Kemper Profiling Amplifier (White) Reviews

4.7/5.0 based on 21 customer reviews

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Customer Reviews

Tom Helvey
from San Diego, CA
April 17, 2013Music Background:
Musician, Engineer

Yes Please

I need about 4 basic sounds to gig: clean, voxish, crunch, and mesa modern. Even without downloading any rigs, I pretty much found exactly what I needed. I've been looking for something that I could use in my current project (weird hybrid of techno and rock) without having to drag a heavy amp to the show. My usual pedal board is pretty basic (whammy, compressor, dist+, chorus/flange), with this amp, all I need is a ground control and an expression pedal, I can even emulate my mesa lead boost with an X EQ or a Pure Boost (I like the X eq a bit better). I updated the firmware to 1.8 so I could get the whammy and now You Make Me Feel has all the crunch it needs without the Digitech sucking tone while it's in the loop... wow! I just got the silly thing yesterday and I'm pretty much ready for rehearsal tomorrow, it's really easy to set up and the amps are just amazing. I plan on profiling my favorite Vox, Marshall's and Mesa's this weekend. Instead of lugging my 100 lb Roadster to the gig, I can put this sucker in a gig bag and carry my whole setup in one load with the added benefit of no too loud amps on stage to p*** off the club owner. YAY Beer!

Dennis
from Holly Springs, NC
March 2, 2013Music Background:
Hobbyist

Not

The Kemper can profile amps and any lagging in the quality has to do with an imperfect profiling process by the profiler.

There are free and commercially available (Amp Factory) "rigs" which are profiled amps and their effects chain tweaked in the Kemper that make for such a huge variety, you have more amps than professional studios at your fingertips.

Setup is a breeze. Takes minutes. Profiling is a breeze. Takes minutes. This EQUALS more PLAY time as a Musician, and the Engineer in you can take a break.

Kemper has finally achieved the level of Amp parity that the digital world has been seeking for decades.

In Summary, few pieces of gear have made me truly happy and smiling for weeks and months on end. The Kemper continually makes me go "WOW" since my brain expects a large head and stack, or expensive Boutique Amp, and it all comes in a device no larger than a Lunch Box.

Karl Houseknecht
from Palmyra, VA
February 28, 2013Music Background:
Gigging guitarist

The One To Beat

I've owned every serious modeler out there: POD HD Pro, Eleven Rack, Axe-Fx Ultra and Axe-Fx II, and while all of them do some things very well, none of them can do what this unit can. When they say it captures the soul of an amp, they're not kidding. But the secret of all of it is to have great profiles to start with. This unit is Garbage In, Garbage Out. You capture a profile poorly or use someone else's poorly captured profile, and you're going to have a bad time.

But with some amazing free and commercially available profiles out there for the having, this unit will out perform the competition on the amp tone front. My first adventure was to download a profile for free (which I eventually gave a donation for) of a Friedman Marshall. Instant Van Halen Unchained tone. Stunningly close. Never got that close before even with the big boy competition. Just awesome. Took literally 15 minutes from turning the unit on until I had that tone, including the time it took to learn how to use the box.

I even made some profiles of one of my Mesa amps that floored me. Sounds identical to the real deal, and it's not difficult to do so long as you know how to properly mic an amp.

The effects, while somewhat limited in quantity, are of awesome quality. I was afraid that I would be left wanting, but it honestly has more than I really need. So easy to tweak in with the front panel knobs. I initially balked at the layout, but once I got to using it, it all made perfect sense. It is an exercise in great UI design.

This is the first modeler (profiler) that I've used that actually feels like a real amp. Even the Axe-Fx II was missing that last little something. This has it.

Peter Horvath
from Columbus, Ohio
February 26, 2013Music Background:
Collector, Player, occasional performer

WOW Worth a try

I own over 50 guitar amplifiers, most are vintage from the 50's and 60's and a few are higher end boutique amps. I recently purchased my Kemper from Sweetwater. The amp comes with hundreds of profiles and several websites including the free user group offer downloadable profiles.

The unit performs as advertised... profiling versus modeling is BETTER! I've owned a Line 6 X3 Live pedal, a Line 6 HD 100, and other software based modelers... (Liquid, and Garage Band)... they are all good, but profiling is more authentic and simpler/more intuitive for the guitar player.

Running it through a PA with cabinet emulation on, or through a 4x12 HiWatt High output cabinet with a 1600 watt solid state power amp... both approached create tone and dynamics like the original amps... INCREDIBLE.

Read the web site to learn more about the features and tweak-ability. I'm unloading all my modeling gear, and looking forward to profiling my vintage amps to share with other Kemper users.

