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Axe (esspecially if take time tweaking some of deeper settings)
GSP1101 (c63)
Kemper
other modern options
older options
I've not commented much since I sold my Axe FX 2 (with the aim of buying a 3) and bought a Kemper, im hoping to put together a review/blog about it.
But, I love it. The sounds are great, sounds more authentic to my ears. Its easy to use and the FX arent as bad as people say. I prefer chorus, phaser, flanger, vibe and most importantly, delay on the Kemper to the Axe FX... they're more immediate and satisfying to my ears and deliver the sounds I presonally look for.
Overall, it's sounding fantastic for my needs, and I don't regret not waiting for the Axe 3. I prefer Kemper to my old Axe FX. YMMV.
@guitarfishbay, I found the profiles I needed very quickly and would be happy to point you in the right direction if you ever got one.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
I don't need that, though; I'm happy to just make the sounds I want, which it seems that no amp can deliver (no amp that I've tried, anyway). I've come to the conclusion that precisely emulating an amp is actually nothing to do with making the sounds I want, even though it's largely just distortion and delay with a bit of modulation here and there.
I don't particularly like any sound I've had from any Fractal gear, and I can easily make it work with the Helix. On top of that, the Helix's workflow is second to none - it fits exactly what I want to do, and it's trivial achieve that. The fact that it's also the cheapest by a massive margin (well, the LT I have is) is an absolute bonus.
I dare say there are a fair few on here that would disagree with your last couple of sentences though...
I’ve just got back from a gig: I used my Helix and the other guitar player used his aging Boss GT100. Both guitars sounded superb and we got plenty of favorable comments at the end. I think almost anything can be dialed in to sound good, and by the same token, bits of top flight gear can be made to sound terrible quite easily.
When did you last try a Helix by the way? It’s improved a lot to my ears with the last few firmware updates.
It's such a subjective thing that no one dares to say it and its almost always left at "it's a great unit and comes down to what you need as a musician...FX, amp tones etc" or words to that effect.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
Soundwise they are all great and as others have said there is no brand /concept better than the other -just their own sound and operational differences.
FWIW -I loved the Kemper but found I could not get it to lose the Digital "plink" in the same way I could dial it out on Helix
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
The Helix sounds fine and is probably better value for money but guitar pros tend to use the Axe fx ... Mark Tremonti, Steve Vai, Devin Townsend, Dean Parks, Adrian Belew, Ty Tabor, Misha Mansoor, Robert Fripp, Marty Friedman, Guthrie Govan, Vernon Reid, Paul Landers, Greg Howe, John Petrucci, Metallica, Phil Collen, Bumblefoot, Alex Lifeson, Dave Mustaine, The Edge, Dweezil Zappa etc.... why don't they use a Helix?
And here you go ....
https://blog.andertons.co.uk/learn/axe-fx-vs-helix-vs-kemper-vs-amplifire
Conclusions:
Axe fx - pro grade tones, amp matching .. downside expensive.
Helix - intuitive to use, great sounding HX models .. downside poor presets, no amp matching.
Go onto forums and you'll find a typical comment being the Axe sounds more realistic but isn't worth the cash .. a pro guitarist friend of mine borrowed and compared a Helix rack and an Axe fx .. he's currently recording a new album with the Axe ..
If you're happy with a Helix then great .. I didn't say it was crap. I didn't like it and that's from someone who was accused of being a Line 6 fanboy on this forum.
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
We're not just talking about Axe FX vs Helix, if that's what your first statement in this thread was referring to.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
Did I say the Helix is rubbish? No. I still use an early red Line 6 POD 2 bean to record. Can I get a decent tone? Yes.
And not everyone has £2k + to spend on an Axe. The Helix offers better value for money - it sounds good and is easy to use but I stand by the statement which you'll find in other places that the Axe sounds better.
At the end of the day it's all irrelevant. It's a point of view.
Remember, it's easier to criticise than create!
And best at what? Workflow, UI, sound, FX, tone?
Axe FX is good in many ways, IMO...tweakability, depth, options, delays and reverbs. Helix has a fantastic UI and endless routing options. Kemper has great tone matching to real amps and the effects are good.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922