Who's NOT jumping on the Kemper wagon?

[D-Rock]

Nope.
I use computers enough at work, why hell would I want to use them while trying to relax and kick a jam out?

 

[stratotone]

Thanks Pete Do you gig and record with your Kemper all the time or do you still pull out tube heads occasionally? I wish I could get a copy of Andy Sneap's Accept profiles

Haven't used a tube amp for recording or gigging since I got the Kemper a year ago last February. It's nice being able to take my Bogner or vintage Marshall to a gig through the Kemper and not have to worry about the 'real' amp.

 

[stratotone]

I may bite soon or wait for a used powered rack. I am worried about the cheap plastic knobs shearing off. Also worried about how long will these things actually last? The same as a computer like 6 years? It appeals to me as a good fly away gig lightweight amp.

I've seen first gen line 6 stuff, which wasn't built as well, still being used. That was what, AX2 back in '95 or '96? I don't think you're going to get any cheaper than the plastic knobs on the Marshall JVM series either, if that's an issue. take care of your gear and it should last just fine. Hell, I have some macs from the mid to late 90s that are running just fine. There aren't any mechanical parts in the Kemper like a HD with platters or a CD drive... unless you fry it with bad power or drop it off a cliff it should last a good long time.

 

[JTyson]

I think any monitors, regardless of how "flat" they are claimed to be and no matter how much a dick Jay Bitchell wants to be, they tend to put their own signature on the tone.

I totally agree, I've had to spend time "learning" mine to get a good mix on them. I've found this to be true on every set of monitors I've heard so far. (I've only heard half a dozen sets)

 

[jerrydyer]

I only need a clean a crunch and a lead tone, with or without some minor effects. so......?????? dont need.

 

[Zachman]

Cool unit, just not for me.

 

[PBGas]

I like mine. It's nice having a few different tone options. Some folks are happy with the same thing and the same sound. There is nothing wrong with that at all. For me it serve my live and recording purposes as well as the majority of my effects. The fact that I can profile the amps I love and use them makes sense to me and it what makes it different.

and of course, this.....

When I A/B them, I can barely notice a difference and I'm 100% positive that 99% of the audience I'm playing for can't either.

 

[jcj]

I won't be joining the digital party. I figure why go through this big switch just to try and dial in the sound I get now. And anytime I've had a piece of gear that promises 2 million tones, I often used less than a couple.

I had the original Axe for 3 years or so, and really dug it...I created 4 patches, and used one 90% of the time.

I had the Axe II briefly, couldn't get the MFC101, and sold it...FWIW, I wasn't particularly impressed with the thing (in the whole 10 minutes I spent screwing with it)...happy for those who dig it, but it's not for me.

 

[glpg80]

I love the stories some of these guys tell about converting to digital.
"So I sold my tube heads and cabs, bought a (Kemper/Axe Fx), $800 midi pedal, 2 $800 powered FRFR speakers, and a rack and I'll be damned. It sounds really really close to the tube amp I just sold."

Say's law as a perfect example.

I have no need for it. Complete overkill for anything that i do and i am happy to know i worked hard to save and get the tube amplifiers that i now own. Dont need it, dont want it.

 

[glpg80]

When I A/B them, I can barely notice a difference and I'm 100% positive that 99% of the audience I'm playing for can't either.

By that logic save your money and run a bandit through a vocal mic. The audience cant tell a difference whether you're running a kemper or a bandit, right?

 

[freeballinusa]

I will buy when its on a CD for your computer someday.

it won't be on a CD haha

 

[eraserhead101]

I don't see the kemper or ax2 as a rig replacer and i have both. But if your not into recornding i can see not wanting one. But for the studio the kemper is killer as it has the best raw tones out of an digital device i have gotten so far.My current rig is a friedman modded 83 jcm 800 and in ax2 for effects and it sounds amazing and fills the room vs the kemper.

 

[freeballinusa]

As far as 12" studio monitors I would LOVE to have a set of ATC100's.......... best speaker I have every heard though I REALLY doubt the LCR could hang with an ATC.....

The Kemper seems really cool for guys with lots of amps..after fucking around more then I should this last couple years -- I probably need my modded 67 plexi, A vintage tweed deluxe, ... thats it ... But It would be interesting to profile things like my Broken Selmer/ weird baby tube combos.. ETC.

Guess I will, Keep waiting... But before I launch I bunch of my amps I might dive in I'll just delay that as long as I can --- At my place I can record a marshall head til midnite so........ I like the Kemper clips better then the Axe ones -- Sometimes when I hear the Lack of top detail in them makes me wonder if you used like a U67 or something if it would fix it (or make it frostier...???)

 

[supersonic]

I guess what I'm saying is that I could not be bothered with the whole tinkering thing. I've got my sound and I'm sticking with it. I simply don't need a multitude of tones. If I need to record I just put a mic in front of a speaker, I can get a good recorded tone at loungroom volume.

 

[leib10]

I'm probably not going to get one until I play one and see how it sounds through a power amp and cab.

 

[FIREBALL]

I've went away from real amps a few times and tried to make a go with the Axe....the last run only lasted a week.
I'm too impatient and just want it to sound right from the opening bell.
Sticking with amps from now on.

The axe always felt disconnected and not as alive as a real amp even with FRFR, etc.

+1 dude......you said it well

 

[Shark Diver]

I'm going to try the Axe II. The FX make it more appealing than the Kemper. Plus,caeteris paribus (all things being equal) tone wise I am familiar with how the Axe works. Some of the Casinos I have/will be playing don't allow amps on stage. So, I will grab a 2space rack, and pedal board and that is it for those gigs. They supply fullPA/monitor. Can't beat that. Not sure I will drag the amps around anymore unless I'm doing some outdoor gigs where I can turn it up - that's where the tube magic is. But the Axe will have to sound as good as my Two-Notes rig or there is no point. If the Axe can hang I am going to try the Atomic CLRs as well.

But I will never expect to get the pleasure my tube amps give me - but that wouldn't be why I would use digital.

 

[d1469d]

All this new technology is great! Not sure why it is so expensive. I imagine Kemper is great in the studio. It falls short for me in live applications. Maybe if your in a cover band and have to control volume at gigs. I have played bars where they ask you to turn down so much you cant hear anything but the drums. It is hard to get good tone out a 100 watt tube amp turned down very low. To me ,that takes away from the vibe of the gig,and then you just go into fuck it the bar is paying us good mode. All I know is that you cant beat a good sounding loud amp cranked. If I went into a studio and they had the kemper or axe fx, I would for sure want to see what it can do. They get a lot of praise on RT and from the video's you guys post on here, I am sure they are living up to the hype. Just do to financial reasons and being brought up old school metal and rock I gotta keep the stacks of speakers and 100 watt heads cookin.

 

[SkyhighRocks]

I don't get the whole "tinkering" thing. With the Axe...definitely. But the Kemper? It's the reason I bought it...you turn it on and play.

 

[blackba]

I don't get the whole "tinkering" thing. With the Axe...definitely. But the Kemper? It's the reason I bought it...you turn it on and play.

Like anything you can tweak as much or as little as you want. What I think is interesting is that keyboards have been digital for years and I rarely see posts on keyboard forums that a keyboard is too hard to use or dial in. For me the key is can I turn on the piece of gear and get what I want without excessive tweaking. I figure I can always dig deep in the piece of gear as I get to know it.

The one frustrating piece of digital gear for me is using a shared rig (like at Church) or someone's else rig. That can be a pain to figure out how they have it setup and how to change things if its not working.