Tube amp or digital?

[shadow070]

Where to start ........

Long time musician and not playing out anymore. Just for the kick i started making backing tracks in my spare time. When recording i use plugins.....just for the ease of use and honestly some are killer to use.

I dont play my tube amp that much more and when recording the beast its a hell for anyone in the house or my neighbours.

I have considerd getting something like the torpedo studio to use with my tube amp or even a axefx or kemper.
I dont have the cash now but thats just a matter of time
What would hold me back is:
- resale value
- not enough time to demo and make up my mind before getting stuck to my purchase

Some of you have gotten the chance to have both kemper and axe and even tube amps. What would you advise me?
Keep in mind ill be using it for (amateur) recording, have a look at http://www.coolbackingtracks.com
But ill also be doing a variety of styles and i play bass and guitar.

Thanks in advance,

Robert

 

[JimmyBlind]

The two notes really puts a spanner in the works with a decision like this, especially if you own a quality amplifier. If it weren't for the two notes, i'd advise you to go down the modeler route if you were planning on doing a lot of recording. If you aren't turned off by the idea of digital guitar tone, i'd say go with that.
What sort of amp you running out of interest?

 

[smdb]

Pick up a used Kemper for $1500.. There are some decent bass profiles available for it now. The guitar profiles just keep getting better and better.

 

[DannyM]

I've tried and or heard all the digital amps out there....if you like the feel of tubes no digital modeler will ever hit the sweet spot as far as feel goes..
Do they sound good? Hell yes! Gary Holt is one of my guitar heroes and his use of the kemper finally got me to buy one. I didnt like it, I returned it and bought a 5150 III Stealth.
Digital still cannot mimic the feel of tubes. They can however sound great in a recording.

For recording purposes it doesnt really matter so much what it "feels" like....its more about how good it sounds....I've heard some really good "digital" recordings....especially with a Kemper.

 

[shadow070]

im using a Herbert

Going torpedo would still give me the tube dynamic response i love. Going axe or kemper would give me endless posibility's when it comes down to tone option.

I just hate to waste money.

I cant test neither of them or it will be a damn long drive.

I like using my herbert with impulses but its still a bit to blend sounding. I do wonder if the ability of using the amps own poweramp together with the torpedo will give me better results then going fx send to WOS.

Any of you who can give me a bit of insight on the matter full amp with torpedo VS preamp with WOS?

 

[slash57]

You can also use e.g. a Countryman Type 85, so you also have the powerampsound of the Herbert and use this with impulses. This DI is safe for use between cabinet and amp.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Don't forget the new Amplifire pedal. Sounds great and 1/3 the cost of and Axe-Fx.

http://atomicamps.com/amplifire-pedal/#listen

 

[JimmyBlind]

Reza is probably the best person to speak to. I think he's done the whole AxeFX to Diezel Two Notes journey.

I think you'd regret trading the herbert in.

 

[mixn4him]

The Suhr Reactive load box is something else to consider to use with your Herbert and is quiet reasonable $. Then buy a couple IR plug ins and you are set...

 

[shadow070]

keep em comin
ill check everything out

nothing better then to be on the prawl for new gear

the Suhr Reactive could be an option

 

[dead-pan]

If you love the sound you record with your amp now you could get a Kemper and have that sound with that feel saved for future recall any time anywhere with out disturbing others. And, endless other options.

 

[saxamafone]

As an owner for an AxeFX and a two notes torpedo live... If you want the sound of tubes, definitely go with two notes.

My AxeFX gets some really cool sounds and I love it, but it doesn't sound like a mic'd tube amp.
Certainly not when comparing against the two notes with a tube amp rig.

With the two notes, the full warm tube sound is all there.

The torpedo live is a game changer and one of the best purchases I've made.

I bought the torpedo blind without trying it - absolutely no regrets here.

 

[Steinmetzify]

If you'd just want to use the Herbie, get the Two Notes...those things sound fuckin great. If you wanted to use the Herbie and make a bunch of different profiles, buy a used Kemper like said above. If you want a bunch of different tones for a bunch of different styles, grab an Axe. FX are great, updated regularly, built in IRs with room for tons more etc...used is around $1700-$2k depending.

