Kemper Profiler Amp Review

**jorgemg1984** · 10-05-2015, 07:50 PM

Guitar players are very conservative - that's why digital has come so slow. On forums most people are hobbyists who can "afford" both the price and the cons of tube amps. Live and on the studio digital is slowly becoming the norm because of the incredible advantages it has - I've even seen manny cases of bands who rent amps to "show" at stage but then use modellers for actual tone.

**m_d** · 10-06-2015, 08:23 AM

I'm not sure how far the tube amp "revival" will go if the economy tanks. There is a store in town selling high-end photo equipment from the analog era... at bargain digital prices. Digital gear loses value for sure, but recently I was able to sell a 5-year old Zoom h4n recorder at a very good price, a 1/3 of the "new" price at the time but almost the same as the current new price.

Sure some of those revival tube amps are beautiful objects but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of innovation to overcome the technology's limitations, like the inability to find the sweet spot (even less multiple sweet spots) at home volumes, which personally I find prohibitive. I may be a blockhead but I've always considered that if recorded guitar music can sound great at any volume on a hifi system, the same should be achievable from a guitar on a guitar amp, or the technology is flawed. The fact that Jack and others find the Kemper to be *better* than the most reputable tube amps is very significant to me.

But besides Kemper, Fractal, Yamaha etc. the devices from Two Note allow for a mix of new and old technologies that looks very appealing, especially for people who already have a few amps they would rather keep. Great times to be a guitar player indeed.

**jzucker** · 10-06-2015, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by m_d

I'm not sure how far the tube amp "revival" will go if the economy tanks. There is a store in town selling high-end photo equipment from the analog era... at bargain digital prices. Digital gear loses value for sure, but recently I was able to sell a 5-year old Zoom h4n recorder at a very good price, a 1/3 of the "new" price at the time but almost the same as the current new price.

Sure some of those revival tube amps are beautiful objects but there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of innovation to overcome the technology's limitations, like the inability to find the sweet spot (even less multiple sweet spots) at home volumes, which personally I find prohibitive. I may be a blockhead but I've always considered that if recorded guitar music can sound great at any volume on a hifi system, the same should be achievable from a guitar on a guitar amp, or the technology is flawed. The fact that Jack and others find the Kemper to be *better* than the most reputable tube amps is very significant to me.

But besides Kemper, Fractal, Yamaha etc. the devices from Two Note allow for a mix of new and old technologies that looks very appealing, especially for people who already have a few amps they would rather keep. Great times to be a guitar player indeed.

i recently played through a $3.5k boutique tube amp that had reverb and trem and was supposed to be the perfect '50s type amplifier but in a package that was perfectly quiet without the squeal of a 60+ year old amp. I was struck by how awful it sounded in the store. The speaker cab contributed a peaky , directional , beaming tone and the amp sounded good but not anywhere close to the sweet spot. Being a 30+W amplifier, I imagine you have to crank it a bit to get it to the sweet spot and at that point, it's going to be too loud . Well, that's what I love about the kemper. You find the sweet spot of the amplifier and then you can use that at any volume from quiet headphones to rip-roaring stadium volume. My pair of Alto speakers cost me $199/each and together produce 1200W of clean power. The amp sounds great through a single Alto as well. In fact, I rarely hook up the 2nd speaker.

So, in theory there are some tube amps that might arguably sound more "realistic", I have not found one that sounded as good as the kemper. The one exception being reverb based tones. A great fender princeton or deluxe will have a deliciously drenched reverb tone which the kemper cannot match because it doesn't do spring reverb.

**yebdox** · 10-06-2015, 10:38 AM

When you get a chance, Jack, I would love to hear you play on a clip with more Ford like overdrive tones on the Kemper. The only clips I've heard have been drop D/ Metal/ raspy pop tones, with the exception of your archtop clips, which sound really good.

For cheaper digital tech (Line 6, Positive Grid, etc) there always seems to be some raspy clipping sound to any attempt at a smoother overdrive solo tone. Sounds fine if you want to play the hooks for "Highway to Hell" all day, but not for Ford/ Holdsworth/Henderson/Landau types of sounds.

When you get a chance, I'll be listening

**jzucker** · 10-06-2015, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by yebdox

When you get a chance, Jack, I would love to hear you play on a clip with more Ford like overdrive tones on the Kemper. The only clips I've heard have been drop D/ Metal/ raspy pop tones, with the exception of your archtop clips, which sound really good.

