I Think I'm Ready For A Kemper, But I'm Afraid Of The Technology.

    New member and first post. I'm 65 years young and have been a tube amp man for 40 plus years. I've steered clear of modelers ever since I tried the Line 6 XT Live when it first came out. I hated it! So, it's been tube amps and stomp boxes.


    I've been reading and watching youtube videos on the Kemper for the better part of a year. First, I think it sounds darn good. I also think it would be a good solution for my 6 months up north and my six months in Florida every winter. I can't afford multiple amps for both locations and I don't have the room.


    Now to my fears about the Kemper. First, for other tube amp guys like myself, does the Kemper satisfy you? Is it really that close to the feel and tone of the tube amp it's profiled from? Now for my fear. I can twist knobs on amps and stomp boxes and get what I want. I'm afraid of the other settings and controls that I've read about in the different forums. Lots of updates also and it seems like there are usually a couple issues that come with the new updates. I've read some of the manual and there are terms that I have no idea what they are talking about. Is there a lot of tweaking and diving into different menu's to pull the best out of the different rigs. I'll stop there. I think you guys get the idea of my concerns. To sum it up, I guess I'm afraid of technology. Not that I'm stupid and can't learn, but from my background, do you think I'm over thinking this? or are my concerns real? By the way, it took me three tries to sign up for this forum. LOL

    Welcome Snowbird! I'm about to turn 62, and the lunchbox has totally changed my view of amps. My amp GAS is now gone, and I sold my tube amps. I now have so many different flavors of amps availabe to me that would be too expensive to purchase ...
    Sure, there are some effects that take some time to learn, but that would be the case even if you purchased those effects in a pedal. As for the amp sounds themselves, the knobs are intuitive and easy to use. I say go try one out. Perhaps there's another forum member somewhere near you. Where are you currently located?

    Go for it now. The future is promised to no one. - Wayne Dyer

    Hi man and welcome, my consideration are:
    1) the Kemper is "better" than a tipical original amp, because you have more or less the same sound, but already miked, with only 5 kg to carry and with tweaking flexibility and memorization capacity enough for a life time...
    2) the kemper is the simplest digital device to use existing by now, nevertheless, if you want something more complex you can satisfy also this. If you instead want to use it in the "simple" way, you can, that means you need only to use presets: for stomps, for delay and for reverb you will build your sound in not more that 10 minutes and it will be good anyway


    The only thing that really is needed is a good pair (or single) active speaker to listen his great sound, or otherwise you can use headphones without any problem or degradation!

    It's not that scary at all! Although you can tweak stuff and play with different cabs and EQ's it's really not necessary to get a great tone. To put it in perspective I was lazing around on my sofa yesterday and all I did was plug my guitar and headphones into the Kemper, flicked through the first few presets and there it was, I was more than happy with the tone I was getting.

    Hey Snowbird,


    great post and I think the fact that you carry that decision one year with you shows that you have great intereset in the KPA. I can see your doubts but with the KPA it actually depends more on you how complicated the handling is gonna be.
    By that I mean that you can simply browse the profiles that come with the Kemper or add new profiles via usb and adjust the sound with the amp eq. just like you are used to it. On the other hand you can dive in deeper and change cabinets, use parameters a normal amp wouldn't have usually and stuff like that.
    But the presets are very good and you can get a great sound with some basic tweaking. So I'd go for it. Like I said the KPA can be a complicated unit if you are new to the technology but the basic stuff works like with every other piece of gear and also if you already had the XT then I'm sure you'll handle the KPA. Plus this forum is very friendly and supportive here so if you have any questions people will help you here.

    Quote from KoMa

    Hey Snowbird,


    great post and I think the fact that you carry that decision one year with you shows that you have great intereset in the KPA. I can see your doubts but with the KPA it actually depends more on you how complicated the handling is gonna be.
    By that I mean that you can simply browse the profiles that come with the Kemper or add new profiles via usb and adjust the sound with the amp eq. just like you are used to it. On the other hand you can dive in deeper and change cabinets, use parameters a normal amp wouldn't have usually and stuff like that.
    But the presets are very good and you can get a great sound with some basic tweaking. So I'd go for it. Like I said the KPA can be a complicated unit if you are new to the technology but the basic stuff works like with every other piece of gear and also if you already had the XT then I'm sure you'll handle the KPA. Plus this forum is very friendly and supportive here so if you have any questions people will help you here.

    I never did get a handle on the Line 6 XT. I thought it was extremely difficult to set up and get around on. Not to mention how bad it sounded, very hifi sounding. I really like the idea of having this forum to come to for help. I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions. You guys will get sick of me in no time. ?(

    Quote from Snowbird

    I never did get a handle on the Line 6 XT. I thought it was extremely difficult to set up and get around on. Not to mention how bad it sounded, very hifi sounding. I really like the idea of having this forum to come to for help. I'm sure I'll have a lot of questions. You guys will get sick of me in no time. ?(


    This is because the underlying technology was very far less advanced than what the Kemper offers.
    You will see that with the KPA it's very easy to only twist some knobs and be happy.

