This solidifies my belief that we’ve truly hit a point with technology in regard to guitar tones where I constantly have to ask myself “does this sound objectively better, or does it just sound different?” I have an Axe-FX II, Kemper, all the JTM profile packs, his IR’s, this Tonality plugin, Neural Soldano, Neural Nolly, Neural Granophyre, STL Will Putney, tons of AmpGuru Kemper profiles, a bunch of Choptones Kemper profiles, Impact Studios profiles (Buster odeholm), and some DrumsAndTones profiles and they all sound awesome. They just sound different from eachother. Some sound more satisfying to jam with but don’t translate well in a mix, and some aren’t satisfying to play but sit perfectly in a mix. I think I’m one of the rare breeds who actually doesn’t really care for the Neural stuff much. I use them sometimes for quirky, effects heavy leads using the built in stomps, but for the most part none of the rhythm tones really scratch the itch for me when jamming nor in a mix. Can’t even describe what’s missing, but I just don’t come back to them much - despite knowing they’re not bad. I think I need to stop buying plugins and profiles at this point cause while the tone search never ends, it certainly seems to have hit a high ceiling and I’m no longer sure how much objectively better things can get. Perhaps not until there’s a new coveted household name amp that changes the genre like the 5150 did so many years ago.
To me it sounds like there isn't a high/lo-pass filter on the KPA. I believe there is a mid freq shift somewhere between STL and the KPA. But IMO a big difference in the sound are the super highs that could be filtered out of the KPA. STL is more 'mix-ready' and the KPA displays the entire eq spectrum. Through a cab it would tailor the frequencies for a live situation. Great video, great comparison. Top notch quality Justin!
Absolutely! Even in just the one pack I own, there are more profiles than I’ll ever use haha. Definitely should’ve noted that in the video. Thank you for that!
I liked the video for the intro alone. Funnily enough, I preferred the kemper for the 5150, and the tonality for the XXX rectifier. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about the midrange in each case that I find unpleasant about the alternative.
Thanks for checking out the video man! I agree with you for sure on the midrange. Granted this isn’t exactly a 1 to 1 comparison as I haven’t dialed in the tonality tones to be as close as possible to the Kemper. They’re all more than useable though.
I like the kemper better , it’s really hard to hear exactly how it sounds on UA-cam , but you get an idea. The kemper behaves more like a real amp and you can feel it in your chest when you have a real good profile. Not a huge fan of pluggings my self . But I think this one sounded really good
Great video man, exactly the content i wanted to see. I've bought and sold 4 kempers since 2015 when I started using them. I had been chasing tone and was never completely satisfied, (too many shitty uninspiring profiles back then or i didn't try enough of em) i eventually just went back to tubes for good. I bought a kemper stage a month ago for one last ride, and got the JTM pack a week ago as well and it's been a game changer. Needless to say this kemper is home for good. I'm curious to know what other KPA profiles you find to be of quality that are worth checking out. Thanks, cheers 🍻 👏
There are definitely a lot of bad profiles out there, but the stuff I’ve paid for is almost all good! Check out Jeff Dune’s profile packs too. His stuff is great and has been used on a lot of heavy records from what I’ve heard.
Will Putney has good ones, they are definitely more for mixing though as some of them are not as good to jam with as some, but I bet they’ll cut through
Interesting the Kemper in your stove. My GF thought mine was a toaster and wondered why it was not in the kitchen... Yep, my GF is a sweetheart, heh, heh. Great tone you have there btw.
The Kemper profiles in the video blow the plug in out of the water. I'm not saying the plug isn't great, or can't be very close. I don't know. But why create sounds so far off? The STL's sounded really scooped and lacked midrange focus. The Kempers: forward, punchy... awsome. Wired vid. Kinda link there's an elephant in the room.
This solidifies my belief that we’ve truly hit a point with technology in regard to guitar tones where I constantly have to ask myself “does this sound objectively better, or does it just sound different?”
I have an Axe-FX II, Kemper, all the JTM profile packs, his IR’s, this Tonality plugin, Neural Soldano, Neural Nolly, Neural Granophyre, STL Will Putney, tons of AmpGuru Kemper profiles, a bunch of Choptones Kemper profiles, Impact Studios profiles (Buster odeholm), and some DrumsAndTones profiles and they all sound awesome. They just sound different from eachother. Some sound more satisfying to jam with but don’t translate well in a mix, and some aren’t satisfying to play but sit perfectly in a mix.
