Kemper or Axe II - Owners input please

[Vrad]

Nice. I'll check them out!

Yeah. Let me know how you like them.

 

[smdb]

Id say an axefx or a kemper with a good tube amp is the way to go
Try both and see which one suit your needs the best
As long as you pair them with a good tube poweramp and a guitar cab

You can get good tones out of both box

I'm an axefx guy since 2011 but i could have chosen a kemper at that time if it was available..

I can't justify owning both units

Tube amps will have a huge impact on your sound with the Kemper. Personally , I did not think the KPA sounded very good with a tube power amp and a guitar speaker cab.. The Kemper is supposed to give a "finished product" type of sound, and the best way to get that is with the FRFR speakers. Tube amps and guitar speaker cabs will color the sound quite a bit. I am not saying you cannot do it and get a great sound, I just prefer the FRFR method for my monitor and go direct to FOH for my sound out front. YMMV

My friend had the Kemper on a Mesa 2:90 through 4x12's and I thought it sounded like shit. But, we HAD to be doing something wrong because I hear clips and videos where it sounds great. I know we had the cab sims off though so I'm not sure what we did wrong. I had an Axe standard on a Mesa 2:90 and that did sound pretty damm good to me.

Dan, maybe we can try to work something out in a month or two and I will shoot you my Kemper for a couple of weeks to try out at home. I'll tell you what, I love my Kemper and has easily made me a better player.I think I remember you tried one out previously and had a bad experience. I have some absolutely killer profiles loaded in my Kemper and think you might like it better now.

I'll PM you around March/April if you are interested.

 

[JerEvil]

So I bit the bullet and bought a KPA about a month ago and I've been profiling the shit out of my amps and some borrowed amps and I will say this... The unit is absolutely dead-on to a miked up cab as far as I can tell. The amazing part is it's not just the sound, but the actual feel of the amp. Alien technology I sez! I'd go so far as to say that the profiled amps sound BETTER to me than the real thing! They sound more polished and professional. They also sit in a mix with absolutely no post-processing. That said, it is a very funny piece of gear in that it's got a lot going on and requires the individual to be fairly adept at miking up cabinets to really get the most out of the unit, which is why there's a 3rd party profile industry that seems to be sprouting up around it. Now I bought the KPA with the full intention of never needing an amp again but I found the profiles it came with to be lack-luster and many of the pro and community-shared profiles were not to my liking either so I went ahead and started profiling. Much to my surprise I enjoy the process of profiling and it's made me think of getting my hands on other amps to add to my profile collection.

As far as the comparison to the Axe Fx, I don't own the Axe but I can say that some of the best sounding profiles I've found were the ones that were profiled FROM the Axe FX (yes you can do that ). So there is definitely no compromise when it comes to sound quality between these two units.

Ultimately I think they're both great at what they do but they seem to serve a different purpose. The Axe FX is a preamp and is basically a sound-generating unit. The KPA steals the soul of whatever you want to run it through. When I tell you it's uncanny it really is. I was blown away by the profiling process and the tweaking that can be done afterwards.

Which brings me to another point...
Tweaking EQ, gain etc. is not quite like tweaking controls on a modeler or emulation of an amp. It's also not quite like tweaking the source amp. I would equate it more to post-processing than anything else. While it offers a degree of flexibility, it's designed to be more of a refining tool rather than sound-generating tool. For example, tweaking the amp profile's EQ too drastically, would yield an unnatural sound. While small adjustments really take the profile to the next level while retaining its integrity. Don't get me started on tweaking the actual FEEL of the amp. It's like magic. Adjusting the power sagging and clarity to make the profile more or less in-your-face or to make it softer to play is really cool.

Anyway... long winded post here but I figured I'd give people my overall impression.

Decided on the Kemper. Very much looking forward to getting it. Did you find it relatively easy to get profiles you are happy with? I want my Quickrod profiled first and foremost.

