Home-use Guitar Rig with Kemper Profiler

[65jonk]

As a a fanatic home guitar player, I have been playing for many years through a 2-channel Mesa Boogie tube amp and before that, a 3-channel Marshall. However, I have found that for home-use, these types of amps are WAY TOO LOUD (especially in recent years with wife and neighbours!) and also TOO LIMITED (to my taste anyway) in their sounds; depending on the number of channels you basically get 2 or 3 dry sounds, in my case a clean and an overdrive sound.

Considering that I like many different guitar sounds, ranging from Marillion’s Steven Rothery, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, Porcupine Tree’s Steven Wilson via Joe Bonamassa, to Slash and the likes of Petrucci, Opeth’s Michael Akerfeldt and such… I have decided to change my gear to a rig based on the Kemper Profiler Rack. I have been reading a lot about this amp and just recently have tested it extensively at a major music store in Germany …. and was absolutely amazed by its flexibility and SOUND.

Again, I am a home player and my plan is to put together a rig for home use, based on the Kemper KPA Rack through a solid state power amp with FRFR speakers (in stereo), offering me maximum flexibility in my tone …. at an acceptable volume!

At the same time I want to get an acoustic sound from my EBMM Petrucci BFR Piezo pick-up into the mix. For this, I am considering the following rig:

From EBMM Petrucci BFR Stereo Cable (TRS split into two mono TS): the Magnetic signal goes into the KPA while the Piezo signal goes into an Aura Spectrum DI. The Stereo Main Outs (XLR) from the KPA go into the Stereo input of a Behringer MX882 rack mixer. The Output of the Aura (XLR) goes into Channel 1 of the same Behringer mixer. On the MX882 I can then blend the acoustic (mono) signal with the KPA stereo signal. Output (Stereo) of the MX882 goes into a Behringer EP2000 Stereo Power Amp which will drive two Yamaha CBR10 or CBR12 wedges.

It’s quite a set-up for home use, I know, but I have been saving to be able to get the gear that I want! Also, I am very aware that this set-up can be VERY LOUD TOO (the EP2000 offers 2x350 W at 8 Ohms), but I do not need to run it at high volume to still have a good sound, now would I?

My question is: will this set-up – specifically the mixing of the acoustic sound with the KPA sound – work as I envision it? I want to be able to switch from acoustic to any KPA-sound and vice versa and at the same time be able to run both simultaneously (for example: acoustic with clean KPA sound) – and all of this through the Yamaha wedges.

Any other suggestions or comments will be highly appreciated!

P.S. I love Modern Guitar Rigs which I got last December for Christmas! Read it front-to-back in a day or so! Very educational and very useful, considering the plans I have for my new rig!

[scottkahn]

Hi 65jonk!

This is an interesting plan, and it would work as envisioned. But you may find your electric guitar tone a bit sterile or flat by using a SS amp into a full-range PA speaker, instead of using a tube amp and guitar speaker cabinet.

What about running the Kemper into a low-power tube power amp into a 2x12 guitar speaker cab wired in stereo, and then alongside this (in between them, physically), get an acoustic guitar amp, 1x12 combo? With some of these, like the Fishman acoustic amps for example, you could then forego buying the Aura Spectrum.

Scott

[65jonk]

Scott,

Thanks for your much appreciated input! I am aware that the sound when using a tube power amp with guitar cab will be different to using a solid state amp with FRFR speakers. However, it is my understanding that, in order to get the typical sound for any of the profiles (including cab profiles), the Kemper – or any other modeller for that matter – is designed specifically to work with a power amp and speaker cabinet that do not “colour” the sound, i.e. solid state and FRFR.

My rig is intended for home use and the idea is that, if I can get Gilmour / Rothery / Bonamassa and/or Petrucci to sound impressive on my home stereo set (definitely of good quality), I should be able to get a “good” sound from the Kemper with solid state power amp and FRFR speakers. Because in the end what I’m hearing on my home stereo set (or even live, for that matter) is a mic’d cab sound, as is the basis for the Kemper Profiles. I understand that the solid state / FRFR way (specifically at medium volumes) won’t give me the “feel” or the “pressure” or the “umph” as what I would get from a tube amp with guitar cab. Or am I being too naïve here???

I plan on getting the most from the various profile sounds which is why I plan on going the solid state / FRFR way. The mixer with Aural Spectrum allows me to get the acoustic sound into the mix, which is the way I prefer (btw, also the acoustic sound will require FRFR!). As with a home stereo set, the choice for the speakers is very personal (and very important!) and I plan on testing various models before making my final decision. The Yamaha’s CBR wedges are my initial consideration based on price and specification. One other alternative under consideration is HK Audio Premium Pro Floor Monitors. Other than that, it will come down to comparing / testing.

Thanks again for your input. If you have any more suggestions / recommendations, it’ll be highly appreciated – especially coming from a Pro in the field!

Jon

[scottkahn]

No problem. Sounds like a good plan!