Which Next Generation Amp Is Right For You?

In the ever-evolving landscape of musical technology, the quest for the perfect tone remains a relentless pursuit for guitarists and musicians alike. Whether you're a seasoned professional or an aspiring artist, the search for that elusive sonic nirvana is a journey that never truly ends. Enter the Fender Tone Master Pro, Kemper Profiling Amp, and Neural DSP—a trio of revolutionary solutions that have sent shockwaves through the world of guitar tone.

In a world where vintage tube amplifiers once reigned supreme, these digital wonders have sparked a debate that transcends tradition and challenges convention. The Fender Tone Master Pro, Kemper Profiling Amp, and Neural DSP Quad Cortex have each carved a niche for themselves, offering guitarists an array of options and possibilities that were once deemed impossible.

In this comprehensive exploration, we will delve deep into the heart of this sonic showdown, pitting these titans against each other to determine which one reigns supreme in the battle for tone supremacy. Join us as we dissect the technology, dissect the features, and put these formidable contenders through their paces to help you make an informed choice in your quest for the ultimate guitar tone. Whether you're a vintage purist, a digital devotee, or someone seeking the perfect blend of both worlds, this showdown promises to be an enlightening journey through the realms of Fender, Kemper, and Neural DSP.

Fender Tone Master Pro

Fender has always been synonymous with legendary guitar amplifiers and innovative sound. With the introduction of the Fender Tone Master Pro, they have taken their legacy to new heights. This multi-effects guitar workstation is designed to uphold the remarkable sound quality that the acclaimed Tone Master series is known for. It's not just another run-of-the-mill guitar processor; it's a revolutionary leap forward in terms of usability and tone.

One of the standout features of the Tone Master Pro is its extensive library of over 100 of the world's most popular amps and effects. Fender has painstakingly replicated iconic classics, including their own Tone Master models, and even the first officially licensed EVH 5150 III Stealth model. These models are crafted using Fender's proprietary Tone Master Modeling process, ensuring unparalleled authenticity and sonic excellence.

The Tone Master Pro is more than just a sonic powerhouse; it's also designed with the user in mind. Its lightweight, rugged, and stage-friendly form factor not only looks beautiful but is also incredibly functional. The full-color touchscreen, adorned with stunning graphics, makes navigating through presets and tweaking settings a breeze. With an intuitive user interface, dialing in the perfect tone has never been easier or more inspiring. Creating and managing presets has never been simpler. The Tone Master Pro allows you to create presets, customize your footswitch assignments, and combine them to create Songs and organize them into Setlists with ease. Ten custom-designed footswitch encoders give you instant access to all your presets and parameters, mimicking the experience of using the real thing.

The Tone Master Pro offers a comprehensive array of I/O options, ensuring that it can seamlessly integrate into your setup. It features instrument and XLR mic inputs, making it versatile for both guitarists and vocalists. Four effects loops provide the flexibility to incorporate your favorite pedals, offering endless sonic possibilities. Fender hasn't stopped at just sound quality and ease of use. The Tone Master Pro boasts a 60-second Stereo Looper, allowing you to experiment and create on the fly. True preset spillover ensures that delay and reverb tails continue seamlessly when switching presets, enhancing your live performance.

The Tone Master Pro comes packed with other features like Bluetooth wireless connection for streaming audio from your mobile device and a stereo 1/4" headphone output for silent practice. It's also compatible with the Mission Engineering SP1-TMP Expression Pedal, giving you real-time control of parameters. All of this comes in a lightweight package, weighing under 9 lbs. In summary, the Fender Tone Master Pro is not just another guitar processor; it's a game-changer in the world of multi-effects workstations.

Kemper Profiling Amplifier

When it comes to innovation in the world of guitar amplification, the Kemper Profiling Amp stands as a symbol of transformation. Synonymous with uncompromising sound quality and unrivaled versatility, the Kemper Profiling Amp rewrote the rulebook for guitarists and studio musicians alike. Originally released in 2012, it still stands against the latest technology thanks to it's stellar sound quality and vibrant 'Rig Exchange' community.

One of the standout features of the Kemper Profiling Amp is its groundbreaking Profiling technology. This revolutionary process allows you to capture the unique sonic fingerprint of any amplifier, including vintage classics and boutique gems. Whether it's the warmth of a vintage tube combo or the searing overdrive of a high-gain stack, the Kemper Profiling Amp reproduces it faithfully, down to the finest nuances. This means that you can have an entire arsenal of legendary amps at your disposal in a single, sleek unit.

But the Kemper Profiling Amp doesn't stop at just amplifiers. It also profiles an extensive range of effects pedals and studio gear, allowing you to recreate the entire signal chain of your favorite artists and albums. The result is a level of sonic authenticity that is nothing short of astonishing. In 2023, Kemper introduced 'Liquid Profiling', a huge update that models the physical EQ settings on profiled amps, making them more realistic than ever.

One of the advantages of the Kemper Profiling Amp is its portability and stage-readiness. Whether you're playing in a small club or a massive arena, the Kemper Profiling Amp is up to the task. It's lightweight, durable, and designed to withstand the rigors of the road. Plus, its extensive connectivity options make it a seamless addition to your existing setup, whether you're running it through a traditional guitar cabinet or directly into a PA system. It's a true professional-grade tool, and has proven itself across countless stages and studio sessions for over a decade.

