Rocktron Chameleon 2000

I found that it was pretty easy to program amp sounds, but it does take a while to get used to all the parameters in the effects sections. That being said, the sounds are tremendous and once you have a handle on the programming functions relatively easy to program. Anyone used to programming digital units will have little problem. Editing patches if pretty straight forward and there is compare button that let's you toggle between the original patch and the edited patch. One of the first things I did with my Chameleon was put it back to Factory Restore so I could work from scratch with the original factory patches. The manual is well written and easy to follow.

I'm running a couple of customized Parker P-38s (Lace Sensor single-coils and custom Duncan 59 double-coil humbucker on bridge). I run Behringer Hellbabe wah in front and run the Chameleon out in stereo into an ADA 200 Bipolar power amp and a pair of Avatar 2x12 slant cabs loaded with Emminence V12s. The four amp voices are outstanding. I own a custom class A 5 watt Marshall clone and use that as my measuring stick for rock tones. The British channel really nails those classic Marshall JCM800 sounds. The Clean does a great Fender twin sound, Texas does a very decent Tweed Bassman and Mega handles more modern sounds, but you can also dial down the gain for some nice smooth lead tones. The effects are outstanding. You can program delay voices and pan them however you want. The chorus and flanger are also stereo 2 voice effects. The phase shifter really does a great job doing a phase 90 or even a Uni-vibe sound. The unit is absolutely dead quiet when no signal is playing and I adjust the Hush unit more to tighten up various sounds than for noise reduction. Higher setting do tend to kill your sustain, but you can dial it in just right utilizing the Hush. The compressor is also subtle but effective. Using an expression pedal with my Rocktron Midi Mate I can adjust up to 8 different parameters in real time.

I used a Rocktron ProGap for about 12 years of steady gigging and roadwork with no problems. I would expect the Chameleon to be just as dependable.

Never dealt with them.

I initially bought my Chameleon to check out the sounds while waiting for Rocktron to bring out the larger Utopia floor models. Since they have primarily the same architecture, I thought it would give me a chance to get familiar with the sounds and programming. After playing and programming it for a couple of weeks and using it a band rehearsel, I'm totally pleased with this unit. The preamp sounds and effects are just excellent. The parameters are really tweakable, and even small incremental changes make a very noticeable difference. Unless the new Utopia floor units can offer me some real advantages over my current rig, I'll probaby just stay with this. For the cost of $165 for the Chameleon, $70 for the Midi Mate and $30 for the expression pedal, I've got a great sounding versatile rig.

Since there's nothing easier than an amplifier with a separate knob for each parameter, I can't give a 10 here. It's not difficult to use, but even after six years, I still find myself twiddling the wrong knob here and there.. it's definitely not a mind-intuitive setup, but it isn't complex either.

The easiest way to get a sound out of any device with presets is to go through all of the presets and find a tone closest to the one you're looking for, then tweak it to your preferences. That's -really- easy to do with the Chameleon. Coming up with sounds from scratch is more involved, but it's really just a matter of picking your preamp type (Clean, Texas, British or Mega), setting the gain, tweaking the EQ, and then add the effects you want.

Guitars: Steinberger GT-3 w/ DiMarzios (Neck: Air Norton, Bridge: Steve's Special) and Roland GK-2A synth pickup. Hohner G3T w/ EMGs (SA, SA, 85). Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster

Signal path: Guitar-> Rocktron Chameleon 2000 -> Alesis Quadraverb (running a graphic EQ all of the time and delay on lead patches) -> Behringer Ultra Q Tube Parametric EQ (adds about 2db around 100hz) -> 2 Roland KC-500 keyboard amps. Full stereo setup.

Reason for such a screwy rig: I played in a progressive band that jumped styles with just about every single song, so I needed to be able to jump from big band swing to hardcore metal to latin with the press of one switch. At the same time, I was using a Roland guitar synth to trigger keyboard sounds like horns and strings. I definitely sacrificed high quality tone for versatility, but between the Chameleon, the Line 6 POD and the Mesa Boogie Triaxis, the Chameleon had the best of all worlds. The POD sounds good until you crank it up, the Triaxis sounds best with a tube power amp.. and at the time it's list price was still $3,200 which later dropped to $1,500. Add at least another $1,500 for a quality power amp and cabinet and you might as well buy a boutique tube amp that does one thing -really- well.

