New User Question - "Adjustment" Period and Other Advice

  • Hey all. I am a diehard tube amp user for 30+ years and thinking of making "the switch" to a modeling rig. As a result of a few weeks of research here and on other sites, I've narrowed it down to a KPA (unpowered rack) and Yamaha DXR20 FRFR.


    I am currently in two rock bands - one cover, one original - where I am the sole guitar player. About half the time we play smaller rooms (or in the summer, outdoor gigs) where guitar amps are not mic'ed up, so dispersement is key for me. In other words, I have to fill a lot of sonic space. My current rig is a Vox AC30 2x12 combo with pedals and it typically does the trick. Unfortunately the rig is extremely heavy and cumbersome, and does not do well in rooms where I need to keep stage volume down. Also I really want a more flexible rig that doesn't involve having an enormous pedal board.


    Anyway, I have a couple of questions for all you experienced users.

    • How long of an adjustment period should I expect? While I am good with technology I definitely expect a learning curve with the KPA. Also I assume I will need time to build rigs to meet my needs and tweak them to sit right in the mix at a few rehearsals. I also understand using this rig in a live setting is the only way to know for sure. I am just wondering how much of an adjustment period you all experienced before you got to a point where tweaking was no longer a regular thing.


    • At gigs where I will be going through FOH, my plan is to keep the FRFR nearby, pointed up to me for monitoring purposes. When I am not going through FOH, can I turn the FRFR on edge and have it double as a guitar cabinet facing the room? And if so, will it displace enough air to ensure the guitar is still prominent?
    • While I know there is a TON of flexibility on tap (I was stunned at the number of rigs available both free and commercially) I really only expect to have a few core tones with some effects for flavor. Given my desire to maintain simplicity, any tips or advice for getting my rigs setup for the first time?

    Thanks everyone! Looking forward to becoming a member of the Kemper family. :)

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast

  • Hi and welcome. The adjustment period shouldn't be to long. Took me about 4-5 gigs tweaking till I was happy with my onstage and FOH sound :) There are many free rigs available like you said on the RE but I have more success with profiles I have brought fro TAF. I, like you only use a few rigs in my set. My main sound and I've been using it for around 2 years now is a JCM800 from TAF Marshall pack it's awesome and sits in the mix great.


    im sure others here who have more experience than me with using FRFR speakers as a way for the audience to hear the sound from the stage will give you some great advice

  • Hi and welcome. The adjustment period shouldn't be to long. Took me about 4-5 gigs tweaking till I was happy with my onstage and FOH sound <img src="http://www.kemper-amps.com/forum/wcf/images/smilies/smile.png" alt=":)" /> There are many free rigs available like you said on the RE but I have more success with profiles I have brought…

    Thank you, sir! Yeah, last night I was eyeing up the Britt and TAF profiles. So many options out there, it's overwhelming.

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast

  • One thing to keep in mind: The KPA takes profiles of the whole chain, including the mic. So if you're not used to hear your guitar sound as picked up through a mic, expect a different sound <img src="http://www.kemper-amps.com/forum/wcf/images/smilies/smile.png" alt=":)" />

    That's a good point, and I am sure that is part of the "adjustment period" as well.


    That said, is there a way to use PureCab to give me more of a traditional cabinet sound through my personal monitor, while ensuring I am passing the mic'ed sound to FOH?

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast

  • Hi & Welcome, KPA is a good choice and if you miss your AC30 you should try the one from Pete's profiles, this one is an amazing 1965 beast greatly profiled in all extents and fits most of my guitars.


    DRX10/12 have good reputation here as well as the Atomic CLR.

  • Hi &amp; Welcome, KPA is a good choice and if you miss your AC30 you should try the one from Pete's profiles, this one is an amazing 1965 beast greatly profiled in all extents and fits most of my guitars.


    DRX10/12 have good reputation here as well as the…

    Wow, you weren't kidding. That Vox profile sounded incredible.

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast

  • The thing to remember about the DXR and other FRFR units is that they are PA speakers, not traditional guitar cabs. As such they have much better throw/dispersion than guitar cabs. I used 1 EV ZLX12P (similar to the DXR) for over a year and well over 200 shows and it stood up well no matter how I used it, whether as a stage monitor or for backline with no FOH in smaller venues (maybe also consider getting a stand for this scenario).


