Kemper Profiler Head

DECEMBER 2016 TOTAL GUITAR
101
FINaL VeRdICt
Which modeller is the right one for you?
o
ur quartet of high-end modellers
are reasonably close to each other
in terms of sonic performance. For
the price, you’d expect them all to
sound as good – and they do. But
each one also has a di erent mix of features
that will appeal to di erent kinds of player.
With Line 6 and Yamaha’s combined digital
expertise and peerless manufacturing, the
Helix has great pedigree - and it lives up to it.
Line 6’s new  agship looks and sounds
superb and it’s built to last, although you’ll
want to take great care of it – it’s almost
too good-looking. The touch-sensitive
footswitch buttons and digital scribble strips
are a masterstroke, and make the Helix
perfect for both the stage and the studio.
Fractal’s AX8 pushes the Helix hard,
though – it may not have as many features,
but it has four times as many amp models,
and they all sound great. The compact and
robust construction makes the AX8 our
favourite for live use and we think it’s a great
 rst choice for someone who wants top-end
digital modeling without spending crazy
money. It’s easy to control, too, though not
as intuitive as the Helix. While they can be
used live, the Kemper and Positive Grid work
better as recording tools – the latter will suit
players used to tinkering with software
plugins, while the Kemper is more self-
contained and has hundreds of rigs pre-
loaded. Whichever one you choose, you can
be guaranteed hours of tinkering and playing
fun. Forget about yesterday’s grainy
facsimiles; these modellers are the real deal.
TH
E G
AS
S
T
A
T
I
O
N
FRACTAL AX8
KEMPER PROFILER HEAD
POSITIVE GRID BIAS HEAD
LINE 6 HELIX FLOORBOARD
Best For
studio
worK
Best For
live use
Best all-
rounder
Best For home
recording
Features
sound Quality
value For money
Build Quality
usaBility
overall rating
SUMMARY
Features
sound Quality
value For money
Build Quality
usaBility
overall rating
SUMMARY
Features
sound Quality
value For money
Build Quality
usaBility
overall rating
SUMMARY
Features
sound Quality
value For money
Build Quality
usaBility
overall rating
SUMMARY
Best Buy
award
Best Buy
award
TGR287.gear_test.indd 101 01/11/2016 23:22