Rocktron Chameleon 2000

WAY easy; if you can't navigate a Rocktron Interface, then you'd probably best stick to Amps and Stompboxes.
The Manual explains all functions clearly.

This is a first-impression review. I plan on writing a more detailed review further down the road.
Right now I'm creating sounds using headphones( which I had to hook up with an adapter coming out of the only two outputs on the back; 3/4 L and R jacks ) because I sold my solid state power amp and I'm waiting and saving for a good Tube Power Amp like a Mesa 50/50 or a Peavey Classic 60/60.

Let's get one thing clear right off the bat; after owning a Chameleon Online, I can say with total honesty that the 2000 just destroys the Online in terms of sound quality. I thought that I'd miss all of the EQ features that the Online and Voodoo Valve have, but I don't. The "Scoop" feature on the Mega Channel enables you to go from a sort of Marshall-like vintage Hi-Gain to a more modern Boogie-type Hi Gain; what more do you need?

I get the impression from reading some of the reviews here that people don't seem to understand that EVERY part of the Preamps' features( before you even THINK about adding effects )are critical tools in getting a great and useable Tone! I mean; don't just bypass the Speaker Sim, dick with the EQ, and then say that "the sound sucks"!!! The Speaker Sim is an essential tool that will enable you to really refine the total sound and get the frequencies set just right where you want them. The "Variac" function is also key to the overall tone. Through a good Tube Power Amp and a BBE, the two high-gain patches I've made already will be absolutely DEVASTATING!

Jim at Rocktron is a Customer Service GOD.

I've got a Pro Gap Ultra on the way via Ebay, and I'm going to be spending some serious time with it and the 2000. Whichever Preamp sounds the best I'll keep, the other I'll sell.
But so far, I'm pretty happy with the 2000. I was VERY leary of buying one because of all the bad reviews here, but I got a "too cheap to pass up" price on it and I decided to take the plunge.
The 2000 is definitely not as bad as some reviewers here make it out to be.

fairly easy

horrible i owned th chameleon online and traded it in for the new chameleon 200 and it is very disapointing. i had it in my effects look on my mesa triple rectifier run through my mesa standard 4x12 cabs and no matter how low i set the input it clipped and at high volume levels sent out this super high frequency feedback. even clean channel effects were barely usable but way too coloring, like night and day with the effects unit on or off. i dont use it for distortion or anything but i was hoping i could get some ambience out of it and it sucks

had it two weeks

Having owned a ton of rack gear over the years, I have found this unit to be pretty easy to setup. You knuckle-dragging vintage gear types might have some difficulties, though... :)

The scroll-through menus (very similar to every other piece of Rocktron gear out there) are a bit of a pain, but it's not rocket science--you just have to have a little bit of patience. Since I didn't get the manual for it, I seem to learn new things about it all the time, but there isn't anything particularly strange about it. It just takes a little while to figure out where all the important parameters are--but they are all clearly marked on the menus.

Here's where the rubber meets the road in rack preamps. There are quite a few bad reviews of the Chameleon 2000 here, and I have to disagree with ALL OF THEM. This thing rocks. An important thing to remember: despite the fact that it is called a Chameleon, the 2000 has almost nothing in common with the earlier versions of the Chameleon. It does not operate the same, nor does it sound even remotely the same. Based on the way it operates (with the four channels--Mega, British, Texas, and Clean), I'm guessing the 2000 is simply a dumbed-down version of the mucho-dinero Prophesy preamp without some of the features, rather than a more advanced version of the old Chameleon/VooduValve sound engine.

I've read a lot of reviews saying that the original ("blackface") Chameleon kicks ass over the 2000. Well, after having my 2000 for awhile, I got a blackface Chameleon in order to get all of this supposedly great sound, as well as the post and pre-gain EQs that were left out of the 2000 (the Prophesy has them). And those reviews favoring the blackface Chameleon are, in my opinion, bulls**t. The blackface Cham has more gain than you could possibly use, but it is scratchy and fizzy sounding regardless of how you set it, while simultaneously managing to have both tinniness and a flubby low-end.

