HOTONE: Ampero II Stage FW V1.04 (...having some fun with!)

www.hotoneaudi...
I've been trying to find time to properly demo the Ampero II Stage since it arrived on my desk some weeks ago. Today's firmware V1.04 release kind of forced the issue as it includes a couple of JP Boogie emulations and a cool new reverb 'Silver Linings'. So rather than just sit in front of the camera and ramble on about all of the features, bells and whistles, etc., I thought I should just put it to work in a way that I'd use it. Get straight to the practicality. I wrote a kitchen sink kind of patch that includes two of the new amp models, the new reverb, a couple of Scenes to switch between the amps and some satellite effects to dress it all up. Honestly, this is all I'd need to go out and gig. The Ampero II Stage sounds great, is dead simple to use and the footswitches can be as simple or comprehensive as you see fit. The footprint is small, the interface stellar and the tones exemplary. There's a lot to love. Many other KZbinrs have already covered the extensive features so I thank them for doing the heavy lifting, and I'll just leave this here. Rock on.
How to strap a preset like this together: • HOTONE: Ampero II Stag...
Today's tools:
Guitar: 2022 Charvel Select Custom Shop So-Cal HSS Snow White. Stock
Amp: Hotone Ampero II Stage
Cables: BOSS (Ampero II Stage connected via USB C to iMac).
Strings: Ernie Ball 10-46
Pick: Signature Honey Pick www.honey-pick...
Mic: N/A
Camera: GoPro HERO10 + Sony ZV-1M2 x 2
Soundcard: Ampero II Stage & PreSonus Quantum 26x32 (No longer available)
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors - www.presonus.com
Monitor Control: SPL 2Control - spl.audio/en/s...
Headphones: Audix A150 - audixusa.com/p...
All Stands: Gravity Stands - www.gravitysta...
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
Backing track "Golden Era" (an all-time fave) courtesy of jamtrackcentral.com

[@peterjepps1229]

Clicked for the review, stayed for the playing🤘😎🤘

[@alexandergrunewald8752]

Yes!

[@wackywabbitt9316]

Such sweet warm tones. And the depth of the sound. Beautiful demo. Replayed it several times. Thank you

[@tim290280]

I've got the Ampero One and couldn't be happier with it. That said, the extra features on the Stage are exactly the sort of "improvements" you want from the line.

[@tuesdayzrain]

Just got my Ampero II and watched you setup a patch. Really helped me out! Thanks so much!😎🤘

[@kimborgen]

Great demo, and playing. Looking forward to receiving this.

[@1972Georges]

Same here! Will take another 3 weeks until I get it. I think this is hard to beat at this price point

[@BobbyLaneProductions]

really nice Burgs! I am an avid fan of my AF3 but this is easily the best "other" modeler I've heard.. especially at this price. thanks amigo!

[@1972Georges]

Was is the AF3? Thanks

[@BobbyLaneProductions]

@@1972Georges Axe-Fx III

[@bluessumlin...7067]

I have the Ampero One this new stage 2 looks and sounds awesome!🙂

[@colhad9505]

WOw !! Really great machine...and awesome player❤❤❤. i think abt buying it

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Dam that looks like a great unit

[@Cherry_Sunburst]

BRILLIANT.

[@Slavetskiy]

Thanks for the video. I love my Ampero stage. Nice and simple to use

[@AriaMehr648]

What a composition man, love that twice😅

[@ALIASZARDOZ]

Fabulous

[@picksalot1]

Very satisfying tones.

[@MarcCoteMusic]

Great playing, Brett. The unit sounds good, too, but... much like Mooer, Hotone has been upping the prices quite considerably for recent products. This puts them in competition with some fairly heavy hitters and I'm not sure they can hang at that level. Time will tell, I suppose.

[@1972Georges]

Im thinking about getting this pedal. What would you consider otherwise in that price category?

[@MarcCoteMusic]

@@1972Georges - in your case, I would also consider the Boss GX-100 (has built in exp pedal), the HX Stomp XL (or even the Pod GO if you want something cheaper that has an expression pedal built in), or the Headrush Gigboard.

[@guesswho5150]

I had a Fender Tone Master Pro and compared it to my HoTone Ampero II Stomp. Sorry, Fender, the HoTone sounds so much better. Richer, fuller, more powerful tones. Compared the EVH 5150 of both units with the exact same IR and settings. I did not expect the Ampero to sound sooo much better, but it did. Even the effects sounded way better. Stage is on the way... Tone Master Pro goes back...

