The End of The Guitar Effects Battle?

We're in a multi-effects arms race! Is this the end? This is Hotone's Ampero II Stage triple core effects processor... it can do guitar, bass, synth.... AND VOCAL processing! If you play and sing at the same time... what more do you need? And how does it compare to the other Hotone units, like the Ampero One or the Ampero MP-100?

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Rubric: -5 points for Danzig references. -5 points for not reading the description. -5 points for not watching far enough into the video to answer your own question. -5 points for misquoting me in your comment. 20 points possible. Everyone starts with an A!

[steveschulz]

That custom tone you crafted is the shit bro. I'm just learning how to play at the young age of 65. You are a large part of what inspired me to want to learn.

[adrianscarlett]

I'm still happy with the helix rack, especially considering how many updates it's had.

[boardermarco]

I love the fact that there is no expression pedal built in. It would unnecessarily increase the size and the price of the board for those who do not need one. Those who do want or need it can easily add it.

[legendarychillmonroe]

I sing and play, how about more info and demo of use with a microphone.

[markallen]

I started becoming drawn to music around 1964. Folk Music was a thing and I started enjoying singing along with the albums I played. I now play Karaoke titles from Youtube for singing practice at age 71. My guitar playing was was on a silvertone electric guitar and now it's on a Stratocaster or my acoustic Martin. My first pedal was a Big Muff Pi, but fuzz no more (I don't want fuzz anymore). I like all the ambient sounds and a touch of overdrive too. This looks like a good Multi-effects pedal. Your custom preset is killer!

[BillBraun-gf]

Great demonstration of a a great sounding all in one. It is a bargain. Your shredding shows off your playing skills
but totally gets in the way of showing off the tone of the unit. Your narrative is honest and direct. No nonsense.

[betojara]

I just got a Headrush MX5 for Xmas 🎄 and I love it! Has a nice touch screen for changing all signal patches and it’s small and compact ✌🏽👍🏽🤘🏽

[picksalot]

I think it sounds great. The price point is good, it is feature packed, just the right size for floor and desktop use. Has the thick, rich sound of a Fractal Modeler, and an excellent UI and Desktop Librarian/Editor, 8x8 USB audio functionality and variable sampling rates from 44.1kHz to 192kHz. It looks like they really listened to what Users want and need.

Regarding it not having a built in Expression Pedal, for those who want to us it as a desktop unit, having a separate Pedal makes a lot of sense, and that's the way I use my HX Stomp. Hotone did a great job, and the unit has just about everything one would want.

[JTB--]

I've had the Hotone Stage for a little over a week and it's amazing. The Reverbs and Delays are great. I've probably only gotten into 10% of what this thing can do. One thing I'm loving so far is plugging in my PRS Custom 24 Piezo into Both Inputs... and using the Parallel template and putting different effects on each input. So in other words you can put Delay, Reverb effects on the Piezo pickup and also whatever effects you want on your Magnetic pickups for some really creative sounds. It's a lot of fun. I also like the Looper having UNDO/REDO and the drum machine for jamming and practicing. I seem to get more creative with guitar riffs if I have a Drum beat going first. Hotone hit a Home Run here. And I'd get the Hotone Soul Press II pedal over this new Ampero II Press. The Soul Press II is a 3 in 1 pedal that can be a Wah, /Volume(or both) and an Expression pedal. It's a better bang for the buck. Overall the Ampero II is giving you a lot for the money. I've tried Muti Effects 2-3X more expensive and I'd take the Stage over them. It's all subjective really and really depends on what you're looking for in this type of effects unit... but if $$$ isn't the issue... pay up for the Stage over the cheaper Effects Processors/Modelers out there. You won't be disappointed

[leondantas]

thanks for the review. For the older ampero II stomp users the major problem with this new unit is that a lot of its features were missed promised updates for the II Stomp. Those "future updates" were never delivered. Ampero II Stomp are waiting for scenes and gapless transitions effects for more than an year now. The terrible stomp mode switch that terrifies everybody that use the unit to play live are also a promised fix.

Both units share the same DSP power but Hotone support was really bad and never delivered what is being promised.

[nychold]

I love the idea that aliens are sitting around watching humans playing guitars and thinking "morons, we should do something to help them rock out." 🤣🤣

[TheJeffbarrett]

I recently got a Donner Arena and was amazed at the tone just thru studio monitors. I had a rack unit Behringer Vamp, which died but they do not make rack units anymore in favor of these little pedals.

[billsstudio]

I own real amps and have owned many modelers. Today, I put the Friedman IRX preamp into a Fender TMP loop. Sounded pretty good! The distortion/OD from any modeler still makes me chase tone all day to try and get em to sound real, whereas when I put some pedals in front of 1 or 2 real tube amps = glorius! I like the way the AMPERO is layed out though.
Battle is still on, but real amps never enlisted....didn't have to.

[japhygoldman]

I just bought one, and honestly, I am glad it doesn't have a built-in expression pedal. It has 2 x 1/4' jacks for expression pedals and/or eternal switches so it's more flexible and the tiny onboard expression pedals on units this size usually have a very short travel and don't work terribly well. I use my Fractal expression pedal with this and it's great

[rushtabconvideo]

You need to make a video about the Ampero Mini with not only focusing on what it can do, but how it’s so versatile and friendly on custom pedal boards playing well with other pedal effects and set ups.

[JasonGrantProject]

Absolutely killer custom tone Max! I just got a Valeton GP-200 on Amazon for about $270. Love to see a shoot out/comparison between it and comperable or even more expensive products along with your always valuble opinion. I built a virtual rig with a Soldano SLO pushed by a tube screamer. Face melting. Thanks again for the great review!

[vadimandrienko]

Separate chain for vocal is exactly what Line6 X3 guitar processor had a lot of years before. But tone of guitar effects sounds incredible for me. Thank you for a review of the unit.

[guidorehder]

I bought a Headrush Prime three months ago. It has a mic input, too. I love that board, it's amazing.
One thing that I am missing on those small units is an expression pedal.

[wasteddude]

Nice jam, dude. Enjoyed it. That personal metal voice you made was pretty blistery too.

[GuitarLessonsMadeEasy]

Oh man I must check this pedal out. Thanks 🙏 for the great review