Amplifiers Or Modellers | My Take

There’s been a debate about this for quite some time. Having had a decent amount of experience in both, here’s my take on the subject!
00:00 - Starting Out
01:53 - Switching To Modellers
03:05 - Why I Use Both
09:51 - What Do You Prefer?
11:42 - Rig Flexibility
16:06 - Summary
Video edited by John Hollingworth
#rabeaafro #ampsormodellers
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[@RabeaMassaad]

So great to see such a thorough discussion in the comment section! You guys rule! I like many of you have said, LOVE tube amps, I don’t think I’ll ever not love playing through my stereo kraken rig with my mothership pedalboard. Having said that, practically, and in a studio environment when I’m writing and working on stuff - when there’s a sonic vision for the arrangement, I have to say jumping on a modeller or plugin nowadays saves a ton of time and the end result listening back is (for me) just as satisfying most of the time! In a live application. I honestly think a hybrid of the two is going to be a big one for me, particularly as the sounds and layers we need to create can be done a lot simpler using a combo of both. Modeller for flexibility, amps and pedals for the overall vibe and feel. I think I’ll end up using my amps for my core tones and a selection of pedals that do specific things, then use my QC to swap in and out specific models for different tones and sections. Overall it’s an amazing time to be a guitarist! Lastly, it’s all about what you love and feel works best for you and your playing situation! Thanks again for watching guys!

[@mrelmoresmusiclab]

Thanks Rabea. I really needed this. I've been playing in an acoustic duet for last few years. Have a full blown electric band now. I have a great pedal platform and I have a Revv D20 head. I'm doing lots of 90's style stuff. Do you have any 112 or 212 cabs you like for that style? I'm just so out of the electric world, but this new band will stick. Thanks bud. Love your stuff dude. I'm doing my best to send out positive music vibes on my channel too. Only a year deep but love it. YT is hard! haha.

[@MusicFed]

What’s the song at 13:40? Rabea you’re a cool guy. Great video

[@Ragnar_Rock]

I´m totaly with you, Rabea! I´m playing guitar for many years now, but just as a hobby. 4 years ago I decided to get realy deep into it and had to make some decisions about the right equipment. In the end I went for the Helix LT, back in this days. Because on one side I´m a bedroom guitarist my self, but in the first place because of the flexibility. It was a great option to play around with different amps, cabs effects etc. without spending tons of money and buy and selling stuff. So, the Helix helped me to learn and understand how to create good tones and finding my personal sound and setup. But now I´m at a point where I know what I want and where I find my self missing something. No matter how good you dial in an amp or sound at the Helix, it´s just not the same like a real tube amp, right?! I´m just missing the real response, behavior, sound, dynamic and power of a real tube amp. And for me it is just the natural next step on my way to keep evolving. After thinking a lot about what amp would fit my needs best, I decided to go for the REVV G20 (realy liked your vid about this one, by the way), due to the same conclusion you make here in this vid. I still love my Helix and don´t wanna miss it and one of my favorit amp models, for example, in it is the Fender Twin one. I love that clean sound of it. BUT I would never buy a real Fender Twin Combo, because it is too restrictive to this special sound and I love good old classic Blues and Rock as well as Metal and Punk, so I want the option to do it all. That´s why I go for the G20 now. It can create realy nice clean but also realy nice crunch and metal sounds, that combined with an FX-Loop to use my Helix with the 4 cable method and on top the two notes torpedo cab and amp sim. For me too, both worlds combined is the way to go! With this setup I have the option to play a real tube amp at home and use it for recording, but I can also grap it, take it to the band room and plug it into a cab without carrying a tone of equip around and still can use all the FX and amp model variety of the Helix. It is flexible, versatile, future-proof and I always have a great sound out of both worlds! What more does one wish or need? The sky is open now and no limits to evolve anymore, except me myself :) Thanks for all your vids and keep on rocking in a free world! ;) (sorry for my maybe bad english and typos ;) Cheers from Germany!)

[@mathmusicstructure]

One thing to consider is that you need very good monitors to get an equivalent sound to a high quality speaker cab. In particular the low end can really suffer on medium quality studio monitors, especially if you have an extended range instrument or tune down.

[@seancorker5815]

After gigging with valve amps for 20+ years, the five have been with a Kemper, with monitoring through a powered wedge. To me it sounds cleaner, is lighter and more convenient plus going direct to the desk beats the inconsistency of miking a cab.

[@michaelmestres9661]

Exactly

[@Kartrampage]

I play 99% of the time at home, which is why I love my Kemper. I have lots of different amps in a box that I could never afford in my life. You always have the settings saved the way you like them.

[@schlo9358]

And you get everywhere your tone. No problem with micing up

[@dryanbuchanan]

Do you play through a cab or frfr?

[@schlo9358]

@@dryanbuchanan I am using Beyer Dynamic DT 770 pro. Really flat studio headset.

[@zombizombi]

Yeah Kempers are great. I used to do the same.. play at home through monitors or good headphones. Now we have even more profilng options like Tonex at cheaper prices. Getting good sound has never been so easy.

