Kemper
Kemper GmbH manufactures the PROFILER line of digital guitar amplifier profiling systems, companion speakers, cabinets, and foot controllers. The Germany-based, founder-controlled company serves professional touring musicians, studio producers, and serious hobbyists worldwide through direct-to-consumer sales and authorized dealers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersRecklinghausen, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Kemper does
Kemper GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer founded by Christoph Kemper and headquartered in Recklinghausen, Germany, with a US subsidiary (Kemper Americas, LLC) in Park Ridge, Illinois. The company designs, manufactures, and distributes the PROFILER family of digital guitar amplifier profiling systems — the Head/Rack, Stage, and Player form factors — alongside companion hardware including the KEMPER Kabinet powered cabinet, the KEMPER Kone (and Kone NEO) full-range speaker co-developed with Celestion, the PROFILER Remote foot controller, and the cross-platform Rig Manager software for Mac, PC, iOS, Android, and Fire tablets. Kemper also maintains a profile marketplace (Rig Exchange) and partners with third-party profile creators and cabinet makers such as Zilla Cabs.
The company's core technical differentiator is its PROFILING technology, most recently upgraded to PROFILING 2.0, which performs high-resolution frequency analysis across more than 100,000 individual frequency points to capture the sonic and dynamic behavior of physical guitar amplifiers and cabinets. The patented KEMPER Liquid Profile technology adds authentic gain-stage behavior and tone-stack controls to captured profiles, while KEMPER Kone speaker imprint technology enables digital switching between 19 classic guitar speaker characteristics without changing physical equipment. PURE CABINET and Cabinet Resonance Capture round out the proprietary DSP feature set. Products are sold at premium price points (e.g., PROFILER Player at €598/$698; KEMPER Kabinet at €449/$540; KEMPER Kone NEO at €150/$180), with higher-priced Head, Rack, and Stage units occupying the professional tier.
Kemper's business model centers on one-time hardware sales complemented by free lifetime firmware updates and free Rig Manager software, functioning as a hardware-led business with a freemium software maintenance layer that preserves installed-base value. Distribution runs through the direct Kemper Online Store with worldwide free shipping, 45-day returns, and a 3-year warranty, alongside a global authorized dealer and distributor network. The company serves three principal customer segments: professional touring musicians requiring consistent, portable amplification; studio musicians and producers needing accurate captures, re-amping, and DI workflows; and semi-professional or serious hobbyist players seeking access to a broad library of amp tones without the cost of multiple physical amplifiers. Marketing relies heavily on high-profile artist endorsements (Pat Metheny, Steve Morse, Wolf Hoffmann, Rammstein, In Flames, Parkway Drive, Testament, Accept, Mr. Big, Korn, Queensryche, and others) supported by YouTube video content, social media, and a community forum.
Kemper firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kemper
- Legal name
- Kemper GmbH
- Website
- https://kemper-amps.com
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kemper GmbH manufactures the PROFILER line of digital guitar amplifier profiling systems, companion speakers, cabinets, and foot controllers. The Germany-based, founder-controlled company serves professional touring musicians, studio producers, and serious hobbyists worldwide through direct-to-consumer sales and authorized dealers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kemper industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Musical Instrument Amplification and Profiling Hardware
- SIC
- Musical Instruments (3931)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Music Production Hardware (Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, MIDI Controllers) (MPAIAJAE)
Keywords
Where Kemper is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Recklinghausen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Kemper business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of PROFILER guitar amp modelers (Head, Rack, Stage, Player formats), KEMPER Kabinet cabinets, KEMPER Kone speakers, Remote foot controllers, accessories, and upgrades.
- Software and Firmware Updates: Free operating system updates for all PROFILER owners, with new features and effects delivered regularly. Rig Manager software provided free of charge.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | PROFILER Player |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KEMPER Kabinet |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KEMPER Kone NEO (single) |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KEMPER Kone 2x12 Set |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | KEMPER Kone 4x12 Set |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Zilla 2x12 Kone-loaded Cabinet |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Kemper product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kemper manufactures and sells the KEMPER PROFILER system, a digital guitar amplifier profiling platform that captures the sound and dynamic behavior of real guitar amplifiers and reproduces them through hardware units (Head, Rack, Stage, and Player form factors). The company also sells supporting hardware including the KEMPER Kabinet cabinet, KEMPER Kone speaker, Remote foot controllers, and provides free Rig Manager software for rig management across Mac, PC, iOS, and Android devices.
