Tripehound

I play in two bands; the first plays everything straight into the PA, all use IEMs and I 'm using a Kemper Stage with a few suitable profiles. The second is a traditional classic rock outfit with amps, cabs, noisy drummer and mostly vocals through the PA. Here I use a Darkglass Alpha Omega 500 with a couple of DG112 cabs. 

I've been wondering about using the Kemper Stage with the DG cabs and getting a suitable power amp, ditching the Alpha Omega (I realise that I could theoretically use the return on it but I'd rather not as I may sell all the DG stuff and get a nice Barefaced cab instead.

Has anyone used a power amp with a Kemper (or I guess a Helix or similar) and was it successful? If so which make/model?

Advice/experience/opinions all gratefully received! 

1 hour ago, tayste_2000 said:

 

That’s great to know, with the profiles you can download do people capture pedals as well as amps? I’ve found this on Tonex which is more fun for variation as basically just find 1 amp sound I like and stick with it.

 

Of course you can't capture with this (although there is some crazy talk of it becoming a paid chargeable upgrade at a later date) but you can download profiles which include drive/distortion pedals. There are a load of the B7K for example. The device itself has some effects as well which will see many people OK for octave, chorus, fuzz etc. This may help 

On 12/01/2024 at 22:20, tayste_2000 said:

Are you able to confirm if you can connect your phone to it and play songs via bluetooth to play along with? I didn’t want to ask in the guitar forums for fear of looking lonely with no one to play with.

Mine arrived two days ago. Yes - works pretty well either with Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (or both!). Separate volume controls for rig, aux and master. Created its own hot spot. Overwhelming number of profiles available, many of the guitar ones sounding amazing right out of the box. Still trying to find the perfect bass tone but already found a great Super Bassman profile (I get misty-eyed thinking of the one I used to own). Effects are - well - ok but not stellar. Combo button function not working and pending an update of firmware apparently. This means only one effect linked to a foot switch in practice. Need to test usb midi next. Very good build quality.

On 19/12/2023 at 18:37, bassace97 said:

https://www.kemper-amps.com/products/uk/profiler-player.html
 

Curious how this stacks up against the HX Stomp/XL. Not a bad price at £499 either.

Also very interested in this. That price on their shop appears to exclude VAT and Customs - Andertons quoting £619 and stock from 29/12. Even so, looks a great option with XLR and the Kemper suite of effects.

Eventide H9 Max Harmonizer (US spelling but I guess that's its name!). Provides full access to all the algorithms.

Amazing and versatile pedal - does amazing things for bass, guitar, keyboards, vocals - essentially a 500-trick pony! 

It can be controlled via MIDI, Bluetooth and USB with a downloadable app available for Tablet, phone, Mac and PC.

Comes with box, all documentation, manuals and power supply - even the unused sticker.

Some very slight signs of use but in excellent cosmetic condition.

Selling as moving to Fractal.

The pedal will be de-registered on purchase and you will be able to register it yourself.

Price includes Royal Mail Special Delivery.

Can vouch for these - brilliant bit of kit.

21 minutes ago, stewblack said:

Didn't have time to build a pedal board for last night's gig so I bunged four effects together on a patch on my B6 and legged it out of the house.

Every time I have gigged this pedal the sounds from it have been superb. Yesterday was no exception. 

I believe it's the most underrated of all the multi effects. Underrated by me of course. Except now it isn't because I'm rating it. Highly.

I wonder if attitudes to it would be different if they had put it in a metal case.

Probably wilfully perverse but this beautiful (if slightly creepy) unseasonal weather has helped inspire this. 

On 29/09/2023 at 13:21, stewblack said:

I ought to buy this really. I regret letting mine go. 

I do gift wrapping on request if that helps your decision.

Future Impact V3 Analogue Modelling MIDI Synthesiser Expander Pedal. 

Amazing piece of kit but the project I bought it for has gone belly up.

Excellent condition with latest version of firmware (3.61) installed which includes the Akai Deep Impact patches.

Editor/librarian program available from Panda Audio and connects via MIDI.

Runs off standard 9V supply - it doesn't have one but if you want one drop me a message and I'll throw one in!

Can also be used with guitars or keyboards by simple edit of firmware. Patches widely available to suit and there's a very good community here at BC.

Widely viewed as one of the best synth pedals for bass out there with very good tracking.

More details at http://pandamidi.com/store/future-impact-v3-bass-guitar-synth

UK sale only.

3 minutes ago, Killerfridge said:

Perfectly good for live too; plenty of people have run Kemper rigs for years which do essentially the same thing

I've been trying to decide which way to go for a more flexible unit to go straight to FOH (using a Bassbox ATM which replaced a Helix LT)  - one of these or HX Stomp being the front runners. I've got an H9 and not a big user of effects so it's more about the amp/cab sound but with no way to try one out it's difficult. As the s/w is tied to the unit and has to be registered I'd guess that messes up any retail return options?

2 hours ago, Mornats said:

Closer to a plug-in version of the hardware. It's similar to other amp sims (Amplitube, Guitar Rig etc) but rather than simulate the entire amp it has snapshots of amp settings. When someone models their amp they effectively record the settings they have and you can play through it and have it sound the same. You have very limited control over tweaking the sound but the payoff is that the snapshot is very similar sounding to the amp it was modelled off.