[@luci-musix3012]

I love that you had your video talking against the argumentative attitude towards everything in the guitar world. And now you have this video being like "THEY'RE BOTH GREAT". Real asf, just great stuff all round, and you're the only dude pointing that out. I fuggin love it

[@mattlombardi54]

I’ve been waiting to see this lol, both things are awesome and we really live in an incredible time to play guitar!

[@nikdrown]

And that’s the real deal. BOTH are great. It’s silly dick riding one or the other. Do what works for you and don’t give 2 shiz what some other snob says. Guitar players are some of the worst of the cliche stereotypes of all positions lol. I don’t know if it’s always been that way or just more recent years that guitar players annoy the piss out of me and I am one lol

[@aaronashworth]

A balanced view from great experience, and surmised perfectly in the very last sentence! "Go with what makes you feel great about what you do". In a nutshell, perfect 👌🏻

[@NeillNation]

What a fantastic time to be a guitar player! The amount of flexibility is damn near endless. Thanks Rabea for leading the way in keeping our minds open to ALL the options!

[@lupo10]

Only two up votes? Feel like this should be read by everyone before they rant. But, amps are better.

[@itsjohnnymillion]

I was thinking about this the other day when I was loading up my QC for a rock show after rehearsing with plug-ins on my laptop. 🤘

[@joshtorresfdu6621]

@@lupo10depends on who you are. I started with a fender champion amp 5 years ago then moved to neural DSP and I haven’t had the urge to buy a real amp. The Plugins and my Quad Cortex is all I’ll ever need. Cause it’s all I know.

[@nikdrown]

For real. I think back to the starting days in the 90’s which is by far not the worst and this sort of ability we have today was just getting going with the Johnson amps and then Line 6 and they just never appealed to me but my oh my how the times have birthed much more viable solutions.

[@adamstein9333]

For real for real with full range flat response, it’s incredible how far we’ve come. A Mooer radar or Joyo cab or any IR loader is a huge game changer! I can’t afford and refuse to pay out that much for a QC,Helix,axefx, tone master, what have You. I do need to push the air to be satisfied. Thumppppp

[@Robstafarian]

In lieu of an even-longer comment which no one will read in its entirety, here are my major points: 1. Modelers gained prominence because tube preamps were not widely available until relatively recently. 2. Much of the interaction with a tube amp, particularly high-gain amps, is interaction with its tube preamp. 3. If buying a tube amp rather than a tube preamp, then do not buy more power than necessary: the "cranked sound" is relative to that amp's maximum output. Obviously, it does not help that most amp companies imagine we are all playing outdoor gigs without PA support (hence the benefit of tube preamps). 4. Amp volume is largely dependent on the speaker(s) used. To keep things quiet, use a single speaker with the lowest-possible sensitivity (e.g. the Weber DT series, with sensitivities in the low 90s [dB at 1W, from one meter away]). 5. Depending on the era of music referenced, the speaker(s) may be also be a significant aspect of the "cranked sound": a speaker with rated power handling closer to the amp's power will make that more readily achievable; with a high-gain amp, some extra power handling is good to have. 6. If you need a wide array of *recorded* tones available quickly, then a modeler may be ideal. 7. If you like to slam inputs with versatile guitar wiring and/or pedals, then modelers are the exact opposite of ideal; whereas slamming a tube (pre)amp's input is always valid, modelers have firm limits to what their inputs should receive (which typically is not documented, as though the manufacturers assume we are not paying attention): Boss's typical limit is 10dBu, and Fractal Audio's is 16dBu. Due to this limit, modelers react to subtractions from the maximum input level (e.g. rolling off the guitar volume) rather than additions to a "normal" input level (e.g. using a switch to wire multiple pickups in series or activating a boost pedal): the greater the difference between your highest and lowest output, the more detrimental this will be. 8. We guitarists have many more options now than we had when the choice was between amps with 10 to 1,000 times (yes, really) as much power as needed and modelers, and we would all do well to consider tube preamps and easy reamping solutions.

[@aaasbakk]

Absolutely love this take. The times are different now in the sense that music and music production is way more widespread and accessible, so the options are almost endless - which can't be anything other than amazing for both the aspiring musician and the weathered veteran. Love everything you do, keep it up!

[@itsjohnnymillion]

Exactly this, Bea! Modelers give so much flexibility and I love amplifying my QC thru a cab and sending the direct to FOH. I used to be 100% Marshalls/Rectifiers + pedals. I don't think anyone should feel trapped with their decisions.

[@Yogurt5150Games]

Nicely done. I think you did a good job of highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of each, as well as use case mattering a great deal. This is actually really useful information for a lot of people. As you said, you do have all of that gear, so you can speak with authority on both sides, which I appreciate.

[@IamMusicNerd]

This is exactly why I switched to Synergy. I can have 4-8 different real tube amps at once, and switch between them with one tap on a foot switch. So it gives me the flexibility of a modeler, but with real tube amps. Best of both worlds.

