I think this thing sounds pretty great, but there's a few things about it I don't love. This a pros and cons review and tone sampler video. I hope you find it helpful. Check out the Kemper below if you want to price it up in your part of the world. 🛒 Sweetwater - sweetwater.sjv.io/NkLr1v 🛒 Thomann - bit.ly/4bwPjgA 🛒 Fender - bit.ly/3fZiRMF 🛒 Sky Music - alnk.to/aANz6KV Affiliate Links.
i love my kemper and have recorded a fair few albums with it. from metal really soft clean stuff. i’d still rather have a real fender deville orange ac30 marshall and something heavy. but i can’t afford those things. i can’t record them as nicely and i certainly can’t take all those on stage = Kemper. knopfler having one on stage ended the argument for me.
Having owned the head version as well as helix and fractal fm and ax fx3… I’d say Kemper really shines if you just like to play presets. There are plenty of fantastic sounds there. Imo it’s a better alternative to helix and fractal if you don’t like fiddling. I personally like the tones better than on my Tonex too. That said… for me the fun of the unit has always been in profiling your own amps. I sold my head… but do regret that.
I must say, as a 61 year old technosaur, I find the Rig Manager very easy to use. Unlike the Fractal unit that I sent back. Furthermore, there are a fair number of pro profiles, made by top profile makers, and are easy to access on rig manager, as they have separate folders. I use the Kemper head/toaster. If the Player had been available 8 years ago, it would have been my first choice. Couple it with a tablet and you have a nice large screen on stage.
what a bad sound I don't know why the success my tube preamp pedals sound so much better with a naturel and dynamic sound full of harmonics and great clean tone vs this boring dark sound (like all the digital units)
But if you were a guy with a youtube channel, could you review pedals and trust that the Kemper wasn't screwing it up? Given that the Player Profiler only has 2 FX (pre-amp, plus 2 post-amp), pedals really are an issue.
I agree it’s a needlessly confusing and non user friendly user interface on all the tempers. It’s definitely made for the folks who already own and are use other kemper models.
You just need to get up to speed on how to adjust it. It’s ridiculously high quality sounds for a live show. I can’t get over how good this damn thing is. I have the stage profiler.
I have been using Helix Floor for 2 years. It replaced a SLO-30 and a Friedman Twin Sister. Couldn't be Happier. What I like about the Line 6 Helix gear is it is very easy to manage and use. There is an initial learning period. I found it easier to use than my Headrush. Kemper looks great too.
@@bobdillon1138 Not a realistic possibility for the next several decades. Tube amps are still being made in mass meaning the need to support repairs in the future are still very relevant. And as far as the environmental aspect you mention that's another fake news story. Plus the amount of solid state amps and computer that are piling up in landfills way outnumber tube amps. Finally...tube amps provide a better warmer and natural distortion tone than any profile amp can duplicate...
Obviously there so many situations where this unit can be a great solution for guitarist , but for me I pass. Kempers are amazing and this unit continues to be a great addition to the collection, however I see it more of a semi professional piece of gear than the casual “bedroom guitarist “. Great tones Shane!😎🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
@@johnsmith-ug5tp Funny thing I have a Fender Tone Master Pro with a ton of amps at my disposal and I still use the 65 Deluxe Reverb preset as my base sound to build off of all my rigs. It's a great amp in real life and virtually.
I’ve had the Player now for about three months. I love the fact I can use my iPad to manage the unit. I don’t find the iPad Rig Manager hard to use at all. I found it very intuitive. It’s my first Kemper unit and this thing gives me that amp-in-the-room sound. It won’t replace my main rig (Quad Cortex) but it’s really fun to play guitar with. Why they didn’t use USB-C is a real mystery and a shame.
‘Not everyone wants to use their phone for everything’. I feel that! I cannot stand using my phone for anything playing music related apps and so forth. Constantly distracted by….the phone going off… Although its the way modern kit is going and before the year is out ill probably buy a tablet that isnt connected to anything other then those types of apps. 1 tool, 1 job mentality lol
I love my Kemper Player!! Get some M. Britt profiles and enjoy. It‘s way overprized nevertheless. Looking back i think getting a Stage for 200 bucks more on the Used market , would have been the better option.
The AXE-FX III software blows away the Kemper Rig Manager. The Kemper just doesn't have a good visual display. I have watched many YT vids of the AX and the new Little Square box that is $1699 USD ( forgot name) The AX is just so intimidating. Love your videos 🙂
I’m strongly considering buying one, but I have one critical need that I need to understand before buying: TRANSPOSING. The Kemper info seems to hint at this possibility, but looking at the manual without the unit to use, it’s unclear the extent of the transposing functionality- and how easy it would be to use at a gig or even band practice. I asked Kemper about 6 days ago, as if this writing, and haven’t gotten a response yet.
It’s a great compact unit and the software isn’t really a problem. Worst thing about it is that you can’t switch on the tuner and mute it. You can select a channel and mute it but you can’t activate the large tuner only the small 3 led one. I contacted Kemper and they said there would be an update soon. There’s no way of assigning a patch using 2 foot switches combined, so that would be a solution. It’s worth the money nonetheless. I love the iridium too but it’s for a whole pedal board system. This is the best sounding amp sim around especially if you need clean sounds. A lot of these units have awful clean sound
Great review! For the comment at the end about the "missing" cable. Well that is pretty common for a lot of brands, especially (cause it just comes into my mind) UA Apollo Interfaces with no TB Cable for a $ 2.000 (or more) unit. I had nearly all of those modelers including QC, Helix, Kemper Rack Mount, Kemper Stage - which I still own - and some other stuff and except the Headrush and the Fender Tone Master Plus the GUI is not really user friendly. But when you have your sounds set for the Kemper Player, you are really ready to go and for a lot of people - including me, who is recording at home or plays only small gigs for the family - the possibilities of this unit are more then sufficient. Just my 2 cents ;)
Definitely a fantastic tool for recording. But nothing beats tone, feel and dynamics of a Les Paul straight into a Marshall (or a Peavey Classic 50 if Shane is playing it)
I’ve been very happy with mine. I get by with the limited effects I run a my pedal board into it and then use the kemper for delay and reverb. I don’t Intend to use it live, I’m finding it great for practicing, teaching and recording. It’s easier than running my JVM all day.