    I should also say that after 2 years of Kemper bliss I have yet to find the need to purchase a profile pack online. There are great free profiles of just about any amp out there in the Rig Exchange or from the Factory Content. If someone can't find good tone with the thousands of free rigs out there I feel bad for them. You can also spend weeks auditioning rigs, I recommend figuring out what amp types you want to streamline your efforts (a Marshall, a Mesa, etc), search for them on Rig Exchange, audition each one quickly, flat EQ, no effects. Save only the ones that make you smile right away and go from there.


    Welcome to Kemper land!

  • There may be some adjustment period, but everyone overcomes it at a different rate. I had a harder time going from a traditional rig to an FRFR because I'm not accustomed to hearing my guitar through a p.a. speaker with a horn onstage. If you can get used to the FRFR then the way you are describing using it should work great. Another way might be using a power amp like a Fryette Power Station and a regular guitar cab. It won't sound identical to the profile running direct to p.a. but feels a bit more like a tube guitar amp to me. Start simple with a few workable sounds and tweak from there. There are lots of good free profiles on the RE and many of the commercial profilers have free samples on their sites as well. I recommend trying as many free ones before spending money until you get used to tweaking and finding what it is that sounds right to you. Everyone hears things a little differently. I hope you like the KPA. I haven't looked back since I started using mine on gigs.

  • The thing to remember about the DXR and other FRFR units is that they are PA speakers, not traditional guitar cabs. As such they have much better throw/dispersion than guitar cabs. I used 1 EV ZLX12P (similar to the DXR) for over a year and well over 200…

    Thank you so much! Great insight.

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast

  • There may be some adjustment period, but everyone overcomes it at a different rate. I had a harder time going from a traditional rig to an FRFR because I'm not accustomed to hearing my guitar through a p.a. speaker with a horn onstage. If you can get used to the FRFR then the way you are describing using it should work great. Another way might be using a power amp like a Fryette Power Station and a regular guitar cab. It won't sound identical to the profile running direct to p.a. but feels a bit more like a tube guitar amp to me. Start simple with a few workable sounds and tweak from there. There are lots of good free profiles on the RE and many of the commercial profilers have free samples on their sites as well. I recommend trying as many free ones before spending money until you get used to tweaking and finding what it is that sounds right to you. Everyone hears things a little differently. I hope you like the KPA. I haven't looked back since I started using mine on gigs.

    Awesome, thank you! I was definitely planning on trying all the free profiles while I am learning my way around the KPA. Thanks also for the Fryette recommendation. What I may do is run the FRFR rig for a while and see if I can get used to it. If not, it's good to know there are other options. Though I have to admit, I was hoping to avoid having to carry around a guitar cabinet since I recently hurt my back.

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast

  • That's a good point, and I am sure that is part of the "adjustment period" as well.


    That said, is there a way to use PureCab to give me more of a traditional cabinet sound through my personal monitor, while ensuring I am passing the mic'ed sound to FOH?


    Currently, no. And I think "the man himself" expressed something along the lines that they will make it a per-rig setting, but not per-output. That may change in the future, of course (I guess if enough users want it). just a heads-up :)

  • Currently, no. And I think "the man himself" expressed something along the lines that they will make it a per-rig setting, but not per-output. That may change in the future, of course (I guess if enough users want it). just a heads-up :)

    Thanks! So it sounds like you can EQ outputs differently (I think I read that somewhere in the manual) but PureCab is a global setting.

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast

  • Welcome MP :)
    a couple of further thoughts about linear cabs.


    the better result in terms of carrying tne room is got by placing the cab on a pole, at performer's ears height (backline). Two cabs will obviously cover more that one :)


    talking about getting accustomed to the sound, don't think that the so called "FRFR" cabs sound all the same! I'd advise you to visit a couple of good audio shops with the Profiler and try a few systems, even beyond your budget. This will givea good perspective. And remember, if you are not accustomed to hearing that, it will be possibly come spontaneous to you to choose the less linear ones, that is the ones that sound more like a giitar cab! This would be a mistake IMO: becaucse oe you acdopt a very linear syste, then you'll know that all you have to do is to find the right rigs for your guitars and needs, and tweak them to satisfaction :)


    HTH


    PS: sorry for the typos, this editor doesn't cope well with my iPad LOL

  • I don't think you'll regret the purchase. I use mine very much like you do for gigging and it sounds great and it's incredibly versatile. Then when I want to record stuff I just plug it in via spdif and it's awesome at that too. I tell you, it's an amazing piece of kit!

  • Thanks everyone, appreciate the warm welcome and support. I knew I chose wisely. :)


    I also ordered a Yamaha DXR10 after reading so many positive reviews here. Figure if I can't make it work, it must be ME and not the gear.

    Husband, Father, Pajama Enthusiast