Tried out going direct with HX Stomp at practice last night (for science)

[Guitarbilly]

I don't mind the vypyr, katana etc for what they are: fuck around the house amps. I'm not "going to work" with them

[Endtime]

I don't mind the vypyr, katana etc for what they are: fuck around the house amps. I'm not "going to work" with them

I wouldn’t either. BUt… I’m gonna do a little experiment here since I do have the Vypyr x2 for my “couch” rig, even tho it’s like 50 watts? Lol I forget. And once I changed the speaker the actual amp is killer in the room but I recently used the headphone Jack for literally the first time, and not surprised but it sounded fucking spot on. And these were my studio headphones which I use for when I mic my cabs and such. So I know the tone in those. And I’m quite certain it may just be pretty damn good for DI too! I’m curious anyway. Again I’d never do that live cause I’m a man damnit!!! Lol.

And the Katana is likely equally as good, likely even better. What’s “funny” is these days if I’m at a GC or even the shop I work at and I want to try out a guitar, I use the Katana or Vypyr. About 20 seconds and I really can have a tone I can use to demo shit out. I know we are talking well beyond that, but just mentioning these fucking things really are easy to get good tones from straight away. And lastly I noticed the Vypyr has editing capabilities via the computer which I’m not sure all it entails but if there’s anyway to use different IRs or even send a dry tone into my DAW and use IRs there, I bet I can get something that rivals any “pro” plugin..,. At least that’s what I aim to find out!!!

[Guitarbilly]

Yeah, Katanas are my first choice to demo guitars at a store. Very easy to get a good tone at low volume.

Most of these amps sound good. But I don't think they hold up well in a live mix. It's not their tone, is their density. As soon as the drummer starts hitting his kit, it swallows the digital stuff, even through a PA.

[Endtime]

Yeah, Katanas are my first choice to demo guitars at a store. Very easy to get a good tone at low volume.

I honestly think this is the “pro’s” hack! Haha. Using the katana or Vypyr for jamming In stores. I just used the Katana at the shop to REALLY demo one of the Peavey HP2 we have had in the shop for awhile now. I absolutely was able to use that amp to run it thru it’s paces from moderate gain and even some spacey clean tones to when I hit the “boost” and was jamming shit even I was surprised at how Heavy it REALLY sounded

[Endtime]

Yeah, Katanas are my first choice to demo guitars at a store. Very easy to get a good tone at low volume.

Most of these amps sound good. But I don't think they hold up well in a live mix. It's not their tone, is their density. As soon as the drummer starts hitting his kit, it swallows the digital stuff, even through a PA.

And tacking onto your last paragraph. I know from watchin half the bands who I play with these days and they run direct. From ALL types. Meaning fractal, line 6 etc etc… I know they don’t sound as good as us(well really me , since my other guitar player still insists on his shitty ass malfunction prone Line 6. But his leads do cut cause it’s such a different tone and that’s what he lives for. His little leads…

Anyway, I know when I ask people who have a bit of an idea of tone and mixes etc, that when I go out front and hear a band after me tun ing direct, they always say I sounded way heavier and CLEARER. Go figure. And we are playing venues these days where it’s not because the PA isn’t capable. So we just played a 700 seat theater where the sound guy is a touring sound tech with a metal band I’m forgetting? But it’s a band I knew of and is a National act. Now let me preface, I don’t particularly like his mixes overall anyway. Lol. But he’s a pro and for the most part you hear everything nice and clear and big, I just think he neuters the guitars a bit much and does the whole “guitar is supposed to be mids) way of mixing

Annnnyway, we played with a Slipknot, somewhat big deal cover band. They did the whole 9 yards. All the costumes etc etc. And these guys had an hour plus soundcheck cause they have all these layers and parts and samples and keys blablabla. The guitarist all ran direct with Axe FX and a Helix. I’m not a huge Slipknot fan but I know enough to follow along. We played got good feedback besides guitars were a little bright and thin but no one struggled to hear us. And I swear I couldn’t make out a fucking single riff with this band once they went on. It was just static for the guitars. It might have been that soundguy despite his “pro” status but they simply couldn’t cut thru all the triggered kicks and drums. The keys. The dude could not get the guitars to work at ALL. So eventually I think he just turned them up to max. Lol.

[Guitarbilly]

And I swear I couldn’t make out a fucking single riff with this band once they went on. It was just static for the guitars.

That's exactly the issue. It doesn't matter how "pro" the setup is. It's the nature of digital instruments, it has no weight compared to analog instruments.

Even Metallica these days, their show is "a relaxing metal evening" no balls at all. Brunch Metal.

If you listen to the guitars alone, they're fine. In the mix, forget about it unless it's all digital (e-kit etc).

[Mike Oxhuge]

My theory about digital is that it phase cancels somehow with anything analog.

[Landshark]

Funny… I had a Vypyr VIP2 and I really enjoyed that little amp. The models actually sounded like their real counterparts. I lived on the 6534+ model on that thing.

same, 6534!

one weird thing ... had a VIP2 and a VIP1 (scored both cheap used) to use as "beside the couch" amps. ended up selling the VIP2 because the VIP1 just had a better feel and a little something extra ... ???

as far as Billy's assessment about digital amps live, i'd have to agree, but the Vypyrs are analog preamps. from the Vypyr product page ... "True analog distortion not only sounds better, it leaves the amplifier's processing power dedicated to the effects, allowing the VYPYR X to run up to 5 effects simultaneously. When playing live nothing "cuts through the mix" like a VYPYR. Many modeling amps simply can't be heard in a live setting because of their poor digital distortion and practice amp EQ. TransTube technology is designed analog to emulate real tubes, and sits perfectly in the mix in a live environment."

I probably would not drag a Vypyr onstage if i ever played live again, though