My thoughts on the Kemper....A+

  • Thread starter Thread starter xzyryabx
  • Start date Start date
right on.... Rig Manager :thumbsup:

so i listened to a Helix, AxeFx, Kemper comparison last night. i realize you have to be careful with stuff like this given there are all sorts of ways to eq, boost -db, record, etc. that said, i listened and could pick all 3 apart. the axe and kemper were very, very close, but easier to tell apart from the helix. i also watched the Andertons boys doing there own "blind" test against the real amp, and the profiled amp. they were fooled.

i'm liking the idea of this thing more and more... so now, hoping i can find a demo or open box or something... :lol: :LOL:
 
They don't do it here in Australia, but IIRC you guys in the US can buy stuff with 30 days to return, no?

That might be the best way to audition it, man, 'cause at least that way you'll have it at home, making it the ultimate "real world" test for you.

I suggest this 'cause IMHO you'll be unlikely to want to return the unit; I wouldn't recommend folks use this as their standard M.O. for trying out gear.
 
Monkey Man":1ucudpuc said:
They don't do it here in Australia, but IIRC you guys in the US can buy stuff with 30 days to return, no?

That might be the best way to audition it, man, 'cause at least that way you'll have it at home, making it the ultimate "real world" test for you.

I suggest this 'cause IMHO you'll be unlikely to want to return the unit; I wouldn't recommend folks use this as their standard M.O. for trying out gear.
Click to expand...

I know GC has a 45 return for store credit policy... I may go that route... would love for them to have a used one pop up. But yea good advice there.
 
Just a couple of tips:

Use Rig Manager to edit the names of the Rigs on the Kemper (MyProfiler in Rig Manager). It's way easier than trying to do it on the device.

Name your Rigs with a number prefix and order the numbers in the order (low number to high) you want to scroll through your Rigs on the Kemper. This way when sorted alphabetically they are listed in order lowest to highest.

K3fubEY.jpg



In Rig Manager make up a folder named _Profiler Load (I use an underscore in the name, this way it is always at the top of the list) and keep all the Rigs you load on the Kemper in this folder. Drag Rigs from the MyProfiler over to this folder, it's that easy. This way you always have just one folder to manage to load your Rigs back and forth to and from the Kemper. It makes things a little easier to manage when deciding what to keep on the Kemper.

5TWoEwi.jpg


The 8 band and Studio EQ can go a long way in helping you adjust your tones. Drop one of those is an effect block, I usually use the X block and then tweak until content. I wish they had a bigger band EQ block and once a PC editor is released it will be much easier to adjust and tweak all these damn settings.

Lastly make frequent backups of Rig Manager. Tools > Backup Rig Manager. These backups can restore everything in Rig Manager and if you created that _Profiler Load folder and are keeping copies of Rigs from the Kemper in there (literally just drag the Rig from the Profiler over to that folder) you will always be able to restore your entire collection of Rigs.

I bought and sold two different Kempers and was able to get right back on a completly new Kemper by just restoring my Rig Manager backup and then dragging my Rigs from the _Profiler Load to the new Kemper. Boom, done!
 
Great advice there, Texhex. :thumbsup:

I'll just add that for those who don't realise this, editing the metadata via Rig Manager is a no-brainer. Anyone who still finds himself futzing around with the hardware's UI in order to create and edit tags is missing out big time.
 
xzyryabx":1ltv9up2 said:
PBGas":1ltv9up2 said:
The Axe III is outstanding as is the Kemper. I now have both of them that I use regularly into a couple of powered Friedman ASM and ASC monitors. I have been using the Axe III live all summer until this point. I recently sold my amp and got the Kemper as another option to have. I love amps like everyone else does but I don't find it something I necessarily need anymore.

I play live and rehearse regularly. For me, these solutions work great and sound fantastic and are lighter and easier to take with me.
Click to expand...

Which do you prefer and why?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I can use either of them and be happy with what i get out of them. If I had to choose to keep only one of them for whatever reason, it would probably be the Fractal because of the routing available on it as well as the FX and many of its other features. Unlike other modellers, I’ve had this one for a year and a half now and still love it like day one. It took me little to no time to get the tone that I love. That being said, the ability to profile with the Kemper is really great. Glad I kept all of my profiles from 6 years ago. The other great thing about the Kemper is that it seems to have some great staying power. LIke their Virus synths, they never seem to go out of style. That is a good thing. Once they finally put up their editor, it should be a very complete package.
 
xzyryabx":2t7e4dvv said:
Metlupass2":2t7e4dvv said:
Curious why you bought that stage vs the head.

I love my power head into a Diezel 4x12 and Bogner 4x12...... In my basement!
Click to expand...
I always wanted a Kemper but kept thinking this tech is now 5/6/7 years old I'll wait for the new version don't want to end up like the Axe FX guys...but it never came and I finally gave in once the stage came along!
I live in an apartment, don't gig except jamming with a drummer that has a PA/e-drums, and sold off my cab years ago so no point in getting a powered version.
Finally, I wanted something with a footswitch so I can use the looper and switch b/w patches and turn effects on and off without having to do it with my nose and the toaster/rack/remote combo was just too expensive and bulky.
Plus, got 10% off so it came out to $1600 including tax so it was actually the cheaper option surprisingly which sealed the deal.
Click to expand...

you'r lucky...or at right place/right time on that price...