Some were easy and some were a bit more finicky. But I play my profiles of my amps 90% of time.
Speaking of Quickrod...
here's one of my profiles of my QR. Pardon the slop
https://soundcloud.com/vladimir-berns/kpa-quickrod

Just listen to your clip about five more times now. Sounds fantastic!

When you get your KPA, let me know. I have a couple profiles you might dig.

Thanks man! Will do.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

Nice. I'll check them out!

Yeah. Let me know how you like them.

I dig the 800 profile...thanks!

 

[Vrad]

Nice. I'll check them out!

Yeah. Let me know how you like them.

I dig the 800 profile...thanks!

Glad you like it..

Try turning off the Effects as well. I have a Studio EQ in there. You may like it better without it.

 

[Michi]

I like both of them... the SL is really cool with the micro pitch engaged .

 

[Vrad]

I like both of them... the SL is really cool with the micro pitch engaged .

SAMI!

 

[Marshall Freak]

I've had a ton of amps, but i don't have them all anymore. Do you buy profiles? Or how do you get all the different sounds you want??

 

[LP Freak]

You can buy them from commercial sites or get free ones using the Kemper rig manager.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

The Rig Exchange (free) is up to 5600+ profiles, plus many more via links in threads like this one.
You'll hear a lot of people tell you to go right to the commercial ones (which are good), but there's lots of great free profiles too. The Lasse Lambert & Merrow packs are outstanding (free)

 

[JerEvil]

So I bit the bullet and bought a KPA about a month ago and I've been profiling the shit out of my amps and some borrowed amps and I will say this... The unit is absolutely dead-on to a miked up cab as far as I can tell. The amazing part is it's not just the sound, but the actual feel of the amp. Alien technology I sez! I'd go so far as to say that the profiled amps sound BETTER to me than the real thing! They sound more polished and professional. They also sit in a mix with absolutely no post-processing. That said, it is a very funny piece of gear in that it's got a lot going on and requires the individual to be fairly adept at miking up cabinets to really get the most out of the unit, which is why there's a 3rd party profile industry that seems to be sprouting up around it. Now I bought the KPA with the full intention of never needing an amp again but I found the profiles it came with to be lack-luster and many of the pro and community-shared profiles were not to my liking either so I went ahead and started profiling. Much to my surprise I enjoy the process of profiling and it's made me think of getting my hands on other amps to add to my profile collection.

As far as the comparison to the Axe Fx, I don't own the Axe but I can say that some of the best sounding profiles I've found were the ones that were profiled FROM the Axe FX (yes you can do that ). So there is definitely no compromise when it comes to sound quality between these two units.

Ultimately I think they're both great at what they do but they seem to serve a different purpose. The Axe FX is a preamp and is basically a sound-generating unit. The KPA steals the soul of whatever you want to run it through. When I tell you it's uncanny it really is. I was blown away by the profiling process and the tweaking that can be done afterwards.

Which brings me to another point...
Tweaking EQ, gain etc. is not quite like tweaking controls on a modeler or emulation of an amp. It's also not quite like tweaking the source amp. I would equate it more to post-processing than anything else. While it offers a degree of flexibility, it's designed to be more of a refining tool rather than sound-generating tool. For example, tweaking the amp profile's EQ too drastically, would yield an unnatural sound. While small adjustments really take the profile to the next level while retaining its integrity. Don't get me started on tweaking the actual FEEL of the amp. It's like magic. Adjusting the power sagging and clarity to make the profile more or less in-your-face or to make it softer to play is really cool.

Anyway... long winded post here but I figured I'd give people my overall impression.

Decided on the Kemper. Very much looking forward to getting it. Did you find it relatively easy to get profiles you are happy with? I want my Quickrod profiled first and foremost.

Some were easy and some were a bit more finicky. But I play my profiles of my amps 90% of time.
Speaking of Quickrod...
here's one of my profiles of my QR. Pardon the slop
https://soundcloud.com/vladimir-berns/kpa-quickrod

Just listen to your clip about five more times now. Sounds fantastic!

