Hotone Ampero II Stage MP-380

[KingsXJJ]

It might be best "for the money" but nowhere near best overall.

I think that’s why he stated “all things considered.” He even clearly stated Fractal is better. When money is weighted and ease of use, it certainly is one of the best overall. If Fractal offered a cheaper and as easy to use unit that sounded better, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

In my opinion, Hotone could learn a lot from Fractal as far as tone. In fact I bet they have. Fractal could learn a thing or two from Hotone. Namely ease of use and offering products at lower price points.

I own both (and plan on keeping both) but look forward to how things play out. Exciting times for sure!

 

[ericbr1]

I’m curious how many Ampero II users we have her. Besides @laxu and myself. I’m giving one a go and putting it through it’s/my paces.

I’m having easy fun right now exploring the Marshall stuff earlier Plexi through the JCM900 so far and it’s been serious fun. And for me it’s particularly fun to play with all of the stuff you can through in front of it. I’ve never owned many of these amps so I can’t speak to their authenticity down to the nth degree but they pretty much sound as I expect and it’s pleasing to play.

Anybody else having fun with theirs?

I've had the Stage II since it was released. It's absolutely perfect for me. I have the MINI too, got it first, but haven't used it since I got the StageII, although I surely could. I'm a gearhead who still has about 20-25 tube amps/preamps, and still have a Fractal AX8 and am very blessed and own some of the best gear I can imagine. I have 0 issues with the StageII other than 1) It needs a FULL BACKUP method, and 2) it needs more slots for Tonecatches if someone is into Tonecatches. The guy on here who supposedly is/was a dealer for them that posted he had bought? 3 of them and they were noisy, I have 0 noise with mine compared to any other gear. I've owned modelers since the beginning and digital gear since the mid 80's. . Mine is 100% quiet and has been reliable for me. With all that said it's also the perfect form factor for me to use live, but I still have been using my Splawn amp and a 2x12, just because it's brainless for me. I used my Fractal AX8 last year for about 3-4 months of gigs as I needed to carry lighter gear due to a surgery ,and I spent SO much time getting it set up for our setlilsts and it sounded friggin great, but I could easily do that on the Ampero Stage II also.. The AX8 footprint/setup is perfect for me for live use, and the Stage II could also be perfect. No other product Fractal makes is the right size for me. . . . . I do NOT prefer Fractal or Ampero . . I can program either to be 100% for my needs. Make of that what you will, but I hate posting on this stuff these days, as just too much comparing in the modern era instead of actually just taking the time making music. I'm guilty of that as well. . OK if you read all that, enjoy whatcha got!

 

[JCW308]

The guy on here who supposedly is/was a dealer for them that posted he had bought? 3 of them and they were noisy, I have 0 noise with mine compared to any other gear. I've owned modelers since the beginning and digital gear since the mid 80's. . Mine is 100% quiet and has been reliable for me.

That was me, we've had some returns for noise, too. So it's not just my setup, even though all other devices are perfectly quiet.

 

[ericbr1]

That was me, we've had some returns for noise, too. So it's not just my setup, even though all other devices are perfectly quiet.

That's too bad that there are some QC issues. Either way I would recommend this based on my experience to anyone in any type of rock band, or for ambient programming or jazz/blues, whatever. I couldn't say enough positives. As I sit here wasting time today (lol) I just listening to a forum guy who's owned every Bogner, using his Ampero live with his band and it sounded just great.. . Whatever works for someone. (there is no best modeler, or best amp or best guitarist)

 

[JCW308]

That's too bad that there are some QC issues. Either way I would recommend this based on my experience to anyone in any type of rock band, or for ambient programming or jazz/blues, whatever. I couldn't say enough positives. As I sit here wasting time today (lol) I just listening to a forum guy who's owned every Bogner, using his Ampero live with his band and it sounded just great.. . Whatever works for someone. (there is no best modeler, or best amp or best guitarist)

There are in fact best modelers. This is somewhere in-between. Its not the worst and certainly not the best. It's not Headrush bad but it's not QC/Kemper/Fractal good.

