Posts by Boardn14

Quote from Ruefus

Meh. There are *so* many YouTube channels with people saying all manner of things.

When a player like Mark Knopfler uses a Kemper on tour, Rob Chapel couldn’t tell the difference between his own amp and the KPA (with both in the next room) and the JHS Show goes a year without anyone noticing every sound was a Kemper?

I’ll take that over a YT channel making a blanket statement while competing for eyeballs.

They are different. That’s all.

Thanks again!

What's a JHS show?

I totally agree!

But some of those same guys who use the Kemper powered head or direct, did say the only way they can defect a difference is the feel. But they do say when using a tube power amp, you can't detect a difference.

That said, I'm excited to go forward with the Stage and my Shiva power amp!

I was close to getting a Line 6 Helix but I think Kemper and Quad Cortex are a step up and Kemper seems the most intuitive.

Who is Rob Chapel?

Quote from Ruefus

Meh. There are *so* many YouTube channels with people saying all manner of things.

When a player like Mark Knopfler uses a Kemper on tour, Rob Chapel couldn’t tell the difference between his own amp and the KPA (with both in the next room) and the JHS Show goes a year without anyone noticing every sound was a Kemper?

I’ll take that over a YT channel making a blanket statement while competing for eyeballs.

They are different. That’s all.

I totally agree!

But some of those same guys who use the Kemper powered head or direct, did say the only way they can defect a difference is the feel. But they do say when using a tube power amp, you can't detect a difference.

That said, I'm excited to go forward with the Stage and my Shiva power amp!

I was close to getting a Line 6 Helix but I think Kemper and Quad Cortex are a step up and Kemper seems the most intuitive.

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Quote from Finally

The reason I sold my Shiva was that even with my critical ears I couldn't tell the difference between the original amp and a profile of the amp with my power head into the Shiva speakers. There was none.

It's always about how you're listening to the Kemper and what your expectations are. My primary expectation is to sound like a guitar track on a record and not dominate the whole stage. I rarely need the old amp in the room config, but when I do it's the Kab or a 2x12 with V30's, which sound like an amp at amp volumes.

Oh nice! So you have the Kemper Powered Head! I would think that is the ultimate solution. But since I already have amps, I'd spend more buyng the powered head with controller. I ended up going the Stage route to save money.

If Kemper ever upgrades the hardware, redesigns there units, I'd be happy to then buy the newer design. I know the current Kemper has been around a while.

Any of you try the Neuro Quad Cortex?

Quote from Wheresthedug

I have never found the Kemper to be lacking in real tube amp feel. I played Mesa’s for 30+ Years before going Kemper and the reason I chose Kemper over any of the other great alternatives was because it felt most like the real deal and responded best to the guita”s volume knob for cleaning up the sound.

Thanks man! Which Mesa amps did you play? I had a Mark V, an older Dual Rec, a Multi Watt Rec and now BFG modified Dual Rec.

I do hope the Kemper wolves my desire to want two many different amps. I am excited and am tired of buying tube amps and spending so much money.

Currently I have a 20th Anniversary Bogner Shiva, the modified Mesa Dual Rec and PRS Archon 100.

Which Kemper configuration do you play? Powered head or Kemper Rack or Kemper Stage unit into a power amp?

Quote from Ruefus

Who often says? I’ve literally never heard that.

I hear ya! I like the Kemper, so I am with you. I just find it odd that I hear it said about Fractal and Kemper... While both being great, Fractal for feel and Kemper for sound.

I see and hear that a lot. This is an example, the guy mentions this at the end of the review and specifically a little after 12:00.

Quote from Finally

I was a Bogner Shiva user for years and yes you can use it as you describe. It sounds great that way. But... I wouldn't bother, personally. The Shiva is a heavy animal and in order to get the power amp tubes cooking you would have to get the volume right up. I highly prefer just a great Shiva profile.

I hear what you guys are saying!

But, it is often said that Kemper, while very accurate in sound, lacks the feel of a tube amp. Apparently, something like a Fractal Audio unit feels more realistic. I'm trying to add that feel back, using a tube power amp.

Hi guys,

Thanks for the input and talk on this topic. I decided to go Stage with tube power amp. I had a chance to try a friend's Fractal and Kemper. I do like that with Fractal I get an amp model that I can tweak like the or the final amp, and it has good feel. With the Kemper and profiles, I have snap shots of amp settings which is different and sometimes harder for me to wrap my head around because I often want to tweak but many profiles are not meant to be tweaked.

Anyway, I find the Kemper sounds more like the real amp than the Fractal Audio units, but the Fractal has better feel. It feels more like I'm playing a tube amp.

Combining the Kemper Stage and tube power amp is the best of both worlds to me, and I'm happy going this route. The tube power amp adds the elusive feel that I found missing.

Love it either way.

