sliberty wrote:I had a guy over one day to look at an amp I had up for sale (he didn't buy it). He came back with his Kemper another time to show it off. This guy actually has two of them (one is his backup because he really uses the thing when he gigs).
Frankly, I don't get it. Its not that they aren't decent sounding. These things are miles beyond the Line6 stuff I have heard (but I haven't heard anything very recent). He got lots of convincing tones that all related to the cover band he is in. But IMHO, this only makes sense if you need a huge variety of tones all on the same night. If you play in a blues band, a nice tube amp (and your hands) will provide all of the tones you need. Same for hard rock, pop, etc. And how many of us are playing 20 different types of music all in the same night, so that modeling (er, profiling) is the only way to go? Plus, I just am not a fan of all of the built in effects, no matter how good they might be - I prefer simplicity. But most of the presets are dripping with effects. Not for me, not in this lifetime.
Well, I agree I don't use 20 different amp types on a session or gig. However here's a few reasons I bought mine;
I have 5 amps and cabs at many disposal in my studio. Now it can take a fair amount of time to experiment with different amps/cabs mic's. Now wit they Kemper , I'm going to profile my favourite combinations, including FX pedals . So in future I've got the sound of MY amps/pedals at the press of a button. This means; I can have a client in the studio and instantly access my go to guitar sounds without set up time and also blasting the clients ears off etc.
It also means when I gig, I can take either my Kemper with me on a plane, or hire one and take a USB stick with my sounds. So when I walk on stage I've got MY favourite amp/pedal sounds with me any where I like and know 100% that the sound man is getting exactly the perfect amp/speaker/mic combo I've set ump in my studio. Also using IEM's I Know that I've got a killer sound that won't deafen anyone else.
If I was doing a bar gig, I can just take a regular guitar cab and turn off the speaker part of the Kemper program
Another scenario; I'm working with a guitarist/band who come into the studio and they set up their amps/pedals. You've got a great sound going, I'll spend 20 minutes profiling that sound. That means if someone tripod up over a mic stand etc and moves the mic's , or if in a weeks time they want to re visit that song I've got a snapshot of the exact sound ready to go.
Another reason? Well as we're all amp addicts , I can now without having to build them all, have access to a library of THE best amps ever made.
If you look at just those links, you'll see there must be over a 100 amps of all genre's profiled professionally in great studios. Everything from the tweed fender range through blackface, silver face, Vox, Hiawatt , Marshall entire range, messa boogie, through to Dumbles and all the newer boutique amps like, bludotone, divided by 13, 65 amps, Carr, Swart , Toneking, Kelly , that's an amazing choice of amps at your disposal.
I recon I'll find 4 or 5 that will do me, which I would imagine will be
1: some sort of Tweed deluxe
2: Nice small fender, like a deluxe Reverb or Princeton
3: Marshall JTM45/plexi
4: Vox AC30
5; Dumble ODS
And maybe a Trainwreck express .
That would cover everything I'd need for my style all in a little box.
I can still use my regular pedal board if I like, or I can set up profiles with my favourite FX included.
As I said before if you still want to be loud and have howling feed back then just use speakers of what ever kind you like, FRFR monitors or standard guitar cabs.
So, to conclude; yes there's an amazing amount of choice available but spend some time and find the sounds you want and even if it's just one rare amp that floats your boat and becomes you sound it's still worth it knowing you can take that with you anywhere and it will always sound the same
I'm looking forward to the first person to Profile Ropbben Fords set up, it's only a matter of time. The same will go for a lot of high profile guitarists I would imagine. A few working 'pro' players have already put their touring profiles with Favourite acts up for sale. Remember that it's not just the amp, but their FX pedals too, so you're getting 'pro A's vintage bassman with his original silver Klon pedal and vintage fuzz face and memory man when you get the profile packs for $50.
Marcus
Lots of choice.