I think I’m one of the rare breeds who actually doesn’t really care for the Neural stuff much. I use them sometimes for quirky, effects heavy leads using the built in stomps, but for the most part none of the rhythm tones really scratch the itch for me when jamming nor in a mix. Can’t even describe what’s missing, but I just don’t come back to them much - despite knowing they’re not bad.
I think I need to stop buying plugins and profiles at this point cause while the tone search never ends, it certainly seems to have hit a high ceiling and I’m no longer sure how much objectively better things can get. Perhaps not until there’s a new coveted household name amp that changes the genre like the 5150 did so many years ago.
Man. I really needed a friend here in Brazil that does what you do.
In any case, the tone is awesome! Especially in the mix. The STL JM plugin is convenient and has Josh's perfect IRs as well.
Excellent vídeo 📹
To me it sounds like there isn't a high/lo-pass filter on the KPA. I believe there is a mid freq shift somewhere between STL and the KPA. But IMO a big difference in the sound are the super highs that could be filtered out of the KPA.
STL is more 'mix-ready' and the KPA displays the entire eq spectrum. Through a cab it would tailor the frequencies for a live situation.
Great video, great comparison. Top notch quality Justin!
Excellent video! Which exact kemper profiles did you use? I have the same pack, but there are different sounds for each amp.
now kemper has the tweek ability. they call it liquid something, shit I cant remember .
It's also worth noting that there are hundreds of JTM profiles. The ones chosen for this video are a small percentage of the options
Absolutely! Even in just the one pack I own, there are more profiles than I’ll ever use haha. Definitely should’ve noted that in the video. Thank you for that!
I liked the video for the intro alone. Funnily enough, I preferred the kemper for the 5150, and the tonality for the XXX rectifier. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about the midrange in each case that I find unpleasant about the alternative.
Thanks for checking out the video man! I agree with you for sure on the midrange. Granted this isn’t exactly a 1 to 1 comparison as I haven’t dialed in the tonality tones to be as close as possible to the Kemper. They’re all more than useable though.
Hey! What mousepad do you have? :)
have u made any presets for the josh middleton plugin
I like the kemper better , it’s really hard to hear exactly how it sounds on UA-cam , but you get an idea. The kemper behaves more like a real amp and you can feel it in your chest when you have a real good profile. Not a huge fan of pluggings my self . But I think this one sounded really good
We needed to hear some serious palm mutes in the mix man.
Great video man, exactly the content i wanted to see. I've bought and sold 4 kempers since 2015 when I started using them. I had been chasing tone and was never completely satisfied, (too many shitty uninspiring profiles back then or i didn't try enough of em) i eventually just went back to tubes for good. I bought a kemper stage a month ago for one last ride, and got the JTM pack a week ago as well and it's been a game changer. Needless to say this kemper is home for good. I'm curious to know what other KPA profiles you find to be of quality that are worth checking out. Thanks, cheers 🍻 👏
There are definitely a lot of bad profiles out there, but the stuff I’ve paid for is almost all good! Check out Jeff Dune’s profile packs too. His stuff is great and has been used on a lot of heavy records from what I’ve heard.
Will Putney has good ones, they are definitely more for mixing though as some of them are not as good to jam with as some, but I bet they’ll cut through
Interesting the Kemper in your stove. My GF thought mine was a toaster and wondered why it was not in the kitchen... Yep, my GF is a sweetheart, heh, heh. Great tone you have there btw.
Hahaha tone toaster!
The Kemper profiles in the video blow the plug in out of the water. I'm not saying the plug isn't great, or can't be very close. I don't know. But why create sounds so far off? The STL's sounded really scooped and lacked midrange focus. The Kempers: forward, punchy... awsome. Wired vid. Kinda link there's an elephant in the room.
I like your house dude hahaha
OMG the Kemper sounds terrible. I'm a Kemper user, but it sounds horrible in this video.
Both are horrendously nasally and need to be EQ'd
trying comedy in the intro but really the comedy is that you didnt even gain match the two amps
Glad someone caught the humor!