Kemper - what's the point?

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

**** the audience. Most folks in the audience can't tell the difference between the guitar and bass. I think we can aim a little higher than that.

Couldn’t agree more. The average person wouldn’t know good music/musicianship if it slapped them across the face.
I tone chase first and foremost for ME.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

**** the audience. Most folks in the audience can't tell the difference between the guitar and bass. I think we can aim a little higher than that.

I can take it further than that. In the 80’s I was in a TRIO. We played for 4 hours at a college gig. When I got off stage I commented to a chick how tiring the last set was. She said, “You were in the band??”

 

[Gtrjunior]

Kemper - what's the point?

I can take it further than that. In the 80’s I was in a TRIO. We played for 4 hours at a college gig. When I got off stage I commented to a chick how tiring the last set was. She said, “You were in the band??”

There ya go....

Plus more proof that just because somebody goes to college doesn’t mean they aren’t a dumbass.

https://youtu.be/ZS1J3VrxnM0

 

[Mincer]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

This is what interests me, plugging straight in. Sure, I dig the pants flapping stuff, but it seems that I'm only doing that to a very limited extent these days, say, the occasional party or sleazy bar. Hardly ever, actually.

I was thinking of picking up a Tech 21 Fly Rig, the "5" model (the other two are sig models). Very portable. Straight to PA. It doesn't have near the capability of what you guys are talking about, but it's portable, and I have simple tone needs anyway. If it sucks, I send it back. We'll see.

I should add that most folks in the audience can't tell the differences regarding different gear we may play is a motivating factor. As long as it then at least decent to me is all I need.

The FlyRig5 is a solid choice. Check out the Atomic Ampli-firebox pedal, too, especially if you want a few presets and a little more control. It is smaller than the FlyRig.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

But a Fly rig is miles aways from all of the tones available to a Kemper User....not even the same ballpark as a Sansamp with US/Brit and clean/classic/modern settings....

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Fly rig=$300
Kemper=$2500

 

[justFred]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Avg actual selling price for Kemper on Reverb ~$1,400...Fractal ~$1,100...looking around it looks to me like those prices equate to about 1.5 good tube amps...
If your current rig does all but a pedal or pickup’s worth of what you want then they don’t make sense...However,...

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Avg actual selling price for Kemper on Reverb ~$1,400...Fractal ~$1,100...looking around it looks to me like those prices equate to about 1.5 good tube amps...
If your current rig does all but a pedal or pickup’s worth of what you want then they don’t make sense...However,...

The prices I posted were from Sweetwater, so new pricing.
I would imagine that they are what you posted on the used market.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Fly rig=$300
Kemper=$2500

I’d end up paying $1k-$2k for the Kemper and then only be able to use $200 worth of amp models in it. Buying something that’s already closer to my target sound for less is more of a deal to me. Not knocking Kemper, just saying cost vs value to me doesn’t balance.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

I’d end up paying $1k-$2k for the Kemper and then only be able to use $200 worth of amp models in it. Buying something that’s already closer to my target sound for less is more of a deal to me. Not knocking Kemper, just saying cost vs value to me doesn’t balance.

Yeah, I hear you.
The “thing” that a kemper does is sure enticing but I really only use a small handful of tones too.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

I use a Fractal AX8, and while I love a lot of the amps in there, I could get by with their excellent Twin and TS model. That is what I gravitate in live playing, although I use of other models for recording.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Fly rig=$300
Kemper=$2500

One distortion sound vs 100 modeled amps.
Programmable vs not.
We can go on.

Again...not in the same ballpark. Not even the same game.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Ande, so, no one has asked this: How well does a Kemper take pedals?

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Ande, so, no one has asked this: How well does a Kemper take pedals?

How long is a piece of string?


Seriously, does any amp not take pedals well? Like if you can get a remotely clean tone you'll find some sort of modulation that sounds good. Delay/tremolo/reverb sound good with any amp with an effects loop. Boosts, treble boosters, ODs, Fuzz, and distortion pedals . . . something will work on any amp.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

One distortion sound vs 100 modeled amps.
Programmable vs not.
We can go on.

Again...not in the same ballpark. Not even the same game.

I’m not disagreeing just saying that for the budget conscious player that only needs a handful of tones the Kemper, at its price point doesn’t make sense. Just as for the player that needs lots of tones the fly rig doesn’t make sense.
But I would guess that somebody that “needs” ( emphasize needs) the kemper, they are likely recording/playing at a level that may necessitate it. Of course that’s a generalization but you get what I’m saying.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

How long is a piece of string?


Seriously, does any amp not take pedals well? Like if you can get a remotely clean tone you'll find some sort of modulation that sounds good. Delay/tremolo/reverb sound good with any amp with an effects loop. Boosts, treble boosters, ODs, Fuzz, and distortion pedals . . . something will work on any amp.

while i think to your point -"amps taking pedals well" is a completely abused marketing strategy at this point -there are are some amps that actually don't -but they are mostly a few 50s and 60's amps that have little headroom for anything much over unity gain from a humbucker or a buffer circuit.

so I think we are 40 or 50 years past most concern for this, most amps have had ample headroom since the late 60s

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

I just saw this in the memes thread in the sound room and could’t resist.

View attachment 98083

 

[Sirion]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

Ande, so, no one has asked this: How well does a Kemper take pedals?

This is actually one of my pet peeves with regards to the pedal crowd. You always hear people raving about how their pedalboard/pedal collection/whatever couldn't possibly be replaced by a digital unit, yet it looks like the memo is lost entirely to the Kemper/Fractal/Helix users out there.

How long is a piece of string?


Seriously, does any amp not take pedals well? Like if you can get a remotely clean tone you'll find some sort of modulation that sounds good. Delay/tremolo/reverb sound good with any amp with an effects loop. Boosts, treble boosters, ODs, Fuzz, and distortion pedals . . . something will work on any amp.

Marshalls are generally regarded as not working well with pedals. Whether this has to do with breakup character, poor loop design or cork sniffing I'll leave to people with actual pedal boards to decide.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

I just saw this in the memes thread in the sound room and could’t resist.

That Meme is EXACTLY part of the reason for this thread...

 

[justFred]

Re: Kemper - what's the point?

So your cell phone probably looks something like this???



Or do you have a tube phone???