Hot Rodding a DSL40C???

I have a very good friend in a touring band that's on the road about 8 months out of the year (a lot of you would know him but this is not about name-dropping). He uses a Kemper for writing and practice but will not use one for recording and definitely not for performance. When it comes time to roll tape or do the gig he's plugged into a JVM or OR. He likes the versatility of the Kemper but he really feels that the tones are not quite there for recording yet. Maybe down the road but not quite yet.
 
gball said:
I have a very good friend in a touring band that's on the road about 8 months out of the year (a lot of you would know him but this is not about name-dropping). He uses a Kemper for writing and practice but will not use one for recording and definitely not for performance. When it comes time to roll tape or do the gig he's plugged into a JVM or OR. He likes the versatility of the Kemper but he really feels that the tones are not quite there for recording yet. Maybe down the road but not quite yet.
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Good observation
 
Robert Herndon said:
Esge showed me a Vox Hybrid Modeling Anp
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The Kemper is in a different galaxy from “modeling” amplifiers. It is a profiling amp. It goes beyond even what an Axe FX does in that it doesn’t use built-in amp models. Rather, you profile an actual amplifier.

Unlike what I’ve said before about the “feel” of tube amps vs. solid-state amps, the Kemper is no mere SS amp. It allows you to profile one of your own amps, or to download profiles. One of the premier people to create profiles for the Kemper is Michael Britt, who actually sells profiles he’s built.

The Kemper is so good that, supposedly, even professional players who are experienced in a given amp have a hard time distinguishing it from the actual amp. I reproduces not just the sound but the feel and responsiveness of the amp.

The reason I suggested it to you is because you seem to be in a perpetual cycle of trying to get an amp to do something that it can’t quite accomplish. Your DSL-40c being a prime example. Something like a Kemper allows you to recreate an amp, without having to keep buying new amps. You just experiment with far less expensive profile packages, if you choose not to make your own.

But, the profiles can be tricky to build and can take a bit of time to get right, from what I understand. For best results, you also need some very good mics, preamps, and interfaces to get a nice profile, too.

Here’s a video about it. He talks both to its strengths and weaknesses.

One drawback is that, while the amp profiling can be very good, it’s built-in effects are a little lacking. Though, it does have a loop so you can run your own effects, if you choose.

 
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gball said:
I have a very good friend in a touring band that's on the road about 8 months out of the year (a lot of you would know him but this is not about name-dropping). He uses a Kemper for writing and practice but will not use one for recording and definitely not for performance. When it comes time to roll tape or do the gig he's plugged into a JVM or OR. He likes the versatility of the Kemper but he really feels that the tones are not quite there for recording yet. Maybe down the road but not quite yet.
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That’s interesting.

From what I’ve heard, more recent firmware has really improved it.

I’d like to try one.
 
Robert Herndon said:
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/vox-valvetronix-vt100x-100w-1x12-digital-modeling-guitar-combo-amp?rNtt=Vox modeling amps&index=7
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$379.99 for a “modeling” amp?

You may safely assume it will be disappointing.

That kind of processing isn’t cheap.

One single audio input card that I sell which incorporates acoustic echo cancellation is the same price...and that’s my dealer price...for one single card.

That’s not the whole audio digital signal processor and chassis...just one audio input card. I just looked up the price this afternoon for a job.
 
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Robert Herndon said:
Well, I spent $2,500 on a JVM that was a disappointment on a grander scale....but people don't want to talk about that
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Robert, I see a trend, and I am realizing that Marshalls are just not for you. If you were not happy with a JVM (a JVM!!) and you have to constantly fuss with your DSL, I really think it's time to shop around for another amplifier company.

BTW, could not agree more with smitty_p...as with most (OK, all) things in life, you definitely get what you pay for with modeling technology. Cheap ones do not sound like they things they are supposed to sound like.
 
smitty_p said:
That’s interesting.

From what I’ve heard, more recent firmware has really improved it.

I’d like to try one.
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I've recorded through Axe-FX. It seemed to be very easy for an engineer to shape the sound. I've never personally used it or the Kemper.
 
gball said:
Robert, I see a trend, and I am realizing that Marshalls are just not for you. If you were not happy with a JVM (a JVM!!) and you have to constantly fuss with your DSL, I really think it's time to shop around for another amplifier company.

BTW, could not agree more with smitty_p...as with most (OK, all) things in life, you definitely get what you pay for with modeling technology. Cheap ones do not sound like they things they are supposed to sound like.
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The JVM is ok. But it wasn't jaw dropping and maybe that isn't a realistic expectation. My 2203 Marshall was not incredible either. It did not sound good on recordings.

To be honest, my 1997 Valvestate has given me great service, and great tone, but it's old now and I worry that it might fail....
 
Robert Herndon said:
The JVM is ok. But it wasn't jaw dropping and maybe that isn't a realistic expectation. My 2203 Marshall was not incredible either. It did not sound good on recordings.

To be honest, my 1997 Valvestate has given me great service, and great tone, but it's old now and I worry that it might fail....
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I don't know, I think being floored by a JVM is a realistic expectation personally. Every JVM I've plugged into or been near when someone else is playing has been freaking spectacular. They're the best-sounding, most versatile amps Marshall has ever built: If you're not blown away by one then it reinforces my thought that maybe Marshalls aren't your jam.
 
smitty_p said:
I would suggest that most of that price was the name.
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Not so sure. All that functionality and tone doesn't come cheap, from Marshall or anybody else. Their pricing is right in line with competitive amps from other makes. It's a rarefied territory with amps like that, not too many companies making such feature-laden models.
 
gball said:
Not so sure. All that functionality and tone doesn't come cheap, from Marshall or anybody else. Their pricing is right in line with competitive amps from other makes. It's a rarefied territory with amps like that, not too many companies making such feature-laden models.
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Well, that’s good to know!
 
@gball - interesting that nothing sounds better on a recording - through my DAW - than my Blackstar ID-core 100. We've even used it on some studio projects and the engineer couldn't believe how it sounded on a recording.

Conversely, it doesn't sound great live! I used it for one performance and it just didn't impress.

I think - at least for the most part - i am realizing that I drank the Kool Aid of brand/tube loyalty for many, many years.
 
Robert Herndon said:
@gball - interesting that nothing sounds better on a recording - through my DAW - than my Blackstar ID-core 100. We've even used it on some studio projects and the engineer couldn't believe how it sounded on a recording.

Conversely, it doesn't sound great live! I used it for one performance and it just didn't impress.

I think - at least for the most part - i am realizing that I drank the Kool Aid of brand/tube loyalty for many, many years.
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I really think those ID-Cores are more intended to be recording interfaces than actual amps. I have the tiny little Core:10 and that's all I use it for - it's a genuine turd when you use the internal speakers but is pretty passable for recording or using 'phones, so I use if for coming up with ideas since all the effects and different amp models are built in. It doesn't hold a candle to my Mark 5/pedalboard on a recording but it definitely gets the job done easier when you are writing stuff.

As for tube loyalty, well I'm open...Life would be easier without hot, heavy, delicate tube amps, so when someone comes up with an alternative that compares I'll be all in. That day is definitely not today though.
 
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