Brilliant engineering!

gary burks
from munster in.
February 4, 2013Music Background:
guitarist

kemper feedback

cool piece of equipment except mine had a problem right off the bat! and had to send it back a little leary of it at the moment,would of like to of seen a foot controller for this that would of made it more easier to use.

Jeff
from Chicago, IL
February 2, 2013Music Background:
Mixing and Mastering Engineer, Songwriter.

Amazing.

This Unit is Amazing. I love that I can have basically any amp that I want at the flick of a switch. I take this thing over to friends houses and profile their amps! Being a songwriter for various styles I need a lot of different tones. Its nice to be able to play a nice country tone on a Dr Z and then start playing some punk rock with a JCM 900 and Dual Rectifier. Its super easy to add on more tones from the community on kempers website. super hard to delete them. What i mean by that is that you dont want to delete them! However, the more amps you have on it, the longer it takes for it to start up. I use this amp alot for songwriting as well as Reamping in my studio. It has brought new life to many mixes. The reason that I gave this 4.5 stars is that there is no software to manage your amps yet. Naming amps and filling in all the information takes forever! If they could make a software that can hook up to the kemper via usb and let you edit with a keyboard, this would save so much time! Also they previewed the new power amp for the kemper at Namm and to be honest i think its super steep price wise (700$) Ill just stick with a regular 1U power amp. Sounds great in the studio or live.

C Walker
from Gulf Coast MS
January 29, 2013Music Background:
Worship Leader

The Best

I have owned the AxeFx Ultra and AxeFx 2. *For me* the Kemper is better. I'm not a tweaker. Not interested in scrolling thru menus, downloading the latest firmware every 2 weeks etc.

If I want to adjust the treble, I reach down and adjust the treble. No scrolling thru 3-5 menus to get there.

To my ears, the Kemper sounds better. Much more amp like. The Kemper makes me want to play.

Why not 5 stars? It's not 100% done yet. No foot controller on the market from Kemper. The "perform" feature isn't active yet. The effects are not quite as good as the AxeFx, but they're good enough for me. [all I need].

Highly recommended.

Dave
from Detroit, Michigan
November 13, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician

Had for 6 months - Still same opinion

It is as others have said, THE BEST PIECE OF GEAR TO COME AROUND EVER. I often say that the "clean" sound must work for you. Try every other modeler out there and you'll compromise there. The Tech 21 Blonde pedal was good as a "clean" starting point, but with the KPA, it's internal effects and controllability, you really don't need anything else. Better than Axe FX, Line 6, Tech 21, Boss/Roland . . . all of these pale in comparison. I'm an "off the street user" of these products and it is really THAT good. Downloading profiles is like buying a new amp. Pair it with a Bose Model II with the new larger bass module and you have a "gigging" machine for small venues. Need to play a larger venue? The I/O options are endless. Best point of all: They keep improving it with software updates . . . why buy a looper when most likely we'll see one soon as a software update. Amazing! 5 Full Stars!

Joe
from South St. Paul, Mn
October 21, 2012Music Background:
Guitar aficionado

Kemper profiling amp

If you are looking for a portable powerhouse of real amp sounds look no further than the kemper. It is really cool when you hook it up to a couple of speakers (even computer speakers because it sounds great. Very clean with no hum or other background noise. This eliminates the need for a big amp combo. I have also ran it through my line 6 spider amp and you can combine the sounds for tons of cool tones. Thumbs up whether you play clean or heavy. You will spend a lot of time jamming!

dudleys100
from
October 8, 2012

IT REALLY IS THAT GOOD (but make sure you get more profiles)

I have had almost every famous amp out there and am a tone freak. I have hated every other attempt to model amps up until this little guy. I will say it is not 100% but probably 96% there. I run a commercial studio and have major label credits to my name and in the 4 months I have had this I have mic'd up an amp twice, and both times still ended up using the Kemper tracks over the mic'd tracks. I have sold a few amps now and still have a few for those times where I may want to do some crazy micing with multiple mics and what not, but honestly this thing can do whatever you need it to do.

I will say however that the built in profiles are pretty good but I was not blown away until I started profiling my own amps and really seeing how close it is. I have found my favorite profiles are the ones I have purchased from the amp faktory. I do have a few I use from the user base but the amp faktory stuff has everything you really need.

They need to develop a midi based on screen editor for your computer however because trying to manage a 1000 profiled amps on the little built in screen is a waste of time. That will come in time though.

Buy it if you can afford it and you will not be disappointed.

FastRedPonyCar
from Montgomery, AL
October 4, 2012Music Background:
Pro Tone Connoisseur

Lives up to hype and exceeds expectations!

