My megachurch took my amp cabinet and iso-box away and handed me a KEMPER... 1st world problems indeed.

[GoldieLocks]

WELL - My megachurch took my amp cabinet and iso-box away and handed me a KEMPER... Rock n' Roll is dead.

Horrifyingly: It sounded really good in my IEM's (through my pedalboard of course - they haven't removed my board for Christmas tree stage space YET).
So yeah - A Kemper can sound great. I had to shut off all the EFX in it though. Apparently i'm even running in stereo (like Jesus would!!!_).
Although I haven't asked anyone what it sounds like out front (hint: NEVER ask. The less you know the better.) The main reason I was hesitant towards the Kemper was because almost everyone who used it sounded horrible. But they probably sounded horrible regardless. And trying to read and tamper with this Kemper R2D2 toaster onstage is like trying to do maintenance on a new Sansui microwave.

Now i'm asking them If I can buy some Classic Marshall or Bogner profiles for the Kemper... I doubt they've realized the NEW can of worms they just opened.

 

[black_doug]

What profile are you using now?

 

[scooteraz]

Way back when we went silent stage, and I had to use the original kidney bean Line 6 Pod, I thought I sounded like crap. The first Sunday we used that live, I had several people come up to me and say how good I sounded that week….

Since then, while I love my tube amps, I have learned to embrace the digital modeling paradigm.

Have fun. Get those models…..

 

[black_doug]

Way back when we went silent stage, and I had to use the original kidney bean Line 6 Pod, I thought I sounded like crap. The first Sunday we used that live, I had several people come up to me and say how good I sounded that week….

I had a similar experience playing a Pod plugged into a Fender acoustic amp. But then one day, the Pod just died.

If I’m playing at a church now where I’m not allowed my tube amp, I use a Tech 21 Blonde into a Quilter Phantom Block.

We have a lot of options these days.

 

[GoldieLocks]

What profile are you using now?

Somebody put a Suhr Badger 30 profile into the Kemper. Not sure if that was a later add on or it comes with the unit. For some reason the church has a bunch of Suhr amps and cabs lying around (the old worship leader might have had a lust for them). Apparently there's a BADCAT profile I was itching to try --- didn't have time. Right now i'm a big fan of Friedman's and Bogner's and Germino's... but somewhere out there there's a perfect Marshall with my name on it.

 

[oyobass]

they haven't removed my board for Christmas tree stage space YET

Well, At least I'm not the only one...
... Or vacation bible school, or whatever unusual stage setup goes with the theme of the next sermon series.

 

[hotraman]

WELL - My megachurch took my amp cabinet and iso-box away and handed me a KEMPER... Rock n' Roll is dead.

Horrifyingly: It sounded really good in my IEM's (through my pedalboard of course - they haven't removed my board for Christmas tree stage space YET).
So yeah - A Kemper can sound great. I had to shut off all the EFX in it though. Apparently i'm even running in stereo (like Jesus would!!!_).
Although I haven't asked anyone what it sounds like out front (hint: NEVER ask. The less you know the better.) The main reason I was hesitant towards the Kemper was because almost everyone who used it sounded horrible. But they probably sounded horrible regardless. And trying to read and tamper with this Kemper R2D2 toaster onstage is like trying to do maintenance on a new Sansui microwave.

Now i'm asking them If I can buy some Classic Marshall or Bogner profiles for the Kemper... I doubt they've realized the NEW can of worms they just opened.

That's amazing and it could be a lot of fun.
FWIW, I have not played my amps in a church for the past ten years. It's been all modelers. My FM9T does that job as I have a few patches from WT. Marshall and a Vox AC30.
Looking forward to reading about your experiences.

 

[budglo]

I’m considering replacing my deluxe reverb with a modeler, but I’m not sure which one. So many choices and I’m not a tweaker. I’d rather be playing . Currently looking at the Quilter Superblock, Dream 65 , Strymon and others. Ultimately I’d like to use it with my pedals as an amp and cabinet sim.

 

[GoldieLocks]

Currently looking at the Quilter Superblock

The only thing that impressed me so far (and I hate modelers...) is the Tonex one pedal under $300. Youtube's Studio Rats did a video on the Joe Satriani amp profiles for it ------- WOW!!!!

 

[BigPapa-53]

For the money, I like my Pod Go. If I could just go pick one out right now with no cost, it would probably be the Fender Tone Master Pro simply because of the Bluetooth and app for adjustments.

 

[budglo]

The only thing that impressed me so far (and I hate modelers...) is the Tonex one pedal under $300. Youtube's Studio Rats did a video on the Joe Satriani amp profiles for it ------- WOW!!!!

Those did catch my attention as well.

 

[PastorJay]

A while back I played a funeral at a church that wanted the guitar, bass, and keys in the house. No amps.

In an attempt to get along I ordered a Tech 21 Fly Rig v 2. The one that does 60s era Fender Deluxe, Plexi, and Mesa Boogie sounds, plus clean boost, delay, reverb, and has a loop for adding extra effects.

