Michael Wagener comments on the Kemper Profiling Amplifier

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"I have been doing guitar based records for almost 40 years and I have worked with a ton of excellent guitar players (Zakk, Steve Stevens, George Lynch, Nuno, Vito Bratta, Wolf Hoffmann, Mick Mars, James Hetfield, Kane Roberts, Scottie and Snake from Skid Row, Chris Impelliteri, Dimebag, Ty Tabor etc.) and just as many great amps. The Kemper is a game changer and is hands down THE best piece of gear that walked though my studio door in the last 20 years. I am a stickler for guitar tone and I don't take guitar tone lightly. I've tried all the simulators more than once with a bunch of different players and I didn't like ANY of them (still don't). They don't do your right hand justice, so they make you play different. The Kemper is different, it is not a simulator... It is a profiler. To me that makes a big difference.

I have about 50 different guitar amps, guitar pre-amps, and lots of cabinets, microphones and mic pres. They all sound great for something, all great in their own way. Rarely do I just use one single amp/cab/mic, most of the time I use combinations. I re-amped a DI guitar track through my Splawn together with a Bogner module, via two 4x12 cabs with 3 different speakers and 4 different mics via the Chandler TG-2 mic pre and the Trident A-range mic pre, mixed together to one track by the CraneSong Spider, and the sound was killer. Recorded the live amp track into Nuendo, I then profiled that exact setup, straight out of the Spider and re-amped the same DI track through the Kemper profile of that setup and punched it in and out of the original amp track: I could not hear a difference, I could not tell where the amp track ended and the Kemper track started and vice versa. That is close enough for me. If I can not tell a difference with the track in solo, nobody will be able to hear a difference when I'm done with the mix!

The secret is in getting a great profile and there are a bunch of things to be paid attention to, like the actual return level, the level going into the Kemper, refining the profile the correct way etc. If done right, I cannot tell the profile from the original. If NOT done right, there will be a noticeable difference. Am I going to sell all my amps? Of course not. There are a million combinations that sound good, and are special to a particular track or song. Will I profile that combination used on that particular track? Yes, of course. Do I like other peoples profiles? Yes, some of them are very good and are very inspiring.

I love being able to give players the exact sound they got on their album, so they can take it on the road with them. I think the Kemper KPA is an amazing piece of gear, and it does make my job easier. My 2 cents - now back to making music..."

- Michael Wagner

Sourced @ http://www.gearslutz.com/board/8569668-post58.html



Of all the cool gear he has, I want that little dusting wand! :lol: :LOL:
 
Well... From the guy who has recorded some of my all time favorite guitar tones. One of these days ill look at getting one. For now I'm happy with my lowly 5153. :)
 
Michael Wagner's body of work is exceptional, and he is quite the gentleman online, sharing his thoughts on myriad subjects.
If he rates the Kemper, I'm bound to listen. Would love to hear his profiles in action.
 
In light of that testimonial it's surprising there is/aren't a MW profile pack/s available.
 
MW is responsible for some of my all-time fave tones. If he talks guitar sound I listen.
 
I spent most of the day profiling my RK100. It was a bit bumpy at first, but once I got use to adjusting the return level, it was quite easy to do. I have one profile completed, but I want to give it another listen before uploading it to Kemper Rig Exchange. I'm hoping to get several versions (stock and modded) uploaded by the end of next week. I'm quite lazy, so it may take a bit longer... :)
 
MW is as big a tone snob as anyone alive. He's always chasing the nuances in guitar tone. This speaks volumes.
 
It's just a snap shot of a dialed tone. You still need the magic ears!
 
Is this old news or does he occasionally come out and say the same thing over again?
 
Micheal Wagner and Kemper are gonna be at the Nashville Amp Expo next weekend 6, 7, and 8th. Rhodes Amplification will also be there. I will be there all weekend Rogue :thumbsup:
 
Dude! Check out the ADA up there... Bets on that being the one used with Nuno and the Skids and Lynch used?

I'd jizz just walking into that gear porn stash
 
Greg Riley":30bwc5ea said:
Micheal Wagner and Kemper are gonna be at the Nashville Amp Expo next weekend 6, 7, and 8th. Rhodes Amplification will also be there. I will be there all weekend Rogue :thumbsup:
I'll be most probably on saturday. Depends on what day the best clinics are. Ejecta will probably come to. Have you ever been? It's been pretty cool the past two times I've been. Lots of cool gear and great players...so typically I just listen. :lol: :LOL:

I haven't seen the clinic list though.
 
