#13 Buy a real tube amp

  • I agree :)
    I could not even use Kemper if not owning my Friedman BE100 and Mesa JP2C etc.. and not making my own specific profiles ! I went thru all available profiles on the net and not even one sounded the way I setup my Friedman and other amps..


    So for me Kemper is just the tool which let me leave my heavy and fragile amps at home and use their DNA on stage without worrying about bad tubes and weight..


    Of course it's maybe 90% or little more of feel of my tube amps live on stage, but close enough to be happy and inspired..


    And no.. For me tube amps are not dead for sure.. I still need them if I change my mind or taste, and go to my Friedman or Mesa and set up deferent stomps and eqs and do new profiles and use them live exactly the way I love it to be :)

  • Sorry, I don't follow your post.

    The cabinet,the type of speakers play a huge role for the ampintheroomsound(can we call this "aitrs" from now;).And it does not make any sense to me to use a real cab as monitor while I use many different amp-profiles of which most just dont fit to my cab.My 60s orange 4x12 with (black)greenbacks does sound unreal with my Rectifier or my JCM800 but will not fit to any twin or vox type of profile.


    The whole thing would be against the reason why I use the profiler with all its abilities to sound like any of the many profiles through a FRFR..


    I never bought the Kemper for aitrs use..and I wonder how many guys actually did..



    ;

  • i gigged my kemper for a few years. great tool for the cover band i was in. it covered all the sounds i needed. but i must say that i agree with the original poster as there is something about a real tube amp. i just recently purchased a mesa mark 5/35 combo amp and it sounds killer. im playing more funky and jazz rock stuff with this new band and the warm tones and feel im getting from my tube amp is just a better fit for me in this situation. dont get me wrong, i have nothing against the kemper .i love the digital technology . ive defended the kemper against my tube amp snob friends ,but it is a different animal for sure and nothing like a tube amp to me. this is just my personal opinion of course....

  • The main point of the Kemper to me is that I have access to thousands of accurate amp setups, including some fairly exotic I'll never be able to own, instead of just the one(s) I have. Sorry if point already made.


    Incidentally I have not even powered them up (dual JMP1 preamps through 22/20) since buying the Kemper. Also more than two grands worth of pedalboard sitting on floor gathering dust.... although I intend to use the Space and SlideRig.

  • Still not getting your point sorry.

  • I never was a purist and think to have a healthy sense for pragmatism.


    Sold my Meesa Boogie last week and now only a H&K tubemaster36 is left in my cellar.
    I know, that i will not use it anymore for rehearsal or a gig because I enjoy the decrease of weight and the increase of versatile sounds I never had before I own the KPA.


    I do not worry that the sounds will become too less. So I will not invest to save the Amp industry. ;)
    At the moment I have so much different sounds, that I will not become old enough to use 'em all. ^^



    I am quite sure, that in future the development of digital sound gear will continue but there will always be a market for vintage gear like tube amps.


    Chapeau to all sentimentalistic feelings and opinions.
    I will sell the H&K when I get a good price.

  • my most immersive sound experience after years and years of gigs and studio time:powered Profiler over a nice cab AND studio monitors at the same time.
    Pure fun! :)

    Sorry did not see your post yesterday..


    I dont doubt it dear friend..I dont doubt this a second that the profiler can do the aitr with a cab on stage..
    No doubt I could use a good direct/merged vox/matchless-profile with a powered profiler with a nice 2x12 and have the same result as with any real matchless-type of combo.


    Actually this is where I have the difficulties to communicate with cybermgk..


    If I would use the Kemper like this (lets say a 4x12 orange cab) I would myself absolutely bind to profiles which fit to this cab.4xEL-34/6l6-big rock monsters.


    If I would use a (lets say) 4x10/1x15 or a 2x12 cab on stage I would bind myself to Vox,matchless,Fender etc style of profiles..


    But this is not the reason I bought me the KPA.I want flexibility with the best possible result.Only an FRFR as monitor can give me that flexibility using all kinds of tube-profiles in just one performance.Also If I ever again carry around my bulky orange cab which its "limited" and "specialized" sound characteristics I would also bring in some of my tube amp which fits 100% to it.

  • I never was a purist and think to have a healthy sense for pragmatism.


    ....
    Chapeau to all sentimentalistic feelings and opinions.


    IMO it is "pragmatism" to keep at least one tube amp.. ;)


    If you have a tool which can do "everything" you will always fail to refuse to "try everything".It is the nature of the musician.Would I ever resist to put a little reverb on my beloved TJ-superleads..guess not.It is there..right to my feet.


    For the lead..could I resist to increase the gain and add some delay;No.I could not.It is there..it is just a little move with my expression pedal.


    You already know where I want to go right;


    Using "just a tube amp" gives me the chance to do more with my fingers and my volume poti trying to rectify all shortcommings of the given "puristic sound" of a (lets say) onechannel tube amp.You HAVE to do more with your ears,fingers and the few buttons on your guitar and amp.


