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Looking for a good guitar amp simulator plugin. Any good ones out there?

Rob

Comments

Opus2000 Sat, 04/05/2003 - 09:19

I second the Amplitude plug in! Very nice sounding...a bit CPU intensive but very good.

I myself like doing a combination of these.

I used my Digitech RP7 along side Warp and the Nigel plug in on the UAD card and found I could emulate or come up with some amazing sounds!

Just like you would stack FX pedals in the real world.

Try it out and experiment!

Opus

Doublehelix Sat, 04/05/2003 - 14:41

I have tried Amplitube and Warp at a friend's studio, and I have Nigel on my UAD card, and I personally don't like any of them! (sorry!) I am a guitar player, and still prefer the sound of a real amp over an emulation. That being said, I think that both the Line6 Pod or the Yamaha DG-Stomp sound better than any of the software emulations I have heard. Maybe it is just me, cause I know they are all popular nowadays, but unless I am going for a unique, odd sounding part, the software emulations leave me disappointed, especially for a rock rhythm sound.

KurtFoster Sat, 04/05/2003 - 15:50

I have been watching this thread and the thread regarding PODS, SANS AMPS and amp modeling with interest. It has been my observation that anyone who has used real amps, has had any expose and experience with real amps prefers them. The only people who like the models, plug ins etc are ones who never used real Fender Tweeds, Marshalls, Hiwatts, AC30's, vintage stomp box’s, etc. …… Kurt

anonymous Sat, 04/05/2003 - 16:40

Yeah Kurt. The only real amplifiers I have been able to afford have been crap, so the POD has been a real treat. In my band I use it as a preamp to a friends Marshall stack and try my best to simulate a Fender Twin (even though I only know them through records). The sound is infinately better than the dudes stack by itself. It's not what you have got, it's how you use it right? No doubt if I could afford the real deal, I would be blown away. I actually wanted to hate the POD when I first borrowed it because I hate the concept of modeling, but what I ended up with is better than what I'd have with a cheap amp. The tone I'm getting is probably a more original one than I would get out of a Twin as well.....is that rationalization? Sure, why not. Whatever makes me feel better. The music is there and to me, that is all that counts.
God bless, Beau Landry.

Opus2000 Sat, 04/05/2003 - 16:42

I agree in the long run. I myself own a Fender Ultimate Chorus Amp and love it.

There is truly nothing like the real thing indeed.

BUT>>>>>Key word here...there is FUN in using these emulators for interesting and different sounds! That's where I use these!

indeed, these amp farms don't do justice but they can be fun! And THAT is what it's ALL about!

You do the hokey pokey, and that's what it's all about!

Opus :D

KurtFoster Sat, 04/05/2003 - 16:52

I used to host a "jam session" every Sunday night in San Jose and many times I witnessed a great player come in and make my amp (Randall RG-80) and guitar (Fender Tele) sound wonderful. Then a mediocre player would get up and to be honest, my rig would sound like sh*t! I think as with all recording equipment, it really has more to do with what is being played, rather that what it is being played through. It's in the fingers! ... Kurt

anonymous Sat, 04/05/2003 - 16:57

Not so, Kurt. I played a JCM800 for years. I had a friend, that I often jammed with, who owned a Fender Twin his father past on to him. For a while, I was a Crate fan. For a long time, nobody was touching their factory distortion(for a solid state). I chose to buy a modeling amp for the versatility of tone. I'm sure individual experiences will vary, but in my experience with the Line6 Vetta the tone doesn't suck. Far from it.

I can't wait for this technology to develope, say, over the next 5/10 years. I think it will be far enough along, then, to allow people to realize that if they're not getting that warmth or feel, it's due to the fact they lack it in their playing and not the amp/model they chose. ;)

KurtFoster Sat, 04/05/2003 - 17:10

I have a Line 6 and it's real ok. I got it for gigging. Makes a lot of sense for an amp to play out with. I haven't heard the Vetta, I will have to check one out next time I get by the local GC. I'm willing to keep an open mind. I still doubt that any of the models will sound as good as good as the real thing. I have had the opportunity to compare them side by side. I will say that IMO any solid state distortion is pretty yucky, let alone a digital simulation, I mean, what is that??? ... and when I was in the studio in CA, every time someone brought in a Crate, I would ask them to "just try the Hiwatt" ... suffice it to say I never recorded a Crate amp. :D Kurt

anonymous Sat, 04/05/2003 - 18:32

I will say that IMO any solid state distortion is pretty yucky

You could actually go so far as to say any solid state(period) is pretty yucky, lol. I mean :D yet, myself. I first got turned on to Line6 at my local Sam Ash.

I heard this kid tryin out this amp. It was as ballsy a sound as I'd ever heard. His chops were a l'il shakey, so I looked to see what he was playin. He had a Fender Strat(no offense to anyone, but Strats aren't really known for being ballsy sounding). So, only one other thing it could've been. It was a Line6 Spider 112. I couldn't believe all that was comin' out of that l'il 1x12 combo amp.lol So, the next Line6 product I tried was the Vetta HD, which I now own. :D
From what I understand, Line6 really concentrated on their flagship(Vetta). I think it shows. Now, I'm not sayin' I didn't have to tweak the hell out of it to get the tone I wanted. Shoot, I've had the thing 6 months or so and I still tweak it death. lol

Anywaaayyyy, we sure can hijack a thread caint we? :s:

Alécio Costa Sat, 04/12/2003 - 21:38

hey, I am completly to opposite. Although Mesa Boogies, JCM800, JCM 900 and twin reverb sound great, I also love my Amp Farm.

In live situations where lots of bands play and you end up with some amp you do not know or have to play with yours in a new environment, poor acoustics deteriorate the tone a lot.

My guitar rig for recording is:
Amp Farm, SGX 2000 and a bi miked amp like JCM900 or even a peavey Combo.

UncleBob58 Tue, 04/22/2003 - 06:16

Hey, has any body noticed that no matter what modeler these guys are using it still comes out of a real speaker? The drive of a speaker and a real room sound will always sound better than a simulator direct into the board/tape/disk/whatever. I routinely run MIDIed bass, guitar and other parts through amps and cabinets to get a more real sound that simulators just can't seem to give me.

Oh, yeah, the thread got away from plug-in simulators.

Best advice to young players who find themselves in a crappy situation....

Look up at the ceiling and scream "PLEASE REVEREND JIM, MORE KOOL-AID!!!!!"

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