Product overview
Kemper offers the PROFILER guitar amplifier profiling system with multiple form factors: the classic PROFILER Head and Rack for traditional amp setup, PROFILER Stage as a floorboard controller, and the compact PROFILER Player for pedal-format portability. The core PROFILING technology captures the sound and behavior of real guitar amplifiers through advanced signal analysis, creating digital 'profiles' that reproduce the original amp's tone. Supporting products include the KEMPER Kabinet (lightweight cabinet with Kone speaker), KEMPER Remote foot controller, and the free Rig Manager software for iOS, Android, Mac, and PC. Effects include Wah Wah, Distortion, Booster, Shaper, Equalizer, Compressor, Noise Gate, Chorus, Tremolo, Phaser & Flanger, Pitch Shifter, Delay, and Reverb, with MK 2 Series offering 20 simultaneous effect blocks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PROFILER: The core guitar amplifier profiling product line including Head, Rack, Stage, and Player models
- PROFILER MK 2 Series
- KEMPER Kabinet
- KEMPER Kone
- KEMPER Power Kabinet
- Rig Manager
- PURE CABINET
- KEMPER Liquid Profile
Products and services
- KEMPER PROFILER Head/Rack The classic KEMPER PROFILER guitar amplifier profiling system that captures and reproduces the sound and behavior of real guitar amplifiers. Available as a standalone Head or Rack-mounted format for traditional amp setups.
- KEMPER PROFILER Stage The PROFILER floorboard version - a floor-based guitar amp profiler with built-in controls and expression pedal, designed for live performance with direct access to all functions.
- KEMPER PROFILER Player The compact, affordable PROFILER in a pedal-sized format. A powerful amp Rig player with 4 simultaneous FX blocks, 35 FX types, and 200 FX presets. Priced at €598 (outside US) and $698 (US).
- KEMPER Kabinet Lightweight cabinet designed for the PROFILER. Features the KEMPER Kone NEO neodymium speaker with digital Speaker Imprint technology. Weight approximately 10kg. Can be driven by PROFILER PowerHead, PowerRack, or external amplifiers.
- KEMPER Kone NEO 12-inch neodymium replacement speaker designed exclusively with Celestion for KEMPER. Weighs 2.4kg with 200W rms power handling. Uses dedicated DSP algorithm to achieve ultra-linear full range frequency response while maintaining guitar speaker character. Supports 19 speaker imprints.
- KEMPER PROFILER Remote Foot controller for the PROFILER. Perfectly integrated controller for live performance with Wah, Expression, and circumstantial switching capabilities.
- KEMPER Rig Manager Free software to manage and edit PROFILER content. Available for Mac, PC, iPhone, Android, iPad, and Fire tablets. Connects wirelessly to PROFILER devices for parameter editing and tone management.
- Zilla 2x12 KEMPER Kone Cabinet Partnership product with Zilla Cabs offering 2x12 inch guitar cabinets loaded with KEMPER Kone speakers. Custom ordering available with material, color/tolex, and size options. Priced at €675 EU / £775 UK / $800 US.
Quantifiable outcome
- Eliminated need for multiple tube amplifiers on tour
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kemper
Customer profileNamed customers14 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Kemper technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
Kemper partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Zilla CabsminorPartnership with Zilla for KEMPER Kone-loaded 2x12 inch guitar cabinets. Zilla offers customization options including material, color/tolex, size. Available for order directly from Zilla website with EU, UK, and US pricing.
- CelestioncoreCo-development partnership with Celestion for the KEMPER Kone 12-inch full-range speaker. Celestion provides speaker chassis expertise while Kemper provides DSP control and imprint technology. Speaker imprints include classic Celestion guitar speaker models.
- Guido BungenstockcoreProfessional PROFILE creator from Hamburg, Germany. Created PROFILEs for In Flames' entire touring rig. Provides free and paid rig packs. Rig pack created with Phillip Salm at 48 Volt Studio Hamburg using Neve 1073 preamps.
- In FlamescoreSwedish metal band that exclusively uses KEMPER PROFILERs on tour. Their touring rig was entirely profiled by Guido Bungenstock at 48 Volt Studio Hamburg.