Quote from Kellerblues

I use an old iPad for editing and USB key to update/backup. That prevents me to spend too much time surfing the Rig Exchange . But I'm pretty much set with what I need

Exactly, I just ant to be able to do updates but I don't know how much editing I'll do. I'm fine if I can edit on the Stage.

Quote from chu

I bought a used £45 windows tablet for my Kemper and RigManager. Works perfectly. Probably wouldn't do anything else but II don't care

Nice, good to know! Thanks.

Not familiar with an E45 Windows Tab but I'll research it!

There is also the Microsoft Surface Pro.

So, essentially, the Kemper only works with the Apple OS and Windows.

Quote from ChuteBoxeHero

I believe the brand is Onn and it was if I remember right less than a hundred bucks from Walmart. I was trying to buy a regular windows laptop at the time but it was during the peak of COVID and with all the kids having to home school suddenly, there wasn't a laptop to be found anywhere. Turned out to be a great purchase. Just updated to Windows 11 and RM is still working perfectly.

Thanks my friend,

When I get the Stage unit, I'll grab an inexpensive laptop as well.

Stinks I can't use my tablet. I wish I had never bought it. I just use a keyboard with it to turn it into a laptop.

I'm fine picking up $250 Acer 15.6" Windows laptop.

Quote from Ruefus

From a desktop/laptop perspective - this is completely true. Windows covers about 75% and MacOS another 15+%. So, love or hate.... 90% of the computers out there are on one of these systems.

Oh trust me, I get it. I work in IT, and it's all Mac and Windows, with some Linux.

Quote from V8guitar

I think the assumption is most people have a PC or macbook.

Most samsung devices are mobiles ( phones and tablets).

Like you I'm a bit anti-apple and have a number of Samsung products but use the PC for updates.

Long story, but I met Steve Jobs and had friends work for him. I'll never own Apple. Windows isn't much better.

Anyway, what type of PC you use? I could use a laptop, so I could pick up a cheap laptop. Suggestions?

Thanks.

I don't care about tweaking on a computer, I just want to be able to update the Stage. Do I need an Apple product to do updates? Why would they make it so limited? It should be capable of updates with any USB or Bluetooth device - I would think.

Interesting. Hmm, maybe it's not a good idea to get the Stage then? I have no other option other than my Samsung proscusts. Although I was thinking of getting a Chrome book. Would that work?

I'm kind of anti apple. Lol.

Hey guys,

I'm getting a Stage unit but only have a Samsung S22 Android and Tablet. Is it OK to update the Stage with tablet and possibly the Android?

I am finding mixed info on this topic.

Thanks!

Thanks.

In thr past I never like how profilers and modelers sound they full range systems. Never have the warmth I want and feel under fingers but I haven't tried Kemper yet. It's a big investment to only find out I may not like it. Maybe I'd love it.

I saw several bands live use the Kemper. I watched a local tribute band called Van Halen Nation and he sounded awesome. He uses the powered profiler head into real Marshall cabs. Sounds great!

I may end up gong the multi effects route as you say and maybe the four cable method so I could use the amp models too.

In the end if the person likes it, who cares if it's full range or using my cabs. I used modeling years ago and had a blast. I turned off all cab Sima and used my cans. Still got tones of variety. With a fairly neutral cab, I don't need a full range system in my opinion.

I'd still love to have the amp model options.

I did look at the little Fractal FM3 as well.

Right, for music, we do originals with covers ranging from Rush to The Police to The Cars to Duran Duran to Nirvana to Alice in Chains, STP, etc.

Anyone?

Am I the first to ever try a Kemper Stage thru a Bogner 20th anniversary head?

I'll report back I guess.

Hey guys,

I like having options so I have my Bogner Shiva 20th Anniversary head with pedals for some gigs but I'm thinking of getting a modeler like the Fractal or Helix but leaning toward the Kemper Stage as I hear the amps are the best.

As long as the effects are good, I'll be pretty happy.

My Bogner amp has a Power amp Input and the amp uses KT88 tubes.

I want to turn of can Sims and use it like a real amp with effects and rely on my own cab for the cabinet and speaker tones. I'm fine with this. I want the in the room feel and thump of my cabs. Plus I am only doing classic rock to metal. Not a massive variety here.

Any thoughts on if this would work well with the Bogner? Again it has a dedicated power amp input for feeding preamp pedals and modelers.

Looks like I'll grab the Kemper Stage unit.

Thanks!

Rich

Hey guys,

I not sure how to get started. I know a lot of questions and topics have already been discussed, but I guess I need to just jump in and ask, joint he conversation.

I very curious about the powered head and if it is on par with feel and tone as hsi g a tube power amp. Also, I'm curious about the edge ts quality. I've heard mixed reviews of early Kemper effects.

Quote from BayouTexan

I can solve that problem. A Revv will give you 1 amp and 4 tones to mic up. A Kemper will give you... 1,000+ amps and 10,000+ tones, and you will even save a few bucks for picks and strings.

Welcome to the Party!

Nice!