[@0megalul309]

It's not a real tube amp when the rack poweramp is a cheaply built fryette product that's Chinese built

[@Schizmatizmify]

It's refreshing to hear someone talk about tube amps in a live context and modelers in a studio context. Quite often I hear folks saying that you should use modelers live because they're small and versatile (which is certainly true), and tube amps in the studio to capture that extra dimension. Personally I enjoy that 'low-mid thump' you mentioned, that I struggle to get out of modelers or even solid-state analogue amps in the room. Meanwhile, dialing in a mix-ready tone with VSTs or a floor unit is a breeze; often the results can be better than a real rig unless you have a properly good sounding room and years of experience. Personally I quite like using a small lunchbox amp with a resonance control (this is key for small amps) live, and recording totally digitally. As you said, the cab pushing air and the EQ differences (whether innate or just a result of having fewer controls) of a tube amp really help the sound of a band mesh. Always sounds huge.

[@JaredPitcher]

I agree with this as well! You typically hear the argument made that amps make for better recorded sound and modelers more convenient live performance. But to me modelers make so much more sense as studio tools, especially for those of us that aren't doing big budget recordings in professional studios. Modelers/plugins sound exactly the same every time, and most are already shaped in a way that sits in a mix better from the get go. If I'm tracking guitars occasionally over the course of a week, a microphone being moved, the temperature of the room, and the radio interference in the airwaves can all alter that sound between takes. But once I find a plugin or modeler setting that fits my mix, it never changes no matter how many times I walk away and come back to it.

[@tjandhuri]

As much as I love amps, they're so expensive and heavy to lug around on planes and the modellers have become really good, plus it makes the sound guys happy at least that's my experience. Also just like you said, it's way easier to replicate the tones that you've made in the studio when you're using modelling.

[@davidmeatty5922]

Great take man. My rule is super simple. If it sounds good, it is good. Whatever it takes to get it sounding good is all I need.

[@brendan00013]

I practice at home using plugins or my QC, and at practice I’ll use my amp and pedals. And also thinking of using the QC for our next gigs just for the sake of convenience. It’s great having options!

[@LB75Player]

As a newly turned 50 year old that is tired of moving an Ampeg 4-10 cab around, this is the video I needed to see. Thank you Rabea, this was great.

[@PeterCleff]

REALLY SOLID TAKES! I play a lot of gigs with a contemporary orchestra. So I'm usually sat right next to a cellist or a sax player. Mic'd up with the most sensitive mics ever. Big fun valves and cabs were, obviously, quickly ruled out. Having a completely silent stage with me on Neural DSP tones changed the game for me.

[@ScrambleBandOfficial]

I'm loving my small-scale Rabea-inspired rig, Rocker 32 for stereo in a box with the mini strymons in the loop. Always loved the idea of a Headrush pedalboard but nothing beats just plugging into the mains and moving air.

[@jcarh]

Such a practical look at both worlds. Extremely helpful. Especially for a singer/producer like myself first, who also always had to play guitar for the musical ideas I write at home. It helped me better understand the amp side of things because although I have an amp it is a small singular setup. It caused me to gravitate toward modelers (PODxt Live and Headrush) because my 25-watt Mini-Rectifier/Cab combo was so limiting for me (pedals $$, stereo modulation, volume, etc.). I was planning on going the 2 Notes Torpedo load box route but again $$ becomes an issue with support gear. Anyway, thanks for taking the time for this video Bea. I will be watching it multiple times I am sure.

[@jarredbaca8112]

Been using a blackstar amped 3 lately and low key have been liking it a lot because it has a built in power amp! So I can send signal to FOH and also play out of cab with one unit.

[@kmac.]

Both for sure! I think I'm a bit faster to get a real amp going for bread and butter tones but some digital effects are incredible and really fun to hear on studio monitors in stereo if you've got a good listening space.

[@pauldncn1]

Hi Rabbea The only thing I miss using my Kemper and Boss Gt is that “ moving of air” I use an old Carlsboro cab and I Mike it up It’s soo good So although I’ve not got the QC ( yet) I completely agree with the multi direction approach best of both worlds rocks! 👍👍👍

[@HVACRTECH-83]

Good video, ive always wanted one or the other but couldnt decide if i wanted the amp version or the preamp to run into my valve amps. This helped

[@willguitartech5671]

I Bea, i think a good way to use both : 4 cables method ! you can use differents effects and use the amp distortion as well, personaly I use it live like that. It's very useful and, you right, the cab sound it's really fantastic ! Thanks for this video.

[@bofuscrapshaw]

Great wisdom shared! Thanks! I just got a FM3 and I’m loving it so far

[@The_Sochmusic]

Well said Bea! I’ve been enjoying a hybrid approach between pedals before and after QC. Using QC mostly as the amp and whatever pedals I might be missing. Thanks for the video dude!

