When Should You Use A Modeling Amp
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 พ.ค. 2022
- Baxter and Jonathan dive into the times when you should pick a modeling amp over a tube amp. There are some great pedal board based rigs like the Ax FX and the Kemper or the Tonemaster Amps or even the Spark from Positive Grid.
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I switched to modeling amps when I realized that no one listening cares if there are tubes or not.
Yep, I love tube amps and will always have them at home but for the majority of my gigs a modeler works so much better.
Maybe if I’m playing a fair/festival where I can use one tone the whole time I’ll bring out an amp, but otherwise it’s helix all the way
Audiences also didn't care that Nickelback is terrible. You can't always trust the audience to be arbiters of taste. They don't know any better. Lol
When the drummer kicks in, does it really matter if it’s tubes or microprocessors?
Thank you lol I hate the people that just try and shove tube amps down your throat. >.< just shut up and let me enjoy my stuff lol
I say this as someone that has tube amps (literally waiting for an expensive boutique tube amp to arrive and peeing myself in excitement), I think a huge chunk of the appeal is playing something "nice", "vintage" or whatever. When I get with my music buddies we discuss our gear and get excited but nobody else ever cares lol
The thing I like about modelling amps, is the setup you had yesterday, is exactly the same today. I really hate when I switch on my tube amp and think, "why doesn't it sound as good as yesterday?". That, and it sounds good at low volume at home. No need to crank it and destroy my hearing when I'm the only one listening.
Both tube amps and modelers are amazing!! Right tool for the right job. It couldn't be easier these days to get a great tone
I think Spiderman would definitely use a tube amp. Having said that, Tony Stark would try to get him to use a modeler and for a while it'd be OK but he'd end up going back to his tube amp!
I love the A/B shootouts that Anderton's has been doing over the recent years, because it shows that, in the vast majority of situations, the sound quality is indistinguishable, or is so close that it doesn't realistically matter. That said, I think anyone that's played at least a decent-quality tube amp knows that simply the movement of air and the way that it hits you when you're playing next to it is irreplaceable, at least for now. Because of rising housing costs, I think more and more people will be living in apartments and/or housing that has shared walls, where you simply aren't able to turn a tube amp up to any usable volume where it sounds decent, so amp modeling will only continue to gain market share and the tech will continue to improve. Hell, even Mayer said that his mid-solo on Wild Blue is on a Fractal, so you know that if someone as discerning as him is not only okay with using it but is willing to PUT IT ON AN ALBUM RECORDING, it sounds pretty damn good. Personally, I've had a few really high-end amps (silverface early 70s Vibrolux Reverb, vintage Twin, Two Rock Studio Pro 35), and while they were freaking kick-ass and undoubtedly sound just that tad bit better than any modeler (in particular, the playing dynamics), I am in LOVE with my Fractal FM3 and my Kemper, and I don't see a reason why I'd ever want to spend $2-5k on a massively heavy, expensive, excessively loud tube amp again. That said, if I were a touring musician, of course you'd want to stick with a tube amp, as none of those downsides really matter in that situation.
I love my blonde Fender Tone Master Twin! It's not going to replace my tube amps, but the sound and weight make it a great alternative for gigging.
I'm looking for the same Fender Blonde Tone Master Twin used or demo for my next amp. Wish it was a little less expensive but I want the creambacks that come with it!
I was gonna leave a comment also praising the tone master twin in blonde. Great amp, and I’m glad others agree. Also interesting to check out the original and test the blonde one side by side not sure if it’s just the speaker difference or firmware etc. but they do sound different.
@@BRAG450
I have the Blonde and the difference is that it’s warmer. Anderton’s has a great video comparing the two side by side.
I switched to Kemper back in 2019, Kemper Stage, and it's been exactly what I've always wanted. if I'm being honest, I never got along well with amps or pedals. I do own a few Tube amps, but i probably havent turned them on in over a year or two. The only Amp I really liked that did both the clean and dirty sound equally good is my PRS MT15. If you really think about it, aren't we listening to mic'd up versions of tube amps from all our favorite bands/songs? Not everyone can mic up their amps and play them through a professional sounding board and speakers. Essentially that's the sound we're getting from amp modelers (At least for me from a Kemper). Any who, if you can get a sick tone still from a Tube amp, keep it going. but for convenience, pricing, and tonal flexibility, you can't beat a modeling amp. Thanks for coming to my Tedtalk.
exactly ..... Pedals SUCK !
As a beginner guitar player (just over a year) and being budget-conscious I purchased a Fender Mustang GTX50 so I could experiment with different effects and amp sounds without sinking money into a bunch of pedals that I wouldn't know how they worked or what they did. It is great for what I want to get out of playing right now. The added benefit is I'm learning what effects I like and how to tweak them so if I decide to start recording and playing outside of my apartment I will know what pedals I want to purchase with a tube amp.
