Atomic amps for main rig

[BrentSSL]

Ok so I have been down the modeling rabbit hole a bit over the last 4 or 5 days doing research and what I have found is that for the money portability and tone that the Atomic amplifier is the best thing on the market. First off the competition was the 11 rack which seems to be a dying myth. Axe FX Ultra which would be awesome but the Midi board rack and power amp I would want to for that thing would cost more then another entire rig in some cases. The Kemper which is a close second and is my favorite but it is just way to expensive. Finally line 6 anything mainly the Spider valve mk2 I feel like all line 6 products including the 3 I already own lose value and all sound oddly similar and too synthetic. I have been trying to get away from amps for a few reasons one amp does not do it all they are temperamental individually let alone linked together. I would need 4 heads and cabs to start to try to do what these amp modelers can do. I thought about the ADA but I think I am just not into the tone of those or something they sound good but piecing that together with everything in good working order could take months. I am trying to avoid going to the amp doctor its my fault I have bought and sold or traded at least 3 or 4 amps a year since I sold my 3 channel dual rec. So needless to say I have been on a quest to get some sort of usable rig.

In theory I am going to build a rig around the Atomic amplifier let me know what you guys think if there is any Ideas you can give me I am going to get a midi controller and expression pedal and some powered flat response monitors and hopefully have a few pictures in a short while. I am hoping I can get some ideas on how to use it live in a with a vocals only PA because I fear I will run into that at some point. Thoughts and opinions please.

 

[guitarmike]

Ultimately you get what you pay for.

I owned the Amplifier and returned it. It might be ok running direct but through a power amp and cab, not so much.

If you want killer tones in one package get a Kemper or Axe. You will end up spending less in the long run.
If you play live often you will get sick of schlepping tons of gear back and forth to gigs, especially when you realize no one cares about your tone other than you.
If you want to do this on the cheap, buy a used Kemper, used fcb1010, new Eureaka Sounds rom chip, 2 used powered monitors and you are good to go. You should be able to do that for under $2500.

 

[BrentSSL]

Ugghhhhh those are good points I didn't think of that and I'm very aware no one cares about my tone lol still tho through some powered monitors the setup could work right?

 

[Gainfreak]

I was passing by and I saw this. I think that You will be absolutely fine using the Amplifire.
The Engine in the Amplifire is every bit as good as any of the top of the line modelers IMHO. Don't let the price fool you.

I have been able to use mine in every conceivable way( FRFR, Power amp /Speaker cabs, effects return of amp and out to a cab) and as with any piece of gear, you have to spend some time with it.

I own a Kemper and have used it for 3 + years and have since switched to using the Amplifire as my Main rig just because I wanted a smaller foot print for travel gigs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Kemper and would never say anything bad about it, It's amazing and if you want to / can afford to spend the money, I can HIGHLY recommend it, but the Amplifire can most definitely hold it's own.

That's just my 0.02.

Hope this helps!

 

[cardinal]

For what it's worth: I've run modelers through amps and cabs and wasn't impressed until I bit the bullet and bought a nice FRFR monitor. That made a huge difference. I use Bias, but the clips of the Atomic sound good to me. I think they have a trial period and at least a few months ago would sell in minutes on TGP classifieds, so I don't think you're risking much by trying it.

 

[Racerxrated]

Ultimately you get what you pay for.

I owned the Amplifier and returned it. It might be ok running direct but through a power amp and cab, not so much.

If you want killer tones in one package get a Kemper or Axe. You will end up spending less in the long run.
If you play live often you will get sick of schlepping tons of gear back and forth to gigs, especially when you realize no one cares about your tone other than you.
If you want to do this on the cheap, buy a used Kemper, used fcb1010, new Eureaka Sounds rom chip, 2 used powered monitors and you are good to go. You should be able to do that for under $2500.

Hey Mike didn't you off your Kemper too? Not real enough right? I thought I read that long ago....still suspicious of all these modelers after reading guys going back to amps.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I don't gig. I have the kemper and had the Amplifire. If you got the cash, get the kemper. Why fuck around?

 

[mdc1mdc11]

I was passing by and I saw this. I think that You will be absolutely fine using the Amplifire.
The Engine in the Amplifire is every bit as good as any of the top of the line modelers IMHO. Don't let the price fool you.

I have been able to use mine in every conceivable way( FRFR, Power amp /Speaker cabs, effects return of amp and out to a cab) and as with any piece of gear, you have to spend some time with it.

I own a Kemper and have used it for 3 + years and have since switched to using the Amplifire as my Main rig just because I wanted a smaller foot print for travel gigs.

Don't get me wrong, I love the Kemper and would never say anything bad about it, It's amazing and if you want to / can afford to spend the money, I can HIGHLY recommend it, but the Amplifire can most definitely hold it's own.

That's just my 0.02.

Hope this helps!

+1 amplifire pedal is very capable inclusive of the multiple uses.

 

[ElectricVoodoo]

Ultimately you get what you pay for.
"especially when you realize no one cares about your tone other than you.

That's it right there. Couldn't have said it better.

 

[guitarmike]

Ultimately you get what you pay for.

I owned the Amplifier and returned it. It might be ok running direct but through a power amp and cab, not so much.

If you want killer tones in one package get a Kemper or Axe. You will end up spending less in the long run.
If you play live often you will get sick of schlepping tons of gear back and forth to gigs, especially when you realize no one cares about your tone other than you.
If you want to do this on the cheap, buy a used Kemper, used fcb1010, new Eureaka Sounds rom chip, 2 used powered monitors and you are good to go. You should be able to do that for under $2500.

Hey Mike didn't you off your Kemper too? Not real enough right? I thought I read that long ago....still suspicious of all these modelers after reading guys going back to amps.

If I was going to go direct to the pa at every gig the Kemper would have been fine. The Kemper profiles amps with speakers connected by placing a mic in front of the speaker. It captures that sound almost perfectly. The problem is when you play it back through a power amp and cab. I could never get it to sound like a preamp going into a poweramp. No matter what I did, it lacked a little something. Direct live and recording, it is great.

I really wanted to like the Atomic Amplifier and it does sound better than anything Line 6 sells, but it is not as good as the Kemper in my opinion. I gig 50+ times per year and can make it work with the Cherry Bomb or my Friedman Marshall. But I do not care about what amp and effects were used on the recording. I try to play the song close to note for note but I play with my tone, for better or worse.

 

[Stumplegriltskin]

I just played through my Kemper. Been in a depression for the past week or two. Even contemplated selling all my shit. The thing continues to blow me away. the II C+ and JVM 410 profiles I have are unreal. I just had the Thrash gods pumping their fists up there for over an hour.

If you get one man, I'll hook you up with some of the pro profiles I have. I have merged, direct, IR's up the ying yang.