Kemper Profiler Stage
TYPE: Amp profiler /
multi-effects
floorboard
CONTROLS: On/off,
mode select, input
select, module/section
buttons, output/
master button, master
volume, system
button, pedals button,
rig button, type knob,
browse knob, soft
buttons/knobs, morph
button, lock button,
edit button, store
button, back button,
page buttons, gain
knob, up/down
buttons, rig buttons,
tap tempo button,
tuner, effect switches
(1-4), looper
SOCKETS: Instrument
input, four balanced
return TRS inputs (two
stereo), two TRS
sends, two balanced
XLR, two TRS main
outs, two monitor
outs, 3.5 mm
headphone jack, S/
PDIF digital in/out,
switch/pedal input for
external controllers,
five-pin DIN MIDI I/O,
USB type A and B,
Kensington Lock
connector, IEC mains
power
POWER: IEC mains
power 100V-240V
CONTACT: Kemper
kemper-amps.com
AT A GLANCE
T
his is a Kemper Profi ler.
Yes, yes, we know it says
as much at the top of the
page, but it’s so
important we thought
we’d say it again. Why so? Well,
it’s a very important point. What
you have here is the guts of
Kemper’s longstanding Profi ler
combined with the foot-switching
functionality of the company’s
Remote fl oor controller.
Essentially nothing is ‘new’ under
the bonnet. What you do get is a
decent saving over the price of a
standard Profi ler and Remote.
Happy days! More aff ordable
Kemper is good news all round.
However, we’re starting with a
bit of a gripe. We’re talking about
Kemper’s decision not to integrate
an expression pedal into the Stage.
For us, it’s a glaring omission. The
Stage is in the fi ring line of the
expression-equipped Line 6 Helix
Floor and HeadRush Pedalboard.
Forgive the French, but surely the
raison d’etre of a fl oorboard is to
off er a convenient one-box
giggable solution. And the Stage
isn’t suffi ciently diminutive to be
compared to, say, HeadRush’s
Gigboard or Line 6’s HX Stomp,
which are stripped back versions
of bigger, more fully-featured
off erings. No, this is a fl agship
device. Need an expression pedal?
Sorry, you’ll just have to buy one.
Putting the negative to one side
though, let’s remind ourselves of
just what you do get from the
Kemper ecosystem, because it’s
undoubtedly impressive… Access
to thousands of online profi led
amps from the free Rig Manager
desktop app for Mac and PC; more
than you could ever possibly need
if we’re honest. Top class sound
quality. And we mean truly top
class, arguably surpassing Line 6’s
Helix and up there with Fractal
Audio’s Axe-Fx III – a far more
expensive beast. Coupled with a
full range of high-quality eff ects
(including drives, distortions, a
looper, modulations and so on),
the Kemper could be all the rig you
ever need. Some will say the
Kemper’s eff ects could be better.
We’d say that’s a can of worms
and not necessarily true. Suffi ce to
say, the Kemper is primarily about
the authenticity of its amp tones.
Of course, Kemper Profi lers
have a USP – the ability to profi le
your own amps. Just like Kemper’s
standard “toaster” model, the
Stage can copy, ie, ‘profi le’ your
amp’s sound, allowing you to play
through a digital version of your
amp’s exact signature tone. Let
that sink in. It’s not a company’s
model of someone else’s amp. It’s
a profi le of your own amp set up in
its sweet spot just as you like it.
There’s not really space to go into
detail here, suffi ce to say that
astonishing levels of mimicry have
been Kemper’s ‘thing’ since
launch. Not convinced? Thousands
of pros and high-profi le artists
have ditched cumbersome
traditional amplifi cation in favour
digital devices like the Kemper.
Even renowned tonehound and
bona fi de guitar legend Mark
Knopfl er recently switched to
Kemper for his world tour. If it’s
good enough the Knopf it’s good
enough for us!
In use, the Stage does have one
notable shortcoming. The screen,
for us, is simply too small. A few
KEMPER PROFILER STAGE
Kemper reboots its Profiler in floorboard form
TOP CLASS SOUND QUALITY.
AND WE MEAN TOP CLASS
Photography: Olly Cur tis
£1449
1
2
3
1
MAIN
FOOTSWITCHES
The footswitches are
clear to use, so you
won’t need much
guesswork. They
indicate bank shift,
effect on/off and
patch select
2
TYPE, BROWSE,
BROWSER
These are your main
access points to start
editing. Some of these
functions would
benefit from clearer
names. “Browse” and
“Browser” anyone?
3
RETURN
You’ll need to plug
a mic in to one of the
returns to profile your
own amp. Not marked
as such, it’s easily
overlooked
REVIEW
91
NOVEMBER 2019 TOTAL GUITAR
TGR325.gear_lead.indd 91 10/10/2019 20:10