Try looking for a NUX MG-300. I wish I had one of these when I started playing. The plugins are amazing. You can create your own tones using known pedal styles. There are PA/monitor settings or switch amp mode and use it as a pedal board into the front of the amp. I picked a used one up for $89.00 and use it all the time.
Do you feel overwhelmed by the options or do you enjoy having so many?
One of my problems with digital gear is that it has a learning curve and so many options when I just want to play.
I’ve been playing since the early 90s so im curious how a newer player might feel
@@honkytonkinson9787 Yeah, ironically I feel that's the big issue w/ digital sometimes. Just so many options when sometimes it's just good to have 1 simple sound and go from there w/o thinking too much.
Don't let the options overload you. Settle on a few sounds to try and stick w/ that is my advice. Seen a lot of people spend more time on the gear than playing. Nothing wrong w/ that but it is what it is. Where the modeler comes in handy IMO is ease of practice. If you need a specific tone for a song you're learning it's right there vs. having to buy a pedal or get out, if you're lucky your board.
The convenience of having everything in a box and being able to pipe in backing tracks or even the original recording to play to is unbeatable. Not to mention the looper is your best friend and it's all right there. Good luck!
I spent the first few days messing around with the presets just to hear what they sounded like. I then created my own with just a tube pre-amp, a compressor, and then i swap in random effects pedals one at a time so I can hone in on how they sound. It was overwhelming at first but it's a blast.
I love teaching lessons with my Katana 50, its so reliable and easy to get a variety of sounds and its light wieght for traveling. Plus I made my money back in one day of teaching it was such a good deal. But I do prefer playing through my tube amps for dynamics and what ever you put in the amp comes out sound for gigs.
I play a bluguitar amp1 which is neither a “tube” amp nor a modellling amp. It is the best amp I ever played. Sold the old tubes. Never looking back.
The original story had Thanos scouring the galaxy for a matching set of tubes for his MIG-50.
I use it all the time.
I got tired of tube amps long ago, sold my Engls and 5150s and went Kemper and now sold that too...
Currently using an ancient Digitech GSP1101 which I find to sound really good, and it's cheap, so if it breaks live, it's easy to find a cheap replacement.
Some people prefer tube amps and thats great.
We all have our different approaches and preferences :)
I live in a small apartment in Los Angeles & I have some fussy neighbors. A modeling-amp has been a life-saver when late-night inspiration hits. I have a Boss Gt-100 & it has a few amazing sounds in it.
“Fussy”?
Probably normal.
I’ve played for years but never owned a tube amp. Right now I’ve got two Boss Katana 50s (a MkI and a MkII) connected by a Radial BigShot ABY pedal for wet/dry. Works for me, sounds great. One day I will probably get a tube amp but I’ll keep the others too.
Good discussion. Was considering a modeling amp.
Bedroom player and love my Spark amp--use it every day---39 amp models, 49 pedals, smart jam and backing tracks galore keeps me engaged and wanting to play----isn't that what it's all about?
All I have is a spark now. Does everything I need. I don’t play in a band or anything
@@chrisbourne4687 Me neither--so the Spark provides everything I need too!
A great discussion piece that I think y’all would have a blast with, best musical intro’s for a song. I say Dave Matthews Band Warehouse, Tool’s Eulogy, and AC/DC Thunderstruck. Those intros just get you juices flowing and get you pumped.
I have a Fender Hot Rod Deville, a Two Rock Burnside and a Revv G20 and they all sound exceptional, especially with a few nice pedals thrown in front of them. I also have just one solid state and it’s a little 200 dollar Spark, I set up four nice sounding presets ( a clean, then a crunch and so on to a metal sounding as the fourth ). The Spark honestly gets used the most just for ease and convenience practicing and it sounds amazingly good, especially for it’s price range. Along with the Bluetooth and even a headphone jack it does everything you’d need to practice for hours upon hours.
I’m not saying it sounds better then the other ones but for the price and it’s convenience I’d recommend one to anyone. I also find myself playing more and a lot less time messing with knobs and adjustments when I’m practicing with my Spark as well. As you guys mentioned… they really have come a hell of a long way.
Kemper was a game changer for me. Revolutionized my entire guitar playing hobby. You have to have really good quality and well recorded profiles. That is the key. People love AC/DC's "Back In Black". I do, too. When you fire up that album Angus doesn't appear in your room playing his SG through a JTM 45. It's a great amp set at it's sweet spot miked up, recorded and produced well. That's a great analogy of what a Kemper is. Never going back to tube amps.
