Been looking around at a new amp upgrade and I’m starting to get puzzled. Been looking at a Friedman PT20 originally and from what I have heard it sounds great but for the price it got me thinking, is it really worth that much for essentially one sound. Then I started thinking about Kempers again.
Wondering if Kemper owners/users could give me the pro’s and cons? I’m not going to lie I am a bit purist and I think thats why I’m not completely satisfied with the idea of a kemper but for the reliabilty, variety of tones, size/weight it seems like the end goal for amps. Convince me to get one or not, want to hear what people who have owned one have to say.
I’d be looking at the rack version I think, it’s a more convenient size. Does that come powered and non-powered as well? I’d probably want to play it mainly via a cab.
I’m not currently gigging and mostly play at home. I can’t play too loud at home because of housemates (another reason for a kemper). I have a bedroom studio with monitors, an interface etc
Hope the backgroud info helps. Thanks!
Comments
But for things like headphone practice, direct in recording, great units!
Im considering a kemper too because im currently debating how I want my EP to be handled, was considering a studio near me. Whilst they know what they are doing, i could buy a kemper for the price of recording 5 songs with them with the mixing, mastering and whole shebang
Personally, mine is the best guitar related purchase I’ve made
The rack can be had powered too.
But the big pull of mine is that I would binge on John Mayer one day, then Slash the next, then Muse, then Jimmy Eat World etc.. etc... Pedals couldn't keep up. Now I've got the Kemper I can play so many more styles with suited amps.
Sound wise I can't tell it apart, but!! It doesn't sound like your amp in a room to me, it sounds like your amp in a tracking room being played back loudly (although I haven't used it through a cab, so that is probably why.) Ignore tone critics on YouTube, audio is so shitty and people still insist on feeling pure about tone.
I don't have the remote yet, but would if funds allowed/one came up. But it sits racked on my desk so it is hand enough for recording.
Any more questions ask away
Edit: Also, I have kids so coulnd't play loud at home, it was another big selling factor for me
That being said it can sound great with a traditional cab too if you find some decent direct profiles.
Also I recently made a direct profile of a Mesa Roadster and it was amazingly close through the same cabinet.
Having had mine for a few years now I would not give it up, it get's 90% use for home studio and its brilliant for that. The few times its been out everyone has commented on how good it sounds.
My current sort of argument with it is, as a lot of Kemer users do, you tend to switch around a lot because you can. But I find it sort of drives me to play more like my amp heroes. If I dial in the Soldano and a few bits and pieces out come the Gary Moore licks same with the Dumble I sort of default to those singing Larry Carlton sounds. MK1 Boogie oh lets knock out Santana. The thing is it will do all those classic tones in spades and it probably shows my lack of imagination or actually having the ability for once in my life to have really good examples of those tones. I have the Petrucci boogie patches for rock and harder stuff (not like I can play anything like Petrucci but its that vibe.
Where as I have been using the Katana indoors a lot recently and without any fiddling, I just use the clean/crunch and brown and tend to be more myself playing what I feel and what works with the amp rather than what has become Kemper Multi personality disorder.
It may be just me and a faze I am going through.
All that said I would not be without
Drawbacks are, no USB interface, I think a basic 2in 2out interface should be built in and is an unusual omission. No USB-MIDI support, and the lack of a PC based editor. Having an editor would save wear and tear on the controls and make studio use a bit less of a pain in the arse.