I wanted a bunch of different tones to mess around with, so I grabbed an Axe. If you buy new there's a 15 day return policy.

All of these options are badass; it's such a great time to be a guitarist. Good luck man!

 

[PBGas]

As a former Herbert owner, it is truly one of those amps that is hard to capture with the Kemper. I've yet to hear anyone who has done it even close to justice and I've tried every one of the profiles both commercial and free out there.

That being said, I inititally was going to keep my Kemper but with some live gigs that I have been doing as of late, the FRFR solutions that I was using (rented to try) just were not giving me what I wanted. Tried a cab and poweramp setup and the higher gain patches sounded very similar as they obviously took on the sound of the cab. The Kemper is an outstanding all around tool, so I'd have no problem recommending it to someone. Ive used it since it came out in a couple of different versions.

However, I decided to bring the unit back and I ordered a new EVH Stealth head, EVH 2x12 cab and a Torpedo Live unit. I've had the LIve unit before and it was stellar with my JVM410HJS a couple of years back. Should have just stayed with it. Some of the new cabs that Two-Notes sourced out are amazing! This amp has the tones that I want and with that, I have my solution. If space is a consideration, I can still just bring the head and the two notes unit and be gig ready into the in ears or monitors.

 

[Deleted member 16554]

I love two notes products but at the end of the day I didn't want the hassle of dealing with tubes while recording so kept my be-100 full stack for when I feel like playing a tube amp and then got an axe fx II which in my opinion is as good as a tube amp with the latest firmware. Used to have a powered kemper head and overall found it to be not as responsive as the axe fx...just my opinion, your experience may very well be different

 

[gtr31]

I used the AX Fx 2 when it was first release my opinion .it was decent but not there as far as attack sustain and overall body of a tube amp. The latest firmware ver 18 is supposed to be his new Generation 3 modelling .
I guess in essence they could have chosen to release a whole new AX fx3 but they keep it in the 2 .
Now this version to my ears is getting scary close ,i am sure there will always differences but I think it's about 95% there .IMO

 

[Shark Diver]

Where are you located? I have a 2Notes Live you could try out. I'm gigging with Sgear now, but my favorite low volume rig is a 2Notes with my amp, or slaving my amp - but I'm too lazy to haul it all anymore.

 

[shadow070]

I live in Holland

BTW nice clips of the axe-fx

for me when considering torpedo vs axe-fx after all of the above:
Torpedo:
Alot of posible tones. Going power amp out i get tons of options because of cab and mic posibility's. Going out the fx send i get the plus of poweramp posibility's. All in all verry divers.
Axe-fx/Kemper:
The world of tones but digitel incl. alot of effects.

I have alot to take in but got time so ill be fine....for now

At the end, ive been downsizing the past years and love a simpel setup. When playing live or at home i use 1 clean channel, 1 rhythm channel and 1 lead channel. When recording its quite the samen but different tones equels different guitars most of the time. But something like the axe-fx or kemper would be nice to fiddle with, unless getting a tone would take me hours.

Thanks for all the great tips.

 

[Dimebag11]

Think of the Kemper as inspiration in a box. Being strictly a bedroom studio guy nowadays the Kemper is IT for me. It makes me want to play, write, and record, etc....I sold my lunchbox, which I had owned for over 2 years, to get a rackmount version...however I got antsy when I couldn't find a used one and purchased a Splawn. Splawn sounds fantastic! But, it's not the tool my Kemper was. Just ordered a rackmount Kemper today though

 

[JerEvil]

Think of the Kemper as inspiration in a box. Being strictly a bedroom studio guy nowadays the Kemper is IT for me. It makes me want to play, write, and record, etc....I sold my lunchbox, which I had owned for over 2 years, to get a rackmount version...however I got antsy when I couldn't find a used one and purchased a Splawn. Splawn sounds fantastic! But, it's not the tool my Kemper was. Just ordered a rackmount Kemper today though

I couldn't agree more. I will NEVER sell my Splawn rig, but it also has been sitting in my closet for 3 months mow since getting my Kemper. The Kemper really is inspiring. Hell, I may end up getting fired because I can;t seem to get to work on time anymore since getting it! I see it just sitting there, then I tell myself, "Ok dude… FIVE MINUTES" then 45 minutes later I am hauling ass and already late!