Originally, I used the Steinberger with DiMarzios for everything. The bridge pickup in that DiMarzio with the Mega channel of the Chameleon gives you a -very- good Mesa Boogie/John Petrucci guitar tone, which is what I was going for at the time. The Chameleon excels at getting awesome tones, although it definitely doesn't have the response or natural compression of a tube amplifier.

Eventually I got real tired of having mission control at my feet and having to practice patch changes more than having to practice scales and songs so I started playing keyboards instead of using the guitar synth and got to use the Hohner with EMGs more. At this point, I stopped playing with that original progressive outfit, and was filling in some shows with the same guys in a Faith No More tribute band. I didn't like the EMG bridge pickup nearly as much as the DiMarzio in the other guitar, but I was still able to get the high gain metal and rock tones necessary for that music with it. With the EMG, the Chameleon sounds a bit too compressed and controlled, so I started really getting into using the neck single coil with a lower gain Marshall crunch type of sound for a really cool Strat vibe. I fell in love with this sound, and ended up picking up an awesome Nashville Telecaster to further explore that vibe. With the Telecaster, the Chameleon doesn?t have as ?open? of a tone as I?d like, but I?m still in the tweaking stage with the new guitar. I?ve got some great sounds that I?m happy with, but I don?t have that one awesome tone that I want.. And I think I?m going to have to end up with a tube amp like a Vox AC30 or a Fender Supersonic to get that. This is all testament to how flexible the Chameleon really is.. in that I've completely changed my style and tone and it has changed right along with me.

The effects sound great, but I'm more of a pure tone type of person. The only effect I use often is delay, and I use my Alesis Quadraverb for that, because that way I can change the effect patch without affecting the preamp patch and have a little bit less of a pause between patch changes. I do use a touch of the reverb set to be a very small room, just to add a little "air" to the sound, and I'll use tremolo for certain parts of certain songs. For modern ultra-clean sounds I use a bit of chorus, but really I don?t use much in the way of effects, but it?s nice to have them and to have really great sounding effects at that.

Clean: Pretty simple, just a clean channel, nothing more. I don?t like using the ?bright? switch with it because it?s WAY too bright with the Telecaster. Maybe if I feel like resonating the fillings in the audiences teeth I?ll use it!

Texas: I like the lower gain sounds with the Texas channel, but the distortion is a bit fizzy and sounds a lot like a distortion pedal, so I don?t use it often. However, if I have a need for that type of sound, I have a patch set up for that purpose with a high gain Texas preamp.

British: My new meat and potatoes. Originally, I didn?t like it much because it?s kind of a ?tweener channel. It?s big and meaty like a high gain amp should sound, but the distortion doesn?t really hold up much, and it doesn?t have as much sustain. I see with other reviews that the British preamp is the least liked of the bunch, but it really comes down to dialing in the right tone. It?s not mean to be a smooth, high gain tone.. rather more of a Marshall crunch.

Mega: One letter away from Mesa. In fact, my favorite patch with the Mega preamp is one I call ?Almost Mesa? because it?s so close to that Triaxis sound. You can get crazy with the gain with this preamp, but I don?t like to go above 7.0 or so, unless I?m really going for a gonzo high-gain sound. The Mega preamp is a little too ?safe? for me these days.. I still use it for heavy stuff or for smooth high-gain lead sounds though.

I do all of my recording with the Chameleon direct. You have to cut the gain in half so it doesn?t sound too fuzzy, but it?s a really good, solid tone to whatever you record to. I have a small digital studio, and these days do all of my mixing on my PC, so I can take advantage of various plugins and whatnot. The speaker simulator in the Chameleon is good, but I still run the guitar track through Native Instruments? Guitar Rig for cabinet emulation because it?s the best emulation I?ve ever heard. To get any more realistic I?d have to mic my own cabs.

I bought the Chameleon online from Musician?s Friend in 2001. I?ve used it in three studios, and gigged with four bands with it. Since day one it?s been kept in a six space rack, and I don?t want to jinx myself by saying this, but I literally have not had a single problem with it yet. I haven?t even had to tighten the nut for the input jack. I?ve been a Rocktron fan for a long time, and still have an old Pro Gap laying around, so I was well aware of Rocktron?s quality before purchasing the Chameleon and haven?t been disappointed yet. I?ve been using it without a backup for five years now.

When something breaks, I'll be able to let you know what Rocktron's customer support is like. Maybe in another five years?