    I say Maurizio got the point: agreed 100%!


    in addition to what he wrote I can say that the KPA is incredible even if played with a power amp, i.e. used as a pre amp with a power amp like vht or mesa (as in my case). so you can have the best of both worlds.


    you know, when people hear the kemper in studio, plugged into the mixer, they say: "ok, sounds good but is nothing compared to an amp and its speaker". they have to reconsider, trust me!!


    besides, think at what a guitar player has to buy to get a good tone in studio: a nice amp (costly), a nice cabinet (costly as well), some nice microphones (sm57 are affordable but try a royer and a 414!), a nice room with good acustic response (costly enough?).


    here you have it all with the lunch box!!

    "...why being satisfied with an amp, as great as it can be, while you can have them all?" michael mellner


    "Rock in Ecclesia" - new album on iTunes or Google music

    Hello Snowbird,


    the KPA is much easier to handle as the line6 (I had the Line6 HD500). And there are so many useable profiles you can get from the kemper homepage.
    Tweaking isn't very difficult (I'm a technic noob to :-D)
    And the most important thing - the kemper sounds so much better than the line6. (you cant compare the KPA with Line 6 - these are to different worlds)


    And last but not least - this is the best forum I've ever been - great guys with lot of patience!


    greets
    peter :thumbup::thumbup:

    KPA-Rackversion with Line6 Powercab 112
    :thumbup: :love: :thumbup:

    Quote from Maurizio70

    Hi man and welcome, my consideration are:
    1) the Kemper is "better" than a tipical original amp, because you have more or less the same sound, nut already miked, with only 5 kg to carry and with tweaking flexibility and memorization capacity enough for a life time...
    2) the kemper is the simplest digital device to use existing by now, nevertheless, if you want something more complex you can satisfy also this. If you instead want to use it in the "simple" way, you can, that means you need only to use presets: for stomps, for delay and for reverb you will build your sound in not more that 10 minutes and it will be good anyway


    The only thing that really is needed is a good pair (or single) active speaker to listen his great sound, or otherwise you can use headphones without any problem or degradation!


    Look Snowbird, how easy Maurizio70 sees it.
    And he just turned 70 this year! :)

    I'm 44 but get along reasonably well with technology so I'll focus on the "tube guy satisfaction" part, especially because I can relate to how awful Line6 stuff sounds to my ears, even their newer HD series - sorry to those who like it, I can't stand it.


    To sum it up, yes, the Kemper sounds just as good as my Triaxis, JMP1, etc BUT it took me a while to get it sounding right because what you amplify your KPA through is just as important as the KPA itself. In my case I'm using a Yamaha DXR10 which IMHO brings out teh awesome from the Kemper, but YMMV. There's a lot of love for the Yamaha from Kemper users, Atomic CLRs also get a lot of praise but are more expensive. A good pair of cans or studio monitors will probably get you there as well.


    One word about technical diffficulties and usability: out of the current crop of digital modelers, including both high and low end, the KPA is probably the easiest one to tweak. Besides, there's more than a good chance that you'll find profiles that suit your taste right out of the box, that is, without any tweaking.

    Quote from luntho

    welcome snowbird!
    how are you planning to use the kemper?
    live or recording? or just bedroomplaying? are you used to hearing you amps miked up through monitors?

    First, thanks to everyone for your welcome and response. You've all convinced me this is the way to go. I'm an at home and jam with friends and backing tracks, Boss DR-880, which is a wonderful piece of gear also. Like having your own bass player and drummer, but without the attitude :D I haven't gigged since my kids were little. I do have a pair of M-Audio BX8 D2 Studio Monitors that I took as part of a trade with a friend, but I've never plugged them in. Will they work ok with the Kemper? I play straight through a couple amps (VibroKing, Princeton Reverb and Mesa Lone Star Special). Is there that much difference between the amp and Kemper through Studio Monitors?


    How about suggestions on where to buy a Kemper? Does anyone offer discounts you know of? How about used? What is the warranty and is it on the unit itself, or is it only for the original buyer?


    Thanks

    Quote from Snowbird

    . Is there that much difference between the amp and Kemper through Studio Monitors?

    yes it's different. it's like hearing your miked up amp through monitors instead of the amp in the room...unless you run it through a poweramp and cab. you need to keep that in mind or you may be disappointed.

    Quote from luntho

    yes it's different. it's like hearing your miked up amp through monitors instead of the amp in the room...unless you run it through a poweramp and cab. you need to keep that in mind or you may be disappointed.



    While we have come to be accustom to the sound of a guitar thru a amplifier the benefits
    of the kemper thru good monitors becomes very apparent and you soon overcome the psychological aspects of the Amp in the room.