- Michael BrittcoreProfessional PROFILE creator whose profiles are recommended by artists like Wolf Hoffmann and Yasi Hofer. Provides Marshall, Vox AC30, and Fender Deluxe Reverb profiles. Content available via Rig Manager.
- RigBustersminorThird-party PROFILE vendor providing rig packs for the KEMPER PROFILER platform. Available via Rig Manager marketplace.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kemper competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Two Notes Audio Engineering: Two Notes makes the Torpedo cabinet/IR simulation hardware and software that pairs with amp modelers. While more focused on IR/cabinet simulation, they overlap with Kemper's KEMPER Kabinet/Kone use case for stage-cabinet reproduction.
- Positive Grid: Positive Grid makes the Spark amp and BIAS software for guitar amp modeling and practice. They overlap with Kemper at the prosumer and practice-amp tier and represent a strong software/hardware hybrid competitor reaching younger players.
Broad incumbents
- Line 6 (Yamaha): Line 6 (owned by Yamaha) produces the Helix line of amp modelers and the older POD series, broadly competing with Kemper in the same pro/stage modeling category. Backed by Yamaha's distribution and R&D scale, it is the largest well-capitalized incumbent in Kemper's segment.
- Universal Audio: Universal Audio's UAD platform and Apollo interfaces host guitar-amp plugins (Ampeg, Marshall, ENGL models) that overlap with Kemper's PROFILING and re-amping use cases in the studio. They represent a studio-centric adjacent competitor with strong ecosystem lock-in.
- Marshall Amplification: Marshall, the iconic tube-amp manufacturer, now offers the Marshall CODE digital modeling amp and Origin series that compete in adjacent tiers. As a heritage brand, Marshall represents the traditional amplifier market that Kemper's PROFILING technology is displacing.
- Boss (Roland): Boss, part of Roland, offers the GT-1000 series amp/effects processors and the Katana amp line that incorporate modeling. As a broad musical-instrument incumbent with deep dealer penetration, Boss competes with Kemper in both floorboard multi-effects and modeling amps.
Direct peers
- Neural DSP: Neural DSP is a software-first amp-modeling company whose plugins (Quad Cortex hardware, Nameless, Cory Wong) compete directly with Kemper across both stage and studio workflows. Their plugin-only model represents the strongest disruptive threat to Kemper's hardware-centric business.
- HeadRush: HeadRush makes floorboard multi-effects processors and amp modelers (MX5, Gigboard, FRFR-108) that overlap with the KEMPER PROFILER Stage in live-performance use cases. They compete most directly at the gigging-guitarist price point.
- Fractal Audio: Fractal Audio Systems makes the Axe-FX and FM3 amp modelers/effects processors, the most direct head-to-head competitor to the KEMPER PROFILER in the high-end guitar amp-modeling category. Both target professional touring players and compete on capture accuracy, effects, and touring rig reliability.
Others
- Celestion: Celestion is Kemper's co-development partner for the KEMPER Kone speaker and supplies the speaker imprints baked into the platform. They are a supplier/partner relationship rather than a direct competitor, but their brand is deeply entwined with Kemper's speaker technology positioning.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Kemper social profiles
Digital presenceKemper financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kemper leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Kemper funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kemper M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kemper
What does Kemper do?
Kemper manufactures and sells the KEMPER PROFILER system, a digital guitar amplifier profiling platform that captures the sound and dynamic behavior of real guitar amplifiers and reproduces them through hardware units (Head, Rack, Stage, and Player form factors). The company also sells supporting hardware including the KEMPER Kabinet cabinet, KEMPER Kone speaker, Remote foot controllers, and provides free Rig Manager software for rig management across Mac, PC, iOS, and Android devices.
Is Kemper a public or private company?
Kemper is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Kemper founded?
Kemper was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kemper based?
Kemper is headquartered in Recklinghausen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Kemper make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales are the primary driver. The others are software and Firmware Updates.
Who are Kemper's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Two Notes Audio Engineering and Positive Grid. Broad incumbents are Line 6 (Yamaha), Universal Audio, Marshall Amplification and Boss (Roland). Direct peers are Neural DSP, HeadRush and Fractal Audio. Celestion is listed as an others.
Does Kemper have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kemper.
What industry is Kemper in?
Kemper's product category is Musical Instrument Amplification and Profiling Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAIAJAE, Music Production Hardware (Synthesizers, Drum Machines, Samplers, MIDI Controllers). Its SIC code is 3931.