By contrast, the Cham 2000 has this wonderfully rich, luscious hi-gain sound that will get as distorted as you want, but still retain tightness and definition. Might not be the thing for you brown sound Soldano-heads out there, but if that's the sound you want, go get an SP-77 so you'll be happy. The Chameleon 2000 does death and power metal as well as rack preamp I've heard.

Having said that, my experience might be different, simply because of the unusual setup I use. I record direct but don't use the Cham2000's speaker simulator (which is ok, but nothing special). Instead, I couple the Cham with a Furman PQ-6 dual channel parametric EQ (to provide both the pre and post-gain EQ that Rocktron left out of this unit), and a single channel of that--with none of the Cham's effects--goes into an ADA Ampulator speaker cab/power amp simulator. The Ampulator recreates the effect that both a power amp and a speaker cab have on your guitar sound, and it provides a much better direct-recording solution than the Chameleon's internal speaker simulator. From the Ampulator, I go into a TC Electronics G-Major effects unit, and from there to my mixing board. In this setup, my Chameleon 2000 has given me far and away the best preamp sound I've been able to get, and I've tried a blackface Chameleon, Peavey Rockmaster, and Line-6 PODxt with the Ampulator with much less success than the Cham 2000.

As far as the total sound package, I'm a metalhead, so I spend most of my time with the Mega sound, a little bit on Clean, and never on Texas or British settings. But this kind of digital-processing unit is never going to do a convincing vintage amp recreation, so why get worked up about that??? For metal, this thing rocks.

Overall, it seems reasonably reliable. However, I have noticed that occasionally the unit will spazz out a bit on startup and revert to the factory-preset on a given patch number. At first, I was terrified, since I had spent quite awhile building up a few good sounds. But my modifications hadn't disappeared--I simply had to restart the unit and there they were! Hopefully, this issue doesn't get worse. It's not a battery issue, as the Cham doesn't use a battery to backup stored changes (and thank God for that!) My experience, however, may not be much of a guide, since my Cham had been a Guitar Center floor demo that I got at a blowout sale. Who knows how many years the thing had sat there turned on for days at a time, being abused every time an employee took another device in or out of the rack, or some smelly 14-year old punk tried to 'figger out them knobs'? If it died, I'd get another one without reservation.

Only dealt with their web site. They have a nice support section with online manuals for most of the company's current and past products, including the 2000. Also, you can buy new power adapters and such direct from the company if you need them, etc. Never had to deal with them in person.

I love this preamp, and I'd have to get another one if it died/was stolen. I might consider moving up to the Prophesy, which has a lot more flexibility of use and built-in features, with basically the same sound engine. But the Prophesy is EXPENSIVE!! Whereas you can get a Chameleon 2000 pretty damn cheap now on eBay. Maybe not as cheap as the Almost Criminal price I paid, though. HaHa!! Lucky me! A ridiculous good deal, compared to all of the craptacular amp modelers out there nowadays (Line-6, Behringer, etc.). A high recommendation here from someone who is pretty picky about his sound.

Ok, read all the reviews here and decided to get one. Bought it off Ebay for a good price. Not wild over it. I can get some nice Fendery clean sounds from it and a few OK Marshall sounds but overall I find the distortion, even in mild amounts like on the Texas settings harsh and sterile. Kind of scratchy and lacking warmth. I want to like this unit but I need some help. I have owned, and do own, a lot of preamps so programming is not the issue. I also played with the speaker sims a lot which I like the Mike position and Resonance features and they do work well but I?m not getting what I need.

Here is my setup for reference?

Parker, Strat, Ibanez Saber, or ES335 guitars
Chameleon into a BBE into a mixing board for direct recording via PC or into a Mosvalve 80/80 and into two Marshall 1-10 cabs (celestians) for live. You can knock the Mosvalve for not being tube but I like it and have had many good sounds with other SS pre amps with it (PSA-1, ProGAP, V-amp, POD)

I?m looking for a smooth distortion sound like Ty Tabor (Kings-X), or a nice VanHalen sound. I can even get these sounds using my V-amp pre but it is a little low Fi and the effects on it are weak.