[@brandnewyou5254]

Keeping it real and playing in a band helps keep you grounded to amplifiers and what makes sound not just what goes to tape love the way you do things Rabia

[@razeck1ng]

Very nice video Bea! I freaking love my "hybrid" rig that I use right now. Using a Line 6 HX Stomp as the main amp generator. Running that through an Orange 100 watt solid state Poweramp and a marshall 212 cab, in conjunction with some of my favorite analog pedals feels so damn good! People are saying that this is the best guitar sound i've ever had live and I have to agree with them

[@dryanbuchanan]

Have you compared it through the fx return of a tube amp? Always curious about tube vs solid state power amp

[@Utubewrk123]

@@dryanbuchananI have. He’s not going to like what I’m Going to say. The helix ran through my amp. I didn’t like the feel. Then sold that and tried Kemper with power. Didn’t like that feel. Gave up on them after awhile. Kept going back to my amps. Then got a Yamaha double modeler it is constantly overlooked. It comes with its own power and a footswitch and a few fx. Sounded and felt great. So it is possible. Idk what they did different than two other major products. Then the quad came out passed on it 3x when it was at like $1400. Then Rabea did the big concert at Leeds and Reading. I had also seen the guys using it on Anderton’s. Bought a used one because there were none around. It’s a keeper. Customer service is top notch even if it’s used. Bought a new one. Need to sell one. Don’t need 2. But on any given day I want to enjoy my amps and pedals that took yrs to save up and trade up and a lot of practice to where I felt I deserved them. It is my only major hobby. So that is where my $$ goes.

[@Ninuzzo]

Although i have my Jubille, i really love my QC due to the control fact - i can dial in a new sound so quickly even if i don't have the right pedal. I love playing through a real Amp. It gives me that "omph" every time. I like both worlds and it's a great time we live in (at least for equipment). Your take is 100% accurate imo

[@hangtite87]

Love the live shots! Great vid, thx.

[@richardderasp4785]

I miss the power of playing in a band with amps. However…. I’m currently using a fender portable pa left and right out of my helix and it is actually pretty fantastic. The more I delve into the possibilities of the helix the closer it gets to the real amp experience. But there’s no denying as close as it gets there is a difference in the way it kicks and moves the air when using real amps. Great topic and like many people on here, I’m a huge fan of your work and channel. 🤘😎🤘

[@ArunKamathMusic]

This is a very interesting topic. I’ve fairly recently ventured into the world of modellers (Helix), but that started as a purely practical reason. Much like Rabea in FrogLeap, for me it was because in my covers band we emulate lots of different sounds with quick sound changes, we do everything on IEMs… valve amps and pedals didn’t make sense for that application. In my metal band, it’s a different thing, we’re more on the old skool route but need to adapt to more modern applications. For writing/demoing, we use modellers and plugins. For recording and gigging…. We use a mix of both. Rather than choosing one or the other, I’m happy I’ve got ability to use either or both. In my metal band (Beyond Salvation, check us out…. 😅) I generally use a hybrid/4 cable method set up. So I can utilise the effects and MIDI switching capability of the Helix, but the sheer power of my valve amp and cab. But I also have presets on there which are fully modelled, in case I can’t use my valve amp for whatever reason. Fully agree, it’s best not to “take sides”, and instead just find what works for you. Thanks for the video, dude!

[@jimi272]

Yeah, I love my G3 Stereo Amp rig. I use 7 cable method with two amps with similar power stages, but with different preamp sounds. It all together creates an awesome sound that the audience really enjoys😅🙏

[@mcmSEA]

Very good take indeed, thank you. I really like my QC although to me there's a feel difference between my amp and the QC. It's minuscule and it sounds good out in the audience (and it is much easier to control and mix from FOH) but it does feel a bit different; there's a very small lack of immediacy.

[@markdonatelli5742]

I feel the same way but just can’t beat how easy load in and load out is gigging the QC and it sounds phenomenal. I never take my amps to gigs anymore 😢

[@katzensprung7449]

Thank you very much for this video, Rabea! Amps and modellers are both great, but with different advantages and disadvantages. You explained these differences in a very good and clear way. Easy to understand. Thank you very much again, this was really helpful!!

[@krzysztofjb5242]

Thank you for the incredibly motivating video that Bartek shared from the recent NAMM 2024. It was truly a fantastic business. I'm not only a fan of the music, but also of the amazing gear and content you produce. The ML3 Pro Bea signature baritone is absolutely stunning, not only with its beautiful design but also with the incredible sound it produces. Your efforts are greatly appreciated!

[@davidwelch2438]

Great Video Rabea. I think now is such an exciting & overwhelming time to be a guitar player. There is so many different platforms available at the moment & I think they all have their time and place. But what it really comes down to is what inspires you to play & create. Maybe one day it's a nice tube amp & maybe the next day it's a plugin. For me I enjoy them all. Cheers.

[@joebrennan52]

I play a kemper power rack through a 4x12 loaded with kemper kones so I kinda bridge the "best of both worlds" gap as well. I love the versatility. Cheers!

[@ExpatZ266]

Last night I loaded your NDSP suite to shift my Eb tuned guitar back to standard tuning, turned off all the blocks and sent that the Tone King VST with only the wah block which went out to Nolly's Marshall. Worked perfectly and now I think I can mix and match all the plugin effects and cabs with each other in the same manner. So many options, it was never like this when I was your age. I get the amp feel from my FRFR112 at band volumes. I just sound like a fully produced wanker while my whole body vibrates so that I gurn.

