Kemper: Should I wait for the rack mount???

[stratotone]

I had an axe fx standard, and could get great tones with a tube power amp and a 4x12 cab. Direct outs sucked compared to the Kemper though, and I even had extra cost redwirez and ownhammer cab IRs installed. Kemper doesn't need any of the tweakage the Axe needs either, nor have the updates changed all my patches so they need to be reconfigured, something that happens to the Axe users each time.

Pete

The thing seems fantastic..It is more my "style" I guess you could say than the axe, and quite frankly, I haven't played one (although I have a good friend who is a very well known engineer who is using it non stop, and loves the thing, I trust his opinion), but judging by clips, etc, the kemper seems to blow the axe away as far as real tube amp sounds go. Don't get wrong, I think the axe sounds fantastic, but im not so sure I would be able to pull off some of the tones I hear recorded. The kemper seems infinitely easier to get a good sound, and is damn near SPOT ON, on every clip I've heard...I think it will be my next purchase for sure next week, just seems fantastic

 

[Steinmetzify]

The reason I am waiting for the rack is beyond aesthetics. I would really love to put it in a rack bag next to my Axe Fx and run it in the Axe's loop. Would be nice to have it all wired up and just plug in and go at gigs.

Hopefully by rack time they have all the little niggles worked out as well.

Don't cross the beams, dude.

 

[moltenmetalburn]

Im waiting. I got burned pretty bad by Axe Fx purchase at the wrong time with no upgrade policy.

Lame the same happened to me buti demanded a three day late return and they took I, I then grabbed a two. Was out shipping.

 

[fluff191]

I sold all my amps and bought the Kemper and 6 months later its still the single best gear purchase I have ever made. Kempers customer support is a huge reason I will always have one. They listen.

 

[maddnotez]

I think the space toaster looks pretty badass myself.

Rack does sound more logical but if I had the Kemper id probably run it through the pa for power and stage monitoring for my ears.

 

[DADA]

I tested the AFX2 against the Kemper. And yes the Kemper kills it in tone but foremost in dynamics and feel. I would wait ordering till NAMM 2013 or the Muisikmesse in Germany (March 2013). I am also waiting for the rack version. Gives us enough time to try out the Kemper Toaster at your local hardware store.

 

[mixohoytian]

I am thinking of re-buying a couple rack effects units and the Kemper instead of the all in one axe fx. Based on amp tone, I hear it as real sounding with the Kemper, but am still dreaming of an all in one solution to carry on my shoulder that replaces a big rack.....

 

[mentoneman]

how does the effects section like reverb/delay after the preamp fare versus other rack monster effects from tc/lexicon/eventide?

and is there any possibility that the kemper will be able to increase their effects arsenal as time goes on---like does it have ample processing power to handle high end algorithm upgrades or is it maxed out as is?

 

[stephen sawall]

Also waiting to hear about the rack .....

 

[steve_k]

Im waiting. I got burned pretty bad by Axe Fx purchase at the wrong time with no upgrade policy.

Kemper has been in the business of music equipment far longer than cliff, easily since the 70's. and you cannot say we warned you ahead of time about the upgrades when the first standard rolled off the line only a few years ago.

Do not compare you experience with a company that loosely resembles a parade of monkey's following a zookeeper holding a banana to other companies who have done nothing to deserve it - if you want one then grab it and enjoy it. Not really fair to say one asshole is like them all.

God dammit. You just called a bunch of folks monkeys.

What's your stake in all this?

 

[dwizted]

how does the effects section like reverb/delay after the preamp fare versus other rack monster effects from tc/lexicon/eventide?

and is there any possibility that the kemper will be able to increase their effects arsenal as time goes on---like does it have ample processing power to handle high end algorithm upgrades or is it maxed out as is?

The Reverb and Delay on the Kemper is awesome. It does have quite a few other effects that sound nice. I think they will probably add some more with future updates. The Green screamer (TS style overdrive) is very nice as well for tightening up a loose amp profile or adding a bit of overdrive to a clean profile. The thing I really love is the noise gate. I think its the best noise gate ever... I can play profiles with extreme amounts of gain and when set right it is dead nuts quiet and no hiss whats so ever and thats pushing it hard through a VHT 2/90/2, which I think sound terrific with the Kemper...