I also favor SRV type sounds but can?t find anything in this box remotely blues and toneful. I know? tubes.

I have a Rocktron ProGAP V2 and an Intelifex and it sounds better on the distortion AND SRV sounds. I was thinking the Chameleon would be a step up but maybe not. Oh, the effects quality are way better in the old Intelifex, I was not expecting that.

Got any ideas on what to do? I have not had this long so maybe with more experimentation I can get what I am looking for.

Also the Mega channel everyone raves about bites. Scratchy noise. I guess it would be OK for the new wave chunk chunk stuff but for the most part sounds like crap.

please help...

kfa888@hotmail.com

I've only had it for about 8 hours and I've already mastered it... what does that tell you!?

Epiphone LesPaul Special
Peavy M-3000 300 Watt Power Amp
Hartke 4x10 Transporter Cab
Rocktron Chameleon 2000

I get sounds out of this set up I didn't know were possible...

The only problem I've had so far... the 8 hours I've had it... and I'm sue I'll fix it... is that after running a Factory Restore, my bypass stops working... even whne bypass is on it still has the preset going...?

If anyone knows how to fix this - eyesofmine@msn.com

I play in an a Emo-Core band and this is the perfect addition to my rack...

As soon as I got this thing home, I was amaized!! I couldn't beleive all the tones I can get out of it. This was my first processor and without the manual it was tough to figure out, but with a little trial and error I've made some asskickin presets

I've played all of my guitars through it, the one with the best sound for it was my late 80's charvel with a EMG-81 in the bridge. I also played my vintage 78 explorer through it and was blown away. For a power amp I was using a Hafler t1600, but it took a crap on me, Now I Use a mosvalve 150 and like it WAY better. The chours in my opinion is pretty weak, but I play heavy/death metal, so I really never use it The Mega distortion is quite delightful, but the texas is pretty lame. Brit's ok, but no marshall. I guess all in all it fits me perfectly. Now all I need is a footboard.

I have not once had a problem with it. (Haven't gig'd with it yet) I think it seems good.

Not yet talked to Rocktron.

I really like this piece. If you need a good processer and you can find it for a good deal like me, than go for it! I sure wouldn't pay over $250 for it at all.

I bought this unit used and have never seen the manual. Operating is easy but not comfortable by any means. I have the PC editor for this and I recommended it to everyone. You can download it from manufacturers site and it makes the operating very easy.

This review is based solely on my direct recording needs. I want to be able to play and record at home direct to my Pulsar DSP soundcard and I have spent the last 9 months looking for a preamp that can do the job. Chameleon 2000 has ended my mission. I've owned Line 6 Pod 2, Boss GT-6, J-Station, Mesa Boogie V-Twin and tried various other devices and software modellers. I've sold all of those (except J-Station which is a great value for money) since I bought my Rocktron. The speaker simulation is the best I've heard. It's not totally natural but it sounds great and you can program it to your taste. The mega channel is outstanding. Sounds a lot like ENGL amps in that it has a lot of gain but never gets messy or loses dynamics. Texas channel sounds best with a strat and does a nice SRV thing. Brit channels is the weakest of all four. I had to spend a lot of time tweaking it and trying different pedals in the signal chain but I found what I was looking for. Clean channel is just that - a very clean channel.

The effects sound good but I don't need them. I only use little reverb. Hush is outstanding but be careful not to use too much of it because then it eats up palm muted notes!

Mine is used but looks like new. I'm not expecting any trouble but can't really rate it since I've only had for a few weeks.

Nice website but haven't contacted anyone from the company. 9 points for the editor software!

I play mostly heavy rock and metal, but also some bluesy stuff and fingerpicking "acoustic" songs. I'm more into riffing than shredding and I've been playing for six years. My guitars are a US made BCRich Warlock, Fender Roadhouse strat and Ibanez Les Paul Custom copy. I'm using Ibanez Super Tube STL, Marshall Bluesbreaker and Chandler Tube Driver overdrives in front of Chameleon 2000. It sound good without them but the pedals bring out a magical sound from it and the one 12ax7 tube in the Chandler lends some warmth to the sound. I'm really really happy with this unit and I recommend it for everyone who wants to record guitar direct.