This is the conversation I’ve been wanting
Both great. I play more often and harder on my modelers. For home play volume control is imperative to playing free and natural without compromise.
The best of both worlds. I've used Fender Tube amps since the 60s, but 12 years ago I bought a new Peavey Vypyr 1, that I used exclusively in the studio for an album I did with our band. I used the Deluxe Reverb setting with a Tube Screamer setting and a bit of delay when needed. I used it live onstage and was NEVER disappointed in that I didn't have to have a crap load of pedals. I still love my Princeton Reverb and all of the Deluxe Reverbs and Classic 30s I have owned. A couple of years ago I decided to buy a 65 Fender Deluxe Reverb Black Face re-issue, but tried one side by side with a Deluxe Reverb Tone Master. I have been playing guitar since the mid 60s, and I could tell NO DIFFERENCE. Maybe others can, but I ran those amps through the works (great family owned store in Erie, PA allows you all the time you need) and while I had the cash for the Tube Amp, I was sold on the Tone Master. I think Fender did it right just modeling their own ONE amp. The selling feature was the EXACT reverb and tremelo modelling. Each to their own, but the less I personally have to mess with pedals, the better. Even with the Tone Master, I have to use pedals. The Peavey is retired to my studio, but never for sale. I got my $200 worth plus more!! Here's a live clip... and YES, the man on violin is Trent Reznor's Father! He whipped us into a good band!! th-cam.com/video/gGLfGBNIakQ/w-d-xo.html
From the studio with the Peavey Vypyr. Title track to the album - What's Left Of The Road - th-cam.com/video/YP-VQrfZ5s8/w-d-xo.html
Modeling, if you know what your doing, sounds great. I love it because it is so easy and travel friendly. I love tube amps, they sound great but my AC30 would blow out my windows before it would sound good.
I have the same problem. I love tube amps but to get it sounding really good I have to kill my ears. At lower volumes, which is probably 95% of the time I’m playing anyways, I prefer modelling. On my rare days I actually gig though it’s going to be tube amps for me (for now) because I can actually crank it.
That's the big advantage of digital. It sounds good at a volume that doesn't destroy your hearing.
No… just no. People always exaggerate when they say stuff like that. If I haven’t blown my windows with a Mesa Dual Rec and 4X12 V30s then your vox isn’t coming close. Like any community, guitar has it’s “old guys”. It’s like the sport bike vs Harley community. Harley guys say 80-120 is speeding yet it’s LITERALLY child’s play when you’re used to riding 130-200.
You played to my heart strings by bringing in the smell of tube amps. I had a JVM410h and yes... When everything got warmed up, it had its own distinct smell. The warm tolex, wood, adhesive...etc would have its own smell. Since smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, it's something that just thinking about it brings back that smell.
I do play modelers quite often though. It's super easy to move from one great tone to a completely different style with a couple of clicks. Tube amps still have their place though.
I grew up with tube amps obviously, but jumped on the Kemper train a few years back. Still have tube amps of course, but also bought an UA Oxbox. Now I use the kemper for rehearsals, gigs where load out can be a real challenge...as well as gigs like theater/pit orchestra shows, etc., and use the amps/oxbox on larger stage shows where load in/load out isn't a big deal, we have the time to set up, etc. My Kemper Stage is set up to mimic my pedalboard so it's pretty easy to bounce back and forth.
The Kemper lives in its SKB case so I also throw it in the truck even on the analogue amp/pedalboard gigs....you know.....just in case....
For what it’s worth, for my ears, I found the absolute best practice amp scenario skipping all modelling stuff for the most part. Roland JC 22 with this $40 American Joyo pedal set without any drive going into the effects loop, so it’s basically a substitute preamp. Sets up a perfect Deluxe Reverb clean tone. In front of that a drive pedal (I have Alexander Jubilee) and before that an EQ pedal. Not to get into gear stuff, but for the volume level at home playing vs church scenario etc, this is the best solution I’ve found. Sounds better than Deluxe Reverb with attenuator, etc., and not at all tinny and fake like a modelling plug in or whatever. And definitely doesn’t hide imperfections in playing, of which I have many.
Still rocking my Roland Cube 30 :) I enjoy the twin, tweed, 5150 and rectifier models :)
Good work guys . As for me head phone amp an a two or three solid state amps, I'll be fine
I think the next wave of products will be the speakers to go with the Axe FX, Kemper, Quad Cortex. Line 6 already has a cab for their floor units.