If you're looking at this, you are probably skeptical like I was about whether or not the unit can actually do what so many claim it can do... whether it can legitimately sound just like the amp it is profiling.

Let me ease your doubt and tell you emphatically YES!! This has been one of the truly FEW products I've bought that not only lived up to the insane amount of hype but shattered my expectations of "close but not quite".

I am a HUGE tone freak and obsess over even the smallest nuances but this unit has 100% impressed me. Not only does it faithfully capture the tone and FEEL of a cranked tube amp, its controls allow you to manipulate and tweak the sound in ways that the actual amp would not. This lets you, dare I say, improve upon the existing amp's abilities in a recording environment.

With a full featured effects selection, built in re-amping capability and plenty of professional quality profiles available for either free or for a small cost online, the possibilities are near limitless.

B Kasper
from Ohio, USA
August 12, 2012Music Background:
Over 25 years

The good, the bad, the ugly.

Well from what I have heard, this is the best sound wise. The sound of this unit is fantastic. Nothing I have heard is even close. Very in depth sounds. Very clear, clean and well defined. If you can't find your tone in this jewel, it does not exist. The unit is well laid out and I love the amp head size. It gives plenty of room for all the controls and a nice big display.

Now the bad; Unfortunately it's not a complete product. It does not do a lot of things that are listed. Basically your buying a brand new car with no wheels on it. The units software is very incomplete. There is no undo or redo. Buttons are there and it's advertised but does not work. There also is no preference mode. This was the one that floored me. The kemper website has a big long description of all the things the unit can do in preference mode, but when you flip the switch to preference mode it says " coming soon check for updates". That's a rip off. The units been out for well over 8 months and no update to fix the issues. The amp out jack also does not work on the back of the unit, so if you want to hook it up to an amp you will need to use a stereo output. This will cause you to rewrite presets and pan everything to one side.

There is no foot controller for the unit either.

If you've got an extra 1850 to blow then get this unit. It has a great sound. If you need something that actuly has all of its functions and want to use it in the real world stay away from this unit. It is strictly a studio toy.

Khaled
from Kuwait
August 1, 2012

The Best Product Ever

I can't say something about this is the best Amp
I love it when he stole the souls from the authors Amps and guitar effects

Mark Hall
from Tampa, FL
May 31, 2012Music Background:
Guitarist/Songwriter/Producer?Multi-instrumentalist

The Future is Here!

This Kemper Profiling Amp is one of the most useful pieces of technology I have ever come across. Kemper continues to refine the product based on experience and customer suggestions and real-time downloads are provided to users. Add to that the user database where you can upload your own profiles and download everyone else's, you have a very unique/ever evolving piece of technological genius. With users uploading new profiles daily it is like buying a new amp or two every day without having to trade in what you already have. The onboard effects are also excellent and the stereo chorus/flanger/delay effects are out of this world. Whether recording, playing live or just messing around this is the most versatile and user friendly unit on the planet. Simply Brilliant!!

JJ
from Houston
May 29, 2012Music Background:
Musician, Songwriter, Recording Engineer

Blown away is an UNDERSTATEMENT!!!

I have the axe fx ultra and have been pleased with my studio guitar tones for quite some time now... that is... until I got the Kemper. From the minute I started playing on it, it made the axe fx sound like a toy. There were only a few usable profiles that shipped with the Kemper, but the amount of insane profiles you can find through the Kemper-Exchange site will give you enough amazing rig setups to last you a lifetime!! Plus, you can always make your own! :) I highly recommend this for any home studio looking to incorporate the perfect guitar tone(s) every time! Sweetwater shipped quickly and their staff is always a joy to talk to. :)

Brad Lund
from Phoenix, Arizona
April 15, 2012Music Background:
Producer, Engineer, Studio Owner, Guitar and other instruments

The NEW way amp modeling (sorry...PROFILING) should be!

Wow, wow, wow and wow again. This is the single most amazing piece of gear I have ever had the pleasure to put my fingers (guitar) on. Right out of the box the profiled amps are excellent. Christoph's rig setups are very useful and the type and selection of stomps and effects are nothing short of stellar. Today I connected this via s/pdif to my Apogee Ensemble and directly into Logic Pro 9. I layed down some 'test" tracks just to hear how rich the tones where; and to see if they sound good when stacked up i.e. when multilayered (this is one place where I feel other modelers tend to loose definition). I dialed up and layered an EVH-5150 Amp Profile down to 2 tracks stereo, then dialed up a '69 Marshall & 4x12 GB's profile and tracked that, next was a Soldano and then I dialed up the most expensive and hardest to find amp - an Engl Profile; 8 tracks of guitar tone.

