Separate Preamp and Poweramp setup - Talk me out of it

[Bogner]

I think my only issue with Kemper is the form factor -it's a little large -but hey when you pack so much magic into one place.

I still havent gotten really inside one yet, I've used Kemper, Helix and Fractal in the studio, but the Kemper expert in the room was drivin' the knobs every time.

Rumors are rumors but there is talk of a smaller unit - Said to be similar to the HX Stomp size wise. The toaster unit isn't big and the rack unit is the rack unit. You love your low wattage Mesa, I bet it is bigger and heavier. Either way, you know you like it.

 

[NegativeEase]

Rumors are rumors but there is talk of a smaller unit - Said to be similar to the HX Stomp size wise. The toaster unit isn't big and the rack unit is the rack unit. You love your low wattage Mesa, I bet it is bigger and heavier. Either way, you know you like it.

This is true, I do haul a 35W Mesa from gig to gig, it did get me out of the 100W Marshall, 80W Twin business.... baby steps!

 

[jclogston]

Coming to a guitar forum and asking to be talked out of buying gear = major fail.

On a side note, my AMT SS-11 or SS-20 through a Neunaber Iconoclast works well, if I need a cab I have an ISP Stealth power amp. The Duncan Powerstage 200 has XLR outs and built in cab sim.

How do you like the ss20? I was thinking of it with my amt tube cake into a 1x12" celestion lynchback for home use.
hows the clean and distortion? Clean channel take pedals well?

Thanks
Jeff

 

[Bogner]

This is true, I do haul a 35W Mesa from gig to gig, it did get me out of the 100W Marshall, 80W Twin business.... baby steps!

I get it...I fought the Kemper RUTHLESSLY and RELENTLESSLY for a decade. In an isolated situation, I still love my tube amps and will never part with them. I also see the Kemper (and similar) for what each unit is and does and have learned to appreciate them for what they do. More is always better (at least I think so)...lol.

 

[devastone]

How do you like the ss20? I was thinking of it with my amt tube cake into a 1x12" celestion lynchback for home use.
hows the clean and distortion? Clean channel take pedals well?

Thanks
Jeff

I picked it and a SS-11a up at about the same time. The AMT stuff is great, I've used it before and have gotten other people into using it on here. I've been doing the modeling thing (Boss GT-1000) and building a pedalboard around the AMT and an Iconoclast for direct and an ISP Stealth power amp for running a cabinet.

I really like the AMT stuff, I go back and forth on the SS-20 and SS-11 I have the "a" version which is the more vintage version than the "b" version which is the more metal version on the 3rd channel, the clean and crunch channels are the same on the 11s. FWIW, "vintage" is more SLO, not Plexi.

The differences between the 20 and the 11 are the clean channel on the 11 is darker, the 20 is brighter and maybe cleaner, a more modern clean I guess. The crunch on the 11 is great and there is a 3 position gain switch (it may be a mid shape but seems to affect the gain) which lets you go from a cleaner/clearer crunch (maybe Fender-ish) to a Engl-ish style crunch, not sure how to describe it more. The lead channel has plenty of gain, not sure what to compare it to exactly, I haven't played an Engl in person, but it's kind of what I would imagine one to sound like. I have a 5751 tube in it now, which is basically a lower gain, clearer 12aX7 (gain of 70 vs 100) and it sounds good, it sounds good with a 12AX7 in it too, just depends on how much gain you want. Yeah, for home use into a Tubecake they are pretty awesome.

FWIW, I'm probably going to sell the SS-20 and I got it for a good deal, so I'm passing that on, if you are really thinking about trying one PM me and maybe we can work something out.

 

[IMENATOR]

For anyone interested in AMT products, you better get yours soon, they are made in Russia so I am afraid they will become very hard to get.