Hi all,
great forum. Enough lurking and time to post my views on the Kemper
powerhead now I have had it a month and ripped through everything. Also big thanks to Kemper making the Xmas deadline!
Tad about
me, I been playing as a hobby for over a decade. I’m a crap bedroom player in a
highly stressed overpaid job without the courage to quit and pursue my hobbies
of music and drawing haha! However close to retiring at 50 and I hope that’s
not too late. Anyhoots I’m a tell it like it is sort of guy no matter how much
I spend on something. Sadly, whilst not the best player I have one hell of a
good ear and been involved in music production software for decades.
Guitars
1986 RG550 (Fav), Old Tokai TST, Kramer Nightrider, Squire Vibe Tele, Larrivee
OM 10 custom. Usual ton of pedals, few mutli effects, the odd tube amp and katana
head.
Yes, this
is the best bit of kit out there imho, if hooked up to a stereo set up then I
sincerely don’t know how you get a bad sound, I think it’s impossible unless
all common sense goes out the window with the controls! Bad points for me are,
no stereo cab speaker out on Powerhead which makes it well overpriced, the editor
whilst great needs a lot of work and crashes often (beta so all is good) I found a fair few so should list them and submit.
Are things
much better with a FRFR cab and can that match a good stereo set up? Clearly
powered FRFR or amp can sort this but I’d still like the option of head and
cab.
The good, I
do not know what prestidigitation ole Mr Kemper employed but there must be an
invisible tube from another dimension in some quantum realm entangled in this emerald box to be getting this
sound! The dynamics, the chime, the
grunt, the sag its all there and tweakable! The commercial profiles are
something else, just stunning. Going through a stereo amp and speakers just sounds
bliss and the instrument comes alive, I literally play better mainly due to the
dynamics and tone. Sounds like a well mic’d tube amp – perfection.
Through a cab,
those that say its not an amp in the room I’m calling semi bullshit. Really
sounds like one to me. The chime on my HK Statesman is pretty brutal and the Kemper
and cab gets there. Moves some air. I only have a 1x12 Cel v30 and that’s
impressed me but it’s not a patch on the stereo set up but does have room
moving air punch. I am curious as to how different an FRFR cab would be hmmm.
Headphone
out is amazing and the effects I think are pretty good. The spring reverb is
better than my Flint in my opinion and indeed drips. I like how programmable
the unit is via midi. Its also solid when using it. Performance mode, fab set up.
Is worth
the money? For a stereo set up I would say I wish I never bough any of my amps,
pedals and just bought an Ibby RG, Tele and a Kemper, midi controller, in the long
run its cheaper and a brilliant set up, what more could you need? So 100% yes
save and get one is my view. If going out through a cab then until I get some better cabs
to try I’m like hmmmmm not sure. I’m off to a pub I’d rather take my Katana
Head and Cab. The sound for that environment can be good enough and I’m not
going to cry too much if damaged. Who knows with a better cab or FRFR I might change my mind.
Personally,
I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever purchased and it records so well.
I hope it last and I will never be selling it. Also thanks for all the info and profiles in this forum and the advice has been great. Phil