The tone just cuts thru like you would expect from a well recorded tube amp. Playing around with my guitar volume knobs and tweaking a few of the Kemper Controls (you really do not need to touch the controls - sounds great as profiled) - helped to dial in the exact amount and type of crunch. I tell you this, Kemper will change the guitar world forever!!! I also downloaded a few dozen new profiles from the ever growing community of profiles and found some really nice Orange, Vox, even an old Fender Bassman - heck just name it (I need an SVT). So if any of my guitar or bass playing friends out there have an awesome amp + tone please, please let me profile it. Takes less than 10 minutes and will add to my library - think of it as trading MP3's - except they haven't outlawed this - yet :-) Don't think they ever will or can

Mark Dannells
from Atlanta, GA
April 12, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician/Composer/Producer

Stylin' AND Profilin' !

Between saving a few bucks on a demo model Sweetwater was selling (immaculate condition, BTW!) and the payment plan, I couldn't resist. I have been a professional guitarist for 25+ years and have also been working in a Boutique Guitar Store for about 7 years. With the exceptions of an actual Dumble or a Trainwreck, I have tried just about every cool high end Boutique Amp that has been made in the last 10 years. This thing is the real deal! I literally have only been scrolling through the presets for about a half an hour after opening the box-I've barely scratched the surface. However, there are some sounds on here that are pretty ridiculous. You can hear the "thunk" of the cabinet and the note "bloom" on certain sounds. I am just running it through my studio NS-10s. I Haven't played it live, or even in a track yet, but I'll write more after the honeymoon state fades a bit. A lot of people say it looks like a piece of medical equipment. It certainly is, 'cause it's gonna rip you a new one!

Gregory S. MacBeth
from Viera, FL
April 4, 2012Music Background:
Retired Marine Hobbyist

WoW! Incredible Device That Will Change the World for Guitarists

The search for tone is over. The need for a room of amps is done. The money saved by no longer buying new amps will easily pay for the Kemper.

Not only are the presets pretty good, but there are so many profiles available online now that you hardly need to look far to find what you need.

The device is simple to use as well.

Chris Carson
from Southeast, MI
April 3, 2012Music Background:
Weekend gigging musician.

Really dig my KPA.

This thing is very satisfying to play through. It does a great job of capturing the dimension and punch of the profiled amps and it responds naturally to playing dynamics and pickup volume. It just sounds very alive. I use it both with a THD 2-12 cab plus a Carvin SS power amp and through a PA system. I defeat the cab profile with the THD.

I have an 11-R, an HD500, and a Vox TL. I like this much better than any of them. I profiled several of my own amps and my wife marveled at the accuracy of the profiles. The Kemper website has a community page where I found some great amp profiles to download for free. Loving the Friedman HBE especially, as well as EVH5153, and Blackface Bassman. All great stuff. Highly recommend the KPA. I think it's a game changer.

Johnny Navarro
from Las Vegas NV USA
February 23, 2012Music Background:
Pro Musician, Music Instructor

The most amazing innovation since the electric guitar and amp.

I've been a working/gigging/teaching guitar player in Las Vegas Nevada for many years. I play a wide variety of music including pop, rock (alternative, classic, metal), country, blues, funk, dance, oldies...you get the picture. Playing so many styles has always presented a challenge in regards to choosing the right gear for the job. Certain amps shine playing certain genres of music, but may not be appropriate for others. Finding a truly versatile amp that sounds good playing everything is pretty much impossible (believe me, I've spent decades trying). Modelers offer convenience and flexibility but have always felt "fake" to me and playing through them in a live or recording situation is always a drag. Even the most high end ($2300) modeler available to date didn't thrill me with it's feel or sound quality. I wasted more time tweaking settings to find the right sound than I did playing.

Enter the Kemper Profiling Amplifier. This miraculous little box is different. It's organic tone, feel & vibe are what I've been searching for all these years. For the first time I can take all my amps with me to a gig and get the EXACT sound I would get if I were mic'ing my cabinets onstage. When you make your first profile and A/B it with the real amp your mind will be blown. You will think "Wow. This is the future."

Now if you play through cheap equipment, have ears of stone or drench all your tones in a wash of distortion to cover up your technique...this product may not be for you.

But if your pick speaks in languages ranging from a whisper to a scream...if you use your volume knob to make your instrument come alive...if you appreciate the mojo of high-end amps whether boutique or classic...then this product will put a huge smile on your face.

And you will be inspired to tweak less and play more.

Steve
from New York
February 12, 2012Music Background:
Musican

Waiting for it

I have seen several videos of this badboy. just the fact that you could profile so many different amps makes this product a must have! As soon
as they get there next shipment mine will be on the way!