Overall the Chameleon is probably the best bang-for-your-buck box I?ve ever seen. A great preamp with great effects... what more could you ask for? If you want a realistic tube tone and feel, you need to go buy a tube amp. I don?t care what -anyone- tells you, there is nothing like the sound and feel of a real tube amplifier, period. That tube tone doesn?t come from a single 12AX7 in the chain, it comes from a nice matched set of power amp tubes. You can get a little closer to a tube amp feel by using a tube power amp with a rackmount preamp like the Chameleon, POD or Triaxis, but it still isn?t the same. A preamp like the Chameleon is a compromise; you give up a few things, and you get a few things. Would I replace it if it was stolen? Probably not, just because I?ve had it for so long and I?m a little -too- comfortable with it. If it was stolen, it?d take my whole rack with it too, and that?s a bit more than I?d like to replace. Plus, I?m not doing the whole prog-rock mission-control pedalboard setup and a billion tones at my fingertips type of thing.. I?m really into that tube amp vibe these days, and don?t mind the limitations of just a few tones. Plus, I could always run the Chameleon side by side with any tube 1x12 or 2x12 combo as well. I won?t be getting rid of my Chameleon anytime soon, but I think I?ve graduated past it and am ready to move on to the big bad world of tube amplification. That real tube sound and real tube feel are the only things my Chameleon can?t give me.

I wrote a review for this a month after buying it. Now it has been over a year and thought I would do a second one.

The controls are pretty strait forward. The preset are alright but generic like most modelers. I find the sound that I am looking for with the preset and tweak it to fit my setup and style.

The manual is covers the main topics but lacks if you really get into programing it.

For me, not ever using a preamp like this before, I had a bit of a learning curve. The curve was worth it!

No firmware revisions available.

It has MIDI so I use it live with a MIDI footswitch to change my custom settings on the fly. No lag time either.

American Fender Fat Strat>the Chameleon 2000>Yamaha Mixer>Stereo Power amp> Acoustic Monitor speakers.

I have a Mesa Boogie Mark II and a Roland Cube Amp an like this better. The presets cover all types of music from country to grunge metal and everything in between. There is over 200 presets all fully programmable. If you tweak the presets the way you like, they really sound incredible in stereo. It has every effect you need built in and the effect quality is also very good! A trick that I learned that really make this preamp stand out from the rest, is hook a graphic EQ on the outputs of it and run that into you power amp. Being able to adjust the frequencies get you real close to a warm tube sound.

I love the way it sounds. Don't just hook it up and go, it will sound like just another modeler. There is so much potential, push it for everything you can get from it. It will be my main rig for recording and live for a long time.

A rock solid steel constructed rack mount.

Since you can only buy it used now, the only support I have gotten is through e-mail.

I play classic rock and blues and been playing for over 20 years. It makes my sound. Classic rock has so many sounds to it and I can get them all or close to them instead of the two or three sound you get from a regular amp.

I stolen or broke I would be so sad!! Buy another one as fast as I could find it even if it cost more. After using it for over a year and seeing what I can do with it, my search is over.

This is a repost to an earlier review
I just bought a Les Paul Studio with burstbucker p'ups so now everything sounds WAY BETTER !!!
AMAZING !!
Very quiet.
Mesa Boogie 50/50 stereo amp
Rocktron Chameleon 2000
Jackson 4x12 cabinet
All running in stereo mode
Tone, versatility, Clean, Crunchy, You name it.
It is all in the setup.
Check your input indicators that it rarely hits on red. I was letting it hit red all the time before. Adjusted to only hit occassionally with volumne @ 10.
Much much better sound now....

I play : Jazz, Rock, Metal, Contemporary Worship, and ??
This is all that I need now. Thank you very much

I'm using a LP Studio with Seymour Duncan Pickups, I'm not sure which ones, i bought it used, but they sound nice. Anyway, I have some crappy mosvalve power amp that i run through, but it still sounds alright, thanks to the Chameleon? I play decently heavy music, with a lot of melodic parts, and the distortion is nice in the fact that its pretty clear. Its kind of fuzz sounding, but its all good. The amps got crazy variety with the effects. I'd buy this amp if you want an effects processor, but i'd use something else for clean and distorted.

