My Honest Thoughts on Digital Guitar Amp Modeling Units

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[@FiftyNinerWinder]

When your bandmate shows up to a gig in an Uber with just a guitar and a backpack carrying a Quad Cortex, it reeeeeally makes you go "Hmmmm...." but then you plug into a real amp and feel it and it immediately fixes that whole Digitial question in your head. hahaha

[@Roger-il8iw]

Yeah but you can’t compare it to the amp. You have to compare to the tone from a mic’d amp.

[@FiftyNinerWinder]

@@Roger-il8iw ok. but even if they're both identical coming out of studio monitors after the amp is mic'ed... Still doesn't sound and feel the same in the room. Amp wins there every time. I find it more inspiring to play when it doesn't sound like a processed recording. Just straight out of the amp.

[@Roger-il8iw]

@@FiftyNinerWinder nope you’re missing the whole point. It’s about performing not playing in the room. A mic’d tube amp would almost always sound better when you’re in front of it. That has nothing to do with it. Modelers don’t imitate the air pushed by a tube amp. They model the sound of a mic’d amp. Additionally much of this is psychosomatic. In blind tests many times even pro guitar players can’t tell the difference, despite claiming that it’s always obvious. So people can claim a tube amp just sounds better all day. Doesn’t mean it’s true in blind tests.

[@FiftyNinerWinder]

@@Roger-il8iw by that logic, In-Ears should be amazing to play through, having a mix in your ears and hearing your Front-of-House sound would be great... but it's not. I'm not missing the point at all. From a player's standpoint, be it in a room or on the stage, hearing and feeling that amp adds alot that digital cannot. Though with an amp, you're stuck with that amp. Digital opens the door to all the amps under the sun that you can set up on demand. It's a great tool, it's convenient and easy to carry, are often the most practical and the good modellers sound great. But they're not amps. Some agree, some don't. Some like digital modelling more, and some grew up in the digital world and prefer it. Many will agree amp is best. It's just not always practical anymore. Especially with venues requiring lower volumes, modelling route makes it easier to get those mic'ed up tones without the big stage volumes. Or travelling where you need to travel light, amps often lose.

[@Roger-il8iw]

@ no. Once again you are committing a fallacy. In ears are tiny little speakers that will never sound as good as large speaker. This is totally irrelevant to the point. The reality is comparing tube amps in room with modelers is irrelevant. And I’m a fan of tube amps obviously. but when pros claim they can always tell the difference in a blind test they are constantly proven wrong. A lot of it is in our heads.

[@christopherguzzi1316]

I guess I'm just not a dynamic player because I find a lot of use using a modeler. I also like the real tube amps I have. To each their own. 🤗😘🤔😁

[@jodyinalaska1]

I use a Fractal FM nine and it sounds and feels fantastic. You also have any amp you could ever want at your fingertips.

[@ericmmiller]

Nothing beats the sound of a real amp pushing air through real speakers. That said, my bad back and the shift to silent stages led me to a Quad Cortex. Unfortunately, the only constant in live music is change.

[@griffash5682]

You gotta try one of the Fractal Modelers... I play in the same way, using the volume pot to adjust dynamics and the Fractal units give you a very similar feel as an analog tube amp. You do have to menu dive at first though...

[@gotzonmujika9900]

Well I feel the same way. I tried a lot of digital devices and none of them inspired me. I need tubes! lol

[@GeraldGrzenda]

just like you your performance was lovely 5 stars

[@Seeger96]

Please check out the bluguitar amp 1 and/ or amp x(after the release this or next year). I think it’s the best of both worlds. Full analog, silent recording, very versatile, lightweight, portable and small. Especially if you like old Marshall’s and fender amps. The amp1 is quite a long time on the market yet but a lot of musicians discover the innovation and benefits just recently. Would be very interesting if you check one out and let us know your thoughts! If you searching for a small amp (+power soak and 100w) that can clean up, the amp 1 is incredible.

[@dansomerville]

Tonex profiles clean up exactly like you said. Tonex one is a mini stomp with 5 controls. Bass, Middle, Treble, Volume, Gain. No menus. 200 bucks.

[@johnmarshall3903]

Definitely no modeling amps for me, lol. Give me 6 knobs and I'm good to go.

[@justinmeyersguitarist]

Same here! Lol

[@Paul-lj3qw]

Justin , you need to try a Friedman IR-X

[@onethousandtwonortheast8848]

So many gear options. So many note options. I’ll choose the notes route and try to be good on an acoustic before anything else.

[@davidradlin5955]

If you think that a digital rig is not responsive to clean up when volume control is rolled down, then you haven’t had the time and experience in the domain to table that opinion. If one isn’t getting great tones out of one of the top digital rig platforms, then the problem is not the rig. I could choose to gig one of my amps, or my Kemper using a profile created from one of my amps… all factors considered i’ll choose the Kemper every time. Lastly, using IEMs separates one from the ”amp in the room” experience , so the one thing an amp might be better at ends up being irrelevant.

[@im58woody]

You have a great attitude which goes a long way towards building your community. 👍 Nice playing on the intro. I’ve tried just about every multi effects unit out there under $1k and have sold them all. Currently I have a Fender Micro Plus for around the house with headphones. It’s really great because of the Bluetooth and associated app allowing for in depth editing. It won’t work live but for practice it’s working well for me. Headrush UI is the best but I think Fender Tone Master Pro is its equal. I will stay tuned to your channel.

[@justinmeyersguitarist]

thanks so much!