[@wobbolt2729]

Helix lt + archon 50 + orange ppc412 and I absolutely love the mix of modeling and full amp. I can do it all and have the full feeling of an amp as well. Cheers!

[@therewasascene]

Haha I was about to say I’m at home and I’ve always loved the feel and sound of playing loud. I was able to crank it when I was 16. Couldn’t ever go back. Glad you made this video to elaborate on what you said in the Anderton’s video/for those who didn’t catch it. I’m about to go the “both” route as well with an IR-X + 5150/C30 to have the 5150+marshall sound and a portable/nighttime with kids silent amp

[@bggouvea]

Excellent explanation Bea! Thank you for all you do!!

[@JaredPitcher]

All of my music work is either small local gigs, or home studio recording. Consistency and convenience are king, and for that reason I'm playing with modelers 99% of the time. I have a few low wattage amps that I use for practice and occasional recording at home, but my 100w amp has been collecting dust for years. Being able to dial in my tones at home, and show up to a gig with just my pedalboard and guitar and reproduce my studio sounds by simply plugging in to the PA is so great. No fiddling with mics, no adjusting for room size, no complaints from sound techs because my cabinet is bleeding into the mix. High wattage amps and stacks are super cool and "feel" is absolutely a valid measure of what makes a good rig, but for me and I assume many others like me who need to be in and out quickly, and never know what kind of backline or other systems we'll have to work with, modelling is the clear choice.

[@Hildichimo]

Exact same for me. I had a valve amp years ago that I swapped out for a kemper with frfr . Sold that as it wasn’t doing it for me. Few years later I now have a bit of a stereo type setup with a tweed deluxe and kemper running through a guitar cab, I have all the flexibility with the amp in the room ‘thing’

[@JamesFlorio-ti8gc]

Excellent debate and if we had the capability to do your rigs we would....with that said right now available to the masses best option is one of the Katana artists version in stereo. Push air and effects...just my take on affordable solution

[@RonnieBeck]

Great overview on the pros and cons of amps vs modellers. Very balanced and well thought out. Thanks!

[@Hairyloft]

Great discussion, so good to have both options and firing out of cabs still.

[@chrisact9601]

Yep ... I've arrived at roughly the same place. After using amps through to DI'ing, I've ended up using a Helix into an Orange Pedal Baby into a cab on stage, mic'd through the PA. All the flexibility of a modeler but moving air on stage for the fun and vibe of it. A lot of people think it's the amp that gives them the feel. I reckon it's more the cab.

[@stereovox5]

I’m in camp both. I tour with a Beatles act that uses all Helixes, amps are props, full IEM set up… but I would never ever trade the feeling of digging into an Em chord through my well worn AC30. In the right situation both are amazing!

[@GitShiddy]

I am salivating to see the Vour rig builds. Not as much as I am hearing the band, but it can be both.

[@consumer365]

Good vid, I feel the same way. Just got the tonex and I'm learning the sounds of all the amps and what fits my style. I run it thru a solid state amp into a 4x12. I can't decide on a tone is the problem

[@erikhernandez2990]

I’ve been planning on buying an axe fx because i see it as a one and done solution. lately tube amps(specifically the kraken mk2) have really been more appealing and combining them with the axe fx seems like a really awesome way to blend both worlds.

[@giosundance5643]

you wont need a kraken..spend the money on the axe fx and a seymour duncan power stage.

[@silvioherrmann2337]

I really like to use the QC with solid state power amp and guitar speakers for my monitoring, and also for the Bedroom, switching off the IR of course. For FOH I use another Output with IR. I like that, 2x12 moving air 😉 With Kemper 2x12 Kone which also works well.

[@LucasMastropasqua]

I will always love amps and probably always have them, but with the quality of sound these days and convenience of modelers and plugins especially when writing or if I’m inspired in the moment and need to get something recorded quickly before I forget I’m going right to the Neural Plugins. I’m fortunate enough to have started a hobby of modifying valve amplifiers so I will always have them even though I don’t play out live & haven’t in years. Also I do quite enjoy combining amplifiers and plugins for recording and jamming in my home studio, it can be very inspiring to have the feel of an amp while also being able to use it at lower volumes. I will still always enjoy the feeling & tone of a cranked valve amp through a pair of 4x12’s because there’s really nothing quite like it!!! 🤘🤘🤘

[@bigchrisgulley66]

That was the perfect explanation for the use of both I always felt that modelers were a extension of your pedal board and why people were so against them. As of now I can't afford one but when the pricing becomes more affordable I will be adding one to my arsenal 😎 great video bro keep them coming.

[@fleemandearhole]

I run a line 6 firehawk into the return on my 6505+ combo. This hybrid setup has served me well for years. The ability to switch amps and still have a tube power section slapping me in the face is the best of both worlds.