 

[laxu]

I think that’s why he stated “all things considered.” He even clearly stated Fractal is better. When money is weighted and ease of use, it certainly is one of the best overall. If Fractal offered a cheaper and as easy to use unit that sounded better, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.

Yeah it's obvious that Fractal is better for amps, cabs, effects, preset complexity, footswitching flexibility...but it should be considering the price difference.

The question is: Is a QC, Helix or FM3 so much better that I'd pay ~2.5x what the Ampero 2 Stage costs? Is a FM9 worth ~3.5x the price?
Let alone the A2 Stomp where those multipliers become ~3.8x and ~5.4x A2 Stomp price.

In my opinion, Hotone could learn a lot from Fractal as far as tone. In fact I bet they have. Fractal could learn a thing or two from Hotone. Namely ease of use and offering products at lower price points.

If Fractal had a FM3 that is the physical box and user interface of the Ampero 2 Stomp, I'd have no complaints. Now I'm just twiddling my thumbs waiting for something like that, and rolling with the cheap "good enough" box in the meantime.

My initial expectation of the Hotone was that it would be nice to use, but just not good sounding enough, and I'd just sell it forward since I bought it for a good price. But now I could see myself doing that only if something new comes out, like an Ampero 3 Stomp/Stage or something equivalent from other brands.

 

[ericbr1]

There are in fact best modelers. This is somewhere in-between. Its not the worst and certainly not the best. It's not Headrush bad but it's not QC/Kemper/Fractal good.

I see. Well we have very different versions of playing music and owning gear. There is no best in my world. But I do get a kick out of guys thinking there is a best piece of gear. I'm hoping you've found your best (Kemper/QC, Fractal, or Line6, or Nam player) and never buy anything better, as every one of these current modelers can be programmed to be the best for someone, as if someone can't take all these beautiful parameters and beautiful chip quality and make something 'their best' that's on them. Enjoy

 

[JCW308]

I see. Well we have very different versions of playing music and owning gear. There is no best in my world. But I do get a kick out of guys thinking there is a best piece of gear. I'm hoping you've found your best (Kemper) and never buy anything better, as every one of these current modelers can be programmed to be the best for someone, as if someone can't take all these beautiful parameters and beautiful chip quality and make something 'their best' that's on them. Enjoy

I use just about everything depending on the gig / needs. This "no child left behind" theory is insane. Everyone is a winner. Every modeler is the best. What a load of crap.

 

[ian_dissonance]

So nobody that owns this thing knows if it does momentary switching?

 

[ericbr1]

So nobody that owns this thing knows if it does momentary switching?

Here's the manual https://hotoneaudio.oss-accelerate....e Manual_EN_Firmware V1.2.1.1730949066490.pdf

There's nothing about built-in momentary switching. You can use momentary footswitches with it though, adding them . . (perhaps I'm not understanding your question though) .

 

[laxu]

So nobody that owns this thing knows if it does momentary switching?

I have the A2 Stomp, but afaik there are no momentary footswitch options, even for external footswitches.

 

[Jkist7]

Yeah it's obvious that Fractal is better for amps, cabs, effects, preset complexity, footswitching flexibility...but it should be considering the price difference.

The question is: Is a QC, Helix or FM3 so much better that I'd pay ~2.5x what the Ampero 2 Stage costs? Is a FM9 worth ~3.5x the price?
Let alone the A2 Stomp where those multipliers become ~3.8x and ~5.4x A2 Stomp price.


If Fractal had a FM3 that is the physical box and user interface of the Ampero 2 Stomp, I'd have no complaints. Now I'm just twiddling my thumbs waiting for something like that, and rolling with the cheap "good enough" box in the meantime.

My initial expectation of the Hotone was that it would be nice to use, but just not good sounding enough, and I'd just sell it forward since I bought it for a good price. But now I could see myself doing that only if something new comes out, like an Ampero 3 Stomp/Stage or something equivalent from other brands.

Agree 100%. The Fractal sounds killer, but I do get overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices sometimes. The Hotone feels faster to get dialed in, and is easier to use. I also much prefer the form factor, the FM3 is awkwardlly sized. Throw FAS level modeling into the Hotone and it would be unmmatched.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Here's the manual https://hotoneaudio.oss-accelerate.aliyuncs.com/prod/support/Ampero II Stage_Online Manual_EN_Firmware V1.2.1.1730949066490.pdf

There's nothing about built-in momentary switching. You can use momentary footswitches with it though, adding them . . (perhaps I'm not understanding your question though) .

