No just standard bus driven bands… many from overseas… death metal, black metal, technical death metal, melodic death metal, etc. Most recent one was Enslaved from Norway (Kemper), and Insomnium (Axe FX II XL).
Not so much anymore, hate to say it but the new album is a turd, its like Metallica at half speed. It’s like Load III, the intensity and proggy stuff is long gone. Nothing touches the first four albums, unfortunately.
Wouldn't agree that the Fractal sounds better. Both can sound great, both can sound terrible. Given todays pro modeling solutions, I think it's splitting hairs in regards to which one sounds "better" in a live scenario.
Everyone is aware of Fractal at this point. Price and availability will drive the kids to all the other tone print stuff. But they all not-so-secretly aspire to Fractal or real amps when they can afford them and have the roadies to move the big stuff.
That’s an important part. The Kemper is not good for after the fact adjustments. Get it right during the profile or pray it can be massaged into shape.
I have several talented young guys who I play with, and do my best to help them learn about amp and guitar choices… “don’t buy one of everything because it’s cheap, save up and buy the right things that do what you want.” sort of stuff.
Agree on most of your points. Though, I don’t think it’s “honest” to say all metal guitars sound the same.
I have never played through a Kemper... I have watched a lot of TY vids on them. I think this ^^^ is the deal with Kemper, make a recording or print or profile whatever you want to call it and go. I get that and it sounds attractive but if you looking for other aspects of that amp that don't shine through your back to the farm. With Metal it's more about the chug chug than anything else which makes that device attractive especially when coupled with all of the other things mentioned.
That’s so true. Even younger players, who have grown up with computers and seem to be relatively savvy, don’t understand how their amplifiers work internally, how the sound is being manipulated by tubes and pedals.
A friend of mine used to have a Kemper floor model that he ran into the front of his Twin Reverb, and constantly struggled with to get a consistent sound. He’d text me questions or come up to talk and the conversation always ended with him saying he “had to do it that way” even though I had just explained how we were supposed to use modelers.
despite increasing familiarization over the years, I've often seen that understanding of the fundamentals of what's going on under the surface (or the ability to find out) has been diminishing.
Might be easier to get a Kemper on a rider as an international touring band that can't haul your own gear. At least here in Canada they can be rented from most major music stores.
Well said and pretty much my thoughts on this. I am much more picky about the nuances of my hi gain tones than I am about clean tones and I'm pushing 60. Grew up on Eddie and loved the early Metallica stuff. Two very different takes on high gain, but some probably feel that they sound similar.
It does happen all the time with Kemper, it’s a never ending topic on other forums.
… soulfly …fear factory…. we are not here to do the list but yeah a lot of big names . In reverse, I only know Metallica to use the axe live in all the bands I listen to. They are not all playing with kemper but tubes amps too. Strange yes. I know the kemper very well, but I won’t turn back after the axe. I don’t miss it at all. I prefer the sound of the axe by far.