I have a friend that plays out every weekend in a progressive metal band in the vein of BTBAM, Periphery, Veil of Maya. He has been going direct into the PA and It kills...

 

[stratotone]

how does the effects section like reverb/delay after the preamp fare versus other rack monster effects from tc/lexicon/eventide?

and is there any possibility that the kemper will be able to increase their effects arsenal as time goes on---like does it have ample processing power to handle high end algorithm upgrades or is it maxed out as is?

I think the fx built into the kemper sound great. I use an Eventide pitchfactor in the loop since they don't have an intelligent harmonizer onboard yet. I think I can cop similar quality modulation and delay stuff with the kemper as the Eventide generates. Where the axe beats the kemper handily is on fx routing since you can do parallel and other stuff - although I had a hell of a time with my axe standard with getting levels right when I ran more than one parallel effect on the matrix. The kemper has four slots before the amp where you can shoehorn in any fx but delay and reverb - so four choruses, four flangers, four wahs, four eqs, four parametric eqs, etc, then two slots where you can put stuff post amp, then a dedicated delay and a dedicated reverb slot. So that's eight fx at a time, plus there are several EQs and other parameters within the amp, cabinet, and outputs. One thing that is pretty neat about the Kemper is you can assign the output say wet for the main outs, then dry for a mono out, giving you a W/D/W setup, just add power amps or FRFRs. Could also turn off cab emulations on any or all three, so you could run W/D/W with two power amps and three guitar cabs, or two powered full range cabs and a guitar cab in the center, etc. It's a lot more flexible than you'd think.

Christoph Kemper has stated on the Kemper board that he still has some headroom and can add more features. I'm hoping for an intelligent harmonizer. That would suit my needs perfectly. I'm just more of an amp tone guy vs effects - I hate washing out my live tone with too much sauce. Give me a volume, a wah, a little delay/reverb for my overdrive tones and some reverb/delay/chorus for my cleans and unless I'm doing Unchained or Barracuda, I'm pretty much set. Oh yeah, and intelligent harmonies since one of my bands does Boston covers.

 

[stratotone]

One thing I dig about it NOT being racked is that it's easier to get to different features quickly. Yeah, it looks like Spock's Lunchbox but that part doesn't bother me. Some guys have taken 5 rack spaces and screwed the bottom of their kemper to a rack tray. I play up to 8 times a month (not lately tho) and I haven't even bought a case for mine - It just travels behind my passenger seat in my challenger nice and tight and I always transport it. Had it for nearly a year, since February 2012 and it's been a reliable piece of gear.

Also waiting to hear about the rack .....

 

[steve_k]

Wonder how an Axe FX (cab and amp sims off) will run through the FX loop of a Kemper with your favorite models?

 

[rlord1974]

Wonder how an Axe FX (cab and amp sims off) will run through the FX loop of a Kemper with your favorite models?

Are the online retailers open on Christmas morning?

Here we go again.....

Merry Christmas!

 

[King Guitar]

Hey Guys,

The Kempers have had a price increase to $1975 by KPA North America. As per suggestion of Steve I am going to look into having a custom solution made by Rock Hard or Brady cases to mount the Kemper in a ATA carry case.

Brad

 

[ejecta]

One thing I dig about it NOT being racked is that it's easier to get to different features quickly. Yeah, it looks like Spock's Lunchbox but that part doesn't bother me. Some guys have taken 5 rack spaces and screwed the bottom of their kemper to a rack tray. I play up to 8 times a month (not lately tho) and I haven't even bought a case for mine - It just travels behind my passenger seat in my challenger nice and tight and I always transport it. Had it for nearly a year, since February 2012 and it's been a reliable piece of gear.

Also waiting to hear about the rack .....

This. Unless the rack mount version is as functional as the 11R on the front then there is no way I'd have the rack mount version. Personally I don't get the hang up with it having to be rack mounted. Even if it had as nice of a layout as the 11R I don't think I'd like it as much as the kemper is now.

 

[stephen sawall]

The reason I would want a rack is so it integrates with my other gear .... to be honest I wish all of my gear was rack mount .... effects / amps / etc..... same with cabs.

 

[VESmedic]

Holy necro bump,.. Had my kemper since June guys Lol!

 

[ampjunkie]

I can see profiling parties in the future. Buncha amps and beers and everyone walks away with all the amps with them.....