Best modelling option for plug n’play (ish) experience

I want to dip my toes into digital modelling but worries about fiddling with menus etc

i previously had hx stomp - not a difficult to navigate unit but definitely not my cup of tea unless you had it connected to the app.

I would definitely like a phone app to edit or a very straightforward interface.

For me, KEMPER always had an appeal because they cover all aspects (speaker, powered amplification etc etc) but maybe a bit of a stretch.

The big quad cortex is also very fully featured but pricey.

Tonex sounds good but my last experience with ik (audio interface) was not good with the regular complaints about software registration etc.

Any thoughts based on experience ?

I own the Tonex Pedal (the 3-button pedal). You do need to load the software onto a computer to get started. It does make sense to buy some tone models from a reputable supplier (I've been happy with Amalgam). After that, you just run the pedal stand-alone and don't worry about the computer until you need to backup your changes or update the firmware to get some extra features.

All playing changes are done using the controls on the pedal and it's not that hard. The new mod/delay effects are pushing the envelope of the hardware controls, but for amps, cabs, noise gate compressor and reverb it's fine and fairly logical. 

I run into a Laney LFR 112 cab or (via an analogue mixer) into some inexpensive monitors.  I don't use any of the effects apart from a bit of room reverb to make it feel more like the "amp in the room". I use my pedalboard for effects.

TheBigDipper said:

I own the Tonex Pedal (the 3-button pedal). You do need to load the software onto a computer to get started. It does make sense to buy some tone models from a reputable supplier (I've been happy with Amalgam). After that, you just run the pedal stand-alone and don't worry about the computer until you need to backup your changes or update the firmware to get some extra features.

All playing changes are done using the controls on the pedal and it's not that hard. The new mod/delay effects are pushing the envelope of the hardware controls, but for amps, cabs, noise gate compressor and reverb it's fine and fairly logical. 

I run into a Laney LFR 112 cab or (via an analogue mixer) into some inexpensive monitors.  I don't use any of the effects apart from a bit of room reverb to make it feel more like the "amp in the room". I use my pedalboard for effects.

This refelects my experience too. 

My first moddler was an axe-fx gen 1
Been round the hx stomp carosel so many times (well, at least 4)

Both sounded good, but I spent more time tweaking than playing and never being 100% happy with my sound. 

Enter the tonex. 

Initially, I thought it was a bit shit. Bought some amalgam captures and suddenly got it. 

I've got 3 patches set up and haven't plugged into the computer in a long time - it's probably several versions out of date. 

To me, it's the most setup-and-forget moddler I've ever tried. 

I know what you mean about the overwhelming amount of choice on the HX Stomp - I think it's great but I'm always wondering whether I'm actually getting the best out of it.

The simplest modeller I've owned is the Yamaha THR100H head. There is a PC app you can use if you want but 90% of the functionality is on the amp itself. Similar to the Tonemaster amps I guess, but the Yamaha has half a dozen different models and you can choose valve types too.

@relic245 you mentioned buying captures for the Tonex - out of interest, did you ever buy presets etc for the Stomp? I was wondering if this would be a short cut to solving this.

There’s an initial faff with Tonex out after that I’ve not fiddled other than master volume in weeks. I don’t pay for captures as there’s loads of good free ones out there. 

markv said:

I know what you mean about the overwhelming amount of choice on the HX Stomp - I think it's great but I'm always wondering whether I'm actually getting the best out of it.

The simplest modeller I've owned is the Yamaha THR100H head. There is a PC app you can use if you want but 90% of the functionality is on the amp itself. Similar to the Tonemaster amps I guess, but the Yamaha has half a dozen different models and you can choose valve types too.

@relic245 you mentioned buying captures for the Tonex - out of interest, did you ever buy presets etc for the Stomp? I was wondering if this would be a short cut to solving this.

Great point @markv  no I never bought stomp patches.  The idea never crossed my mind. 

Reflecting on it now,  somehow that would have felt like I'd failed.  Other people build good patches so I 'should' be able to. 

