Kemper or ?

[cecilbag]

Long story short, I’ve played a Kemper doing a blind test and thought it was a real amp. Not saying that in a slamming way, it just fooled me so I’m now convinced it will fool the audience. After knowing it was a Kemper I was able to spend a few days at home with it and I just love the tone (totally dependent on profile because it can sound like crap as well). My main concerns are as follows:

Can a powered one (the borrowed one was unpowered rack model) make my normal cabs sound good?

I’m not an in ears user and don’t want to need an frfr setup. I just want to run my normal setup replacing my Splawn and SLO with a Kemper using my Splawn or similar cabs. I know this isn’t the best method for it but I like having the cabs behind me pushing air and I do play with a good amount of stage volume. I would love the setup and tear down of Kemper and remote. I would run the stereo outs to foh but wondered if any of you used normal guitar cabs with a powered Kemper. I’m really close to buying one but have no way to audition a powered one plus my buddy was only home on leave and has returned to work with his Kemper. Again I’m sure frfr is awesome but I have a ton of cool cabs that I want to use with it. I don’t use much for effects. 95% dry with an occasional delay on a solo or clean part. Otherwise clean channel, rhythm channel, volume jump of rhythm channel with a boost for solos. That’s it. I’m super basic but if I could be using all those mbritt divided by 13 and dumbles with Friedman and Splawns for solos, count me in. You guys have more experience with them than I do so I need the advice. Thanks everyone

 

[JerEvil]

Who says it’s not the best method??? FRFR can bite my fat butt! My Kemper sounded best with a power amp and Splawn cabs loaded with Creamback 65’s!

These are my Splawn profiles on the Rig Exchange:

FRFR never felt right to me.

 

[GtarLover]

Kemper is a great unit.
Multiple ways to use it, no RIGHT way.

JerEvil's post does exactly what you are talking about.
I used my AxeFX II in the same way for a while. Power amp and cabs because I liked it.
As you said, basically the audience will not know the difference, so it's about what works best for YOU!!

Rock On

BTW, great tones JerEvil

 

[Mattfig]

Kemper is great. It's easy to use and quite honest when you utilize well made profiles....

JerEvil's sounds awesome....Gonna check that out today!

 

[sleewell2]

I've owned both a kpa and a helix and I prefer the helix. used both into a tube power amp into a 4x12.

 

[The Hoff]

I have never found FRFR to feel right. I’ve owned all the “good” FRFR cabs but nothing beats playing into an actual guitar cab. Personally I play into a port city 1x12 oversized loaded with an EV12.

I’ve also owned all the modelers except for the helix and to my ears, the Kemper wins by a decent margin.

 

[cecilbag]

Thanks guys. I want to get the powered head or toaster and run it into my cabs. Just heard so many conflicting opinions on how it sounds with a regular guitar cab. If it can sound as convincing through my regular cabs, I will have one in a matter of a week or so. Just wasn't able to try it that way but through headphones and the pa it was unreal how good it sounded. I just don't need a 2700 practice setup. I want to use it live and save some setup and tear down hassles. Love my Splawn and Fractal fx8 setup but if I can have all these other amps at my disposal, I'm game. I assume I can just run a splitter 1 to 2 off the back and run 2 160ohm cabs since it's fine down to 8 ohms?

 

[crankyrayhanky]

I too would like some ideas on splitting out that KPA power to 2 cabs

This is my 2nd go round with Kemper. The first time was 2013ish. At that time, I didn't like the KPA into a guitar cab at loud and confined band practice. I liked it fine on stage, di to the pa, and at home studio. Eventually sold it partly due to this.

Got another this Spring. Not sure if I had user error back then, better profiels now, or the Kemper itself is updated better, but I'm totally digging the KPA>guitar cab. I needed to sculpt the monitor eq a bit: a little less bass, a pinch less mids, a little more treble. Now it is totally inspiring in this application and a joy to setup/teardown. This is the one area that is the hardest, and I think it is now there 90%. No one will hear it live, it's just for the player to monitor, everyone else will hear the di to pa which is like 99.9% there. I say go for it!

 

[sleewell2]

I too would like some ideas on splitting out that KPA power to 2 cabs

cant you just go kpa > cab > cab? or doesnt the kpa have left and right outputs - one to each cab?

 

[crankyrayhanky]

Powered KPA has only 1 output; it says 8-16 ohms
(It does have LR outputs that are not powered)

My cab is wired as (2) 2x12s (each 8 ohms), so I want to find a way to use both sides
Using both means the load would be 4 ohm

Would this work safely? The reviews say yes for some applications, but since Kemper is listed as at least 8ohms I think maybe no for my 4ohm needs?
https://www.amazon.com/Palmer-PCABM-Pas ... B00ZD5FHDC

 

[Norton666]

Thanks guys. I want to get the powered head or toaster and run it into my cabs. Just heard so many conflicting opinions on how it sounds with a regular guitar cab. If it can sound as convincing through my regular cabs, I will have one in a matter of a week or so. Just wasn't able to try it that way but through headphones and the pa it was unreal how good it sounded. I just don't need a 2700 practice setup. I want to use it live and save some setup and tear down hassles. Love my Splawn and Fractal fx8 setup but if I can have all these other amps at my disposal, I'm game. I assume I can just run a splitter 1 to 2 off the back and run 2 160ohm cabs since it's fine down to 8 ohms?

