Hey Friend,

Wednesday, we talked about classic amplifier tones supplied to us by some iconic artists.

I mentioned the Internet has made it fairly easy these days to hunt down gear settings. The challenge isn’t in the information - it’s in affording the dang gear!

I lust after Mesa Boogie amplifiers. I never got over my crush on the Mesa S.O.B. I owned in the early 80s.

But to get my hands on a Dual Rectifier, Roadster or a Mark V, even a used head is gonna run $1000+. Then you need to add a speaker cabinet, unless you can find a reasonably priced combo unit.

Marshall and Fender amplifiers aren’t much cheaper (if at all)...

Then there’s the added concerns about space to set up your rig, loudness (and keeping the neighbors up at night).

That’s where amplifier profilers/modelers have really helped, and there are many to choose from. 

An amp profiler is software and/or a device that recreates the amplifier experience, without the the need for large, heavy equipment.

The tones and sound characteristics of virtually any amplifier in existence can be recreated digitally and output to your computer speakers, sound system, or amplifier cabinet.

The technology has gotten so good that we can now capture an amplifier’s tone digitally, “record” it and recreate it so close to the authentic physical amplifier that no one can hear the difference.

This is basically what a ‘profiler’ does. It records an exact signal and the characteristics of the amplifier it is profiling.

Granted, this technology can also cost you plenty (Kemper, for those of you interested), but you gain access to literally any amplifier tone imaginable from one piece of gear, rather than needing a studio full of amplifiers and speaker cabinets.

Because yes, different amplifiers and speaker cabinet combinations have different sound qualities, so it’s not uncommon in a recording situation to test out many different configurations to get “that perfect sound."

The less expensive route is to go with an amp modeler, which attempts to capture the general sound characteristics of an amplifier brand and model. You can get a modeler for less than $100.

Line 6 was an early adopter of this technology and built modeling amplifiers and audio interface you can use to plug your guitar into your computer. 

This makes recording yourself fairly easy to do, and with so many preset options, you’ll never lack for interesting sounds. I’ve been using an old Line 6 Gear Box for years plugged into my computer, so I’m sold on the tech.

I don’t have time to go into a lot more right now, and I didn't even get into the software side of it, but this is an interesting thread talking about the differences between profilers and modelers.

I do find the concept very appealing, and I’d love to get my grubby hands on a Kemper with a bunch of profiled classic amplifiers. I’m also considering upgrading from the Line 6 to a more pro-grade interface, but in time, my precious…

Gotsta roll, Peeps. Have a great Friday!

Peace~

Dave