This amp has alot of versatility within the effects. Theres a lot of different combos you can do to get some far out sounds, and its simple enough to get just a phase. The only problem is it only lets you put 4 effects together at one time, and thats fine, but you cant put certain effects together(i.e. Flange and Phase). This isnt a big deal to me, but i like to experiment a little. Other than that, its got your basic Treble, Mid, and Bass EQ, presence, a couple cleans a dirty's, still has quite a bit of range on the effects, a mid-scoop, if you're into that. Its also got a few other little tech settings. It also has very limited ins and outs. 2 outs, and a midi in and out, thats it. I have to jump through hoops to get my tuner hooked up through it, and still be able to run stereo. It also is not good for going direct, with the limited ins and outs and whatnot.

Hasnt broken yet.

never needed it, but i was able to find an owners manual online that i downloaded.

If you want a nice effects processor, get this. But if you're looking for amazing tone, pass.

First of all, let me begin by saying that I have owned a blackface Chameleon, Voodu Valve, Pro GAP, Replitone MP, and a Prophesy, so I can fairly compare all of these Rocktron preamps. The Chameleon 2000 is one of the easiest of all the Rocktron preamps to program and get good sounds. Only the Replitone is easier, but it sounds like crud.

I was reluctant to try this preamp after the mixed reviews here, and I already owned the Prophesy, which is supposed to be the supersized big brother to the Chameleon 2000 anyway....so why would I want the lowly Chameleon 2000? I always wanted to see how it would compare to the other Rocktron preamps, and I found one on ebay for $150, so I figured it was worth a try.

I loved my Prophesy and had owned it for a couple of years when I got the Chameleon 2000, and within 2 weeks I had already sold the Prophesy!! That is how happy I was with the Chameleon 2000. I actually like the clean channel better than the Prophesy, and the Mega channel is just as brutal. Sure you give up the pre and post eq, but sometimes those were more of a pain than they were worth on the Prophesy. You could spend hours tweaking all of those eq settings and still not be happy with the sound. The Chameleon 2000 has a more simple bass, treble, mid, presence settings, as well as the variac setting, bright switch, and speaker sim. These parameters have been more than enough for me to get the sounds I want. The british channel could be better, but it wasn't much better on the Prophesy, and I don't really use the blues channel, but it is decent.

I play newer rock like 3 Doors Down and Creed, King's X, as well as 80's hair metal like Dokken and Ratt. I basically need a really nice clean tone, a nice crunchy rhythm tone, and a singing lead tone for my George Lynch moments. For my style this preamp is fantastic, especially if you can find a used one for under $200! These absolutely destroy anything from Digitech, Line 6, Boss, etc. I have owned all of those, and there is no contest. If you really want this preamp to sound right though, you need to invest in a good power amp and cabinets. If you are trying to run this into the loop of a combo of head then that isn't really how it is supposed to be used. If you think it sounds bad, then you are either one of those tube purist elitist a**holes, or you don't have it hooked up correctly. If you prefer the sound of a tube amp and a couple of pedals then I have a suggestion for you..........USE A TUBE AMP WITH A COUPLE OF PEDALS!!

All of my Rocktron gear has always been very well made and reliable.

Never had a reason to deal with them. I wish they had more of an online preset-sharing group though.

For $150, this thing can't be beat. The great thing about ebay is even if you buy one for $150 and hate it, you can always get your money back out of it. The cleans are great, the mega channel is MEGA, and you can easily get the sounds you want. Doesn't have that fake sound that most digital/modeling preamps seem to be cursed with (Line 6, Boss GT-6, Digitech GNX). I use mine with a Hafler G150 Stereo power amp and 2 Fender 2x12 cabinets. It sounds amazing in stereo. I plan to upgrade to a tube power amp like a Mesa 20/20 soon, and I expect it to sound even better at that time. The only thing I will really miss about the Prophesy is the XLR outputs that worked great for direct recording, but that isn't a huge issue.

I paid $150 for this and sold my Prophesy for $700. If you are thinking about getting a Prophesy, but can't bring yourself to drop that much on a preamp I would suggest that you get one of these first. If you don't like this, then you probably won't like the Prophesy either. Also, if you are into really heavy metal like old Pantera, this preamp can nail that rhythm sound easily when you use the scoop control. The Prophesy doesn't even have that feature!!

There are over 143 presets on this and there is bound to be a couple that you really like since so many people have different tastes. The manual is well written and easy to follow if you know a little something about guitar effects settings. If you go to Rocktron's website you can download the manual for free if you buy it on Ebay without.