[@yosephmcjoe9575]

Love the hybrid approach. I hope you bring us along when you build this crazy rig.

[@EmilioConesa]

I totally agree with your assessment. After capturing 100s of amps on the Tonex, Kemper and dialing in Helix or UAFX stuff I’ve got to say It’s like going to see the Grand Canyon vs seeing a 4k video.

[@risteardohaodha23]

Great video! It’s all about what application do you need for any particular project, be that live or in the studio. It’s not about either or, nor what’s better or what’s worse - those standpoints are subjective and just lead to conflict of opinions and do nothing to help the goal of making great music.

[@jimjim7008]

I have 90s GH100L Laney Made in England which I've been using ever since... Never tried or thought other amps or modellers..pretty happy and satisfied with the Laney... Despite all the heavy use I've never changes anything on it for 30 years and still going strong

[@IgorMuller]

I already said that in the comments to another video on the topic with you, the main thing for me to go full digital is because 3rd party IRs for Cortex for example are so much better then any available on tour that is simply a question of quality, not only of convinience. In the end, i get better result with way more conviniet tools.

[@indicahunters9360]

I love my DV Mark MultiAmp! So under rated imo. With A 500w class D power amp and every Amp mod, cab sim. I need and effect combo and to be able to pick signal path and all that jazz in a very simple way. Love having 3 channels as well. Pushing Hella air through a 4X12” Peavy slant cab. It’s a mean ass lil half stack.

[@tehdurtymexican]

Absolutely great take I 100% agree with. I love my tube amp and just adore the feeling of getting lost in a room with a loud amp - but I have a family and can only play after the kids have gone to bed these days. Modelers let me get lost in a different way, without breaking out thousands of dollars to play the really legendary amplifiers

[@claytongouin5605]

I think you laid out the use case scenario perspective fairly well. What do you need from your gear and what will you use it for? When I was gigging, a Kemper was a perfect solution for me. It meant less gear that I needed to haul around because it eliminated my pedal board, amp, and cabinet. The consistency of the sound, dialed in with the band I was playing with, made it a dream. But at home, I still have amps, cabs, pedals, etc. For home use, a hybrid setup is my preference. Amps or tube preamps, loadboxes, and IRs through my studio monitors. I can't exactly crank up amps through my cabinets, but I can make IRs of my cabinets and feel like I am playing through them. It's a great time to be a musician. There is not 'right' or 'best' solution when it comes to your rig, just what is right and best for you in your use case.

[@carlosmoraesUtube]

I found that a great compromise with my modeler: My IRs are the last thing in the signal chain. Time and modulation effects are between the am and the IR. Then I split the signal right before the IR. The signal 1 (with IR) goes to FH, recording interface, studio monitors, whatever FRFR system. Signal 2 (without IR) goes to a flat power amplifier with real guitar cabinets. I have that "amp in the room" feeling coming from the guitar cabs. I also have the convenience of using an IR to record and/or go to front of house and not having to mic up a cab (and all the hassle that can happen while doing it).

[@berndgroters2745]

I use both as well! And you´re right, both have their ups and downs, BUT the "sonic experience" of a cranked amplifier isn´t comparable to any kind of modeler! A modeler isn´t able to reproduce that rumble and "moved air" at all. Although I love the benefits of modelers and ampsims as well! Great video!

[@acidoxyde]

True, people just going out of their way to argue what's 'best' for no reason. Literally do whatever makes you happy. I'm a bedroom player, and I like tube amps, I found a good deal on a couple of them through the years, purchased them and when I wanna be quite I just run them through a Captor silently or just play through a plug in. Both sound great, both give me the tingles. What really grinds my gears though are questions like, 'whats the best amp', 'what's the best guitar', 'what's the best pedal'. Just shut the fuck up and play!

[@robertpurdy4452]

It's nice hearing the opinion of one of the best and brightest of the modern guitars players on amps and modellers. I use both and for different reasons. When I want to play more ethereal stuff I like going through my Boss GT-1000 CORE, plus other knick-knacks, and my two sets of studio monitors I have placed in front and back of me. It's not surround sound as in Dolby 5.1, ATMOS, etc., but it allows me to get lost in the ambient/ethereal all-around sound I get. When I want to jam to some harder stuff like straight up rock 'n roll I power up the amps and deafen myself with the cacophonic joy it creates. Live, I play bass so I use my amp with a Zoom B3 pedal I adore. It all has uses and we live in an amazing time. Thanks, Rabea for more amazing content. Rock on!

[@saggygnaw]

5:12 you nailed it. I had been using an Orange AD30R 2x12 for years which I love, and tried a Two Notes with it but since I had the amp in a different room for micing making other adjustments was a pain. So I finally pulled the trigger and got the UAFX Lion & Ruby pedals which now sit side by side on my desk (ran in parallel between MIDI connected Lehle 1at3 / 3at1 switchers, mono in stereo out) so I can easily switch between both amps which are running into my Apollo. I’ve also been playing around with the Neural DSP Morgan Amps suite lately with a DI signal and that’s been great too. At this point for my needs I’m very happy with the variety of tones I can quickly dial in and save as presets (bonus: I can control the Morgan Amps plugin with MIDI, my main wishlist item with the UAFX pedals), it makes songwriting and demoing go much smoother. I’m not entirely sure how I want to set up a live rig yet but I know that there will be at least one amp sim in the signal path.

