Anyone else find modelers/sims uninspiring?

[12ax7m]

I have found the more you play modeler/profilers, the less you want to plug into an x-ray box. Inspiration comes from within the soul you apply to the tools, the tools have no soul so they can provide no inspiration, in my opinion anyway...lol Enjoy y'all...Dave

 

[glpg80]

I have found the more you play modeler/profilers, the less you want to plug into an x-ray box. Inspiration comes from within the soul you apply to the tools, the tools have no soul so they can provide no inspiration, in my opinion anyway...lol Enjoy y'all...Dave

This brings up a real valid point - gear isn’t always used to just play music but also necessary to inspire creation of music. I like analog for the alive attitude they have as you play - the amps seem alive.

 

[TheGreatGreen]

I’m inspired by both.

Tube amps feel alive and raw, and are just cool. I also like the tactile feel of analog knobs and switches for dialing sounds, the clicking of relays when you switch channels, the heat, the tolex, the feeling that you’re burning the “fuel” of the tubes to get that sound, all that stuff.

Fractal stuff is great too. The Axe-Fx 3 is effectively infinitely tweakable to the point that you can build just about any sound you can imagine, routed just about any way you can imagine. Also the virtual nature of modelers means you can run virtual components as hard as you want and they’ll never break, etc. I don’t know how anybody could see all the possibility inside one of those things, with all the ground they can cover, in as small of a package as they come in, and just go “no tubes, yawn.” They solve so many more problems than that.

The way I think of them is that tube amps are muscle cars and modelers are space ships. They’re both great.

 

[Monkey Man]

The way I think of them is that tube amps are muscle cars and modelers are space ships.

Yup, we all love muscle (and pony) cars and spaceships.

 

[JDs Couch]

I’m inspired by both.

Tube amps feel alive and raw, and are just cool. I also like the tactile feel of analog knobs and switches for dialing sounds, the clicking of relays when you switch channels, the heat, the tolex, the feeling that you’re burning the “fuel” of tubes that will eventually wear out as you play them to get that sound, all that stuff.

Fractal stuff is great too. The Axe-Fx 3 is effectively infinitely tweakable to the point that you can build just about any sound you can imagine, routed just about any way you can imagine. Their virtual nature means you can run virtual components as hard as you want and they’ll never break, etc. I don’t know how anybody could see all the possibility inside one of those things, with all the ground they can cover, in as small of a package as they come in, and just go “no tubes, yawn.” They solve so many more problems than that.

The way I think of them is that tube amps are muscle cars and modelers are space ships. They’re both great.

That's a great way to put it actually.
Muscle cars and spaceships. Both are pretty awesome. (My Tesla can slay most muscle cars though )

 

[VonBonfire]

Muscle cars and spaceships. Both are pretty awesome. (My Tesla can slay most muscle cars though )

Space isn't real tho.

 

[JDs Couch]

Space isn't real tho.

Oh no, I ain't goin there... (literally)

 

[VonBonfire]

Oh no, I ain't goin there... (literally)

Neither has anyone else.

 

[JDs Couch]

Neither has anyone else.

Must not take bait....

 

[Monkey Man]

Indeed.

Let's not stray OT for too-long fellas.

 

[JDs Couch]

I actually find the variety of tones available in the Kemper to be extremely inspiring. Whereas the amp always sounds like the amp; different profiles draw out different playing styles, stretching me as a player.

 

[Monkey Man]

Of course.

Each Profile is literally a different mic'd-amp situation.

Different mics, distances, angles etc.

 

[Catthan]

Even though some digital software/ hardware might lack in feel under the fingers vs an amp, I found some of the user presets I tried more inspiring than what I can dial in wrt to sounds and effects.
not all amp setups that sound inspiring in the room translate well recorded and for me downloading someone else’s preset that achieves a certain result is like having Bradshaw building me a rig.
I’m also past the stage where I’ll invest time
getting a good amp inc fx, cabs,
mics and preamps to work so even if digital was objectively less inspiring, for me it’s faster to find inspiration with digital than working and adding to my amp rig.
My Wizard ain’t going anywhere but that’s about the only amp I’ve played recently where feel and presence is so unique and addicting. Had I not been spoiled by it, I’d have gone digital a year ago

 

[Fretburner]

Don’t get me wrong, I love tube amps but at 61 and still playing live modeling is the only way to go for me especially playing mostly small clubs. I own most of the major models, kind of addicted to them. LOL

 

[romanianreaper]

Don’t get me wrong, I love tube amps but at 61 and still playing live modeling is the only way to go for me especially playing mostly small clubs. I own most of the major models, kind of addicted to them. LOL

I'm almost 56 and play live and have thought about getting more into amp modelling for gigs. The problem is that I'd most likely still bring a cab, power amp, etc, so wonder at what point is the juice worth the squeeze.

I have shrunk my rig with the use of the Dual Baby transistor amp and now have the Synergy stuff. I don't even know what setup I'd do. Probably like a Fractal AM4 or Helix with an FRFR cab. I wasn't blow away when I did that years ago though so hard to say.

 

[PiggySmallz]

I find modelers (high gain at least) to be a lot smoother than tube amps. They hide a lot more mistakes too. The gain structure feels a lot more compressed and the IRs for most of them lack a lot of that grit you get from a cab in the room or being blasted by speakers. Obviously some of that is volume.

Truthfully I find that I really enjoy both for different reasons and different tones.

 

[Shask]

I find modelers (high gain at least) to be a lot smoother than tube amps. They hide a lot more mistakes too. The gain structure feels a lot more compressed and the IRs for most of them lack a lot of that grit you get from a cab in the room or being blasted by speakers. Obviously some of that is volume.

Truthfully I find that I really enjoy both for different reasons and different tones.

I have been doing A LOT of comparing lately of my Fractal and ToneX into a power amp and cab, and this is main thing I notice for my high gain chug tones. I notice the Fractal is smoother sounding and feeling, like the notes, especially the low end, blur together more. Great for lead tones, but a struggle for rhythms. With the ToneX I get more of that immediate attack and punch.

The weird thing is I notice the same effect just pluging the Fractal into the loop for effects. I am not sure if it is the ADA conversions, or latency or what.

I also notice the same types of things with other systems also, such as NAM vs Amplitube.

It has really gotten me to switch from team modeler to team capture. My ToneX captures of my actual amps are very hard to tell from the real thing.

 

[Uzi Nein Millimetah]

I have the real tube versions of my favorites, so no need for imitations...and I don't need 800 options anyway.




.

 

[DanTravis62]

I mean, no, but I don't use modelers for gigs usually.

Who knows now though

 

[NorCal_Val]

Anyone else experience and/or overcome the same thing?

Yes.
My experience, up until last December, with digital guitar tones(not effects) had been negative. I always thought there was something “plastic” about the sound quality of the digital units I had played through.
The AxeFx3 completely changed my mind.
Then, running the AxeFx through a tube power amp, and into guitar speaker cabs, really made me think that it could be a viable option to all my guitar amps.
Aside from a couple of gigs this year, I’ve only played through the AxeFx. And, it’s looking like 2026 is going to be the “all in” year for me with the AxeFx rig.