First of all, the sound is a 10+++++ for a device in this price range. I have been playing for 30 years and recording for 2 years. This is a professional guitar preamp/effects processor that I use as part of my overall sound. If you think by buying this, it will take a cheap guitar and amp and turn it into a Les Paul and a full stack of Marshalls, or if you are looking for that magic one button box that reads your mind and plays it then, don't waste your time or money!! My setup is an American Hotrod Texas Fat Start HSS. I run the Start into the Cameleon 2000 and put the stereo outputs into a Teac two ten band stereo EQ. (If you don't have an EQ, then run it into the clean input of your amp and use its preamp as your EQ). Then I run left channel into the slave input of my Mesa Boogie Mark II 60 Watt tube amp and the right into the aux in setting on my Roland Cube amp. It has a mono setting if you only have one amp. But stereo adds so much to the sound!! The "Hush" noise gate is the best that I have ever used on any device, no wonder it is part of a lot of well know guitar players standard equipment. It has some very very good clean sounds, but I use the Mega distortion setting 90% of the time esecially the "Studio Halen" preset. It nails the early Van Halen sound to a tee! THE KEY TO A GREAT SOUND IS POST EQ!!!. I spent 20 hours after I bought this experimenting with different configurations in my home recording studio with differnt gear to see what works best. If you read the reviews on the Chameleon on-Line post EQ is what makes it sound so well. By reading the reviews, it seems people either love this or hate it. The people that love it, I think, know how to tweak this to its fullest potential. The people that don't, either have crappy equipment and or have not spent the time it takes to get the sound they are looking for. Remember, post EQ makes a big difference!! P.S. It works best in the front of the amp not thru the effects loop. I read that some are using it this way. No wonder it sounds like crap! That is why it is called a preamp.

It is built for the road and is very solid.

Don't know

This thing will play any type of style and has every style in its presets. Just tweak them to suit your taste and equipment and save them so you can recall them the next time. Just plug it into a PA, guitar amp, Mixer, Digital recorder or high quality home stereo and go. I would buy this again in a heartbeat! I has become a mainstay of my sound!! I compared this to the IPOD xt and the V-AMP 2 Pro. It sounds more tube like than those and and is designed for the road. I bought this on a recomendation from a guitar player that I value his opinion. I was a little scared when reading some of the reviews that trashed it. When I took it out of the box, plugged it in and played it I didn't know if I made the right choice. After understanding how it works and how to tweak the knobs, OHH YESS, I made the right choice!!! It will be with me a long long time!!

The Chameleon 2000 is Extremely easy to use. Easier than most Rack Gear. I have the manual but didn't feel the need to use it. The unit is self Explanitory in my opinion. Very user friendly. Different sounds can be set up and compared almost instantly.

The Chamelion was used into the Send of a 50w Tube Marshall Head w/ Groove Tubes E34LS/JJ Tesla Power Tubes (Rating #6). 3X Groove Tubes 12AX7C (New Prod China) Matched Triodes in the Driver Stage. Marshall 4x12 w/75w Celestions. Also used was a 100w Marshall Combo 2X12 75w Celestions. 4X 6L6 Matched China. 2X Groove Tubes GT-7025 (EI Yugoslavia) Matched Groove Tubes 12AX7C in the Driver Stage. The Chamelion was plugged into the Send to Access the power section of each Marshall. I use a Custom Mahogany Hamer USA with Dimarzio Fred Pickups.... The Chamelion is very Quiet. I HATE the Hush. In my opinion the Hush Kills tone and Dynamics. I just turn down the gain a little to limit Noise. If you have to use the Hush turn it down. I found the Clean Setting Good. The British/Texas Setting is Terrible. The Mega Setting is the best. Overall I found the preamp section very weak. The distortions are not very dynamic. They are Digital and Sterile. Because the preamp was lacking I felt that it took away from the Effects. In my Opinion theirs nothing like a 100% pure tube amp with a couple of pedals. Tube Saturation with Good Tubes & Proper Bias Adjustments is the Ultimate tone. Tube Tone is very dimensional & real. Pick Attack, Feel & Dynamics are what I look for in good Guitar Sound. If everyone wants tube Tones why not use a Tube Amp???......... I guess I'M a Tube Man!! I'M not Impressed with the Chameleon 2000. If your a Shred Head you might like this Unit. I'M into more classic/Real Tones. Satriani, Vai, Rhoads, VH (Old School)

The Chamelion is built very well. I would use this on a Gig. Rocktron Makes Good Stuff

I have contacted Rocktron in the past. They were very Helpful

I play Classic Rock to Heavy Metal. I don't think this unit is a good match for the music I play. I wish someone would Steal it. I might try to track down a Replifex or the 12AX7 Silver Dragon. My favorite Feature of the Chameleon 2000 is the ease of use. You can achieve many different sounds very quickly. I hate the hush and the preamp section. Their should of been more Distortion options. I wish the British Channel was better.

