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It's certainly not that I think only valves are the only way... I'm also someone who chose a solid-state Peavey over a valve Mesa for one band I was in - because it sounded better, no other reason .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
the whole thing is really to satisfy the player, not the audience.
I once had this very discussion with a pro piano player. He was actually playing the organ at a friend's wedding, something he did as a "sideline". He played a load of classical stuff as we were waiting in church and I remember thinking bloody hell if that's his second instrument... He couldn't half drink as well. In the bar afterwards I sheepishly introduced myself as an, ahem, fellow musician, and during the conversation I asked him what he thought about digital technology. He told me he was all for it, and it wouldn't bother him if he could only play electronic instruments for the rest of his career. He reckoned they had conquered all the shortcomings about responsiveness which early piano's had.
This of course is someone who earned his living full time from playing keyboards, but he emphasised it was also his hobby and still preferred all the advantages of digital.
I have a young friend who is a very good pianist, plays in a theatre orchestra, and he's ambivalent on the issue. He doesn't much mind either way. Don't know if these guys are representative but I must admit I was surprised.
Personally, no amount of money could tempt me to go back to my old gear now I’ve gone to the Axe FX. Like others, I’ve practiced, played and written much more in the last 11 months than I ever did before that. I’m a better player now too. I credit the Axe FX for that.
View my feedback at www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/1201922
Seems the modelling thing is getting cheaper...
https://video1.thomann.de//vidiot/02591c1c/video_i6188p10_yd59vqpa.mp4
In all honesty with the price of the Helix LT, there’s no good reason not to own both.
I own a decent valve amp, will be getting another this year, but will keep the my LT whatever. It’s useful in so many applications the question of valve vs digital has never really come up for me. Sometimes I want the purity of a valve amp, sometimes I want the versatility of the Helix, sometimes I use them together. The Helix keeps being updated as well which is worth the entrance price alone.
One thing that hasn't been discussed much is what it's like for a member of the audience. if there is a half decent PA a modeler will give a much better sound for the audience. If you have a traditional backline set up with the PA only used for vocals, someone at the front near the guitar amp will get deafened while someone off to the side won't hear the guitar properly.
Ideally you do want the guitar in the PA to get a decent spread of sound. If you have a competent sound engineer you are likely to get a better balance as well. If you are mic'ing an amp into the PA, then you will normally get a better sound out of the PA from a modeler than with an SM57 slapped in front of it.
There is also the reliability issue. Several times, I've turned up to play places and turned my amp on to get a frying pan sound because of a dodgy valve.
Having said that, recently I've been using a real valve amp live rather than my Kemper, but I am intending to get a Yamaha DXR10 (or similar) soon and start using the Kemper live more.
The AFX, in particular, offers the ability to create amp tones that do not already exist. The various circuits are modelled, but so are all the components and values - which means its probably the ONLY modeller that allows you to create tones not just copy them. I also love the variety of tones on offer from a single unit - and lets not forget its first and foremost an FX processor not an amp simulator (this came later in its development).
All that said - if you only need a select few tones, and a decent real amp gives them - then thats still the best sound and feel. For me, its not that simple - though Im getting closer to being happy with a few rather than a lot.
Im at the point where I splashed £2k on a stage piano rather than putting that towards and AFX3, and will probably save but then get a nice decent amp instead of the 3 - the 2 being good enough for me to record with and noodle at home. If I play out (rare these days) then a simple amp will be better. Having an AFX2 AND a good quality proper amp is better all round than an AFX3 an no amp. Its taken some soul searching to come to this decision though.
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.