For cheaper digital tech (Line 6, Positive Grid, etc) there always seems to be some raspy clipping sound to any attempt at a smoother overdrive solo tone. Sounds fine if you want to play the hooks for "Highway to Hell" all day, but not for Ford/ Holdsworth/Henderson/Landau types of sounds.

When you get a chance, I'll be listening

Sounds good, I will do that. The smooth, dumble tones out of the kemper are amazing IMO. I like them better than the two rock emerald pro which I previously owned.

**NSJ** · 10-06-2015, 12:23 PM

Looking at the shareware Rig Exchange at the Kemper site, the pickings for jazz amps are there, but they are few and far in between. I shared profiles for all the amps I bought and owned on the Exchange (Twin Reberb, Phil Jones Cub, Polyone Mini Brute, Henriksen, Fishman). I did not share any amps I profiled that I didn't own, because that didn't seem right to me.

In any event, it seems very few Jazz players seem to buy into the Kemper-if we can judge by profiles shared. Que sera sera--their loss.

Still waiting for an Evans to appear on the Rig Exchange. I suspect I could be waiting for a while

Oh well, I'll just have to find people who may own these amps and profile them in person.

Wound up up selling half my amps-left only with a Henriksen and Polytone. No worries and no regrets.

The future is now. Added bonus ---Everything is transportable by hand, if I lug the guitar in a gig bag.

**MaxTwang** · 10-06-2015, 01:21 PM

It's surprising what can work for jazz on a Kemper. I profiled a Jim Kelley Reverb and a Blackheart Killer Ant, both pushed to breakup. I dialed back the gain in the profiles and slightly tweaked the EQ and both amps were great for jazz.

Kinda wish I still had that Kemper.

**m_d** · 10-06-2015, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by yebdox

When you get a chance, Jack, I would love to hear you play on a clip with more Ford like overdrive tones on the Kemper. The only clips I've heard have been drop D/ Metal/ raspy pop tones, with the exception of your archtop clips, which sound really good.

For cheaper digital tech (Line 6, Positive Grid, etc) there always seems to be some raspy clipping sound to any attempt at a smoother overdrive solo tone. Sounds fine if you want to play the hooks for "Highway to Hell" all day, but not for Ford/ Holdsworth/Henderson/Landau types of sounds.

When you get a chance, I'll be listening

It's not like anything you asked but I love that "old" Kemper clip

**jorgemg1984** · 10-06-2015, 05:24 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

But if you could put the entire audience in that one magic spot right where we hear our amps, the tone we think we dial in, we would all be known for our incredible tone.

Well for me that ideal sound is the non beamy sound properly miced amps provide, never the on stage sound. So I like the sound the audience gets and I get the same sound if I bring my PA cab

**jorgemg1984** · 10-06-2015, 05:50 PM

One question about the Kemper - my sound is the same the whole gig except for overdrives which I might turn on and off sometimes. Is there a simple, small and simple footswitch that we can plug to the kemper and use just as an on / off for the overdrive?

**Philco** · 10-06-2015, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by NSJ

Looking at the shareware Rig Exchange at the Kemper site, the pickings for jazz amps are there, but they are few and far in between. I shared profiles for all the amps I bought and owned on the Exchange (Twin Reberb, Phil Jones Cub, Polyone Mini Brute, Henriksen, Fishman). I did not share any amps I profiled that I didn't own, because that didn't seem right to me.

In any event, it seems very few Jazz players seem to buy into the Kemper-if we can judge by profiles shared. Que sera sera--their loss.

Still waiting for an Evans to appear on the Rig Exchange. I suspect I could be waiting for a while

Oh well, I'll just have to find people who may own these amps and profile them in person.

Wound up up selling half my amps-left only with a Henriksen and Polytone. No worries and no regrets.

The future is now. Added bonus ---Everything is transportable by hand, if I lug the guitar in a gig bag.

There are some old Fender Tweeds on the exchange that I can get a very nice (to me) jazz tone from.
Worth a listen if you haven't already done so.

**jzucker** · 10-06-2015, 06:23 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

One question about the Kemper - my sound is the same the whole gig except for overdrives which I might turn on and off sometimes. Is there a simple, small and simple footswitch that we can plug to the kemper and use just as an on / off for the overdrive?

A dual footswitch plugged into a single jack can only control Rig Up/Down or toggle FX slots

**jorgemg1984** · 10-06-2015, 06:32 PM

So if one makes two exactly identical rigs - one with od off and the other with od on is it possible? Thanks, Jack.