... about the best i can do, it seems, is a new stage with tax and tags, about $1800 (to my door), with GC 45 day return policy. the return policy is not super important, but nice to have that option. otherwise i buy a used one for 150$ less...with no return policy, maybe some limited manuf warranty... not to mention if the shit gets tore up during shipping, though it wouldn't be my problem, i've got the potential of the hassle dealing with the seller, and reverb and paypal for a refund, then i'm back shopping again...

yea...the new one is the route i'm going to take...i believe.
 
MrDowntown":yp4d94ya said:
you'r lucky...or at right place/right time on that price...

... about the best i can do, it seems, is a new stage with tax and tags, about $1800 (to my door), with GC 45 day return policy. the return policy is not super important, but nice to have that option. otherwise i buy a used one for 150$ less...with no return policy, maybe some limited manuf warranty... not to mention if the shit gets tore up during shipping, though it wouldn't be my problem, i've got the potential of the hassle dealing with the seller, and reverb and paypal for a refund, then i'm back shopping again...

yea...the new one is the route i'm going to take...i believe.
Click to expand...

Good choice, can't go wrong with a 45 day return (not that you'll need it!! Just make sure to give yourself realistic time to figure out how to tweak it before slamming your head against the wall and sending it back! Also, you might want to invest in some high quality rig packs of amps you want ahead of time so you can test those right off the bat since the ones pre-loaded aren't the best for everyone)
And don't fret the price, it's still fair as compared to the toaster/rack/remote combo.
I think they swung me the 10% off since I do a lot of business with them, they did specifically mention that this item is not eligible for discounts though.
 
xzyryabx":1typvv20 said:
MrDowntown":1typvv20 said:
you'r lucky...or at right place/right time on that price...

... about the best i can do, it seems, is a new stage with tax and tags, about $1800 (to my door), with GC 45 day return policy. the return policy is not super important, but nice to have that option. otherwise i buy a used one for 150$ less...with no return policy, maybe some limited manuf warranty... not to mention if the shit gets tore up during shipping, though it wouldn't be my problem, i've got the potential of the hassle dealing with the seller, and reverb and paypal for a refund, then i'm back shopping again...

yea...the new one is the route i'm going to take...i believe.
Click to expand...

Good choice, can't go wrong with a 45 day return (not that you'll need it!! Just make sure to give yourself realistic time to figure out how to tweak it before slamming your head against the wall and sending it back! Also, you might want to invest in some high quality rig packs of amps you want ahead of time so you can test those right off the bat since the ones pre-loaded aren't the best for everyone)
And don't fret the price, it's still fair as compared to the toaster/rack/remote combo.
I think they swung me the 10% off since I do a lot of business with them, they did specifically mention that this item is not eligible for discounts though.
Click to expand...

Pulling the trigger tomorrow most likely. First pack I'm looking at is Top Jimis Brown Sound Pack!
 
ok...so i got around to ordering today... i called my local GC...just to see if they could cut me a break as i pulled the trigger (though i knew they wouldn't). dude told me there were no current deals or coupons, which i knew, but, he encouraged me to wait, if i could. I didn't know this, but GC will honor Black Friday sales/rebates up to 45 days in advance of Black Friday. So if i order on the 44th/45th day out (or so), then on BFriday there's a rebate, i can get a cash refund or store credit in the amount of whatever deals they have.

pretty cool...
 
was going to wait for the "45 day-out" GC thing, which is tomorrow i believe, may be today... either way. Instead, just scored an open box from Music123 for $1496 +UncleSams part, a little over $1500, free shipping, and a 30 day return policy. I'll take it... :rock:
 
Jrr shop always has the best deals on Kempers. All you have to do is email them for the best price and they will discount. That's how I bought mine years ago.
 
MrDowntown":3r3rzss2 said:
was going to wait for the "45 day-out" GC thing, which is tomorrow i believe, may be today... either way. Instead, just scored an open box from Music123 for $1496 +UncleSams part, a little over $1500, free shipping, and a 30 day return policy. I'll take it... :rock:
Click to expand...
Wuddun, mate! Nice one. :rock:
 
landing today...shipping was damn quick!

now to figure what i want to play through... don't need/can't afford a $800 FRFR, though it'd be nice. a couple of decent floor wedges, or table monitors maybe.

I'm open to recommendations... :rock:
 
I'm a bit boring in that I always recommend the Yammy HS5 / HS8 as budget studio monitors.

Either should suit your purpose. "Flat" response, well-built and well-priced.
 
Just happen to have. Pair of hs5 ... been goofing off through those. They work jus t fine for small quiet stuff. Might get something a little bigger..but right now I'm good.

Haven't even gotten into trying to program anything...haven't even loaded rig manager yet.

I dumped the Top Jimi profiles and started wanking. The way it should be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top