It didn't come in time for me to learn how to use it for the funeral, and I tortured the sound man by bringing an actual amplifier, even if it was only 5 watts.

Eventually I got around to learning to use the Fly Rig. And (I hate to say this) I love it. It's perfect for the blues/Americana band I'm playing in now. I usually bring it instead of a guitar amp. And I don't even use any extra pedals except on one song.

I'm both shocked that I actually like this thing and resisting the temptation to buy some of the next generation of technology that you guys keep mentioning.

 

[scooteraz]

... but somewhere out there there's a perfect Marshall with my name on it.

With the Kemper, you can model from your own amp, if you have that perfect Marshall.

 

[hotraman]

A while back I played a funeral at a church that wanted the guitar, bass, and keys in the house. No amps.

In an attempt to get along I ordered a Tech 21 Fly Rig v 2. The one that does 60s era Fender Deluxe, Plexi, and Mesa Boogie sounds, plus clean boost, delay, reverb, and has a loop for adding extra effects.

It didn't come in time for me to learn how to use it for the funeral, and I tortured the sound man by bringing an actual amplifier, even if it was only 5 watts.

Eventually I got around to learning to use the Fly Rig. And (I hate to say this) I love it. It's perfect for the blues/Americana band I'm playing in now. I usually bring it instead of a guitar amp. And I don't even use any extra pedals except on one song.

I'm both shocked that I actually like this thing and resisting the temptation to buy some of the next generation of technology that you guys keep mentioning.

The technology is getting better each year with updates and new releases. Don't get me wrong, nothing better than playing / hearing a tube amp.
Another key in using modelers is how you hear it. I invested in custom fit quad drivers IEM's. Everything is clear sounding and not at a loud volume in my ears.

 

[oyobass]

For the money, I like my Pod Go. If I could just go pick one out right now with no cost, it would probably be the Fender Tone Master Pro simply because of the Bluetooth and app for adjustments.

I have been using the lower-cost Fender option: A GTX100. It uses, as I recall, the same Fender Tone app as the TMP and sounds pretty amazing. A 22 pound 1x12 combo with 100 watts and stereo XLR outs, and a competent 7-button footswitch is perfect for a silent stage, (you can have your modelled amp cranked to 10 if you want and turn down the power amp volume to zero. Your raging Marshal stack, or whatever amp you chose to model, goes straight to the board without making a peep on stage.)

If you want to jam with someone, or go to an open mic, just turn up the power amp. There are several response profiles to choose from in the power section, allowing you to tune the speaker's sound to the room or your personal preference.
There are dozens of really good sounding effects models to choose from, 5 of them having in/out footswitches on the 7-button floorboard.

The app makes setting up the amp easy, with a virtual representation of the amp and pedals just as you would see them with a physical rig. Getting things set with the display on the amp is a bit more tedious, but pretty easy compared to the deep menu diving I've had to use on modellers before.

I also have a Fender GT40 from the previous generation that I got super cheap on Marketplace. With the last firmware update, the amp works just like the GTX100. I can download whatever settings I have on the 100 into the 40 and have an identical setup in both places. Pretty handy for a practice amp. I even bought a spare 7-button switch so that they work precisely the same.

Since I'm definitely old-school, I do like the look of an amp onstage, even though is isn't audible. Vanity? Maybe, but if something happens with the PA, I can turn up the power amp a bit and carry on.

 

[mRtINY]

Heretics all. You probably have grape juice instead of wine too....

 

[scooteraz]

Heretics all. You probably have grape juice instead of wine too....

No, but we whine about the wine…..

Almost like we whine about no tube amps…

 

[GoldieLocks]

But on the Outlaw negative side:
I'm not excited about playing electric guitar in church AT ALL. Sure - it simply fills an ideological void.
But it's like going to the Stockcar or Drag races to see a bunch of Tesla's quietly zooming about in a quick fashion with no noise or smells or ROAR! Hipsterism at its finest.

ROCK and ROLL without the rock or roll... just "and".

 

[hotraman]

But on the Outlaw negative side:
I'm not excited about playing electric guitar in church AT ALL. Sure - it simply fills an ideological void.
But it's like going to the Stockcar or Drag races to see a bunch of Tesla's quietly zooming about in a quick fashion with no noise or smells or ROAR! Hipsterism at its finest.

ROCK and ROLL without the rock or roll... just "and".

I get that.
Besides playing at church, I think I'm going to join a friend's band and play at a local car show next month. They are a trio and I'll sit in on keys, electric guitar and BGV.

 

[budglo]

The only thing that impressed me so far (and I hate modelers...) is the Tonex one pedal under $300. Youtube's Studio Rats did a video on the Joe Satriani amp profiles for it ------- WOW!!!!

I even entertained the helix LT , but my favorite pedal is my polytune and I really want to continue to use my pedalboard .