When you get your KPA, let me know. I have a couple profiles you might dig.

It'll be here Wednesday! Gray toaster and the Mission Kemper Expression pedal!

 

[LP Freak]

Report back and let us know your thoughts. For some guys it's instant gratification. It wasn't that easy for me. It took a bit of time and tweeking but it's all good now.

 

[JerEvil]

Report back and let us know your thoughts. For some guys it's instant gratification. It wasn't that easy for me. It took a bit of time and tweeking but it's all good now.

Will do. Haven't been this geeked for a piece of gear in years!!! It's being shipped to my office Wednesday. I have s sneaking suspicion I'll have a cold Thursday... and Friday!

 

[guitarmike]

So I bit the bullet and bought a KPA about a month ago and I've been profiling the shit out of my amps and some borrowed amps and I will say this... The unit is absolutely dead-on to a miked up cab as far as I can tell. The amazing part is it's not just the sound, but the actual feel of the amp. Alien technology I sez! I'd go so far as to say that the profiled amps sound BETTER to me than the real thing! They sound more polished and professional. They also sit in a mix with absolutely no post-processing. That said, it is a very funny piece of gear in that it's got a lot going on and requires the individual to be fairly adept at miking up cabinets to really get the most out of the unit, which is why there's a 3rd party profile industry that seems to be sprouting up around it. Now I bought the KPA with the full intention of never needing an amp again but I found the profiles it came with to be lack-luster and many of the pro and community-shared profiles were not to my liking either so I went ahead and started profiling. Much to my surprise I enjoy the process of profiling and it's made me think of getting my hands on other amps to add to my profile collection.

As far as the comparison to the Axe Fx, I don't own the Axe but I can say that some of the best sounding profiles I've found were the ones that were profiled FROM the Axe FX (yes you can do that ). So there is definitely no compromise when it comes to sound quality between these two units.

Ultimately I think they're both great at what they do but they seem to serve a different purpose. The Axe FX is a preamp and is basically a sound-generating unit. The KPA steals the soul of whatever you want to run it through. When I tell you it's uncanny it really is. I was blown away by the profiling process and the tweaking that can be done afterwards.

Which brings me to another point...
Tweaking EQ, gain etc. is not quite like tweaking controls on a modeler or emulation of an amp. It's also not quite like tweaking the source amp. I would equate it more to post-processing than anything else. While it offers a degree of flexibility, it's designed to be more of a refining tool rather than sound-generating tool. For example, tweaking the amp profile's EQ too drastically, would yield an unnatural sound. While small adjustments really take the profile to the next level while retaining its integrity. Don't get me started on tweaking the actual FEEL of the amp. It's like magic. Adjusting the power sagging and clarity to make the profile more or less in-your-face or to make it softer to play is really cool.

Anyway... long winded post here but I figured I'd give people my overall impression.

Decided on the Kemper. Very much looking forward to getting it. Did you find it relatively easy to get profiles you are happy with? I want my Quickrod profiled first and foremost.

Some were easy and some were a bit more finicky. But I play my profiles of my amps 90% of time.
Speaking of Quickrod...
here's one of my profiles of my QR. Pardon the slop
https://soundcloud.com/vladimir-berns/kpa-quickrod

Just listen to your clip about five more times now. Sounds fantastic!

When you get your KPA, let me know. I have a couple profiles you might dig.

It'll be here Wednesday! Gray toaster and the Mission Kemper Expression pedal!

I originally bought a Kemper for a lite weight gig amp to compliment my bad back (I am going in for a 6 level fusion in Feb.).
During the profile process it will sound exactly like the amp profiled, it will not once you diconnect from the amp and play through a pa. It will sound close. Close enough to make it well worth owning.