I have a powered KPA , and I’ve had LOTS of my close friends try it through a 4x12 cab. NONE have said that it didn’t feel or sound “real”. Please bear in mind that I have not paid nor downloaded any profiles. I simply what came in the unit. It is fantastic and I can grab it and go. I love the flexibility and portability of it

 

[thrashinbatman]

Thanks guys. I want to get the powered head or toaster and run it into my cabs. Just heard so many conflicting opinions on how it sounds with a regular guitar cab. If it can sound as convincing through my regular cabs, I will have one in a matter of a week or so. Just wasn't able to try it that way but through headphones and the pa it was unreal how good it sounded. I just don't need a 2700 practice setup. I want to use it live and save some setup and tear down hassles. Love my Splawn and Fractal fx8 setup but if I can have all these other amps at my disposal, I'm game. I assume I can just run a splitter 1 to 2 off the back and run 2 160ohm cabs since it's fine down to 8 ohms?

I have a powered KPA , and I’ve had LOTS of my close friends try it through a 4x12 cab. NONE have said that it didn’t feel or sound “real”. Please bear in mind that I have not paid nor downloaded any profiles. I simply what came in the unit. It is fantastic and I can grab it and go. I love the flexibility and portability of it

Now that's impressive, because one of the most common complaints about the KPA is that the stock profiles aren't very good.

 

[cecilbag]

Thanks guys. I want to get the powered head or toaster and run it into my cabs. Just heard so many conflicting opinions on how it sounds with a regular guitar cab. If it can sound as convincing through my regular cabs, I will have one in a matter of a week or so. Just wasn't able to try it that way but through headphones and the pa it was unreal how good it sounded. I just don't need a 2700 practice setup. I want to use it live and save some setup and tear down hassles. Love my Splawn and Fractal fx8 setup but if I can have all these other amps at my disposal, I'm game. I assume I can just run a splitter 1 to 2 off the back and run 2 160ohm cabs since it's fine down to 8 ohms?

I have a powered KPA , and I’ve had LOTS of my close friends try it through a 4x12 cab. NONE have said that it didn’t feel or sound “real”. Please bear in mind that I have not paid nor downloaded any profiles. I simply what came in the unit. It is fantastic and I can grab it and go. I love the flexibility and portability of it

Now that's impressive, because one of the most common complaints about the KPA is that the stock profiles aren't very good.

I was going to say the same thing. My buddies kpa had almost all mbritt and sinmix (I think) on it. I was just blown away. He mentioned he deletes the ones he doesn’t use so there is less bs to scroll through. I never got to hear any factory profiles but those dumble and divided by 13 edge of breakup sounds were crazy. Once I heard the “fried man” sounds I genuinely could have gigged that tone straight away. Really have my mind set to get one. I’m leaning towards sweetwater because I don’t typically but effects or pedals used. These seem to be built well though. Haven’t seen much about the units failing. Still a little hesitant to buy a used one but we will see. Thanks again guys. I’m sold on it

 

[KrunKGringoeZ]

Who says it’s not the best method??? FRFR can bite my fat butt! My Kemper sounded best with a power amp and Splawn cabs loaded with Creamback 65’s!

These are my Splawn profiles on the Rig Exchange:

FRFR never felt right to me.

Ive seen this clip a million times, and still i have to hear it just for the king diamond riffs I love my kemper through my clr. When given some volume, it really sounds close to the real thing

 

[nothingeined]

I recently got an unpowered one in trade and it was the best decision ever. I run it through a Seymour Duncan Power Stage 170 straight to my Mesa Cab. I love the tone and feel from it. I like having the additional eq on the pedal to help further shape my tone.

 

[thrashinbatman]

Yeah, I run mine into an ISP Stealth and it's fuckin' awesome. In the practice space it sounds just as good as my guitarist's Jet City, and I can't imagine anyone would be able to tell which is a tube amp and which isn't. I can run all sorts of FX as well as almost any tone through that one 3 space unit, which is also lighter than my Savage 120. I've been running profiles of a JVM410 as well as Friedman BE100 and it sounds crushing.

 

[maddnotez]

@Sleewell
@Hoff

What did you like and/or dislike about the Kemper and Helix? (or AX8)

Two completely different opinions so I am genuinely curious. I have only had an AX8 so I don't really have an opinion but one day I would like to have a Helix or a Kemper.

 

[KrunKGringoeZ]

I recently got an unpowered one in trade and it was the best decision ever. I run it through a Seymour Duncan Power Stage 170 straight to my Mesa Cab. I love the tone and feel from it. I like having the additional eq on the pedal to help further shape my tone.

Can the powerstage get loud enough to play with a band?

 

[thrashinbatman]

It should. I have a ISP Stealth which is 180w vs. the Power Stage's 170, and I have no volume issues.

 

[nothingeined]

I recently got an unpowered one in trade and it was the best decision ever. I run it through a Seymour Duncan Power Stage 170 straight to my Mesa Cab. I love the tone and feel from it. I like having the additional eq on the pedal to help further shape my tone.

Can the powerstage get loud enough to play with a band?

I don't play with a band but it get's plenty loud. I went about 9:00 on it and no doubt it would keep up. They do have a 700 watt version as well for racks that I might want to upgrade to down the road just for aesthetics. I do love the idea of the power stage though. The new Horizon Devices Apex Pedal seems like it would great with it as well.