Which One Would I Buy? Kemper Stage vs Helix

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Rhett Shull 2

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[RhettShull]

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[jasonmaltz]

I’ve owned my Helix LT for almost 2 years. Absolutely love it, and has simplified my life as a musician. No more heavy amps, I show up at my gigs with a guitar and the Helix. Direct to front of house, my setup time is 10 mins at the most. Snapshots are amazing. Helix all the way!!!

[bobbyconti]

You surprised me when you said you'd choose the Helix. I actually made the switch from Helix to Kemper Stage. Amp tone is the most important thing for me, which I think Kemper does way better out of the box. When it comes to effects, I try to keep it simple with delay and reverb. And I have never had any luck with digital overdrives, so I would just gain it up or switch to a dirtier amp. I love the effect options and routing flexibility of the Helix, but I almost never needed it. Kemper does what I need and the amp profiles sound amazing. Great video Rhett!

[Dirt_Serpent]

I'm team kemper all the way. But thats because I'm in it for the tones and limitless amp sounds. I could care less about a volume pedal and if I want effects I'd rather get individual pedals. In my eyes the kemper isn't designed to be an all in one solution anyways its simply designed to sound absolutely perfect and thats what it does.

[JHSmithmusic]

I own a Helix and wouldn't trade it for anything. The fact that I'm able to do a full wet dry wet rig for $1k is just awesome. I have much flexibility and control over my tone, so I can really get pinpoint accuracy with whatever I need.

[NOTMEORYOU]

This is SO HELPFUL. These are very expensive units and I'm grateful as for this straight forward comparison.

[philh]

Quality piece again, Rhett. Impressed that you genuinely did 'pick one' too. It would be easy to sit on the fence for a comparison such as this.I'm not ready to move from amps and pedalboard, but if I did- based on your synopsis- I'd go for the Kemper!

[MrDavemiley]

Tried both using lots of different profiles and presets made for both. I prefer the Kemper above and beyond the Helix because the amp sounds on the Kemper just feel and sound a lot better.

[dermatze]

You literally released this video on the exact day when I was first wondering which one of these to get. Kudos!

[jts]

Great video, Rhett. I agree with your opinions except that my personal preference is to have a separate expression pedal that is not mounted on the main unit. Mechanical devices have components that fail at a higher rate than electronic ones and I don’t want my profiler shipped off to a repair shop because the onboard mechanical pedal had a failure when I can simply plug in a replacement external expression pedal and be good to go.

[stevemorgan]

Thanks for the comparison review! The only thing I’d disagree with is that being a traditional effects/amp guy for decades, I found the Helix very easy to relate to. The user interface, signal flow I found very intuitive. And liberating - so cool to be able to essentially perform previously studio only functions live.

[InGratitudeIam]

Whichever one you prefer and is easier to use live. Soundwise, the audience won't know the difference. Coming from the traditional amp/pedalboard, I found the Helix really easy and sounding great..

[brinepacer]

Gotta say man, I love your channel. No bullshit, by a musican for musicians. One of the few channels where I genuinely trust what you say. Keep it up.

[TalleyWacker]

Great, honest comparison. Love your atmospheric tones. I've had both, I'm a Fractal guy at heart but both of these units are fantastic. The Kemper can be instant gratification when you find the right profiles for your tones. Helix can get there too!

[mrgreen]

Well, I spent a weekend with both and bought the Kemper. I built a clean and dirty sound from scratch on my Nephews Helix and they are great. But the Kemper had those right off the bat and I travel like crazy. The Kemper is going to go on the plane with me in my overhead bag. I'm not sure the Helix LT would. Used Helix Lt's are going for great prices right now where I live so it was tough to spend the extra money. Thanks for this video. I still have two weeks to return the Kemper if I don't like it. That's what buying used from a store gets you. Yay. Win win really. I know I can get a good clean and crunch from the Helix if I build from scratch. They also have a great download of a Mesa Lonestar-myfave amp, though I did profile one before i left the big city in clean and dirty mode. That is a huge thing...having access to profiles of the worlds rarest amps etc. Portability is probably going to win. And yes buying the pedal was a drag. Not sure i will keep that. How much am I going to use it really? Wah is fun for a month? Dont know.

[Stereostupid]

You should do an updated version of this! That would be awesome because of the liquid profiles, the updates and new products now also!

[kenmartinmusic]

I have an HX stomp with a mini crybaby and mini dunlop volume for my fly rig, and its everything I could possibly "need" for any gig (and more).

[danielordonezgtr]

Actually it doesn't matter which one should I buy because I have no money 😂😂🤣🤣

[timh]

For me its the Kemper. I have purchased the Helix full version later tried the Lt even the stomp. For me the gain tones just don't do it for me. Maybe its me maybe I'm missing something since I have heard great things from the helix.The kemper for me is as close to a tube amp guitar tone as one can get without using a tube amp.All in all its a great time to play guitar with the options one has !

[RezMusicMan]

I've seen this video at least 5 or 6 times in the past 2 years and each time, it's been informative 👍🏻
Thanks Rhett ✊🏻