Yeah, I went through the manual and didn’t see anything specifically saying yes or no.

I have the A2 Stomp, but afaik there are no momentary footswitch options, even for external footswitches.

Super lame. Maybe MIDI? But at that point it’s no longer an ultra portable sub for my Helix when I want to worry less about what I’m putting on the floor.

 

[KingsXJJ]

My initial expectation of the Hotone was that it would be nice to use, but just not good sounding enough, and I'd just sell it forward since I bought it for a good price. But now I could see myself doing that only if something new comes out, like an Ampero 3 Stomp/Stage or something equivalent from other brands.

Or some killer FW with loads of HQ amps and refinement on the effects in my case.

 

[laxu]

Or some killer FW with loads of HQ amps and refinement on the effects in my case.

I have a feeling they'll reserve that sort of thing for a next gen unit. I'm assuming they'll lean even heavier on the machine learning based on what they might have learned from making the capture system.

The current modeling seems to be a hybrid of component modeling and machine learning and it works surprisingly well, even if the master volume amps don't go into poweramp distortion by cranking the master.

 

[laxu]

Yeah, I went through the manual and didn’t see anything specifically saying yes or no.

Super lame. Maybe MIDI? But at that point it’s no longer an ultra portable sub for my Helix when I want to worry less about what I’m putting on the floor.

Yeah you could do it over MIDI as any momentary features would be about what the MIDI controller does rather than anything on the Hotone. You could e.g send expression pedal MIDI CC at 100% when you hold a switch and back to 0% when you remove your foot from it. Then you could configure the exp targets on the Hotone.

I tried to see if I could do this by hooking up the footswitch jack on my Hotone Ampero 2 Press expression pedal and leaving it configured as an expression pedal, but it does nothing.

 

[ian_dissonance]

Yeah you could do it over MIDI as any momentary features would be about what the MIDI controller does rather than anything on the Hotone. You could e.g send expression pedal MIDI CC at 100% when you hold a switch and back to 0% when you remove your foot from it. Then you could configure the exp targets on the Hotone.

I tried to see if I could do this by hooking up the footswitch jack on my Hotone Ampero 2 Press expression pedal and leaving it configured as an expression pedal, but it does nothing.

Thanks for checking!

 

[KingsXJJ]

I have a feeling they'll reserve that sort of thing for a next gen unit. I'm assuming they'll lean even heavier on the machine learning based on what they might have learned from making the capture system.

The current modeling seems to be a hybrid of component modeling and machine learning and it works surprisingly well, even if the master volume amps don't go into poweramp distortion by cranking the master.

Well, with those set of thoughts, Hotone might think it’s ok to use the tech they’ve given us currently in a few models and wait until a new hardware platform is run through the ringer and then offer it in full. That doesn’t make sense to me. Why offer something fully capable of running now and then hold it back? Seems like a chain yank. I choose to believe they are trying to get the software/FW up to speed. Much like the recent capture handout on your model. But go ahead, encourage them to leave us hanging. The truth is… you don’t know at all. You’re just speculating and that pessimism may very well cost us all. NUX has incorporated quite a few “HQ” models on their $200 Amp Academy and continue to do so. I’m really starting to have a problem with those smart enough to point out shortcomings in current offerings (serving the greater good) while declaring they just will never happen or be resolved.

I’m beginning to understand why you love simple gear like the BluGuitar Amp. It doesn’t really offer too much beyond solid basics. How can it let you down? Lighten up a bit. Things are in flux. Why so serious?

 

[KingsXJJ]

Hotone needs to use this opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to their newest platforms. You have picqued our interest with some affordable hardware that is capable of good things. The UI is nice, the HQ Amps are sweet and everything shows great potential promise.

Please reward us with more HQ amp offerings and refined effects. If in the works, give us a statement to that effect.

 

[JCW308]

Please Hotone, just make the next big thing black instead of white!