All right; before anyone starts gettin' mouthy about my latest review for the Chameleon 2000, understand this:

Every time I find something cool about this Preamp, I'm gonna' come here and tell it to the world!!! Why? Because there are WAY too many chuckleheads who have written bad reviews for this product, and it simply doesn't deserve it.

If you don't like the sound of this Preamp, then you should probably stay away from digital guitar products altogether. Until the manufacturers can get the bit-count on these devices up to the same level as other non-musical digital devices, you're not gonna' get a Tube Amp in a Box.

Anyway,
As I was editing patches tonight, something happened that I've never experienced using a device like this before. On most Units, you get a sound you're happy with and as you're playing, you start to hear certain things about the sound that you want to improve on, remove, or change right? Well, on other devices I've used in the past, it seems like you can get kind of close, but when you make the change it tends to then screw up some other part of the sound that you DIDN'T want to change.

With the Cham 2K, I've been able to hone in on VERY specific characteristics in the sound, and change them without detracting/adding to the OTHER parts of the sound. This is VERY cool!
It seems like there's a tool for every job in this Unit. You'll have to hunt and experiment a bit, but your patience will be rewarded. Unlike many other digital products for guitar that I've owned, I can actually see this Preamp NOT being a One Trick Pony! I've been programming with the Mega Channel all this time, and I haven't even gotten AROUND to the other Preamp Voicings yet; I can't wait!
When I get this thing through a loud tube power amp; you'd better stand BACK! I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jim is GOD.

First off, the Rocktron Chameleon 2000 is PROOF POSITIVE that the old saying "A million people CAN be wrong, especially if they're all fools". If I were a herd-follower, I would have never given this Unit a chance based on the reviews here. But, I blaze my own path through life so here I am writing this review. Let's begin:

Getting a tone with or without effects is a piece of cake with the 2K. The manual is well-written and the editing is easier than most other Units due to the multiple Data Wheels. The Rocktron interface/faceplate is the best design for this kind of product. Period.
My 2K says it's a Version 1.0, and I'm not sure if there are any upgrades for it. Not that it really needs any.

Of all of the Units/Modlers I've tried( and I've tried and owned a shitload of them ), the 2K is easily the most "Tube Amp Sounding" device I've ever heard; especially in the mids. Of course it doesn't FEEL like a Tube Amp or have the warmth of a Tube Amp, but I know a couple of super-secret Outboard Tricks to rectify THAT situation NO problem. Combine this Preamp with a high quality Tube Power Amp and you're ready to go!
One of the best benefits of a digital device of this nature is the low noise, and the fact that you're not running multiple Units to get your sound + FX. A friend of mine had an ADA MP-1 connected to a Midiverb and on out to a Mosvalve power amp. We called his rig "The Noise Factory" and with good reason; the damn thing crackled and sputtered until your ears couldn't stand it anymore. No such problems with the Chameleon 2000.
The effects are Rocktrons' usual affair, and they sound GREAT. Once again, look in the Racks of the Pro's; you'll see an Intellifex more often than not, and for a very good reason. Rocktron effects don't kill your tone, they spill-over when you turn them off( in the case of reverb and delay ), and Rocktron is THE ONLY company making Units that( with the use of a midi pedalboard ) switch from preset to preset, effect on to effect off INSTANTANEOUSLY, with NO glitches and no need for the ol' "Stompbox Ballet"!!!
Unlike past preamps, the Chameleon 2000 lets you use the Compressor function on the Distortion Settings. Combine the compression with the Variac simulator, and you've got sustain for DAYS when you're rippin' through that ultra-hot lead!
The speaker sim and Reactance feature give you massive CHUUUUUUUUUNK! And the Scoop Feature on the Mega Channel gets you straight to Deathville on the SkullCrush Express; it's so fat and beautiful...I think I've got something in my eye( sniff-sniff ) ;)

This preamp with effects just plain ROCKS. And oh yeah; I forgot to mention that I tested it and made patches with a crappy little Epiphone LP Junior with one mediocre humbucker in the bridge while my high dollar axe is having some repairs and modifications done.
And it STILL sounded better than anything else out there in the digital realm!!! HA-HA-HA Hank Hill; Kahn laugh at you now and forever more!