Kemper is nice! Guitar processors can make a big difference in sound depending on the CAB IR you use. actually there are many IR products on the market, but I think DYNAX IR has the best sound. As stated in their product description, DYNAX IR is really fast. When using IRs, the pick attack is sometimes delayed, and it is difficult to add picking nuances, but their IR prevents all of that. It's revolutionary!
Can you please guide me in what to get. (Names of the exact things I need) I’ve always just used a regular amp and guitar…. All these names are confusing me but I see all these new “gadgets” modelers. And effects things and cabinet and processes and ir whatever that is lol I just don’t know the differences between all these and what exactly I’d need to get for a really good sound? Thanks so so much!!
I’ve been struggling with the idea of using some digital modeling VS live amps and pedals. As a band, we’ve been talking about going direct and skip lugging amps. But this would only go direct, not power a cab.
great to stellar sounds...is limiting in FX - selection (compared to the big unit), plus only 2 in front and 2 after, and can't profile...but for me that works and with a M Britt profile pack - just killer tones - both into a PA and a power amp-guitar cab... edited to add - this is my first go-around with Kemper and I found the whole download/Rig Manager process to be pretty simple and intuitive via a laptop and iPad. I also added a 2-button foot switch for more flexibility. Once setup and dialed in, I only occasionally need to use the iPad even...it's very much like running a 'real' amp(s), but more consistent...
Really helpful review, thanks Shane ! In my experience the Kemper clean profiles tend to sound a bit plastic at times but hey, you got 20k of profiles out there, maybe what I used was dated 🤷 (Hey mr @intheblues what happened to those Bardens on your '52 ??)
So what's the over/under on how long before modeling pickups? It'll do 300 variations of Gibson PAFs, Fender Single coil, every oddball gold foil, lipstick, etc. I put it at five years.
@@davidkornblatt851why you say that? Why wouldn’t people want to get the best tones live? I’ll never understand this settling attitude modern guitarists have. We all know tube amps feel better to play and arguably sound better. Modern technology sounds a lot better than it used to and I’ve been a big proponent of making it as good as possible because it’s easier to get and more affordable, buuuuut we all know what the best is so why do we settle? Yeah it’s a little loud and can be cranky sometimes like our grandparents who invented it 😂😂😂 but it really is the best way to go and we should tell venues to stfu. Every other business on earth wants employees to use the best equipment that can be afforded but musicians naw f that just plug a pedal into the pa so we can control it. F that
@@davidkornblatt851 yes, the other thing is a lot of 'all tube ' amps-especially at the lower price point, are actually a hybrid of tube & solid state . Genuine All tube amps are quite costly, & not everyone can pay those prices..but there is still a market for some of those
I’m so confused with all these things coming out. I don’t know what I need to get lol is there a difference between a modler and an effects pedal? Lol it may be a crazy question, I just want to make sure I get the right things like do I need a cabinet too? Can someone please guide me? I always just used a guitar and amp but I want better/more sounds.
There are levels of audio signals - mic level, instrument level (e.g. guitar), line level (e.g. speakers). Signal from guitar pickups need to raised to line level before you can play it, using an amplifier/amp. These modelers replace amps with models of those amps capturing their characteristic analog sounds, in a digital/solid state world. You can switch from one amp to another with flick of a button. They can simulate effect you get from a real cab too, thus allowing you to connect directly to your desktop monitors and sound like a cab. Effect pedals just manipulate instrument or line level signals, they don't amplify them. You can use them with modelers.
@@timetraveler_0 wow!! Thank you so so much for all that!! So what would you recommend I get to start, if I wanted to mostly Jam by myself and sometimes with a friend? What would you buy if you were starting out?
@@mce3210 I would just get a Tonex pedal or Tonex one or this Kemper Player in place of an amp, add a few effect pedals and call it a day. Assuming you got speaker at home, this setup can directly connect to them (and headphones). Can be connected to your PC for recording too. If you got no speakers and you don't want to use headphones, you will need a cab too. If rig needs to be mobile - On a gig, the setup I mentioned with required cables is enough. If playing from your friends place and they don't have speakers/cab to plug into, then you need a cab too. Would probably get an ABY pedal too, so my friend can plug in to my setup simultaneously. Note: Turn ON 'Cab simulation' on tonex if connecting to desktop monitors/home speakers/headphones, turn it off when connecting to a real 4x12 cab or something. Edit: If you want a no frills one amp in a pedal box plug-and-play solution, UA fx pedals like Dream and Woodrow are good too, in place of an amp modeler.
@@guitartoneSA Nope, since line 6 is taking putting the effort to include one in all their units why should I pay extra money for stuff that should already be there. same story with the Boss GT1000Core, no on/off. Deal breakers.
Can you use this live Shane with regular guitat cabs Shane ? have you done a review of the Hughes and Kettner Black Spirit 200 floor amp ? i must say its good please let me know
