Bottom line is every amp company better pay attention. What I have is thousands of dollars worth af vintage and modern amps with a wealth of quality stereo effect with no noise. I can record or perform and be consistent night after night.

I have not profiled any of my amps yet, only because The Amp Factory not only sold me every Marshall, but also gave me some modded ones also. No hurry, I will want to profile the Vintage Modern and the YJM, it has everything else.

I agree with Tony Mckenzie's review of the Kemper, it's a game changer! I wish Tony could try adding this tube preamp as a booster for live performance, unbelievably loud. I will get a youtube video this weekend and run through just a few presets and show the chain.

- Nuke

This KPA user is using a Radial to profile his amps using its XLR output. The Rivera Rockcrusher also has an XLR direct output, so I'm going to try using it instead.

Kemper just took the live performance a step further as well be intresting to see how it sounds but they just released pack 1 of 25 preamp models only that are designed to go into tube power amps.
They are doing more depending on response I heard ,so you can disable cabs AND now go preamp only on a few amps

 

[gibson5413]

CLRs, in my humblest of opinions, are the best FRFR monitors currently on the market for their respective pricepoint and possibly even for some 50% more.

They're killer.

And if you're going to go for them, hit up the active model wedge - powered by 500W Class D amplification - saves buying a separate amp etc. I bought 2 active wedges - totally made the Axe-II experience that much more tangible.

I have one and love it. The wedge is cool because it has settings that allow you to use it as a backline, wedge or on a stand. Very cool and super loud.

 

[animal]

CLRs, in my humblest of opinions, are the best FRFR monitors currently on the market for their respective pricepoint and possibly even for some 50% more.

They're killer.

And if you're going to go for them, hit up the active model wedge - powered by 500W Class D amplification - saves buying a separate amp etc. I bought 2 active wedges - totally made the Axe-II experience that much more tangible.

Just reading up on them now...seems cool!
have you compared them to QSC KW12s?

 

[squank]

CLRs, in my humblest of opinions, are the best FRFR monitors currently on the market for their respective pricepoint and possibly even for some 50% more.

They're killer.

And if you're going to go for them, hit up the active model wedge - powered by 500W Class D amplification - saves buying a separate amp etc. I bought 2 active wedges - totally made the Axe-II experience that much more tangible.

I have one and love it. The wedge is cool because it has settings that allow you to use it as a backline, wedge or on a stand. Very cool and super loud.

I am really looking forward to getting mine. I've been on the waiting list for a pair of active wedges since March 29th. I wish there was a way to know when you were getting close.

 

[thiswaythatway]

In two years there will be something new on the market that makes the Kemper look like crap, and we'll be laughing at the Axe-FX.

In two years my 93 Rev F Dual Recto will still be a 93 Rev F Dual Recto.

Well it's been 2 years!

 

[gibson5413]

In two years there will be something new on the market that makes the Kemper look like crap, and we'll be laughing at the Axe-FX.

In two years my 93 Rev F Dual Recto will still be a 93 Rev F Dual Recto.

Well it's been 2 years!

Lulz!

 

[TrueTone500]

A guy stopped by yesterday to pick up an EBMM EVH, and brought his Kemper with him. He wanted to hear my TC2290 in the Kemper loop... Needless to say, he was blown-away! I'm seriously thinking about repurchasing a Kemper instead of the new Jubilee. I just wish the Kemper head looked more like a traditional amp.

 

[JerEvil]

Got my Kemper 2 weeks ago. Love it. I've gigged with it as well as recording. I am using with an ISP Stealth Power Amp and Splawn 2x12. Can monitoring off for my stage reference but on for FOH. Easy as fuck and sounds great.

 

[TrueTone500]

Got my Kemper 2 weeks ago. Love it. I've gigged with it as well as recording. I am using with an ISP Stealth Power Amp and Splawn 2x12. Can monitoring off for my stage reference but on for FOH. Easy as fuck and sounds great.

That's exactly what I was doing. I ran my powered Kemper into a 2x12 Cornford cabinet (cab sim off), and the stereo out into a pair of JBL's (cab sim on).

 

[Racerxrated]

I'm hoping the Atomic Amplifire will sound close to the Kemper or Axe...if it does, for 599? No-brainer...I played through an axe over the summer. Was direct into frfr...still sounded fake to me...

 

[thiswaythatway]

I'm hoping the Atomic Amplifire will sound close to the Kemper or Axe...if it does, for 599? No-brainer...I played through an axe over the summer. Was direct into frfr...still sounded fake to me...

Yup, I tried the Ultra and Axe-2 at the New York amp shows with their FRFR setup and did not like it. Lacked balls! But it didn't sound aweful just not worth it. I've said it before but the Axe standard I had sounded really good on a Mesa 2:90 on a 4x12 or a pair of 2x12's.

I wonder, if I were running a tube power amp into a real cabinet is there much difference between the Axe standard and Axe-2 ? I know direct there is for sure, just take Mark Day's clips and video's. I never really liked his Ultra clips but his Axe-2 clips and videos do sound really good, I hear a big difference there.

But yes, if the Amplifire sounds on par with the others that's where I'm headed. Gainfreaks clips sound just like as if he were playing his Mark IV, so it sounds like that thing can cop the Mesa Mark series tone.

 

[Racerxrated]

Yup, I'm hoping this Amplifire is the real deal. The axe II sounds good, but still not real enough for me to spend 2k. Heard better things about the Kemper, but some have reservations about playing live with it too. I still love to hear/feel a great tone next to me....and Gainfreak put some nice tones on that clip.