Another great chat. I don’t think digital amps compete with tubes at louder volumes. You can get a good sound at low volumes in your house, but they sound horrible when you turn them up to stage volume with a drummer. I had a Roland Cube that sounded great in my house but would really be a major disappointment when I took it out of the house to play for real. Also, some of the small 5 watt tube amps they’re coming out with for home use are meeting a real need. I love my Supro Blues King 10. Perfect home amp. Really cranks in a small room
Yep. Imo it's hard to beat a good tube amp when you gotta play loud. And I don't like to use but a couple of effects pedals, if any . Just plug in and turn all the knobs wide open. You can get a variety of sounds by using the guitar's controls and different picking/ playing techniques.
I played a Supra 25watt(don't know what model) about a year ago and fell in love with it. If it wasn't so expensive I'd have taken it home.
Yep. I got a Blackstar ht5rh bc you can run it on 0.5. Sounds great and doesn't annoy my neighbours (unless I want to). ✌️🇦🇺
Honestly I think that's less of a "digital gear" problem and more of a "Roland Cube" problem. There's absolutely digital gear out there that's giggable - a Fender Tonemaster Deluxe is just as capable of bringing the house down as its tube-based inspiration, and doesn't sound any worse at gig volumes.
Not to mention the possibility of just plugging a multieffect directly into the PA at the venue.
I use modellers for practising and learning songs, and I use tube amplifiers for performances.
HX Stomp allows me to bring some electric sounds to my acoustic shows.
I love my Spark 40 for practice and my Marshall Code 50W for playing out with others. Lightweight, easy to dial in, great choices for any type of tone desired. Tube amps are great too, (presently shopping for one since my DSL40 died). Model amps have come a long way the past 10 years - so to knock them til you try them.
Spark 40 best home/practice/travel amp ever!
@@codysroom6303 100% Agree
Yeah, I love my Spark. I was so turned off by their PR strategy but decided to give it a shot because it had some things I was looking for...I was impressed w/ how good it is for the size. That's after some of the things they promised sucked, but I still loved it.
If I had to do it over I'd have the Spark, a small tube amp and a bigger amp (might even be a Tone Master) for playing out. I'm a big fan of the spark, it just makes practicing so much easier.
@@RogerThat902 I got mine in February 2020 and waited 5 months for it to arrive - was part of the first shipments -- Positive Grid was great in communicating when it will ship and with the firmware updates! I agree that some of the features like the jam along isn't consistent. but it does exactly what i needed it for in practicing
@@RogerThat902 my favorite amp model is the switchaxe (hughs @ kettner switchblade model) thats my next high gain head im buying after i buy the crate blu voodoo 120 head next saturday.
My daily driver is a Fender Mustang GTX50. It gives me all the different tones I need as a home player with reasonable sound levels. If I want LOUD I can plug into a Peavey 3120 driving 120 Watts from 4 EL34's into a quad 12 inch Valve King Peavey cab. Direct or via the GTX which will output signal I can send to the big tube head. I also have a 180 watt Roland AC550 which will also mix in up to 4 channels including mics. For travel I carry a tiny Blackstar Fly 3. A DigiTech multifunction pedal with wah/volume pedal is more than enough on the non-modelers.
I never caught the 'Pedal Disease'. Built in effects today are plenty for me. I see people with a $500 guitar and a $5000 pedal board. Makes no sense to me but have fun if you like it. So many pedals sound so alike to my ears.
I live for these videos.
I am looking at the Line 6 Catalyst They sound amazing! 60 watt 100 watt and 200 watt with 12" speaker two 12" for the 200W. Every demo I have seen the sound is remarkable. I have a Spark 40 which is fantastic also but I want a better pedal platform. You also can split the amps from 60W to 30W to.5W same for the higher watt ones. Once they come in at Sweetwater I am going to try one which one I haven't decided yet.
I am not a good enough player to really worry about tube vs digital. I use the spark because of its Bluetooth abilities. Great for doing internet lessons and playing to jam tracks. I do have a tube amp, and a couple of other modelers.
I got the Axe III back in ‘18. I haven’t fired up the tube amps since. 😀
Love your videos. Been watching for about a year daily. Funny thing is, is that im i heavey metal hard rock and yes emo type indie stuff lol. But even though u like fender amps and vintage gear, i love vintage gibson and fender guitars but i gotta have a peavey 6505 or something similar in the amp department. But though we have differance's in amp and music taste.we share the same love of guitars , gear, music, and my favorite MOVIES! I wish casino guitars nothing but good luck and sending good energy to u and the employees all u guys. Great work look forward to watching ya'll daily.
Just purchased my first tube amp, a Fender Blues Jr. I’m sold!!!
Great little amp. Great for modding, etc. too. I still have the Tweed one I purchased a while back.
