Still looking for new amp.

[Gio_Force_One]

So after some research I think I have come down to I want ease of moving equipment and enough options not to worry about buying anything else. I have come down to the axe fx or Kemper , not sure which one would be the one.any advice. the kemper seems to have a big following that absolutely love the amps there wasnt any negative reviews really.

 

[kestrou]

Gio,

I watched your prior thread closely - as I'm in exactly the same spot and down to the Axe/FX or the Kemper - and leaning towards the Axe/FX.

My concerns: Where can you even GET an Axe/FX? I understand there's a waiting list, but not sure how long it is. Also, the latest model of the Axe/FX is almost two years old - about time for a new revision?

Kevin

 

[QuietSpike]

Sure there's a waiting list for the "Axe FX 2"? If so, there is a Facebook group selling equipment and there are tons of used ones available for fairly reasonable prices.

The only thing I know is on a wait right now is the Ax8.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Gio,

I watched your prior thread closely - as I'm in exactly the same spot and down to the Axe/FX or the Kemper - and leaning towards the Axe/FX.

My concerns: Where can you even GET an Axe/FX? I understand there's a waiting list, but not sure how long it is. Also, the latest model of the Axe/FX is almost two years old - about time for a new revision?

Kevin

thye always seemed to be sold out everytime time i look at their site.I opened up for a band that used the kemper amps and they sounded great . the cool thing they did was everything was programed to there songs and the amps switched on there own. they really tried to sell me on the amps that night. pretty good band and really cool guys check them out they were called Seasons after.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Sure there's a waiting list for the "Axe FX 2"? If so, there is a Facebook group selling equipment and there are tons of used ones available for fairly reasonable prices.

The only thing I know is on a wait right now is the Ax8.

everything says out of stock on the site right now

 

[kestrou]

Sure there's a waiting list for the "Axe FX 2"? If so, there is a Facebook group selling equipment and there are tons of used ones available for fairly reasonable prices.

The only thing I know is on a wait right now is the Ax8.

I saw an Axe/FX II XL+ (the latest model, which has been out for about 18 months) on Reverb.com - price was the same as buying one from a distributor (if they had any to sell).

I'm not that picky that I have to be guy that breaks the tape on the box, but expect a discount at least if I'm not!

Kevin

 

[mikeller]

The other guitarist in my band uses a Kemper and loves it.

As I understand (and someone please correct me if I am wrong)- one big difference is the AxeFX has more effects and is a modeler, whereas the Kemper is a guitar amp profiler with great effects available to incorporate in the amp profiles.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

The other guitarist in my band uses a Kemper and loves it.

As I understand (and someone please correct me if I am wrong)- one big difference is the AxeFX has more effects and is a modeler, whereas the Kemper is a guitar amp profiler with great effects available to incorporate in the amp profiles.

thats exactly how I understand it too

 

[ksandvik]

You need profiles for Kemper -- many provided. You have amp models in Axe and much more, effects, routing options, cab IRs...

I would go with an Axe myself.

 

[mtrejo]

If it was for me…I'd go AxeFX because I don't mind spending the time tweaking all the settings and find it quite enjoyable.
For you…I think the Kemper is more suited to your needs. I asked my friend about it last night and he said you'd more than likely love it.

 

[Sigvard90]

Why aren't you considering a real amp thats portable? Any other reasons for the Kemper & AxeFx besides enough options/portability?

The Kemper does sound great in live and studio applications.

 

[Warg Master]

I'm in the Axe camp, myself. That being said..

Why aren't you considering a real amp thats portable? Any other reasons for the Kemper & AxeFx besides enough options/portability?

This. Why not a mini or smaller head of some sort? Just about all the amp manufactureres have a mini with decent wattages now-a-days.

 

[Gio_Force_One]

I'm in the Axe camp, myself. That being said..



This. Why not a mini or smaller head of some sort? Just about all the amp manufactureres have a mini with decent wattages now-a-days.

prob the best idea I guess I could get eh mini jubilee or something like that.

I guess also I wanted more options that were easier to switch , apparently I lost out on a band because the other guy had a line 6 pod 500 and he had all the tones on presets for the songs. I just showed up with an amp wah and overdrive.

 

[pajsh]

All depends on what you're covering. If it's classic rock all night you maybe don't have to have so many options.

Reason I went down the synth route (originally with GR-20/GT-8 but then GR-55) is that I could add so much more to the band than just a regular guitarist can. Partly as I'm never going to be EVH I had to find another way to stand out of the crowd.

When you lay down the swell and staccato strings for "Livin on a Prayer", synths in "Comfortably Numb" or a sax solo on "Echo Beach" people take a bit more notice. But I can still programme in a Superstrat through a 5150 and a phaser to cover Eddie's solo on "You Really Got Me" or LP with a Marshall for some Led Zep riffage. Or even an open tuned Strat through a Fender with the bottom E string muted for some good old Keef Richards.

 

[Dr. Rock]

I agree it is way more fun to have all the fancy equipment! That said, in many live settings I'm not sure if most people in the audience would discern the difference in amps/pedals vs. digital processors. There's a few YouTube videos for the Blackstar ID series amps (one with Humphries, and another one is good too) where they use the ID and a MM GameChanger and get pretty close to the full range of desired tones with just a few button pushes (and an inexpensive modeling amp). I was surprised to hear a few years back that Lincoln Brewster almost exclusively runs through Line6 modeling stuff, and saw in a rig rundown that Steve Howe was starting to replace his rig with Line6 modeling too. Maybe it is true that tone is all in the hands...

 

[Gio_Force_One]

Yea it seems like tone is in the hands and its so true most people in a club or whatever aren't going to notice if it's real tube amp or a line 6 processor. The line6 pod 500x doesn't look to bad at all seems easy enough to program.

 

[ksandvik]

I think the audience won't notice sound-wise but there's something magical about a good tube amp and a good guitar that makes it fun playing, kind of the feedback interaction between the strings and the tubes. Fractals could re-capture this, never had luck doing that with Line 6 products so far but that's just me.

 

[mikeller]

Yeah - my preference is a good tube amp as well. Plenty of smaller / lighter weight heads and cabinet choices. I have no experience with Line6 stuff, I hear the Helix is quite good, but its also not inexpensive. I have a Boss GT-100 and, for the life of me, I can't get a great sound out of it. I have heard some players that do. At this stage, I go for what works best for me and modeling stuff isn't it.

 

[wolfdogg]

I used the Roland GR-55 for one show. It's got some nice modeling but as said above, I really missed the feedback of a nice tube amp. Immediately ditched it. Love the modeling stuff for recording but nothing beats tube (for me) on stage. EB guitars and PRS Archon = match made in Heaven. I love the combos.. easier to haul in and out of gigs and I can turn them up louder for more squash saturation. I also like going wireless (couldn't do that on the Roland as it was midi. Assume they're all that way?).

 

[Dr. Rock]

When I'm rocking stadiums, I use 8 full stacks w/ 200w tube heads and my road crew handles the lifting. Oh, wait, that never happens.

Seems we all agree the audience can't discern digital vs. tube as much as the player can. Currently, I'll wheel around my Mesa 5:50 Express 2x12 for anything significant. However, with work and small kids now dominating my time, I mostly play weekly services at my messianic synagogue, where I keep a Tubemeister 5 combo on stage and can run it direct to PA. The latter setup is super easy to transport and sounds pretty good, though admittedly it is not as "rock star" satisfying as cranking the Mesa.