[@autechrr]

Great video as always Rabea!

[@xandaoboga]

I agree with you 100%! Excellent video! You covered the subject very well! I love all your videos man! Thanks for sharing!

[@dritt54]

Thanks for sharing! Could you please explain how you manage sound on modeller at gig through PA regarding at home monitors to have the same sound. What do you usually do? Perhaps a video on this subject would be interesting for many!

[@patrickcasey357]

I've been using a Helix for almost 10 years. Never looked back. I run it through an ISP Stealth Power amp, and then into two 1x12 cabs for most local gigs. For my Journey tribute band I run the power amp into a stereo Marshall 4x12 cab. Sounds great. For me, it's about the swiss army knife approach of a modeler where everything you need is in one box. Great for fly gigs too.

[@erntracchloads]

Thank you!! i'm just at the point of going hybrid been a tube amp guy for years and have resisted the digital world but been playing with it a little and the way you explained it was great !!!

[@Venemoth666]

Hybryd combination is Huuuuge

[@ileutur6863]

As a bass player, I have to share my own take on this topic. Although digital has proven much more practical and cost effective for the working bass player, there is a something about bass cabinets moving air that IRs still haven't matched. There's a low end push, an oomph that just disappears with modelling. I found this out when recording my band's debut album, I matched my live sound almost 100% but it just didn't have the same punch

[@babtanian]

I've been in both camps for roughly 20 years now. I basically love tuba amps for the stage and modelers for the studio. Attempting to utilize modelers live, I love the versatility and control, but found that I just don't like FRFR much at all. So these days, I run either a Helix Floor or HX Effects in 4-cable method into a tube amp & cabinet. When I want to use an amp model instead of the amp's preamp, I just bypass it and feed the signal directly into the return. I play in a Metallica tribute and for that purpose, currently, the real amp is a Mesa Badlander, Dual Rectifier Roadster or Mark VII, each of which has a great sounding preamp of its own. I can utilize the real pre-amp - or - drop in a Mark IIC+, Diezel VH4, 5150, Dual Rectifier, etc. instead - or blend any combination of those possibilities. The flexibility has been great.

[@markcarleton6647]

This is the best discussion I’ve heard comparing / contrasting amps and modelers.

[@thomasfoster4091]

Rabea always has such a good take on things like this. Not divisive or judgmental, just highlighting the positives, the possibilities and what is good about all the options.

[@tomrollison5496]

Thanks Rabea. You reminded me of my original impulse when I bought my FM9. I was starting to do a lot of programming on a n old Fx8 to see if I could replace my mothership pedal board. But then my number was called on the waiting list for the FM9 and I thought if I'm going to do all this programming I might as well use the latest iteration of the tech. But I wanted to try it on a gig using the models and as I had one coming in a couple of weeks I dug in and got just enough programming done to pull it off. Listening to recordings I made that night I was mostly impressed with how incredibly well the FM9 sat in the mix (solid state amp into a pair of point source 12" monitors) . Even with my half baked programing. It's when I was back in my studio that I kept struggling with it. I may like a patch playing alone but then the guys would come over and I was not loving it. The opposite of inspiring. Went back to my analog rig and instant inspiration. But originally I was looking to see if I could replace my mothership pedal board. I got lost in the realm of possibilities. I now have renewed focus for the next couple of weeks . FM9 effects into the big amp. Love the music !

[@akwamarsunzal]

As you have prevously said, there is a place for both! Keep up the great work Bea, its gonna be a great year for you!

[@nicolasmaurin182]

Very comprehensive analysis. Thanks

[@halfindy]

17:13 ❤👍 Too many people still rely on something they read or have heard others say, instead of just using their ears 👂and feel. It even goes this far: A couple of years ago someone came to me after a concert with my Celtic Rock band An Cat Dubh and said, he wanted to let me know, that he absolutely loved my guitar sound. 😅 So we chatted and I told him what I use and he says: well, that’s not how to do it properly! WTF? 😂

[@nikdrown]

Man I am loving my Kemper and it’s not lost on me the difference it is compared to having real amps but like most space is limited in my studio and amps just aren’t that sentimental to me and never have been. I get really fixated on one mainly and have a few I go to and the Kemper does them all pretty much spot on with the added bonus of practically endless cabs to try them out on.

[@bigknuckle9689]

I like doing W/D/W using the Helix as the wets (stereo split) and my actual amp in the middle. It’s so good to make the Helix really clean(ish) with very wet FX and use the G3 and pedalboard to control it all.

[@misterknightowlandco]

I love my fender mustang v1 head and 4x12. I can put on headphones or crank it loud enough for a band gig and everything in between.

[@Dr.Anomaly]

I use a kemper and an orange Rockerverb 100. One I dont need pedals for and is more portable and the other is less portable but saturates amazingly and I use pedals with a ported cab. They all sound good.