I had 2 problems with the Kemper that I think apply to any modeling solution:

1. Your tone is no longer dependent on your speakers, it is dependent on the pa speakers. Just as there is a huge difference in a greenback and Peavey Sheffield speaker, all pa speakers are not created equal. I ended up with 6-10 different Marshallish profiles, each eq'd differently in hopes one would not sound like a kazoo through the pa. These were all purchased profiles from Pete or TAF. At the church I was playing at the time I did get it to sound good but I had to spend some time finding the right profiles to use. Your guitar tone is ultimately very dependent on speakers and there is no profile that will sound good in every pa. You can sort this out but it takes time. If someone tells you they simply plug in their Kemper to every pa they play through and it sounds great every time with no tweaking, they either only playing through clean tones or they like the sound of a kazoo.

2. The sound guy. If you go direct you are 100% at the mercy of the sound guy and his ideas of ideal tone. Yes, this is no different than when you play through an amp mic'ed. With an amp, you do have the potential to hear your amp on stage which can (if you are like me) help you play better because you can hear your amp making the tones your like.

I owned the unpowered toaster and ran it into various power amps and into my cabs to get some "real amp" sound while I played. This is the weakest part of the Kemper IMHO. It is not the same as the amp you profiled. It may sound very close but it cannot react to the environment (good and bad) the way a real amp will, it will only repeat the sound you profiled. The Kemper alone (after the profile process) feels like an amp, just not like your amp or the amp you profiled. This is not bad (some may argue it is a good thing), it is just different.

Most of us are here because we have "refined" tastes in regards to guitar tones. Going direct into a pa (two notes devices excluded) changes your tone, your perception of it, and the feel of playing. Just like it took time for you to develop your skills at getting your tone with a traditional rig, be prepared to do the same with the Kemper. The same amp sounds different when different people play it, the same can be said with profiles. If you can adapt to the way the Kemper works, you will enjoy it. If you are so crazy anal that you dial in specific guitars to specific amps and cabs, I would stick with an amp. If you have to play silently get a Two Notes Live.

 

[crankyrayhanky]

^These issues don't seem to be Kemper isolated; it happens regardless if you go Kemper>PA or Amp>mic>PA (?)
At least the Kemper has the mic placement variable under control

 

[guitarmike]

^These issues don't seem to be Kemper isolated; it happens regardless if you go Kemper>PA or Amp>mic>PA (?)
At least the Kemper has the mic placement variable under control

Anytime you play live your tone will either suffer or shine depending on the pa and the sound guy. At church I had the same pa and same sound guys so it was easy to get the Kemper sounding good going direct. In a typical club/bar/festival gig it becomes dicey. I realize I cannot do anything about it so as long as my rig sounds good to me, I am happy. This meant I was bringing a power amp and a cab so I could hear myself on stage. This is where the Kemper started not working for me. I know how my amp sounds and feels, the Kemper copied the sound and tone, not the feel. Again, this is not a bad thing but it is noticable and bothered me enough to go back to an amp. I also realize that nobobdy that hears me play in a bar or church cares or knows the difference.

 

[thiswaythatway]

So I bit the bullet and bought a KPA about a month ago and I've been profiling the shit out of my amps and some borrowed amps and I will say this... The unit is absolutely dead-on to a miked up cab as far as I can tell. The amazing part is it's not just the sound, but the actual feel of the amp. Alien technology I sez! I'd go so far as to say that the profiled amps sound BETTER to me than the real thing! They sound more polished and professional. They also sit in a mix with absolutely no post-processing. That said, it is a very funny piece of gear in that it's got a lot going on and requires the individual to be fairly adept at miking up cabinets to really get the most out of the unit, which is why there's a 3rd party profile industry that seems to be sprouting up around it. Now I bought the KPA with the full intention of never needing an amp again but I found the profiles it came with to be lack-luster and many of the pro and community-shared profiles were not to my liking either so I went ahead and started profiling. Much to my surprise I enjoy the process of profiling and it's made me think of getting my hands on other amps to add to my profile collection.

As far as the comparison to the Axe Fx, I don't own the Axe but I can say that some of the best sounding profiles I've found were the ones that were profiled FROM the Axe FX (yes you can do that ). So there is definitely no compromise when it comes to sound quality between these two units.

