Members Grant Harding Posted July 12, 2017 Members Share Posted July 12, 2017 So what modelling amps are you guys using on stage and why? Hardly see any well known bands using actual tube amps these days. I can't imagine going back there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Axisplayer Posted July 13, 2017 Members Share Posted July 13, 2017 None, if it doesn't have tubes I am not generally a consumer. Not a cork sniffer, just like tubes better. I have one SS amp that was meant to be a cheap, expendable, practice only amp. All my other amps are tube based. What well known bands are you seeing that use only modelers? Certainly not the bands I generally listen to, so maybe it is a generational thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 13, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 13, 2017 I think they've become a lot more common than you think, even for the most die-hard tone freaks. This didn't used to be the case even a few years ago because they weren't "there" yet, but all of the 3 brands in the title sound and feel like tube amps. Here's an example of who uses them: http://www.fractalaudio.com/artists.php https://www.kemper-amps.com/hall-of-fame Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeepEnd Posted July 13, 2017 Members Share Posted July 13, 2017 I'm mainly an acoustic guy so take this for what it's worth. I have a Roland Cube 80XL. I don't honestly care whether it has modelling or not. It sounds good enough for worship in a small church and it has a ''Line Out'' for connection to the PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 13, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 13, 2017 Yeah - one of the things I like about the Kemper is that it can profile acoustic rigs and bass rigs too, so you can have the one rig for all 3. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wallywanker Posted July 16, 2017 Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 all my old fashioned tube amps are paid for...so i like them a lot ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nice keetee Posted July 16, 2017 Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 all my old fashioned tube amps are paid for...so i like them a lot ... :thu: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 16, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 I love tube amps. I just want more flexibility and ease of use live and now you can get that without sacrificing the tube sound completely. I realise it's a lot of money, but it's the tools for the job. Ask a professional sound engineer what sounds better and what would they rather have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sascha Franck Posted July 16, 2017 Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 Tube amps are relics of past times. No one in their right mind would carry a tube around anymore that is so painfully unreliable.Helix is the way to go. Much better than Axe Fx and 1000 times better than the silly Kemper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 16, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 haha - nice one. There's a reason the Helix isn't on my list. The sounds just aren't quite in the same league, but they're close. It's SUPER easy to use though. More so than the ones I listed. Tube amps still sound better and are the right choice for studio. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 16, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 I haven't seen or heard of any touring pros using the Helix btw. Can you point out a few? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sascha Franck Posted July 16, 2017 Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 Are you kidding!?? http://line6.com/artists/ I am a touring pro btw. but hey, who cares right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 16, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 Not many well known players there compared to Fractal and I'd be really surprised if most of them use the Helix for their primary amp tone.It's definitely the best modeler that Line 6 has ever released and is more than adequate in most live settings. Saying it's 1000 x better than the Kemper doesn't make any sense though. What sort of genre do you play that suits the Line 6 so perfectly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sascha Franck Posted July 16, 2017 Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 When Fractal puts up artists they use the gear but when Line 6 does that they don't? Nice logic you got there buddy.I played hundreds of gigs. I KNOW what sounds good and what doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 16, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 16, 2017 I have no doubt that as an international touring professional you can make any gear sound great. The Line 6 is great sounding compared to what we used to have available.I've just never seen one in use with a big name artist. You see AxeFX and Kemper in their racks if they aren't still using amps. I haven't seen a Helix yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted July 17, 2017 Author Members Share Posted July 17, 2017 I've changed the thread title because I do agree that the Helix is a gig-worthy amp replacement. It's obvious that you don't just settle for whatever and that you've done your own research, so I'll reset my opinion until I hear or play one in a gig setting.My history with Line 6 is from their very beginning - I bought their very first model AxSys 212 on preorder as soon as it was released so I suspect I'm one of their first customers. When it died several years later they got a local tech to replace both the front and back circuit boards for free, so great service. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OneEng Posted September 23, 2017 Members Share Posted September 23, 2017 If you do an exhaustive search, you will find that the general consensus of MANY people who have used all 3 is as follows: 1) For tube tone, the Kemper is the best option. It reliably recreates genuine tube tone live better than any other option. 2) The AxeIIFx is slightly less compelling when it comes to "doing tube", but only slightly less so. The AxeIIFx sports a much more complete FX engine than Kemper. 3) The Helix takes the award for the best GUI on the PC but lags noticeably behind both Kemper and the AxeIIFx with respect to tone. It is much better than the old pods, but still a good step behind the 2 leaders. As someone who has been a tube purist, and sold a VHT Pittbull rig for my Kemper (and played them side by side), I can honestly say that the Kemper is a much better option for live than any single tube amp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 23, 2017 Author Members Share Posted September 23, 2017 I went Kemper in the end and really happy I did. Incredible set of tools! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OneEng Posted September 23, 2017 Members Share Posted September 23, 2017 I went Kemper in the end and really happy I did. Incredible set of tools! Sittin here lovin on mine tonight while learning a new song Pure tonal bliss! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stonedtone Posted September 24, 2017 Members Share Posted September 24, 2017 These wealthy famous players are still using tube amps. These toys, much of the time, are for the awesome effects they have Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 24, 2017 Author Members Share Posted September 24, 2017 Seems you have no idea how many fantastic professionals use digital gear instead of tube amps now. I understand your position, but calling these toys is very 1999. My Kemper holds it's own next to my boutique Bogner amp and expands my palette drastically. Who are your top 3 influences on guitar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 24, 2017 Author Members Share Posted September 24, 2017 I still use tube amps BTW. They're better in many situations, but I'm always open to new ideas. I hate the "me, me, me" BS that old school guitarists inflict on the band/audience with their cranked amps on stage. It's arrogant and really dated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted September 24, 2017 Author Members Share Posted September 24, 2017 These wealthy famous players are still using tube amps. These toys' date=' much of the time, are for the awesome effects they have[/quote'] https://www.kemper-amps.com/artist-gallery http://www.fractalaudio.com/artists.php Toys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cornholio Farquarth III Posted October 14, 2017 Members Share Posted October 14, 2017 I saw Steve Morse using a Kemper last month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cornholio Farquarth III Posted October 14, 2017 Members Share Posted October 14, 2017 I saw Steve Morse using a Kemper last month. I should have added that his tone was unremarkable. In fact, I was not impressed and I've heard much better. It could have been a lot of factors, from the sound man to the PA itself, or many other things. I'd like to hear more Kempers and Axe Fxs live before I form an opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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