[@FastRedPonyCar]

So, after owning all of the modelers, other than the new fender unit, my take away, is that they’re amazing for giving you everything, but not very good at giving you the real deal if you’re after something specific. Some of them can get very close approximations of a certain type of amplifier, but will obviously never measure up to the real thing. For as much as they CAN do, I feel that it’s an acceptable trade-off.. Currently, I really like running my amps into a load box, then into either my fractal FM3 or HX Stomp for effects, EQ, etc. and then into an OX stomp, which goes to the PA. Our band is cabless on stage and run IEM‘s and usually me and our singer and bass player will have an FRFR behind us for stage sound and it’s been working out extremely well for us. The FM3 is nice to have on the pedalboard simply as a back up amp if anything goes wrong with a real amplifier. I did my two last shows with the universal audio lion and OX stomp and just a boost pedal in front of the lion and honestly it was one of the best DI sounds I’ve ever had. The lion can’t hang with my silver Jubilee, but for a tiny little pedal, it did an admirable job.

[@dougiemonday]

Great video bro. I just crank metal af riffs… I love modelers however I don’t have the need for it currently. I just need a boosted valve amp and tolerant neighbors. I have a couple dsp plugins they are pretty good.

[@claudioalbanesi7727]

I have been a tube guy all my life not because I am a tube snob but just because IMHO it sounds better for what I like and how I play. In the last year I have met UAFX and I just changed my way of thinking. I am so in love with my Dream 65 and Lion 68 that I can't stop playing. I still use my tube amp and in my heart there is room for both.I am happy to live in this period where you can have access to all this amazing products.

[@markholmes2665]

It's a WONDERFUL time to be a guitar player! SO many options....sometimes, too many! But I found that when you know what you like, and take the time to really explore what's out there, you will be rewarded, and happy!

[@Sinisterbvnny]

I used to play amplifiers many years ago. I've never used modellers. However, plugins are my go-to like many people. If i ever play live gigs again, ill most likely try to work with the plugins.

[@HaydenMcCarry]

I absolutely love my Axe FX and Kemper but ill never get rid of my valve amps..they just sound and feel incredible.

[@ticklesmcqueen2702]

Great information, as someone who was always amps and with a huge pedal board when i gigged, but now ive retired from that and mainly do studio stuff now ive gone to modelers and frfr cabs, but your points are valid different tools for the job you need to do.

[@YoBroMan]

I'm an old school guy, have my 100 watt Marshall, a Jazz Chorus and a custom build head that I push thru two custom cabs in stereo. Then came the modelers, they give you so much flexibility and an endless possibility of tones, sounds, effects, etc. There is a certain "power" you feel playing a Marshall in a room, and hearing the natural harmonic overtones of the chords/notes. There's nothing like it. The ONLY thing you don't get from modelers is the feedback you can get from sticking your face/guitar into the cab and going deaf. :) ....but, it's only a matter of time until modelers have that too.

[@fretclimber7874]

Hi Rabea, I have really enjoyed your videos over the years. Thanks very much. My Focus is recording in a home studio and use a hybrid rig. I have a central tone that comes from my V4 Jack amp into the interface and I add to that with sims. I do a lot of point of breakup stuff and I really need that amp response in that zone because a tube amp just plays differently to a sim and I need that squish in the breakup point. However with the V4 I no longer need a cab. I was up till now using a Fender Machette and while the cab was rarely turned on I still needed the space for it. Because I record at home, while I can mic a cab if need be it does effect the accuracy of what I hear when recording. Once you have the track and play it back it sounds completely different without the cab in the background. I love having control and being able to hear accurately what's happening in a track so listen through monitors and check with headphones. So my rig is the pedal board with my front in pedals spilt with one line going to the V4 Jack and the other going into the interface to an amp sim. I have been using Amphub but switched to Genome recently. If I am using wet effects I usually do this with the ampsim but if I want effects on the central tone I will run the effects loop through a channel in cubase. I hope this adds some ideas to the discussion. Douglas

[@smagliaro]

The obvious answer is both! That said, I'm entirely on digital modelling these days. The versatility, cost, and size just can't be beaten for anyone playing in smaller bands, producing at home, etc. I'd love to have a wall of amps and cabs, but I don't have the room or money for it. It's tough to argue with infinite tones that fit in a backpack for $1-2k.

[@neighbourhoodmusician]

You have done so much and achieved some amazing things. The beginning of this vid just made me miss Toska. I think that was a towering achievement between the three of you.

[@collierpj]

I run a helix into a blackstar amped 1 feeding a 1960A loaded with frfr speakers. I’ve ran with normal speakers also, v30 gt1275 mix. I like that the frfr let me experiment with different speaker types, albeit a mic’d version.

[@adamstein9333]

Glad to see You still playing that beautiful Chap! Excellent Bea! Effin Rad! I can’t afford not need a MB Triple Rec with oversized 4/12. Still My holy Grail tone but today’s tech I can virtually have it all…. Almost :)