It's different on the Tonex - I can't capture a 1965 Marshall Plexi because I don't have one, therefore it's ok to buy someone elses's work. 

Not logical as I see it on the screen in front of me!

I don't know how much patches go for but might be worth a shot. 

I bought a few patches for my Helix; I liked them. Whilst I 'should' be able to build good patches of my own, I can't shoot IRs.

Whatever the platform, there will be lots of patch makers doing black friday sales at the moment.

Ive had or have all of those. 

Thank you all for your replies. Probably will get one of the now discounted Tonex one and just get a feel for how good modelling is right now.

ultimately, I think maybe building around a KEMPER player might be nice but , anyway, a Tonex one will always fit the picture somehow, even as a backup.

I've been super impressed with my Ampero II Stomp since I got it. Much easier to get a great sound without tweaking than my Helix Stomp. 

Nano Cortex is a simple, fixed signal chain and the app is great.

If it’s just amp modelling you need, what about the UAFX pedals?

melod said:

Thank you all for your replies. Probably will get one of the now discounted Tonex one and just get a feel for how good modelling is right now.

ultimately, I think maybe building around a KEMPER player might be nice but , anyway, a Tonex one will always fit the picture somehow, even as a backup.

I am tempted by a Tonex One, painful software or not, that can and probably will improve over time... but £120ish for one, that is beer and pizza money, no brainer.

Bats_ said:

I am tempted by a Tonex One, painful software or not, that can and probably will improve over time... but £120ish for one, that is beer and pizza money, no brainer.

The next update is the one people really want. Actual live editing of the preset on the pedal really will transform it. IK have been clever. The announcement of the effects upgrade will drive more sales but the future update for live editing will absolutely lift the retention rates. 

I'm sticking with my Tonex One and I want to buy a second in the future for stereo duties. Amalgam released a JC-120 capture last week which is so good. Grabbed that along with the BF Twin they did a month or two ago and my clean amp sounds are totally done. 

Yes, I actually laughed out loud when I figured out I had to edit, then move to the pedal… madness. 

I was thinking about a Tonex but seeing the gripes on this forum gave me second thoughts. Then I saw the release plan for adding all the new stuff and it was a hard ‘no’.

 Spent more pennies on the Friedman IR-J and it’s the most guitar fun I’ve ever had without an amp!

I dig restrictions, not menus…even when 100% software, I like the somewhat limited Neural DSP approach.

No mention of the Boss GX-100 (or GX-10 now). So overlooked. Top quality modelling and effects (same as GT-1000), touch screen, really easy to use, super flexible, never need to use a PC - do everything on the pedal. Plus a lot cheaper than Kemper or Helix. Well worth a look.

Im very happy with my Tonex (The 3 button one).
I’ve had a hx stomp for a long time now but I’ve never really gelled with the amps, no matter how long I spent tweaking settings I couldnt find a sound I was totally happy with. 

Kemper all day. The new player is £600 and covers every bag you could need. Or go for a used head or stage. 

jw_H-535 said:

Kemper all day. The new player is £600 and covers every bag you could need. Or go for a used head or stage. 

Interesting. I found the kemper really hard work! Complete option blindness as so many profiles available, and always after the next hit! Guess we're all different!

I tried an hx stomp years ago and didn't like it - but recently picked up a pod go for rehearsals, and find that really easy to navigate. Most plug and play multi fx I have found.

Also have a UA lion - and if you are really after plug and play modeling, the UA stuff sounds superb,  and functions just as the amps do. But of course also limiting - as only one amp per pedal!