Ultimately I think they're both great at what they do but they seem to serve a different purpose. The Axe FX is a preamp and is basically a sound-generating unit. The KPA steals the soul of whatever you want to run it through. When I tell you it's uncanny it really is. I was blown away by the profiling process and the tweaking that can be done afterwards.

Which brings me to another point...
Tweaking EQ, gain etc. is not quite like tweaking controls on a modeler or emulation of an amp. It's also not quite like tweaking the source amp. I would equate it more to post-processing than anything else. While it offers a degree of flexibility, it's designed to be more of a refining tool rather than sound-generating tool. For example, tweaking the amp profile's EQ too drastically, would yield an unnatural sound. While small adjustments really take the profile to the next level while retaining its integrity. Don't get me started on tweaking the actual FEEL of the amp. It's like magic. Adjusting the power sagging and clarity to make the profile more or less in-your-face or to make it softer to play is really cool.

Anyway... long winded post here but I figured I'd give people my overall impression.

Decided on the Kemper. Very much looking forward to getting it. Did you find it relatively easy to get profiles you are happy with? I want my Quickrod profiled first and foremost.

Some were easy and some were a bit more finicky. But I play my profiles of my amps 90% of time.
Speaking of Quickrod...
here's one of my profiles of my QR. Pardon the slop
https://soundcloud.com/vladimir-berns/kpa-quickrod

Just listen to your clip about five more times now. Sounds fantastic!

When you get your KPA, let me know. I have a couple profiles you might dig.

It'll be here Wednesday! Gray toaster and the Mission Kemper Expression pedal!

I originally bought a Kemper for a lite weight gig amp to compliment my bad back (I am going in for a 6 level fusion in Feb.).
During the profile process it will sound exactly like the amp profiled, it will not once you diconnect from the amp and play through a pa. It will sound close. Close enough to make it well worth owning.

I had 2 problems with the Kemper that I think apply to any modeling solution:

1. Your tone is no longer dependent on your speakers, it is dependent on the pa speakers. Just as there is a huge difference in a greenback and Peavey Sheffield speaker, all pa speakers are not created equal. I ended up with 6-10 different Marshallish profiles, each eq'd differently in hopes one would not sound like a kazoo through the pa. These were all purchased profiles from Pete or TAF. At the church I was playing at the time I did get it to sound good but I had to spend some time finding the right profiles to use. Your guitar tone is ultimately very dependent on speakers and there is no profile that will sound good in every pa. You can sort this out but it takes time. If someone tells you they simply plug in their Kemper to every pa they play through and it sounds great every time with no tweaking, they either only playing through clean tones or they like the sound of a kazoo.

2. The sound guy. If you go direct you are 100% at the mercy of the sound guy and his ideas of ideal tone. Yes, this is no different than when you play through an amp mic'ed. With an amp, you do have the potential to hear your amp on stage which can (if you are like me) help you play better because you can hear your amp making the tones your like.

I owned the unpowered toaster and ran it into various power amps and into my cabs to get some "real amp" sound while I played. This is the weakest part of the Kemper IMHO. It is not the same as the amp you profiled. It may sound very close but it cannot react to the environment (good and bad) the way a real amp will, it will only repeat the sound you profiled. The Kemper alone (after the profile process) feels like an amp, just not like your amp or the amp you profiled. This is not bad (some may argue it is a good thing), it is just different.

Most of us are here because we have "refined" tastes in regards to guitar tones. Going direct into a pa (two notes devices excluded) changes your tone, your perception of it, and the feel of playing. Just like it took time for you to develop your skills at getting your tone with a traditional rig, be prepared to do the same with the Kemper. The same amp sounds different when different people play it, the same can be said with profiles. If you can adapt to the way the Kemper works, you will enjoy it. If you are so crazy anal that you dial in specific guitars to specific amps and cabs, I would stick with an amp. If you have to play silently get a Two Notes Live.

Some great points.