I just got the kemper a few weeks ago and havent spent a ton of time with it because ive been really busy. But ive made a little progress, mostly with the stock dual rectifier, peavey XXX, and the Engl Invader profiles. I have a few problems however.
1. The most problematic is that I have been playing on a Line 6 combo for the entirety of my guitar playing for the last 13 year's, so this is a massive upgrade, but I dont understand parameters well enough to understand them beyond the obvious bass, treble, mids and gain, to dial them well, let alone understand them from a physical/sonic/electrical perspective. This becomes a problem when trying to dial in FX parameters, knowing which FX to use, and where. I have the quick start manual and the main, big manual.
2. I love the sound of the XXX and the Engl Invader, but I still am not spot on yet. What tends to happen is without a distortion FX, they dont sound gainy enough. When I add distortion they sound way too compressed, harsh, and thin. It seems like there is a very fine line when adjusting distortion FX parameters.
3. When I do get close, it seems to sound either harsh, thin, or both, not warm enough. I'm wondering if there are other FX I should be using, or not using, or if I'm just doing something else wrong. Ive gotten about as far as using a distortion FX and an EQ and the EQ is pretty confusing to me. It seems like when I just use a boost instead of distortion its not enough gain. I'm kinda lost. I feel like I need a class.
4. I'm using FX generally after the rig in the signal chain, because that is how a lot of the stock high gain profiles are set up. Dont know if thats correct.
Also, this is a dumb question but is there a list of the real names of the available stock rigs? I just want to have an idea of what is there and is not. I'm trying to get as far as i can with stock rigs, before I treat myself to buying some for purchase ones. I havent even touched Rig Exchange yet. Someone did tell me that I'm missing out on the really really good shit though thats for download free and for purchase and said its a massive world of difference.
For reference I'm currently playing through a Headrush FRFR 8 inch 1000rms speaker. I really like FRFRs i can see myself getting a much higher end much bigger one one day, id also like to try the Kemper thru a tube power amp thru a 4X12 guitar cab too. But thats just future for now I'm happy with my FRFR