[@MarcCoteMusic]

@@guesswho5150 - Yeah, it's weird... Fender release this huge hunk of a modeler with all the bells and whistles you could ever want - and a price to match. You'd think it would sound at least as good as an Axe FX, a Kemper or Quad Cortex. I have yet to hear a demo in which it even sounds good, never mind great. Very strange.

[@1972Georges]

thanks. great to hear. same here. cant wait. @@guesswho5150

[@qtheband751]

Fantastic composition. Toto meets Steely Dan.

[@peterschermers]

Great playing! Still no MIDI Out in this update though…

[@arthurmetz9927]

As always, really good demo! I have a question. How do you think thisnone compares to Mooer GE300? Keep on going! Your videos are always fun to watch.

[@junioralves2158]

Amazing!!!

[@divar1511]

SUPER!!!:)))

[@sihoon48]

Sounds better than Fractal uncompressed cuts thru mix so well

[@nicolasozzi4441]

Bravo brett

[@Ambient.Music.Studio]

great demo and playing. I’m still on the fence between: Fractal FM3 $1100, Fractal FM9 $1800, Boss GT1000 $1100, MOOER GE300 $710, Hotone Ampero II $700. I’m mostly in ambient and Pink Floyd Gilmour tones … so lots of reverb pedals is a must have … which is very limited on the FM3. FM9 might be far more than I need. Any thoughts?

[@lonewolf8188]

I have had the axe fx 3 and I would definitely recommend the FM9 which I will buy sooner or later. The Ampero sounds great and is the next one I will get.

[@Ambient.Music.Studio]

thanks much ... I took delivery of the FM9 Turbo in June ... it's just awesome! I easily use my Strymon Timeline, BigSky, Ventris Reverb with it ... abitlity to create endless ambient bliss and Gilmour type tones ... FM9 is perfect for me! 🙂🙂

sweet!

[@baolbardotbulsara]

Nice review! I'm wondering if I could use it as a vocal/guitar pedalboard. Does it come with vocal harmonies by "reading" the guitar chords...? Thank you!

[@lonewolf8188]

Brett what clean amp in the intro and the outro? Very crystal and warm.. always Petrucci Clean ?

[@mjones53]

Sounds great and awesome playing, Patches available to purchase ?

[@borisjavierbarrera]

Gracias!

[@JudgeFredd]

The issue is that you can make anything sounds good...

[@jrgenlundsgaard9479]

Is it possible to download or nye all these fantastic sounds you made, and by the way you are a fantastic guitarplayer

[@chinnyhowie]

Killer tones! Mind sharing your preset please? :)

[@hugoherrejon3272]

Hi Brett, great playing as always!! Can you give me instructions on how to update the firmware? I couldn't find them anywhere nor the app says how to do it lol

[@gazzaduce3424]

I can’t connect to unit via blu tooth. My phone is showing a different version compared to the stage 2. If that’s the issue how do I update them both ?

[@dimesciple1652]

Does the Ampero Stage App support updating the firmware?

[@sampereira1267]

Hi, is anyone using this with vocals? What affects can you use and how does it sound? I can’t find a list anywhere. Thanks a lot!

[@erdemakcan1976]

Can i ask u ? What is charvel model name ..thats cool

[@anuvobbappu6737]

Which is better for stage show performance Hotone ampero 2 OR Boss GT 1 ???

[@JohnnyOskam]

Does anyone know if you can program the ampero ii stage to send midi pc messages on scene changes?

[@1972Georges]

Can you show a name instead of the preset Nr in the patch mode?? Thanks

[@wolvesandguitars]

Is it the same brain as the small one just more in/outs?

[@ymelfilm]

hi, does the pitch shifter still suck? tks

[@pantarhei2213]

What about the vocals?

[@BrettKingman]

Wrong guy for vocals, sorry.

[@gazzaduce3424]

How do you update the firmware on this.Do you need a computer to do it it can you do it like you do with the quad cortex ?

[@1972Georges]

It got Bluetooth

[@danielmolina5178]

how to update firmware?

[@MOAB-UT]

Put this money towards a FM3.

[@basandi4017]

??? FM3 price is almost double... Different price shelve

[@MOAB-UT]

@@basandi4017 Reading is not your strong suit. Read slowly..."money TOWARDS a FM3." FM3 is much cheaper really since you won't be buying it again twice or three times AND it holds it's resale. I bought the bigger FM9 (9 switches) and sold it later on after playing it and lost zero dollars. I paid $1845. Try selling a used Hotone- good luck. You won't get $100. There is PRICE and there is VALUE. You do the math.

[@user-vw7bn7ox5p]

SUPER!!!:)))