Should I buy the Kemper (Power Rack)?

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scary groove

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Based on the info from you guys here, I am really interested in the Kemper. I want the power rack version so that I don't have to buy a power amp. I am more of a garage rock star as I only gig about 5 times a year. It would be a big purchase for me as they are over $2000. Is there any reason not to buy this Kemper? Would a non powered Kemper and a power amp be any different? Thanks in advance for your input. This place is the best.
 
What type of cabinet or monitor will you running through? If you run through powered FRFR monitor then no need thr thr powered version unless you'll run through a 4x12 but to get the most you should use a FRFR monitor.
 
Non Powered Racks go for anywhere between $1500-$1700. Powered Racks go for anywhere between $1900-2100. The only real difference is that the power from the Kemper is Mono, if you want Stereo you'll have to look for another power amp. I've got a powered Kemper and it's just easier having everything contained in one unit. If I got a power amp I'd only consider something like a Mesa 2:90, and that's an extra $800-900 on top. Just easier to get the powered version and be done with it. That's just me though, you can get a cheap solid state poweramp and be fine.

There's also the "issue" if you use tube power amp you can slightly color the tone, but I think that's people being nitpicky.

If you think you'll ever want to run it through a cab for gigging or jamming out down the line, I'd say grab a used Powered version and have it all in one shot.
 
I currently have either a 4x12 or a 2x12 to run it through. I do not have powered monitors. That's why I was thinking of going the powered route. Do you guys own a Kemper? What's your overall take on them? Thanks again
 
scary groove":97eplhnq said:
I currently have either a 4x12 or a 2x12 to run it through. I do not have powered monitors. That's why I was thinking of going the powered route. Do you guys own a Kemper? What's your overall take on them? Thanks again
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It sounds like you're gonna need power anyway. Price out whatever is easier for you. I run mine through a 4x12 for jamming, through my interface/monitors for recording. Either way it sounds great. The biggest issue with the Kemper is that you will spend a lot of time dialing tones in. There is no shortage of patches free or paid to keep you happy for a long while. Most of the free ones are pretty darn good, but there are also some shitty ones out there. :lol: :LOL: You can really go in and mess with the tone a whole lot though; find a profile that you like, add a boost, add an EQ and hone the sound to YOU. Doesn't sound quite right with your guitar? Change the settings so it's more or less sensitive to your input/pickups. There is honestly almost too much to fiddle around with and play with, it can get really overwhelming. The built in boosts are okay, if you have one already I'd use that. I've been using my "808" modded SD1. However the Delays and Reverbs are realllly nice.

This is the Rig Exchange as it sits now, 7333 free profiles. There are a lot of rock solid profiles on there. I've spent hours on there just playing around with the profiles. I've found some great heavy ones, now I'm on a quest to find that Sparkly clean tone. Found a nice Bogner Alchemist and Morgan RA35 today, but I'll be in the Rig Exchange for hours trying out as many as I can.

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There is no reason to NOT uy a Kemper. Do it! Do it now!!!

I use a Fryette Power Station for mine because tubes bro...
 
It's not a rack man, but G'damn sonn, look at those lights. We're here to look out for your best interest. And also to help you spend your money. Get a Kemper now Jack.

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You can also get a camplifier in stereo format if you went with the non powered toaster, which the kemper version is only mono.
 
billsbigego":2bi34sgw said:
It's not a rack man, but G'damn sonn, look at those lights. We're here to look out for your best interest. And also to help you spend your money. Get a Kemper now Jack.

11261662_1668595656750998_7765410190576118630_o.jpg
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It's been 30 minutes... HAVE YOU BOUGHT IT YET???
 
Get the full powered unit with every bell and whistle you can pile onto it.
 
You're gonna want the remote too. The Kemper one. You don't want to have a silver Behringer with your green Kemper Rack
 
Awesome. Thank you all for your input. I am going to get one, but only because there are enough lights on the front of it to light up my garage like a stage. I definitely want the pedal to match, just might have to wait a month to get that. Cheers! :thumbsup:
 
I love the god damn thing. I don't mess around with it too much as far as effects. I'm just a chugga. But fucking A, I found the octave stomp and had a helluva time.


See, wasn't that an easy decision? Now FYI for the future don't go asking gear addicts if you should buy a piece of gear.

However ya done good sonn!!!!!

I got some killer profiles I'll hook you up with when you're ready. PROfiles, not the shit ones.

Don't mind the shit riffs. Everything goes to hell once the cam is on.
I put a lot of production into this video, as you'll notice.

 
billsbigego":4nwpohz6 said:
See, wasn't that an easy decision? Now FYI for the future don't go asking gear addicts if you should buy a piece of gear.
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:lol: :LOL: True. But the gear addicts here are very straight with their opinions. There are Kemper fans, but also a lot that do not care for them. Thanks for the advice and someday soon will post a NAD! :rock:
 
I know people, who's opinions I respect, that love Kempers, but I couldn't get rid of mine fast enough. I sold all my amps because I'm moving to an apartment, and thought the Kemper made practical sense, but I could't find a single profile I liked close to as much as my SLO on 0.5 volume. That said, I'm sure user error had a lot to do with it, but I just had to admit to myself I was never going to take the time to really learn how to tweak it. I guess my point is that you've got to know yourself. Personally, I'd rather spend my time actually playing than sorting through countless menus and wondering if I have a million different settings optimized just right. The less options the better for me.
 
I don't really tweak mine that much. The thing (to me) sounds other worldly through those 2 speakers in stereo. I use JVM 410 and MK 2 C+ profiles usually. Couple Engl profiles too. Usually I'll just add some EQ or change out and IR and that's about it. There's a shit ton of tweaking if you want to go nuts. But I find with tweaking, after 10 minutes my ear goes south and everything sounds the same. I tend to have the damn thing too loud to begin with.
 
xzacx":2v7s3gu9 said:
I know people, who's opinions I respect, that love Kempers, but I couldn't get rid of mine fast enough. I sold all my amps because I'm moving to an apartment, and thought the Kemper made practical sense, but I could't find a single profile I liked close to as much as my SLO on 0.5 volume. That said, I'm sure user error had a lot to do with it, but I just had to admit to myself I was never going to take the time to really learn how to tweak it. I guess my point is that you've got to know yourself. Personally, I'd rather spend my time actually playing than sorting through countless menus and wondering if I have a million different settings optimized just right. The less options the better for me.
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Thanks for the input. So the question becomes: Is it easy to get great tones without a big hassle. I know that is an opinion, but I am curious to what people think. If it's a hassle to get a good tone, then I might rethink this. Thanks
 
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