Left field suggestion and a cheap option if you get on with it  - Boss ME90.  You don’t need to connect it to anything PC wise , it’s all knobs and switches and totally intuitive . It obviously hasn’t got the amp options of the big boys but it’s has 4 or 5 very good every day ones along with the 5 or 6 high gain ones. Loads of effects as you’d imagine and about £260

DrCornelius said:

Left field suggestion and a cheap option if you get on with it  - Boss ME90.  You don’t need to connect it to anything PC wise , it’s all knobs and switches and totally intuitive . It obviously hasn’t got the amp options of the big boys but it’s has 4 or 5 very good every day ones along with the 5 or 6 high gain ones. Loads of effects as you’d imagine and about £260

I have a Boss ME90 into my amp and a GX100 for silent playing. Tbh I could probably have the ME90 cover both, but where is the fun in that! I have to say, the simplified/restrictive (delete as appropriate) ME90 gets me playing much quicker and is quite liberating versus the constant patch tweaking of the GX100 and the like. It's got all of the fundamental effects on there plus a few nice surprises (freeze, for example).

If you're after simple no nonsense plug in and play then the ME90 is very hard to beat. If you want an avalanche of options and room to grow then not so much.

The Valeton GP200 0ffers excellent bang for buck. Well built with all metal case, USB C, Midi, and staggered switches which are all high end features. It also has dedicated real knobs for the amp so dead easy to tweak your amp model on the fly, and 11 push buttons to immediately select fx modules. 

It sounds really good too and definitely comparable tone quality to my Pod Go. 

It's a good plug n play option because it doesn't have options for mic and distance/position. These are preset, to make it much quicker and easier to find your tone. I had one on approval for a few weeks and I wrote a detailed 7 page table style review for it. The only reason I didn't keep it was because in stomp mode the footswitches display as ABCD and you can't name them whereas I need naming for live gig use.  But it's a good unit. 

I had a go with my son's Valeton and while the sounds are good I found the overall audio quality to be not very good, lots of noise, but maybe that's his unit.

I do have a HX Stomp but it feels like with Line6 you've got to do all kinds of tricks, "hacks", and stuff from YT to get the best out of the amp models.

My Ampero II Stomp has been quite the opposite. In many ways the whole vibe is familiar to L6, but I found the amps just sound good without any fiddling. And there's some lovely effects on there including a verb that's essentially the Strymon Cloudburst. 

Deleted my reply because I re read the OP and you said ‘digital’ modelling. 

As a counterpoint and non-obvious choice, my Fractal FM9 is proving to be highly plug and play. Purely because I'm so happy with the tone I've got by taking a preset and tweaking it. The FM3 would certainly have sufficed too.

I shudder to set up a preset without the editor software, but live editing on the fly can be made quite straightforward with a preset performance page, where you assign knobs to control any parameter within any part of your preset. 

Just an additional observation. It doesn't have to be new gear with the latest wizardry. There are lots of older units that are easy to use and still sound great too. 

I love my headrush mx5

I found the Kemper was the one I tweak the least and spend most time playing - just load a capture and go. I do mess around with FX on it a bit and enjoy trying out tones but that's just a case of double click in the librarian and away you go. None of the need to build virtual rigs, patches etc. because it's profile based, you kind of just choose a sound and roll with it (very minor tweaks aside).

The Axe stuff sounds amazing but the depth of options is insane and always found myself trying to improve the sound. Line 6 stuff always feels like a battle trying to get the sound in my head out of the unit - far too much pissing about.

With the Kemper, if I want to play a JCM800 for a bit just search for, say, '800' in the librarian and click through a few captures until I find one I like and go with that. Save it to favourites, slap my saved reverb/delay/drive pedals in the blocks and job done. Although appreciate that some people enjoy 'crafting' their own sounds on a modeller.

Want to try a Tonex as would love something compact I could put on my pedal board and the price of them is incredible for what they can do.

Dan_Halen said:

 Line 6 stuff always feels like a battle trying to get the sound in my head out of the unit - far too much pissing about.

Have to agree. Although my Pod Go is good fun, and whilst it's not a Helix, it still has way too much stuff in it and is far from plug n play. The amount of parameters and options on everything is just ridiculous. 

What is it you want to “dip your toes in to” ?

A Tone Master amp is modelling and as simple an interface as you can get. But my gut says this isn’t what you mean.