Took a while but both routes. Boogie tube amp with (captor X for lower volumes) & Blonde Tonemaster. Both Can XLR into MAudio Air for computer interface if headphones/recording desired. Can even run stereo with twin cities.
This is the only instance in which a discussion of amp modelers seamlessly transitioned into a conversation about Red Dawn.
I have a tube amp, and I like it. I avoided owning one my whole life because of one time as kids when we were in a guitar shop, and there was a Marshal half stack. My brother said “Oh! You have to try that!” So we plugged in a guitar, and turned it on. No sound came out, then it started smoking. Naturally we ran like hell. I was fine with solid state my whole life. Sounded great at any volume. Professionally, there was always an amp the producer, house, etc. wanted me to use. I understand that my experience in music has been different than most, but it didn’t matter what amps I owned. As long as I had something for jam sessions. Now, I just feel like tube amps are for personal playing. I have a direct pedal rig for live, and recording. If more people understand the stages of an amp they’d realize you don’t actually need a modeler. Just an I.R.
I grew up with a Line 6 Spider III halfstack that I bought with summer job money when I was 16. It had a lot of awesome tones in it. It would shake my bedroom and sound “good” doing it. I always wanted a tube amp halfstack but the cost was FAR outside the realm of possibility for me so it stayed a dream for a LONG time. I’d be interested to hear my amp modeled in a live setting at HIGH volume. I feel like volume is the deciding factor for me. It needs to sound killer at high volumes.
I've played and owned a variety of digital, solid state, tube etc and they all have their advantages/disadvantages. Imo it's a personal preference and also the intended use of a particular amp. On stage I prefer a tube amp. Love the class A types. But they're not for everyone.
I would love to see the edge use a helix for one tour. Those helix guys have made some VERY accurate live U2 tones on those things
Love my super Champ xl 2 especially for recording, my vintage twin is a beast
I add modeling via effects pedals into any of 16 tube amps (the Micro Terror has an SS power section). I have collected mostly cheap, low power amps, either used or heavily discounted new. I have only a few that are 10-20W, the rest are 1-7W. I've gotten deals on Fender and Marshall, Supro and Vox and numerous others. There are no JTMs or 4X12 cabs in the collection, but a lot of variety.
Oops, forgot that I do have two tiny modeling amps, a Mustang Micro and a Vox AmPlug for late night playing.
Low wattage tube amps are great. I consistently turn to my Blackstar ht5rh, bc I can run it at 0.5 at home. Sounds good at low vol, and you can actually adjust the vol knob, rather than move it ever so slightly, and blast your ears.
As someone who never could afford the luxury of a nice tube amp in my 15 years of playing(I'm 30 now), I think amp modeling is SO cool. I love that I was able to pay a very low price compared to a tube amp for a whole setup right on my computer, and now I can just plug into my computer, set my stuff and jam out through monitors. I pretty much always played amps like the Line 6 Spyder and other amp modelers until the computer amp stuff like BiasFX and Neural DSP came out. Now I'm only on those!
I'm lucky have a nice well insulated/dampened separate building that a band can crank up in and barely hear it outside. Since the pandemic I only play by myself for my own enjoyment so I mainly use my tube amps and turn em up. But I own both types. I dont have a Kemper or anything but I wouldn't hesitate to use one if the situation called for it. Ive watched as dig tech got better and better and it's. only gonna keep improving. I've owned a Mustang, and still have a little Micro Roland Cube for low vol situations.
The times I'd use a modeler:
1. Recording direct, just so much less hassle. But why use outboard gear at all? Modern plug ins sound fantastic once you decide on what you want.
2. Practicing where vol is an issue, you can get great tones at very low vol.
3. Playing live/going direct/in ears, etc. where you need presets and consistency.-wedding band, sideman for known artist, bar band playing multiple genres & styles, etc.
4. Beginner-needs a practice tool that wont disturb anybody with lots of option to explore to figure out what you like.
5. You the kinda person who loves to explore all those options and perhaps grew up with computers and tech and are not cursed with option overload syndrome and a brain that can only learn so much so fast. . For me, this is the biggest downfall of that stuff. Mastering software and high tech gadgets takes too much effort and energy for an old guy like me. If I was in one of those live bands where an Axe, Kemper , etc might make sense Id have to pay somebody to program the thing.
Completely agree. Even your last point about not wanting to fiddle w/ gear. For me even the modelers I am drawn to (sans Spark) are simple. I just don't want to mess w a bunch of settings.
I use a vox hybrid amp at home. My gigs are all on PA so I use a pedal amp with pedals. Makes things much easier.