If you buy a high quality Rack to house this Unit in, then you shouldn't have to worry about it getting banged up. You'll see Rocktron gear in more professionals' racks than any of that other cheap crap that gets passed off as "pro gear", so you tell ME if thier stuff is dependable or not.
FREE TIP: Keep your power amp in a diffrent rack and run it off of a diffrent outlet if possible; less noise and better sound are the benefits.

I keep a SansAmp TRI-OD and a few stompboxes with effects I use the most of on standby in case the rack rig goes down. Happily; I've never had to use them.

Jim at Rocktron is a Customer Service GOD. His replys are prompt, accurate, and always helpful.
Rocktron has a Network of repair shops all over the U.S. where you can get your equipment repaired or upgraded.

Until the day comes when I can afford all of that overpriced boutique guitar shit, I am perfectly happy to own and use this fabulous preamp! I can get a great tone and I can get it quickly.
The ONLY place this Unit falls short is the lack of connectivity compared to the older Rocktron preamps. With only 1/4 inch Left and Right Outputs and Midi In, Midi Out/Thru, the 2K deserves the same hookups as the Chameleon Online; ESPECIALLY considering that the 2K absolutely blows it and the Voodoo Valve AWAY.

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.

Doesn't get much easier

I use a Mesa Boogie 50/50. The tone coming out is just that, TONE. REAL tone. Through the headphones is awesome as well.
The effects are very accurate. The way it respondes to pick attack is great.I do strongly recommend driving it with a stereo amp and speaker set up. I run my Jackson electric with Semour duncan Jeff Beck humbucker, my Taylor acoustics and my Epiphone classical through this setup and it is fantastic for all types of music.All sounds are very proffesional.

So far so good. Doesn't seem like it would present any fears over break down.

Don't Know..............

I play ALL types of music. Hard rock,jazz,classical, worhip and praise. This really is a very nice one. I'll definitly use it for years. The only thing they don't provide is a foot controller.I found a Behringer for 129.99 so I'll try it with that. That is the only reason I don't give Rocktron a full 10.

firt go to global configuration.
Put the output in stereo and hush at -10
speaker simulator unlock mute off.
the effects you have to learn how to use them use you earing.
ican get any sound i like and i want.Metallica Megadeth Flying in a blue dream from satriani etc.Everything is good perfect!!!

First you need two speackers whitout equalizer`s and a rack velocity 120 or 250 or 500 watts etc.

I`m Portuguese but i enigrate to holland and hier the service is very bad about products from rocktron.To buy my cameleon 2000 i have to go to deutchland and they ware very kind.The shop is E-bass muziek-produktiv.

Heavy metal progrock fusion etc.
yes.
Buy it again!
The gain,reactance,speaker simulator(both)Hush & effects stereo output
Rocktron cameleon 2000 is mutch beter than profesy and the cameleon 2000 have the same sound quality of megadeth metallica jhon petrucci Satriani slayer frank gambale nuno bettencurt etc only the best.
I whish that i can get a rocktron version whith the names of each artist on it and the sound to.It1s the only thing it can mayke it easyer to us.Sounds like satriani vai etc djust one with all the best sound`s on artist.

I think it is pretty easy to use although I haven't got the expression pedal to work yet. Like it any unit it takes a week or so to get used to it.

All my ratings are relative to what is expected from like units.

The hush is great! The effects are pretty good, and you can get a variety of good low to medium gain lead tones. Personally, I use it in the effects loop of my Marshall JMP1 and don't use any of the distortion tones anymore. I do use the clean preamp tone settings to enhance the clean channel in my Marshall JMP1 preamp, and when I do the same with the distortion channel in my Marshall I can get some very ferocious sounds (Metallica, Zakk Wyld, Disturbed, God Smack etc..) I play into a Mesa Recto 4X12 Cab driven by a Mesa 50/50 which recieves its signal from a Marshall stereo 20/20 using the line outs. This has the same effect as a power brake except not at the expense of your tubes. The 20/20 also outputs to 2 1X10 Marshall cabinets loaded with celestion vintage 10s.

A 7 because the preamp really isn't that impressive for gain tones.

It has been very reliable

No clue, but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

I play many styles, but mostly very heavy nu-metal tones. I do like SRV,Clapton, and Hendrix stuff as well. If it were stolen I'd be highly upset, but I'd probably get a Rocktron Prophesy to replace it. Very useful if you have a pre-existing preamp and use that for the basis of your sound, however lead somes aren't to bad.