Neural DSP Quad Cortex

In the ever-evolving realm of guitar technology, the Neural DSP Quad Cortex has emerged as a groundbreaking force to be reckoned with. Renowned for its ability to deliver awe-inspiring tones and unparalleled versatility, the Quad Cortex stands as a beacon of innovation in the world of guitar processing. This extraordinary device transcends the boundaries of conventional guitar effects processors, offering a platform that not only reimagines tone but also pushes the boundaries of sonic creativity.

The Quad Cortex's journey begins with Neural DSP, a company renowned for its cutting-edge digital signal processing technology and its unwavering commitment to crafting the ultimate guitar tone. With the Quad Cortex, Neural DSP has raised the bar to unprecedented heights, ushering in a new era in guitar processing.

At its core, the Quad Cortex is a modeling powerhouse. It leverages the power of neural networks to recreate the most coveted amplifiers, effects pedals, and cabinets with remarkable accuracy. This means that you have the entire history of iconic guitar tones at your disposal, all within a sleek, compact unit. Whether you're seeking the vintage warmth of a classic tube amp or the crushing distortion of a modern high-gain monster, the Quad Cortex delivers, and it does so with breathtaking realism.

The Quad Cortex's neural modeling capabilities extend far beyond traditional amp and effects emulation. With its unmatched versatility, it can model a vast array of signal chain components, from individual pedals to studio-grade processors. This means you can craft your dream signal path, experiment with signal routing, and explore new creative possibilities like never before.

One of the standout features of the Quad Cortex is its intuitive touchscreen interface. Navigating through presets, tweaking parameters, and creating your sonic landscapes has never been easier. The high-resolution display provides a clear view of your signal chain, making it a breeze to fine-tune your tones. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a beginner, you'll find the Quad Cortex's interface both user-friendly and inspiring.

The Quad Cortex is not just a studio tool; it's built to conquer the stage as well. Its rugged construction and road-ready design make it a reliable companion for live performances. With its extensive connectivity options, including MIDI, USB, and multiple I/O ports, it seamlessly integrates into any setup, ensuring that your sonic vision is fully realized on stage.

Neural DSP's dedication to innovation extends to the Quad Cortex's onboard effects. From studio-grade reverbs and delays to dynamic modulation effects, the Quad Cortex offers a wide palette of sonic textures that can be customized to suit your preferences. With its real-time signal processing capabilities, you can create intricate, evolving soundscapes with ease.

If you're ready to embark on a sonic journey that knows no bounds, it's time to embrace the innovation and inspiration offered by the Neural DSP Quad Cortex.

Which Is Right For you?

There really is no wrong answer when it comes to choosing between these next generation amplifiers. All three have incredible sound quality, incredible feature sets, multi-output capabilities including stereo and headphone outputs, easily updateable firmware, solid build-quality and an incredible array of effects, amplifiers, cabinets and more. All three of these units have an incredibly deep feature-set, and it's impossible to cover all their capabilities here - they're truly powerful, versatile and, above all, fun to use!

The Fender Tone Master Pro is the ideal unit for guitarists who are looking for an all-in-one unit to replace both their pedalboard and amplifier. The incredible skeuomorphic user interface is truly revolutionary, allowing you to dial in your tone just as you would with physical pedals and amps. If you're looking for your first step into the world of digital guitar amps, the Tone Master Pro is almost fool-proof. If you're a gigging guitarist looking for a wealth of classic tones and rigs in an easy-to-use all-in-one unit, it's hard to look past the Tone Master Pro.

The Kemper Profiling Amp is just as at home on the stage as the Tone Master Pro, but thanks to it's Rig Exchange community and countless professional profile packs, it has by far the biggest selection of tones available in a modelling amplifier. Vintage classics, cult favourites and modern boutique builders are all available, with breathtaking accuracy and realism. Looking for a Gibson Skylark tone? How about a cranked Silvertone? Or an overdriven Morgan or Benson? The Kemper does it all. While it's interface is not as user-friendly as the Fender or Neural, it's Rig Manager software makes it easy to prepare for a studio session or show, and it's durable build quality is stage-proven and rock solid. The Kemper Profiling Amp is the perfect choice for producers, tone hounds and those guitarists seeking the highest level of sonic realism.

Finally, the Neural DSP Quad Cortex is the perfect tool for sonic adventurers, with enormous processing power and endless routing options. It excels in complex, multilayered and unique rigs, but is easily usable thanks to an intuitive touch-screen interface. It's got a genuinely amp-like feel, especially for high-gain tones, making it a great live tool. The effects are sublime too, with studio-quality reverbs, delays and modulation. The Quad Cortex is the most powerful floor-modeller on the planet, and it's the ideal choice for guitarists seeking a no-compromise solution that can create sophisticated and unique tones that translate well across studio and live work.

Acoustic Centre are pleased to stock all three of these world-class next generation amplifiers - check out our range of Fender, Neural DSP and Kemper products here.