Modelers cannot replace tube amps-yet. But they're getting there. My Pod Go is pretty close. So will I sell my tube amps? Never. I was visiting N.C. last week so I stopped in the store. What a great place. If you're in that area, stop in Casino Guitars. It's a seriously cool place. It's not G.C., and that's the great thing about it. Took pictures of my grandson and me on the stools, played a really nice Taylor, bought some T-Shirts, talked with a couple of people for awhile. I wish we had this store in Michigan.
I’m a tone snob and own both but tubes always sound and feel better
I’ve been running Kemper for a while, if you’re a gigging musician it’s a must imo. It’s made set up 100x faster and my tone is very consistent week in and week out. It also makes the sound engineer a lot happier with you.
I love both. But these days I'm running my FM3 into a ps100 (used as a tube power amp) into a few different guitar speaker cabs (depending on the amp model) and it's spot on. I still plug in and crank up my tube amps because I love them, but they don't leave the house these days.
BTW, fun vid!
The wee Spark amp slams the door to the pedal rabbit hole shut 🤔and it's cheap for us Scott's 👍🥃Respect to you fellas.
I play in a cover band & we use modelers. They are useful because of the ease of set up. For gigging & practice. I play bass & use the VT Bass but the guitar players use a Kemper & a Fractal. We practice at the drummers house & he has an electronic kit. All the rest of us have to do for set up is plug into the mixer which has wifi built in so we can all do our own mixes. This allows us to use IEMs & basically have silent practice other than singing (which I'm sure sounds quite funny). We can take our little mixer to gigs & run out to the pa if the venue has one or bring our own. We have 2 of the bose towers with sub woofers & they sound amazing. If the venue has a crappy pa that should be a consideration. That's when I'd bring my bass amp & the guitarists would bring powered cabs. For the most part it works well & it's nice not to haul all the amps etc. All said I do prefer to play though amps mostly for the live sound. The thing that I've always struggled with is vocal monitoring which is where the IEMs shine. The Kemper & Fractal do sound great. The biggest downside of those I think is the learning curve & having them set up to play live or at rehearsal.
Modeling amps and perfect for the house. When playing in a band, tubes rule. They are both very useful in their own situation.
I always love a new episode of Casino Movies.
There's more BS per square foot in the guitar hobby than anything else I've ever been part of, including fly fishing. And that's saying something, because there's BS a-plenty in fly fishing. It's 95 percent mental, the worship of 'vintage' because it's got to be better. "Gear is not for the audience, gear is for you." -- Phil McKnight
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I’m about Baxters age and I’ve tried some digital modelers over the years, always something cheap. Always begin optimistic, but end up disappointed
I’ve had various digitech RP processors, and currently have a Peavey modeling amp from about 10 years ago. The amp is nice cranked with other instruments playing, but if you listen to the amp in a quiet room it’s a little harsh on the edges; causes the usual hearing fatigue that I associate with digital sounds that are attempting to sound analog.
I wanted the modeling amp to be my three different vintage style amps that would be the basis for my pedal board but when I’m at home I always go for the little tube practice amp. It sounds so much better and makes it more fun to play - like the difference between a cheap yellow fizzy beer and your favorite craft beer
The new Fender Tonemaster amps are awesome. They use all the processor power to make it sound like a tube amp. I started playing in 2000 when digital sucked bad. It took me some time to get used to these new modeling amps/plugins that sound amazing and are way cheaper.
@@calebshelton9240 I’m optimistic about those, especially since I’d love to have a Princeton or Deluxe Reverb, but they’re relatively expensive and these types of amps aren’t known for being serviceable nor reliable; haven’t heard anything bad about these yet but have about cheaper amps from other brands. The way manufacturers use their target market for testing these days, instead of sorting out their products before going to market, I’ll be waiting a while before dropping money on the Tone Master series.
There’s a shop down the road that will build hand wired clones of vintage amps for not much more than the price of a new reissue. If I’m going to drop a grand or more on an amp it’ll probably be for a design that already has been vetted
I’m not an amp engineer but one thing I love about my Kemper is that I can make a profile so close of my actual amp that I can’t tell the difference between the amp and Kemper in a recording but I can modify my amp to get sounds I can’t get with my actual tube amp. Now for live, no way. I want full stack volume behind me and yes I’ve always played with stacks and often dined the volume and never had a problem with playing it that loud, maybe you’ve been denied that but I can only speak to my own experience. But for practice and sometimes for recording, I’m totally fine with digital.
Spent a decent 4 1/2 hours trying to get a Marshall sound out of my Mustang Gtx100 yesterday, and I finally got it a great one! Back hurts from being hunched over my amp tho hahaha
The biggest problem w/ the digital stuff. Half the time I'm always trying to fiddle with it and then I'm too tired to play lol
I have an EVH tube amp and a Yamaha THR30ii which gets used the absolute most!!
