Many of the dedicated modeling amps are entry level and are not good...they also try and be all things for all people...as in modeling plus tubes all in one box...when you get to the level of Helix, Kemper and AxeFX all those problems dissolve...you get the modeler stand alone with an FRFR amplified speaker and I'm telling you it WILL Blow you Away...
True. Products on the order of the AxeFX are the pinnacle of processors/modeling. They are an entirely different animal from the preponderance of cheap modeling amps on the market. You cannot judge modeling by the rather anemic attempts to create it in a $200.00 modeling amp.
What's funny is how psychological some of this is. I've told this story on the other forum, but it bears repeating here. A couple of years back, I played an event entirely with my Pod X3 Live. It went fine. However, sitting right next to me was a Laney amp, but it wasn't mine. Well, the guitar player from the opening act came up to compliment me on the sound of my Laney! He was a little surprised when I told him that I had not used that amp and all I used was my processor!
So...ya'll get where I'm coming from. I'm NOT a processor/modeler hater. I use one and I'm plotting how to steal
@Sp8ctre 's Helix! I'm pretty sure I can do it if
@eSGEe can distract him long enough!
But, again, I think it's mistaken to see this entire discussion as a "Tube amps will die because of modelers" discussion. I really don't think tubes will go away. I do think they may occupy a narrower, rarefied-air portion of of the guitar sound market. But, I can't see them going away entirely.
Here's why:
Fundamentally speaking, from a strictly sonic perspective, how are modelers judged by the guitar players who use them? In spite of whatever value they bring to the table in terms of flexibility, convenience, et cetera, a modeler is ultimately judged by how well it models. Yes, you can definitely create your own sounds...no question. They can sound huge...they can sound great. Again, I use them and like them. I just spent the last two hours playing through one. But, to this day, ask yourself, what words do people use to describe amplifier sounds? I'll give you four: Fender, Marshall, Vox, and Mesa. In the metal world you may get the word Peavey, referencing the 6505, or one of its variants. Sure, there are a plethora of other amps...but since 1983 when I first started playing guitar, I've only ever heard those amps used as the reference point for sound. You could almost narrow it down to just Fender and Marshall. Almost all amps are described in terms of how they compare to
those amps.
This is where our forum member,
@Paul G. , made a statement on the other forum that I think is apropos:
"In my experience, if someone tells you something is just as good as whatever, buy the whatever."
So, as long as there is a reference point, someone will want to have the reference.
