The Future of Guitar Amps Looks a Lot Like the Past - Dave Friedman

BABMusic said:
Thank you for sharing this. I had no idea. Some of us 40-somethings just want a tube amp.
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I have tube amps, and I like the variety, flexibility and convenience of digital modeling.

Where digital modeling failed for me is that it got trapped trying to model or capture existing analog technology so it's always a copy of the real thing, never the real thing itselff.

What I wanted to see from digital modeling for guitar was something that was new and different, that would do things only possible in digital, to create and make its own thing...instead of chasing the past, creating a new future for guitar.

The closest thing I've seen to that is Blue Cat Audio's Destructor plugin, which is also part of their Axiom suite (which I own). Destructor is a tone shaper and tone sculptor, using various layered EQs, to create a sound. This is in the Advanced view; the basic or standard view looks like an amp. It never really caught on with guitarists, so they created patches that look and sound like real amps and cabs, using their Destructor tool, which users can also use.

I'm still waiting for digital signal processing for guitar that comes out of the past, but moves things forward, not making copies of the past.
 
I bought a Fractal to get a sound, more than to sound like Amp X. I've always thought of modelers as tools to get a sound to fit a song vs sounding exactly like the actual amps. I like tube amps, and own more than I need. I like the way they sound, but I'll never use them to their actual potential.
 
not me, im tired of having "tube amp anxiety" waiting for them to inevitably blow up, which has happened to me with both new and old amps. none of my solid state amps which are now 30+ years old have had any problems. theres nothing cool or exciting to me about tubes, i welcome new technology
 
Will I ever play out with tube amps again, probably not. Will I ever play modelers when I just want to feel good and pretend to be a rock star at home, probably not. Horses for courses, as they say.
 
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Love amps but the ease of modelers is undeniable. The younger generation also cares about what they can afford so plug ins are huge with them.

Dave’s a forward thinking guy, but amps will always be his true live
 
If I wanted crazy versatility, I would definitely consider the modelling route, but I don't. I don't want a whole tool kit, I want a really fucking good screwdriver.

When playing in live scenarios, as they are not uber frequent for me, I would rather play with a real amp and feel the joy of moving some air.

The forum world is also a little slice showing that people really can't be happy with what they have, and will always be chasing the dragon. In that case, modellers also make sense. Should I buy 100 different amps at a few grand each, only to be disappointed, or get something that does a digital copy of all of them and be disappointed by that. Even if its a Kemper and you have to buy profiles, those cost less than shipping, and you don't have the stress of something being damaged on the way, or whatever.

I do agree with RaceU4her though in that I don't need it to be tubes. At least as a backup, I would be cool with a great sounding SS amp. I'm sad those Retro Channel amps fell off the earth, and I'd like to spend some more time with the old Randalls and Marshall mosfets. But I don't need that either.
 
SI said:
Love amps but the ease of modelers is undeniable. The younger generation also cares about what they can afford so plug ins are huge with them.

Dave’s a forward thinking guy, but amps will always be his true live
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Other than my SY-1000, I sold my FM9 MkII Turbo, and trying to sell my Helix Floor. I made computer plugin rig for guitar last year, and it's working great, and much less cost than high end digital modelers without any vendor lock-in
 
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rsm said:
Other than my SY-1000, I sold my FM9 MkII Turbo, and trying to sell my Helix Floor. I made computer plugin rig for guitar last year, and it's working great, and much less cost than high end digital modelers without any vendor lock-in
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Right there with you, been messing around with the brainworx plugins and they sound pretty incredible, especially when the cost is considered

Wouldn’t play live that way, but for recording/practicing/goofing off at home, the plugins are pretty spectacular
 
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haven't played live in many years, but my computer rig, running Windows 11 Pro, is very stable. I have several Neural DSP plugins, and others for guitar, but my main plugin is PolyChromeDSP McRocklin Suite, I got it as soon as it was launched, $99 US, it's been lower on sale since then, several updates always with new features. It's very stable, and covers a lot of sounds though the focus is on modern tones. I also have their Nunchuck plugin which is based around a modified JCM-800, great for classic tones.

I use BlueCat Audio's PatchWork to organize patches that use different plugins; they have utilities for gain, noise gate, level, etc. so I can mix and match presets using different plugins, and adjust the gain/noise between them in PatchWork without having to go into each plugin.

Next, I organize my PatchWork patches into map sets for my KMI SoftStep2 MIDI controller; whenever I start the rig, or load a new MIDI map set into the SoftStep2, I load each patch once; future patch switching latency is non-existent.
 
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rsm said:
haven't played live in many years, but my computer rig, running Windows 11 Pro, is very stable. I have several Neural DSP plugins, and others for guitar, but my main plugin is PolyChromeDSP McRocklin Suite, I got it as soon as it was launched, $99 US, it's been lower on sale since then, several updates always with new features. It's very stable, and covers a lot of sounds though the focus is on modern tones. I also have their Nunchuck plugin which is based around a modified JCM-800, great for classic tones.

I use BlueCat Audio's PatchWork to organize patches that use different plugins; they have utilities for gain, noise gate, level, etc. so I can mix and match presets using different plugins, and adjust the gain/noise between them in PatchWork without having to go into each plugin.

Next, I organize my PatchWork patches into map sets for my KMI SoftStep2 MIDI controller; whenever I start the rig, or load a new MIDI map set into the SoftStep2, I load each patch once; future patch switching latency is non-existent.
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do you have or know of anything that does a good job getting rectifier tones?
 
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99.9% of the time, I am running a hybrid, Tube Preamp, Cab Sim backend.

The other .1% I'm running a tube amp into a speaker

I have played all digital, but I can't get into it, no feel, no interaction....

I at least have to have the tube preamp
 
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SI said:
do you have or know of anything that does a good job getting rectifier tones?
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no; I have Neural DSP Mesa IIC+ Suite and Archetype Petrucci; and I have a Mesa JP-2C; which deliver the Mesa tones I like vs rectifier.

FWIW, I'm more of a Marshall / modded Marshall player; hard rock / thrash player though. I use my Mesa for prog metal.
 
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Kind of interesting this popped up today. Watch when they plug the Tone Master into the RV.

 
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I have no interest in those modeling/simulating/pretend amp thingies. I’m old and have no problem bringing one of my heads and an appropriate cab, 1x12, 2x12, or whatever fits the venue. If I ever get too weak, too old, or too lazy to bring a real rig, I’ll hang it up. But if modelers tickle your sphincter, by all means sache that puppy to the gig in your party dress
 
Why it is always presented as something contradictory ? I use modeller into jcm800 studio combo and it works fine both in front of and into fx return. There is tweaking and endless possibilites.
Another setup - Roland jc120 sim stereo into Vox ac30 and jvm combo - sounds insane. In a click of a button change to boogie sim to great delay solo. Both worlds cooperating, still need tube amp to give the thump from power section 😻
 
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