I have a deluxe reverb and a UAFX Dream. Ready for whatever. LOL LOVE the Dream pedal. But like Jonathan said, Live tube amps are forever sweet though.
The best excuse for SS is that tubes are now unavailable. I got rid of my Roland Cube XL-80, which was not a bad little modeling amp as they go, when I got my Fender Tone Master Deluxe Reverb. The TMDR sounds great (and does an adequate job of modeling a DR), but I've got to say, the JC Clean channel on the Roland Cube was very pretty. Other than my bass amp, I still have one SS amp and one tube amp for six-string electrics, and couldn't be happier. I'm hoping replacement power tubes become available soon at a reasonable price.
"Faux Sound of Success" 😂😂😂😂 - thanks Baxter for the new name for my band 👍
I have a 50 watt katana. Plenty of amp for using at the home!
1) Does it matter which guitar you put through the modeling amp? 2) When you go right to the desk and let the engineer screw with the tone isn't that like using a modeling amp in the studio? I am an idiot on these things.
I use my Kemper Stage along side my Valve Train Michael Britt tube amp which I then connect to Marshall Cabs and it sounds killer. I get air pushing on stage and then FOH levels are set and I can still adjust my amp level on stage if needed. I love tube amps but they are a pain the in ass a lot of times unless you have someone setting your gear up or have all day to set your equipment up.
I use both, modelers for effects and sometimes amps but running 4cm into a tube amp
I play fender bassbreaker 15 and Boss katana mk2 50 as my main Amps..katana mini is awesome for travel and home backyard amp etc..as is the fender mustang micro amp .,.cool functionality to my gear and best of all worlds
My Tonemaster Twin is fantastic for gigging.
I live in an apartment and I use my tube amps through a cheap bugera attenuator and it actually works great! I sometimes try to record with plugins but I always end up going back to a mic on my amps. I just feel like I have better luck that way. I think though that the most important thing in that situation though is just to try to talk to your neighbors and be considerate. If you do need to run your amp loud to record try to do it when they are out or at least before everyone goes to bed.
Is that a ps1 that you've got, and if so, I'm assuming from your comment that you're relatively happy with it?
I got a burgera PS1 for my evil twin red knob and I couldn’t be happier- my amp sounds good and I don’t feel like an asshole!
@@alistairwallace77 I've been tossing up whether to get one, or drop a lot more on a Captor X. Ty.
Hey, yeah it is the PS1. And yeah it works great! It also does a decent job with the cabinet simulation if you wanna DI your amp and skip the speaker when recording. But mostly I just use it to quiet my amp down. And it sounds so much better than just using the drive channel with the master volume really low. Sounds way fuller! Im sure things like the ox box and the captor x are better for some things but if you just wanna quiet your amp down while maintaining the tone the ps1 really is amazing for the price.
@@hangaroundrecords4761 Good to know. I appreciate your reply. ✌️🇦🇺
You can have both... it doesn't have to be either/or. That is why I have both, and why I use both, at home and for gigging, depending on the gig, or covenience, or for the halibut.
I show up for the guitar talk but I stay for the movie tangents.
All I have is a modeling amp. So all the time! Love mine though. I love my presets especially the ones I created.
I'll have to admit I was shocked when I heard Knopfler was touring with Kempers, using profiles of his own amps made at British Grove. Ease and consistency were the considerations cited. I saw him and the sound was great. If your focus is solely on the audience, unless the audience are people like us, they typically aren't going to care or know the difference. Churches are probably a great example there. But if you, as Baxter said, play for joy, then you play for joy all the time. At least I do. Therefore I will always do whatever I can to use an amp, even if it means going halfway and using something like a Captor X (and I invested in good in ears as a joy booster). I simply do not think you can get the same dynamic feel from a modeler. I play a Tweed Deluxe and a vintage Princeton so I am plugged into a relatively simple circuit, therefore pretty dynamic. I suppose if I were playing a dual rectifier on 9 I might have a different opinion. I also think it matters if you are an interpreter or a replicator. I have never been in a situation where I felt I had to exactly duplicate the tone from the recording. I'd rather interpret it, of course within reason, as a reflection of my inner muse. I think that is one of the things that makes live music so beautiful and unique. To some extent, in some circles, we are losing that. When I listen to players I want to hear something authentic that is unique to them. I had the privilege of seeing Tom Petty and Joe Walsh on Petty's last tour and while both delivered on their songs there was an element of creativity and spontaneity in the moment that made it a phenomenal experience. I think gear is a contributing element. Maybe you can get that with a modeler but it seems to me that the dynamics you get with simple analog gear contribute a great deal to creating those unique and special moments.