Sounds like a studio tool but not flexible enough for live stuff?

9 hours ago, BillyBass said:

Seems to be a compressor, not a pre amp.

Looks about the same size as my Spectradrive and is certainly bigger than the M81

 

But thanks for taking the time to reply fellas.

What's on your pedal board at the moment?

I've been using this for a while now - a bit of a Swiss Army Knife and a small footprint. May be discontinued but they show up 'pre-loved'... https://atomicamps.com/bass-box/

Enjoyed the review - thanks. Was MIDI considered for this device do you know?

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So I've finally gone IEM and am using some custom Ultimate Ears wired from a Soundcraft UI24R and via a Behringer P1.

Seems you have to spend an awful lot to match this arrangement for sound quality with wireless gear and my duckwalking days are done.

Anyone have any suggestions as to a better headphone amp?

Well here goes nothing...

Bit of an ambient feel as the subject matter is intriguing but also melancholic.

The singer and I met in a Crowded House tribute band (really) which fell apart during Covid. He and I started collaborating remotely and have continued ever since. The guitar solo was sent in from an ex-pat mate living in Texas.

Gives me a nice flex of my artistic side for when I'm not playing 'I Will Survive' and 'Hot Stuff' in a covers band.

2 hours ago, Dood said:

I’ll be video reviewing one soon! (I’m staff for that very magazine!) 

I shall wait for that with interest. Any idea when it will be published?

I'm really attracted to the Quad Cortex due to its functionality and its form but I know that I'd use barely 5% of its capabilities, even taking into account a bit of home guitar playing. For live duties I'm not sure that I'd like a one-and-a-half-grand piece of gear on the floor when there's beer and punters about...

Could this be a reasonable compromise in that it would (temporarily) satisfy my twiddling with tech urges, do the job and come in at a less wallet-draining price?

https://www.bassgearmag.com/ik-multimedia-releases-tonex-pedal/

Apparently there’s a new release of the firmware - 1.4

Has this got the octaver?

I'm on the cusp of buying a new amp after several years of playing DI and could do with some advice.

I've got what I want down to these Darkglass products (pretty sure 500 watts will do it) and have just landed a pair of DG112 cabs so nearly ready for liftoff. Up to now I've been using a Helix (which I sold), a Zoom B6 (which again I sold) and a bunch of preamp pedals, currently an Atomic Bassbox. I have an attraction to techno bells and whistles but the reality is that I use a clean tone much of the time with the odd use of overdrive in one band, and a more driven sound in another that I play with.

It seems that any of these three will capably do what I'm after and my inclination is towards the Exponent although I've read some concerning things about it e.g. not wowed at the idea of having to use the phone, where is the promised foot pedal, is this likely to be well supported by DG etc?  There are loads of articles from the launch but not much on the actual experience of using one.

I'd greatly welcome and value people's thoughts and particularly what are I suppose are my key questions - are the basic clean sounds the same on both amps and is there anything the AO does that the e500 can't?

I had one with a Neo410 for about three years - it was kind of my dream rig and the opportunity arose to get it at a very good price. Due to its weight (and perceived fragility) it spent the vast majority of its time in our rehearsal room and it eventually dawned on me that it was really a professional large stage amp and not really appropriate for using in the Dog and Hammer on a Saturday night. Like Mr BassMayhem above I stuck to the Vintage channel and it does sound marvellous - everything I'd hope for. I guess for me it's like the real Fender Twin Reverbs are to guitarists - wonderful if you have someone else to shift it about. 

In the end I sold it to a company who provide backline for touring artists and I understand it was used by The Cult at Nottingham Rock City a few days later and was earmarked for the (cancelled) Mott the Hoople UK tour so it went to a good, and more appropriate, home. 

Did sound good though...

7 hours ago, Davy said:

Any trades considered?

I'm hoping to sell as I want to buy an amp (Darkglass AO or MT500 or Exponent) - but my inveterate GAS means I'm always open to suggestions!

Also after a cab - 212 or 410 - Barefaced, GR Bass or Darkglass - obvs plus cash.

I keep trying multi-effects units but in the end I have to accept I'm after one core sound and this is sitting unused. In excellent, almost-new (I can't find any marks) condition with film still on the screen, box etc. I suspect I'm going to end up with one of the Origin Effects pedals...

I've copied the blurb below from a well-known retailer - but I suspect you'll know what it does - and it does it exceptionally well.

Price at £290 includes postage.

• DI output with 2 tube and 2 solid state models to choose from
• Integrated A/B switcher for seamless instrument switching
• Ultimate Zoom FX processor technology with amp modeling
• IR load function for speaker cabinet simulation
• Integrated pedal board with 9 stomp switches
• 4.3 ̋ color LCD touch-screen interface
• Chain up to 6 effects + amp emulation
• Two variable-impedance inputs for electric and acoustic bass
• New Play Mode Footswitch provides instant access to different play modes
• Easy-to-see backlit panel with color-coded stomp effects
• Built-in USB audio interface (2-in / 2-out)
• Rhythm patterns and looper
• Compatible with Zoom Guitar Lab
• Wireless control via optional Bluetooth adapter (BTA-1) with Handy Guitar Lab for B6 app
• Accessibility functionality for the visually impaired