I gots me a Kemper today. First impressions.

[Kevin Shiflett]

Let me say first that I am a tube amp guy. I have not cared for the modeling gear i have tried in the past.

#1 Its easy to use. I am not a tweaker. Works just like a real amp, knobs of the front I can turn.

#2 I didn't care for the presets that it came with, most were pretty bad sounding imo. I was getting bummed out when I went to The Amp Factory. Happens they had the Redplate Blues machine for free.

My amp is a Tweedy Drive which is very close to the blues machine.

YES! The profiles sounds just like how I run my amp. It sounds and even feels like my own amp when I play live and its miked up. Actually better than most of the time, half the time I can't manage to get a good miked sound as we get like 5 min to sound check if even that.

I gotta say I'm impressed. This thing is gonna make recording a breeze.

 

[Rod]

Hi Kevin..congrats... I was an avid tube amp player my whole life....till I got my Kemper last year.....use it for recordings (f...n amazing!) Live, and for teaching guitar .... I don't care for the stock profiles either. Love the Amp Factory profiles of Redplate, goldfinger, Freidman and the Trainwreck.....have fun...

 

[Clifford-D]

Let me say first that I am a tube amp guy. I have not cared for the modeling gear i have tried in the past.

#1 Its easy to use. I am not a tweaker. Works just like a real amp, knobs of the front I can turn.

#2 I didn't care for the presets that it came with, most were pretty bad sounding imo. I was getting bummed out when I went to The Amp Factory. Happens they had the Redplate Blues machine for free.

My amp is a Tweedy Drive which is very close to the blues machine.

YES! The profiles sounds just like how I run my amp. It sounds and even feels like my own amp when I play live and its miked up. Actually better than most of the time, half the time I can't manage to get a good miked sound as we get like 5 min to sound check if even that.

I gotta say I'm impressed. This thing is gonna make recording a breeze.

Cool, good for you!!

I am supposed to finally receive mine tomorrow.

I'm simple, I most likely will not play a whole lot of profiled amps when playing live, having a "voice" is important so I will find that (my) voice in a handful of amps, Two Rock, Tone King, Trainwreck, Fender, and a few more,,, that will be my focus.

Now what I do with those amps, that's what's going to fill the thing up, or at least a little corner of it. For starters.

And in recording I plan to use any and everything, I plan to create /record wild sonic sculptures.

 

[Der JD]

I'd say about 75% of the factory profiles didn't do much for me either. I've come across A LOT of amazing commercial profiles and I've even found some amazing profiles on the Kemper rig exchange. Just about all of The Amp Factory profiles I've tried have been really good.

 

[nicolasrivera]

I'd say about 75% of the factory profiles didn't do much for me either. I've come across A LOT of amazing commercial profiles and I've even found some amazing profiles on the Kemper rig exchange. Just about all of The Amp Factory profiles I've tried have been really good.

The Amp Factory samples , most of them, sound absolute fantastic!. If i ever get around buying the Kemper i will need to set aside a bit more cash to buy some AF Bundles.

 

[db9091]

Same story.

The Amp Factory is well known to be the top dog. I've also gotten some very good ones from SoundSide, but for me it's hit or miss. Great ones, and then so-so ones. But the great ones are quality (Deluxe 52 begin an example)

Most others I haven't been really wowed by in the same way. There are some really good Free Exchange ones, but for me it's a short list. Some of the Kemper Rig Packs on the Support tab are really great: Lasse, Ola, and Grundy are my top dogs. And free!

 

[MacOSatch]

Same story, after (almost two years) experience with the most expensive modeler, thought that it will be not possible to replace my tube amps. Had very good experience with Torpedo. Than decided to try the Kemper.

Two months later I "migrated" completely to Kemper Powerhead!
For gigs, rehearsal and recording.
I love how it sounds and feels with the guitar cab.
I can not say I like all the profiles, but I could find the good profiles (for me) very soon (in the first 5 minutes). Today I am using some standard profiles, some bought from The Amp Factory and Till Schleicher.

