Do people use the Kemper Player just for the amps?

gearaddict

I just realised the Kemper Player exists and it's £485 direct from Kemper (side question - how come it's over £100 more from any UK retailer?)...still an expensive item but I have always wanted to see what all the fuss is about the feel of playing through a Kemper and this brings it more or less within reach.

I wouldn't want to necessarily try and use it for everything - my thinking was to put it in the loop of my Boss GX-100 and use it only for amps, getting the effects from the GX-100. Given that the GX-100 costs less then the Kemper Player, I'm wondering if this is madness.

Is the Kemper really that good? I'm not sure I understand the Level II, Level III upgrade thing...it adds more effects and functionality, right? I don't think I'd need any of that.

I did try using the Tonex One for this use case when they were £120 a while back but I didn't think it sounded that great - I probably didn't find the right profiles but the experience of using it made me a very unhappy person, so I didn't persevere.

newi123

I don`t think their price incudes VAT does it?

Musicwolf

newi123 said:

I don`t think their price incudes VAT does it?

Their site is somewhat obtuse.  When you add the item to your cart it comes up with a price inc taxes and free shipping but only when you get to checkout does it say that, for customers outside of the EU, there may be additional taxes and duties.  I expect that you'll be looking at another £120 (normal rule of thumb is to add 25%) if you order direct.

With regard to 'amps only'.  I used to use my Kemper Rack + Floorboard live and it handled everything, amp plus effects.  Nowadays I just use the Kemper in the studio and I have a Helix for live (Not as good as the Kemper for amps but a lot more compact, user friendly and with better switching / MIDI capabilities).  The only reason why I sometimes don't use the Kemper effects is when I want the flexibility of adding / tweaking at the mix stage.

susbemol

For me, the effects in my Kemper Stage are considerably better than anything Boss has put out in recent years.

Of course, YMMV.

gearaddict

newi123 said:

I don`t think their price incudes VAT does it?

Ah yes - when I selected a payment method it suddenly added the VAT  I suspected it was too good to be true.

gearaddict

susbemol said:

For me, the effects in my Kemper Stage are considerably better than anything Boss has put out in recent years.

Of course, YMMV.

I suspect using the Player for all effects might be a bit of a faff, certainly compared to the GX-100. If I was going down that route, I think I'd need to go full Kemper and then the cost doubles or triples - I guess I could sell the GX-100. But I use the GX-100 for whammy (admittedly just for one audioslave song!) - not sure if the Kemper does whammy.

susbemol

Yes, the Kemper does have a whammy effect as well:

Winny_Pooh

I looked at this, but how in the hell do you edit a patch and effects with no screen whatsoever. Mad.
Sticking to my gt-1000 core.

gearaddict

Winny_Pooh said:

I looked at this, but how in the hell do you edit a patch and effects with no screen whatsoever. Mad.
Sticking to my gt-1000 core.

Same as with the ToneX One I guess - remember which knobs do what, or plug in a laptop...

Jonathanthomas83

I love Kemper's effects!

Brio

Kemper effects are excellent 

gearaddict

Brio said:

Kemper effects are excellent 

Sure, I'm just not sure about a wholesale change to Kemper, costing over £1K when I've never tried one...my thinking was to dip my toe (well, at least up to the waist...or maybe just below the...sensitive areas) by trying out the amp modelling mainly, using the Player. I mean, the quality amp modelling and feel of playing is the main USP of the Kemper, right?

Jonathanthomas83

gearaddict said:

Brio said:

Kemper effects are excellent 

Sure, I'm just not sure about a wholesale change to Kemper, costing over £1K when I've never tried one...my thinking was to dip my toe (well, at least up to the waist...or maybe just below the...sensitive areas) by trying out the amp modelling mainly, using the Player. I mean, the quality amp modelling and feel of playing is the main USP of the Kemper, right?

Honestly, as things stand, for me no. I value the FX far more than the amps at this stage. (I do still have a few go to captures that I really miss, must say). But to my knowledge, Kemper doesn't lend itself very well to being an FX only unit - or so I've read. 

I've since sold mine and have googled that a few times and internet suggests it's problematic, not quite sure how that's the case.

Brio

If you want fx only get a GT1000 core. 

gearaddict

Brio said:

If you want fx only get a GT1000 core. 

Me? I already have a GX-100  I'm after the amps really.

Brio

I'd probably go Tonex then. And probably the big pedal so you can control it from the GX100.

gearaddict

Brio said:

I'd probably go Tonex then. And probably the big pedal so you can control it from the GX100.

Yeah maybe…I did try the Tonex One but it made me into an insane person. The full pedal might be better. 

Brio

I loved the Tonex in the loop of the GTK Core.

melod

gearaddict said:

Winny_Pooh said:

I looked at this, but how in the hell do you edit a patch and effects with no screen whatsoever. Mad.
Sticking to my gt-1000 core.

Same as with the ToneX One I guess - remember which knobs do what, or plug in a laptop...

I don’t have a Kemper but you scan also edit via mobile app/wifi (not Bluetooth though - Bluetooth is only for streaming audio).

in my opinion, Tonex one would be greatly boosted if they added a mobile app capability.

Brio

Presumably wired somehow...?

melod

Brio said:

Presumably wired somehow...?

In an updated/new model I guess. There’s bound to be some updates on the Tonex line at some point.