I've had a Helix n PC112+ for a while, and I'm working on getting it to sound like my analogue gear. It sounds pretty good, and reasonably close... and then you plug in to 'the rig' and... no, there's still something missing.
So very happy I have both! I know people have some pretty strong opinions one way or the other, but I don't care that much.
With tinnitus, I use modeling more often - but when I get the opportunity to play at volumes tubes/valves enjoy, I enjoy that too.
Modeling has only confirmed, with all it's choices, that I 'prefer' a very similar rig either way.
There is a mild difference with the nuances of response, but that isn't deal-breaking considering the advantages.
TL;DR - Accept GAS, get both! A cheap setup these days is easy... but who cares? (It's either that or practice!)
p.s. Transformer without a question for me, but I love anything Mick Ronson touched.
I've had two modelling amps, but I knew something was missing. Just recently I bought my first tube amp - and despite being just a cheap one, it really scratches that itch. I can't see myself going back to modellers again.
Practice, Outdoors or when its the only Amp you own or can afford
The best in TH-cam!!!
I use to play with a bass player who’s Ampeg smelled incredible.
Lololololololol
I will switch to modelling when they get the feel right. They’ve nailed the tube sound but haven’t come close to the feel you get playing a valve amp.
I gigged with a ac15 for years, health thing made me quit gigging. Family hates the tube amp but i can get the tone i want at lower volume out of my modeler so its about all I use anymore.
Mike Mcready and I believe Stone Gossard were playing Fender ToneMaster Deluxe reverbs on their american run of shows in May. Good enough for these two I would say they are good enough for anybody.
I don't know why I hate modeling amps as much as I do, but I do. Whenever I see rig rundown and I see a bunch of that yuck backstage, it gives me a depressed, annoyed feeling. I know they're not cheap, but it feels cheap, to me. There's a too digitally perfect sounding thing that I hate about it. I want an amp, a head, and a bunch of stomp pedals. That's it. You do that and I'll respect you.
Um..the ole’ “Modeling covers up…” argument is the same one I heard about using delays and verbs. There’s value in both. Reality is most stages are quiet these days.
I saw a show featuring a couple of fairly big bands last year and one was using modelers with no amps on stage and then the second band had massive stacks with real amps on stage. I'll let you all guess who sounded better. Also take into consideration that my chick made me go to this show and I am not a fan of either group.
My helix is the answer for nearly every single musical situation I find myself in save one- I just really LOVE tubes.
I use a Fractal Ax8 for TH-cam and also tracking on some recordings. Also church. I played a corporate gig last weekend and went in stereo to the board and it sounded great. However, my rock band …. I use my Fractal for FX only. My tube amps rule the world. Nothing like em. Nothing. They are heavy. They are loud. But they sound wicked.
Live amps sound better for the folks in the front row too.
Sound guys love modelers. 😉
I have an HX Stomp. I then bought a 57 Champ reissue. Then I bought a Boss TAE. Done. All problems and needs sorted.
"times when you should pick a modeling amp over a tube amp" When you turn 65 and lifting your '80s Marshall tube combo feels like lifting 100 lbs.
Modeling has come a long way! I don’t know that anything will ever replace tube amps and cool pedals, but convenient and cost effective, if you know what you’re doing, modeling wins.
I own both.
Digital amps can hang in my closet with my Atari and my Dell desktop. I’ll stick with Solid State and tubes. My 70-80’s SS and tube amps still work great. Will your digi gear work in forty to fifty years? SS Red Dawn lasts forever where as the New digital Red Dawn not so much.
I have a great question for you.. I just invested in a 2023 Gibson Les Paul 50's Standard. I want to obviously get the most out of this guitar. My concern with modeling amps is that I wasted money on a great guitar when any guitar would sound awesome through a modeling amp. I feel like I have to buy a tube amp to get my money's worth out of the guitar. My biggest question for you is- these tube amps say they have a line output that "simulates" the sound from the speaker. Does that mean the line out is a digital representation of a tube amp? Or is it a real analog output using the tubes?
I just don't know. I feel like I bought way too much guitar and now I can't benefit from a modeling amp.
If you have any feedback I'd LOVE to hear it. Thanks for your time.
I use both Tube and modelling amp ..... i use a modeler to get my sound presets (dirty, clean /reverb etc) then run that signal to my 100W combo (into effects loop) - then split off into a 4x10 cabinet that I set on opposite side of stage to spread sound out..... NO PEDALS TO FIDDLE WITH !
When will Casino Guitars sell those Baxter and Johnathon bobbleheads?