I do not like the "overwhelming" posts, but I must say that I am really amazed with the Kemper.

 

[Glowing Tubes]

Same story here. (hey, just look at my name). Love tube amps and still have a couple.
Every once in a while I get the itch to plug in and hear my tube amps. My pure 64 amp does have something the Kemper can not reproduce but the Kemper (through my CLR) has a wonderful full spectrum of sound that is inspiring on its own level. It's great live and a blast to play. it sounds so freaken HUGE. It's my main amp. Can't wait to record with it.

 

[stratzrus]

Congrats and enjoy!

 

[stratotone]

Welcome to the club!

 

[Gary_]

Another vote for amp factory profiles here. There are very few that *don't* put a smile on your face. Almost all fabulous.

I bought my Kemper from a UK shop where they were doing a 50% off bundle for amp factory rigs so I got a large batch of them. I've bought a few more since.

I am probably missing out on some great stock profiles as there will be some in there but, honestly, how many core sounds do you need??

The only thing I have not liked is the lack of a librarian program and (thankfully) that's now coming. This should make it a lot easier to navigate the (thousands!!) of profiles out there and to find the pearls.

 

[JackJordan]

Forgive my ignorance, but when you buy the Kemper do you have to purchase profiles as well?

I understand that it comes with some stock, but do you have to pay for others?

 

[Willowdale]

Forgive my ignorance, but when you buy the Kemper do you have to purchase profiles as well?

I understand that it comes with some stock, but do you have to pay for others?

You don't have to, there are lots of free profiles, but the vast majority of Kemper users get the best results from 'The Amp Factory' profiles which you do indeed have to pay for.

You can do what I did & just buy a used Kemper from someone that has already loaded up the unit with tons of amp factory/soundside paid profiles. You can save lots of $ this way & have your KPA truly 'ready to go' when you get it.

 

[db9091]

The Amp Factory has dozens of free profiles, so you can start with those and see what your tastes are.

I found like 5 stock, 20 from the Free exchange, and about 20 from the free rig packs Kemper gives that are cream of the crop.

So you can easily get great profiles for free. And more to come as people are gaining experience and profiles become better quality.

The only point of commercial beyond good ears for setting them up (amp placement, eq) is that they may have the amps you love. Like the 50th anniversary Bluesbreaker amp.

 

[boanerges]

Forgive my ignorance, but when you buy the Kemper do you have to purchase profiles as well?

I understand that it comes with some stock, but do you have to pay for others?

No, you don't, you can make your own. My best profiles are from amps I know and have set up the way I like, usually by using a single SM57, finding the sweet spot.

 

[db9091]

I profiled a $100 Roland Micro Cube last week and a used $500 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe today.

They're now yours for $0.00

Enjoy!

 

[KJR123]

I profiled a $100 Roland Micro Cube last week and a used $500 Fender Hot Rod Deluxe today.

They're now yours for $0.00

Enjoy!

Thanks for the Roland Micro Cube!!!!! I got tired of lugging that huge amp to gigs. Now I can just bring my Kemper and CLR.

 

[db9091]

Thanks for the Roland Micro Cube!!!!! I got tired of lugging that huge amp to gigs. Now I can just bring my Kemper and CLR.

No, it's so you are less embarrassed with your 10" amp and can look cool with with the KPA!

Seriously though, I profiled it as a joke, but it actually has some cool tones for what it is.

 

[JackJordan]

How expensive is it to buy a profile?

 

[dyer_maker]

How expensive is it to buy a profile?

Varies, generally you're getting several profiles together comprised of the amp or amps in various configurations (Different cabs, pedals, gain settings, etc.) $10 is the low end. Some of the bundles can run upwards of $100. There are a ton of free profiles however, thousands maybe.

If you're lucky, a used Kemper will pop up that has commercial profiles bought and paid for. No need for additional investment.