It actually can get a little confusing, but the first time I used it, I knew exactly what to do.

This is actually an awesome preamp. The Mega channel is absolutely the best, regardless of what anyone says. It actually sounds a little like a beefed-up solid state, not entirely tube. The other distortion channels I never really played and the clean channel sounds like every other clean channel you hear.

The effects are absolutely awesome, however, a comprehensive 9 or 10 band EQ would've been nice. And it does suck that you only get certain effects on the presets, and no gate, room, or hall reverb

Seems pretty reliable

it's very easy to dial, the knobs are very useful
for quick editing. I need the manual for fx
explanation only.

my setup :
Ibanez s series with seymour duncan parallel axis
trembucker distortion/ Gibson les paul custom with
EMG85
chameleon 2000
fender performer 1000 head [through loop return] /
velocity120
marshall 4x12 cabinet
I'm very disappointed with this box. before buying
I read all the ads about how good this product can
be. but what I get is a piece of crap!!!! I
thought that my power amp that sucks, so I bought
velocity120 & it ended the same [better though]
the main problem is the distortion! the high freq
is way toooooo much like driving into full range
speaker. I cut the high & sounds getting worst.
then I activate speaker simulator to solve my
problem but again it lacks clarity & definition.
the good thing is the clean. sparkling! I can get
those Def Leppard clean sounds
cring..cring..cring..!
the fx are good. best in stereo setup. I only use
compressor, chorus, delay & reverb. [don't care
others].
Hush is amazing!!! it keeps my setup quiet as
death!
btw this thing better for lead. [have you heard
Vinnie Moore "time odissey"]

very dependable I think. own only 3 months, can't
say more.
never use on gig. it's terrible!!!!!

the guy in rocktron is very friendly. his name is
Jim. very helpful. He rply my email within 1 day
LONG LIVE JIM!!!!!

I have been playing for 15 years. I play
metal/shred but also top40 covers to earn good
money. my true desire is Shred...shred... metal...
my other gear;
ADA MP-1 classic [the best]
Roland GP-16
Marshall JMP-1
BBE 462 sonic maximizer
Fender performer 1000 head
plan to buy Rocktron Intellifex & TC Electronics
G-major [any suggestion???]
Rocktron Velocity120 [recently]
if it were lost, only idiotic moron would buy
again! ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!! my ADA serves best.

Pretty easy to use and get a good sound out of.
Editing patches is a joke, only read through the manual once, which was nicely detailed.

I use a Gibson flying V with an EMG 81 and EMG 85 pickups in it, into a Marshall EL34 100/100 power amp and a Peavey 5150 4x12 cabinet.
The cleane tones are pretty good but I found the reverb and chourus left a little to be desired. The distorion is pretty weak. I'm a metal head (Megadeth, Slayer, Pantera) and you really notice a lack of that TUBE driven sound. It supposedly has DTR (Dynamic Tube Replication Technology) NOT EVEN CLOSE! My pickups and the EMG PA2 preamp switch really need to drive a good distortion out of this thing. The EQ is lacking too, a post EQ would be nice. But man you can't beat the HUSH system, super quiet not that noise gate garbage.

This thing is built like a tank. I bought it used off of ebay, gigged with it, dropped it and I've never played with a backup. I know I'm asking for trouble but I've had Digitech's that broke just sitting in my bedroom.

Never had to get it repaired or anything.
Sent an email over a common stupid question and got a slow reply but I was happy with it.

I've been playing metal for about 10 years this thing has suited me best out of all the gear I've used so far. Every piece of equipment I've had has gone for service at least once, that's Marshall, Digitech, DOD and so far this thing has outlasted them all. For the mid to low end price this thing delivers, I DEFINATELY got what I paid for. This unit has put my trust in the Rocktron name as far as stability and quality verses the bucks you spend. If it were lost or stolen I'd upgrade to the Voodoo Valve or the Prophesy.