Ok I bought the KPA primarily to use with a cover band that does a fairly wide variety of styles. I tried a combo amp and a giant pedal board before the Kemper and it was ridiculous to set up and transport not to mention a tap dance to change tones.
I use the KPA w an Atomic CLR atop a Bogner single 12 w/ ss power amp.( see my avatar) This combination sounds pretty damn good! Im primarily using MBritt profiles
I also have a low key "blues" restaurant gig I do every Friday ( same spot last 10 years and running!!)
For the "blues" thing I use a "real" tube amp. The gig doesn't require a lot of tones.
Well my tube amp needed to be shipped back to the builder (RedPlate) for repair...no problem I thought, Ill just bring the KPA
Well heres what I quickly realized....
A) The KPA headphone output tones sound amazing..I don't use my tube amps at home anymore. Strictly headphones. Very inspiring ...play for hours!
B) The Atomic CLR ( Main Out w cab sim) sounds good but not as crunchy / sparkly as the headphones and doesn't move air like a standard guitar cab.. Not terribly inspiring
C) The Bogner single 12 w/ EVM speaker/ power amp ( monitor out / no cab sim) sounds the worst of the three. Moves air but no sparkle no crunch/ boxy sounding.. uninspiring
BOTH cabs together seem to add what the other is lacking but it's not realistic to drag the two cabs/ amp to this small room blues gig so I initially was going to just bring the guitar cab.
Not gonna happen. Not happy with either cab on its own.
I've tried setting up the out put eq for direct and main out but haven't been happy yet.
Is it time I look into direct amp profiles? Ive read of some discontent over this. Maybe create some rigs especially for just one cab?
Kinda bummed I gotta be honest. Im going to bring my Egnater Tweaker and leave the KPA at home and that sucks.
The guy I gig with on Friday is a tube amp "purist" ( anti ANYTHING but tubes) and I really wanted to school him on how good the KPA sounds but obviously Im not up to speed yet.