I'm CONSIDERING getting a Kemper....can someone please explain to me how the patches work?
I know it comes pre-loaded with a few patches, but where do you get other ones and who makes the best ones? How good are the stock patches?
I did a quick search yesterday and it seems some ppl are professionally profiling and selling the patches, but they seem to be hit or miss....
I would hate to get it only to be stuck for hours buying/trying a ton of them....
 
I went to the last one 2 yrs ago. It was a blast. Me and George Metropolis sat and talked with Micheal about that ADA MP-1 and the old Mcintosh poweramp he used for Nuno and Vito. Great dudes..both. George is a hell of a player. Stop by and checkout Kyle Rhodes amps. I'll be around there mostly.. :thumbsup:
Rogue":3srog91h said:
Greg Riley":3srog91h said:
Micheal Wagner and Kemper are gonna be at the Nashville Amp Expo next weekend 6, 7, and 8th. Rhodes Amplification will also be there. I will be there all weekend Rogue :thumbsup:
I'll be most probably on saturday. Depends on what day the best clinics are. Ejecta will probably come to. Have you ever been? It's been pretty cool the past two times I've been. Lots of cool gear and great players...so typically I just listen. :lol: :LOL:
 
Greg Riley":394mgzl3 said:
I went to the last one 2 yrs ago. It was a blast. Me and George Metropolis sat and talked with Micheal about that ADA MP-1 and the old Mcintosh poweramp he used for Nuno and Vito. Great dudes..both. George is a hell of a player. Stop by and checkout Kyle Rhodes amps. I'll be around there mostly.. :thumbsup:
Rogue":394mgzl3 said:
Greg Riley":394mgzl3 said:
Micheal Wagner and Kemper are gonna be at the Nashville Amp Expo next weekend 6, 7, and 8th. Rhodes Amplification will also be there. I will be there all weekend Rogue :thumbsup:
I'll be most probably on saturday. Depends on what day the best clinics are. Ejecta will probably come to. Have you ever been? It's been pretty cool the past two times I've been. Lots of cool gear and great players...so typically I just listen. :lol: :LOL:
Cool, I'll stop by that room. Are affiliated?

You can tell what floor metro is on when you get off the elevator. :lol: :LOL: George is a cool dude. Container of ear plugs...check.
 
The new 'Soil" record is all Kemper. Adam plans on getting a powered Kemper for the road. He's been using a Ubershall live. ;)
 
xzyryabx":i54u6yb2 said:
I'm CONSIDERING getting a Kemper....can someone please explain to me how the patches work?
I know it comes pre-loaded with a few patches, but where do you get other ones and who makes the best ones? How good are the stock patches?
I did a quick search yesterday and it seems some ppl are professionally profiling and selling the patches, but they seem to be hit or miss....
I would hate to get it only to be stuck for hours buying/trying a ton of them....

+1 on these questions. Also, can cabs be mixed with amps? Or are you stuck with whatever amp/cab combination was profiled?
 
George will make you deaf.. :lol: :LOL: Kyle is a good friend :)
Rogue":3rq7zkqw said:
Greg Riley":3rq7zkqw said:
I went to the last one 2 yrs ago. It was a blast. Me and George Metropolis sat and talked with Micheal about that ADA MP-1 and the old Mcintosh poweramp he used for Nuno and Vito. Great dudes..both. George is a hell of a player. Stop by and checkout Kyle Rhodes amps. I'll be around there mostly.. :thumbsup:
Rogue":3rq7zkqw said:
Greg Riley":3rq7zkqw said:
Micheal Wagner and Kemper are gonna be at the Nashville Amp Expo next weekend 6, 7, and 8th. Rhodes Amplification will also be there. I will be there all weekend Rogue :thumbsup:
I'll be most probably on saturday. Depends on what day the best clinics are. Ejecta will probably come to. Have you ever been? It's been pretty cool the past two times I've been. Lots of cool gear and great players...so typically I just listen. :lol: :LOL:
Cool, I'll stop by that room. Are affiliated?

You can tell what floor metro is on when you get off the elevator. :lol: :LOL: George is a cool dude. Container of ear plugs...check.
 
Rogue":5ivohc5e said:
Greg Riley":5ivohc5e said:
Micheal Wagner and Kemper are gonna be at the Nashville Amp Expo next weekend 6, 7, and 8th. Rhodes Amplification will also be there. I will be there all weekend Rogue :thumbsup:
I'll be most probably on saturday. Depends on what day the best clinics are. Ejecta will probably come to. Have you ever been? It's been pretty cool the past two times I've been. Lots of cool gear and great players...so typically I just listen. :lol: :LOL:

I haven't seen the clinic list though.

Yeah I'm pretty sure I'm going to come down. If I have to work Saturday I'll have to make it on Sunday.
 
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