On a related train of thought, have you any thoughts on the quality of the amp models in the Positive Grid Bias Mini? It's still fairly new (a year or so, now) so I haven't been able to find a ton of deep think on how they stack up compared to the competition. Given I already have a Bias Mini in my stable, that carries some weight.
So I've been using the Mini and Bias Amp2 and Bias FX for over a year now and can offer this.
I started with amp sims (that's they were called back then) in the 80's with the GNX 3, then the Pod then the HD 500 into a Bogner tube amp.
I spent 6 years dialing in my pre amps in my HD500 into the Bogner, others were satisfied with their tones, I wasn't, maybe they were doing something different than me, but I don't think so. I actually liked the tube amp with no pre amp and just pedal sim better.
When Griff played his Kemper at The Hip Kitty, it was a game changer for me. That's when I knew they had it figured out. Finally something, that to me sounded like a tube amp. But it was expensive and I figured something else would come out. By now Line 6 had come out with the Helix, but what I heard in the Helix at the time I did not feel was as convincing as the Kemper. So I waited for 3 years and last year I set out to buy a Kemper. The big 3 at the time were Kemper. Axe Fx and Helix. I spent 3 months comparing tones both online and in person. I should say I never got to play the Axe FX in person.
While I was looking into those 3 PG came out with the mini. I was aware of the head unit and the rack unit, but I started seeing comparisons of Bias with the big 3, some tones I liked the Axe, better but most of the tones I liked Bias Amp better.
This was one of the comparisons I saw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEAgXTPNPEE. In person against the Kemper and the He;ix convinced me.
So I liked the Bias and at price point 25% of the Kemper, 33% of AX8, and 50% of the Helix, , for me it made the most sense.
I also got a copy of Amplitube for free when I bought my Axe I/O. The UI is foreign to me and I still haven't fully explored it, but if I have to use a manual to navigate a UI, when I used to have to review them as part of my job, well enough said. It did however contain a Marshall Pig which I liked, but I went and found one on the Bias Amp tone cloud, replaced the IR and EQed it, and in 10 minutes it is still my favorite amp of all time. Would I rather have a real pig. Hell yeah, but that is pretty much impossible.
So below I will give you the ups and downs as I see them
Kemper - For $2700 for a toaster with a power amp, it would have to sound way better than the others. I don't feel that it does. To get additional amps you either have to own the amp, borrow one to sample, or buy additional amp models. UI is complicated.
Fractal AXE FX8 - Again over $2000 plus a foot controller, and from reading the manual it didn't take long to figure out I was going to be spending a lot of time learning this unit. Sounded real good though.
Helix - After using HD500 for years the UI is pretty much the same. I liked that it had a foot controller, but at least the tones I was hearing both online and in person against PG, it wasn't cutting it for me. Helix Native (plug in) costs extra as well.
Bias - it didn't have a foot controller with integrated effects but it sounded great and they did give me a copy of Bias FX and some Clestion IRs for free. The tones have been the best I have heard, but again that's my ears. In addition
Amp customization that no one else has, change the pre amp tubes power tubes and rectifier tubes, change the bias on the tubes, compression and dynamic tone on the transformer and a bunch more options I haven't even got to in over a year, and I love to tweak. I've used amp match a couple of times, but anything I wanted I was able to find multiple on the tone cloud
Unlimited amps on the tone cloud, no charge. I have no idea how many amps are out there. Amps I ever even knew existed. If you can't find it, you can amp match by recording a live amp or sampling from an audio file. Go on the tone cloud and search for either or both of the Fender models you are looking at , I just stopped at about 30 of either one and there are plenty more. (GIF below). Click on the amp to drill into it, click on preview and play your guitar to see if you like b4 you download it
Likely you will have to tweak it. I usually use 3rd party IRs, the Celestions are OK , the Ownhammers are better but I really like the Redwirez. Check out the free Marshall on the Rdwrez site
https://www.redwirez.com/. It is a great IR.
So it takes about 10 seconds to realize whether I like amp or to try another. Download and tweak the gain I want. Then try a few different IRs. Set the parabolic EQ, and most amps take about 10 minutes. I may come back and tweak later as time allows. Outside of the software and processor IR and EQ, are the difference between a great.digital amp, or a fizzy or grainy one.
Runs as a VST plug in so you can record clean and re-amp multiple tracks, with the same amps you have already tweaked in the mini.
Bluetooth amp controls on my Ipad if I want to use them, so I can stand anywhere, and set my amp with a wireless guitar, instead of guessing or asking someone to walk around the room.
When it comes to modeling tones, it is totally subjective and internet wars have been started over it, Some like this, some swear by that, some feel the need to defend their purchase. In the end your ears must decide.
So I would suggest you take the time to understand what you have there Dorothy, and if it doesn't work for you, get something else. But I think if you stand in your own backyard for a while, you might find your heart's desire .
Kirk....Out.