    This is not "puristic" neither "sentimental"..it is a school..learning to do as much as possible with what you have which is not much.But it is the most important thing of all:ears,fingers,guitar and just one pure great sound.without any "tricks".You are absolutely "naked" and you will try to "cover" it with all means(which are just your ears and fingers)..thats the "challenge" I believe every electric guitar player should be not afraid to accept.

  • i dont really understand the "war" real amp / emulation / profiler .


    neither is perfect , and if we can have the two , great :thumbup:


    since buying the KPA , i keept buying pedals , im not gonna wait until the developer comes with a emulation off
    something that i need / want now :D

  • Ofcourse there is no "war".


    But as @MementoMori already said there are some "psychological barriers" as well for the tube guys as well for the people who deny that the tubes still have at least 1% of mystical power" left for aitrs which is maybe some psychological thing or maybe not.


    I use the studio profiles and I am 100% happy with them for live and recording.I will never ever go back to tube amps for these issues.


    I admit that I still have my doubts if there is no 1% left if we talk about ampintheroom in favour of the tube amps.Maybe it is only the "psychological thing" maybe it is "the smell" and "klick" you hear from the tubes during the time they get hotter when it is for a tiny fraction of time completely silent in the rehearsal room..I dont know.


    I have plans to get me a second (powered) profiler which I would only use for live-gigs so I will try it with my cabs some day.


    One last thing..


    I remember a thread some months ago which was opened by a guy who stated that allthough he was very happy with the profiler it was "to much" for him and that he would go back to tube amps since he just would feel "better" with them.What should I say..more or less he was trolled.Many negativity and bad words till he "left".I tried to defence him but..no chance..


    I remember another thread which was made by a guy who said that allthough he was happy with the KPA he would sell it and go for the Helix because he was convinced by its UI and its floorboard-concept which saved him some space in his cramped bedroom.Everyone acted civil,all wished him best luck and many wishes that he would return soon to the KPA..


    ;)

  • And, not sure what the problem is here.

  • @Nikos - did'nt want to start an academic discussion :)
    I replied to the suggestion to buy a "tube amp" so the industrie can live further and has foods for new profile.
    It was just some of my 50 cent and I confess that I did not really try to hide irony.


    If I use terms which appears to be evaluating, it is to clearify my point of view and not the point of view I expect from other.

  • Blue: That's an issue with you, not the amp your using, be it a Kemper or a Fennder Pro Jr. I, actually use the Kemper JUST like I used to use 'conventional' amps. Really, there is no difference for me. Sorry, but what you describe is also NOT a universal failing of all guitarists.


    ERGO your following conclusions stem from an erroneous assumption, imho


    Red: Again, one can do this with a Kemper. Point of fact, since it acts just like that amp, it is really easy to coax sound out of a simple amp, using technique, guitar knobs etc. EVEN Better, one can go a step further and do this with more than just one amp with the Kemper. So if anything, what you speak of is even better tended by the Kemper. With the Kemper you can try to coax that great tone from any number of single channel, no MV Class A amps (take your pick). Or you can try simple, single channel Class A/B amps, ones with a tube rectifier, etc. Point of fact, because of this, it is actually better for developing in the guitarist what I believe your trying to say. You don't just learn how to get the best out of one simple amp setup, but can do so for several, many, all, and thus expand your techniques in these areas even more.


    The key here, that your missing, for some reason, or not fully acknowledging is that all those things you mention, can be done with the Kemper, and not just for one amp..


    You also keep, and sorry this is how it comes across to me, justifying the need for a 'tube' amp, by saying it is the only thing that can do what your saying. Again, that is an erroneous assumption/precept. Point of fact is, If you can do it on/with amp XYZ, then you can also do it on Amp XYZ profile.


    In reality, the ONLY thing that would be hard to do with the Kemper, that is so much easier to do with a tube amp, is learning and practicing on, overcoming the day to day inconsistent tones that a tube amp produces.

  • come on guys , the KPA or other digital / SS amps arent going to kill the tube amp industry.


    the microwave didnt kill the charcoal gril :D

    But the digital camera DID kill the analog, silver film based camera.


    The computer DID kill the abacus/slide rule/pencil paper calculation


    The Automobile DID kill horse powered vehicles


    Cell phones have ALMOST completely killed landline phones


    I can go on and on.

  • but vinyl is back in fashion


    an pencil is still a valid tool , doesnt chrash , doesnt need electric power etc.


    also the KPA doesnt look as sexy as a marshall stack :D

  • I've done/do tons of guitar sessions (not as many these days but still a fair few)
    If I could get away with not using a miked up amp in a studio I would, and I didn't use modellers, just various effects to get the sound straight in to the desk.
    That worked fine 70% of the time. The Kemper is a godsend.


    Saying that... I do like a bit of amp porn and I still have a couple of amps or three.