**jzucker** · 10-06-2015, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

So if one makes two exactly identical rigs - one with od off and the other with od on is it possible? Thanks, Jack.

I think you'd want something like the Boss FS-6 or Digitech FS3X

**Cunamara** · 10-06-2015, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Hjalmiz

So Digital lovers , Would you buy generation 2 of the Kemper that profiles Guitars Aswell ?

If the difference from a conventional amp and a digital isn't Clear from the moment you plug in to it then be happy. It amazes me that guys jumps in to debates about the nuance of different species of mahogany and don't react to this digital amp thing. Digital Is different , not bad only different ! And often very convenient.

Some of that is already being done in the flattop acoustic guitar world. There are devices that have digital models of great classic guitars which can be mixed with the signal from the musician's guitar. Of course it doesn't sound exactly the same as the original but it can help flesh out the piezo sound and produce very nice results.

**MaxTwang** · 10-06-2015, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by jorgemg1984

One question about the Kemper - my sound is the same the whole gig except for overdrives which I might turn on and off sometimes. Is there a simple, small and simple footswitch that we can plug to the kemper and use just as an on / off for the overdrive?

A MIDI Mouse should work for simple program changes (changing presets). Any MIDI pedal that does CC should work for the overdrive on/off.

Here's a small'ish midi pedal and the Kemper.

Looking for a Kemper Foot Controller? Axe-Hacks Puts the Keith McMillen SoftStep 2 Through its Paces - GearGods

**MaxTwang** · 10-07-2015, 11:00 AM

The problem is the small 2 or 3 button MIDI pedals tend to send PC messages and, IIRC, you need to send a CC for the overdrive. The Keith MacMillen Soft Step is much smaller & lighter than the Behringer FCB1010. A Midi Mouse should work to change between 2 presets: one with OD on, one with OD off. But you might be able to find a 4 button MIDI pedal that sends CC messages,

**MaxTwang** · 10-07-2015, 01:27 PM

The Kemper Reference Manual addresses MIDI switching of stomp/effects on page 120.

The problem seems to be: 1. If it's small with 5-pin MIDI - then it's not programmable, 2. If it's small & programmable it's USB 3. If it's programable and 5-pin MIDI then it has a lot of buttons (too big).

**jzucker** · 10-07-2015, 05:12 PM

my issue is that I hate to have lots of cables running back to the amp other than the main one. I also really like the sound of a zendrive type overdrive going into the fender style amp model so I just use that and a single amp model. The dumble pedals are so good these days that I don't usually bother to use the dumble profile.

**MaxTwang** · 10-07-2015, 07:07 PM

Do you use the Zendrive in the Kemper's FX Loop in a Stomp slot? Wouldn't that make it switchable via MIDI?

**Archie** · 10-07-2015, 07:14 PM

So Jack, you have had this device for a while now, is this still 'IT'?

I only ask because I trust your opinion on amplification (and other things of course). I will eventually get one if you still think it is essentially the best thing around.

I'm tired of struggling with amplification. Its time to end the struggle.

**jzucker** · 10-07-2015, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by MaxTwang

Do you use the Zendrive in the Kemper's FX Loop in a Stomp slot? Wouldn't that make it switchable via MIDI?

no, i never put anything except time based effects in the loop. I put the zendrive in front. It reacts just like my tube amp does.

**jzucker** · 10-07-2015, 09:28 PM

Originally Posted by ArchtopHeaven

So Jack, you have had this device for a while now, is this still 'IT'?

I only ask because I trust your opinion on amplification (and other things of course). I will eventually get one if you still think it is essentially the best thing around.

I'm tired of struggling with amplification. Its time to end the struggle.

yep. i've had it about 10 months. Best amp purchase I've ever made. Sold all my high end and vintage tube amps and my huge stash of tubes. Everytime I get a chance to compare it to a high end boutique tube amp, i come away thinking that it smokes any of them. Plus it's fabulous for practicing with headphones and recording.

**cmajor9** · 10-09-2015, 06:02 AM

The Kemper amp is clearly a winning piece of technology. Some of the interesting issues I find with it are:

- what happens when it needs repair, or something goes wrong down the road. I assume, like other modern high-tech gear, there's nothing user-serviceable inside (or serviceable by your local instrument shop). Will it be possible to find parts, and someone who can work on it?

- if the device evolves, or if another digital amp supercedes it, will the format survive so that you can still save, store, and trade profiles (again, similar to other high-tech formats)?