Its a easy to use effect/pre-amp but to get a good sound you'll need some time. not that it is difficult but is you play in a band you'll need to adjust the sounds because it doesnt sound the same at home as in the band.
takes some time to get to know it. its not hard and east to understand
the manual is not big just everything you need to program your amp.
my unit hasnt been upgraded.

there is a possibillity to upgrade it with midi & an pc butt i only could only dump patches to the pc and not from the pc to the chameleon. if someone could help me please.
I had an hard time connecting my roland fc200 footpedal but with the help of the manual and doing what is said ( not what i thought i should do) it worked

so its easy but it could be easier!!!! so its just a 7

Setup:

Guild/DeArmond starfire special (semi humbuckers) ell. guitar
Washburn flying V (humbuckers) ell. Guitar
Epiphone (piezzo & mic) acc. guitar
mesa/boogie studio preamp 19"
rocktron chameleon..... ofcourse
Marshall 9005 2X50 watt poweramp (very big... 4he High)
only till i own a mesa/boogie 50/50
2 Mesa.Boogie cabs 1x200 watt 8 ohm

if you use the hush function you wont have humms and noise
but you should twiddle around with it especially if you want to do high sustain solo's and palm mute metal chords.
because the hush takes away the last bit of sustain is you have set the hush port to high and you can loose that palm mute sound when you hit the sting
effect sound good but better if you work on them
my favourite artist are brian may and carlos santana but there sound come from playing good and their guitars so i cant copy them whit this. although with the mesa studio preamp's lead channel i come close.
the only sound that doesnt sound gooe dis the wah wah. but this is common by all effects i think so youll better by a good one if you're using it a lott.
good sound so
but i think the mesa triaxis is the best so ill give it a 8

Well giggin without backup is stupid butt i dont have the money
so i dont use backup and hope and pray that nothing gets hurt on tour
the only problem is that i am to fast with program changes so i often loose a preset so i should write patches down is i made one.
so i think you should use a p[aper as backup...? :-)

so far no problems

I bought the unit 2nd hand and tried to contact them.
butt i never say an email back from them.
i bought it at verspuys in Rotterdam (holland) and thay helped me good with it but after coming home the accomp. pedal was 2nd hand.
but i can return it for a brand new one.

I play Blues, Clean, Jazz, Metal, rock & a bit of punk.
Been playing for 5 years now.
I also have an marshall vs265 stereo chorus combo for sevices and little (clean)gigs
Iff it gottt stolen i would buy my self the new roadking from Mesa/Boogie with an big cab. no more 19" just one amp with somme channels and a solo boost. no more effects just plain music.
because effect are not as good as they sound on the records
andbest music is just clean....(distorted)
i love th phaser and i hate the wah.
The Mega channel is most used along with the clean one.

i'm very glad with it butt there's always better

the preamp section of this is just like an amp without the knobs, the effects are typical Rocktron and with a little time sound excellent

I guess this is what counts! I bought this because my original chameleon can be a bit of a pain to program. The clean and british I really like, you can get a great fender/boogie clean and the british sounds way better than any marshall I've owned. The Texas is good (though it works best with texas/hot single coils) though the mega just doesn't cut it for me. I've played with it for ages and it sounds too middley (technical term!) and i can't dial it out. The original chameleon doesn't have this problem because of the pre and post EQ but the original needs to be really worked at to get the clean sounds the 2000 gets

Never once had a problem with any rocktron equipment

I've asked for info relaiting to different products and always had a response though their website has fallen short with manual etc since they were taken over. This is a real shame as I look at manuals before buying equipment to check out how easy it is to use

I A/B this with my original chameleon and I love having the choice of sounds. It runs into a Velocity 300 and then marshall 1912 and anniversary cab. I play every style of music but mostly STP, Fuel,type of stuff and funk.
On it's own I'd be 8/10 happy but in the current setup with an A/B box I'm 10/10 happy.
If the stuff got stolen i'd check out the Prophecy though with the 2000 coming in at $300-400 used and an original chameleon at $200-300 I'd probably just replace the units.
I've had tones of amps ie marshall, boogie, fender, peavey, hiwatt, vox tube amps and roland,boss,digitech rack stuff but always go back to the rocktron stuff. the options for sounds are amazing and i just find that this setup helps me provide a sonic creation environment conducive to writing interesting music