Best amp sim for midrange "bluesy" long sustain w/o distortion?

[rcat]

I can't stand that distorted, "farty" broken speaker sound that most amp sims have. What I'm looking for is long sustain with an abundance of harmonics, and no harsh highs or muddy lows. I know it's a tall order, but I'm hoping someone out there has experience with an amp sim displaying the latter characteristics. Thanks.

[jdt]

I can't stand that distorted, "farty" broken speaker sound that most amp sims have. What I'm looking for is long sustain with an abundance of harmonics, and no harsh highs or muddy lows. I know it's a tall order, but I'm hoping someone out there has experience with an amp sim displaying the latter characteristics. Thanks.

Have you tried this one?

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/3793.html

It's pretty tweakable, and has the ability to play clean.

Most of the AcmeBarGig amp sims allow distortion to be removed or limited.

I also like all the FreeAmp versions. It's all in what you're looking for I guess.

[Hink]

get a sansamp

[khanyz]

Try http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2990.html

Very nice price too. Only problem with it is the C/R.

[zerocrossing]

Try http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2990.html

Very nice price too. Only problem with it is the C/R.

That's not the only problem. I find it pretty crashy. YMMV. I do really like the tone though. I'd love for a new version.

Amplitube Fender would be my go-to, but honestly most of the tone you seek comes from having a great guitar with pretty heavy gauge strings.

[robogone]

get a sansamp

+1

[zerocrossing]

Try http://www.kvraudio.com/get/2990.html

Very nice price too. Only problem with it is the C/R.

That's not the only problem. I find it pretty crashy. YMMV. I do really like the tone though. I'd love for a new version.

Amplitube Fender would be my go-to, but honestly most of the tone you seek comes from having a great guitar with pretty heavy gauge strings.

http://www.ikmultimedia.com/fender/audiodemo/

[Aloysius]

get a sansamp

NoAmp VST - Tech 21 SansAmp Emulation

http://www.kvraudio.com/get/4170.html

Price = Free

[susiwong]

I can't stand that distorted, "farty" broken speaker sound that most amp sims have. What I'm looking for is long sustain with an abundance of harmonics, and no harsh highs or muddy lows. I know it's a tall order, but I'm hoping someone out there has experience with an amp sim displaying the latter characteristics. Thanks.

A tough call with real amps to begin with, at least at neighbourhood-compatible volume.
People nailing these tones typically use relatively little distortion but play loud, very loud instead.
No real substitute in software yet afaics, try AT3's Boogie Mk III, primus inter pares imho atm.
At least it's better than all those PODs or similar.

3 hardware solutions that do deliver the goods quite convincingly imho, all 3 only available s/h anymore, I'm afraid.


Mesa Studio Pre


Marshall JMP-1


HK Tubeman 1, the ideal budget solution

Try them, ymmv ...
Cheers,
susiwong

[futurefields]

A tough call with real amps to begin with, at least at neighbourhood-compatible volume.
People nailing these tones typically use relatively little distortion but play loud, very loud instead.
No real substitute in software yet afaics, try AT3's Boogie Mk III, primus inter pares imho atm.
At least it's better than all those PODs or similar

+1

I crank my marshall plexi superlead on the normal/dark channel and I can get aggressive, clean bluesy sounds with a ton of sustain due to the natural compression in the poweramp. I plug the same guitar into any amp sim, the sustain isn't even close. One solution might be to try cranking ur monitors to get some natural feedback into ur guit, this will add sustain. But then, most people use amp sims because they need to be quiet, so not sure if that will help you.

I feel ur pain though. I barely ever record guitar anymore. Its such a PITA getting tones that stand up to good commercial records.

[zerocrossing]

We come to this every time there's an amp modeling thread, but I'll bring it up again. If you're using an amp modeler, you better be installing a Sustainiac, or using the model B (no install). On full power it's like having an ebow in each string, but at moderate settings it just gives you that nice feeling that you're next to a cranked amp even when you're playing though headphones.

[Aloysius]

How about using: Boss CS-3 Compression Sustainer Guitar Effects Pedal before yer Amp-Sim?

[Dean Aka Nekro]

I can't stand that distorted, "farty" broken speaker sound that most amp sims have. What I'm looking for is long sustain with an abundance of harmonics, and no harsh highs or muddy lows. I know it's a tall order, but I'm hoping someone out there has experience with an amp sim displaying the latter characteristics. Thanks.

A tough call with real amps to begin with, at least at neighbourhood-compatible volume.
People nailing these tones typically use relatively little distortion but play loud, very loud instead.
No real substitute in software yet afaics, try AT3's Boogie Mk III, primus inter pares imho atm.
At least it's better than all those PODs or similar.

3 hardware solutions that do deliver the goods quite convincingly imho, all 3 only available s/h anymore, I'm afraid.


Mesa Studio Pre


Marshall JMP-1


HK Tubeman 1, the ideal budget solution

Try them, ymmv ...
Cheers,
susiwong

Don't forget the A/DA Pre-Amp (Mk I And II), Boogie Forumula Pre (Cheaper Than The Mesa Studio Pre But Less Versatile), Mesa pedal similar to the H&K Tubeman who's name i forget (susiwong will know it for sure) IIRC 'V-' Something for value, also the Blackstar HT-Series Are Bargain's for your money but it would defiantely be a try before you buy job and lastly Award-Session JD FET/Solid-State Pre-Amp along with The Already Mentioned Tech21 Sans Amp is great if you can find one secondhand

+1 YMMV and all the best

Dean/Nekro

Edit: Mesa Boogie V-Twin! Got it eventually

[Dean Aka Nekro]

A tough call with real amps to begin with, at least at neighbourhood-compatible volume.
People nailing these tones typically use relatively little distortion but play loud, very loud instead.
No real substitute in software yet afaics, try AT3's Boogie Mk III, primus inter pares imho atm.
At least it's better than all those PODs or similar

+1

I crank my marshall plexi superlead on the normal/dark channel and I can get aggressive, clean bluesy sounds with a ton of sustain due to the natural compression in the poweramp. I plug the same guitar into any amp sim, the sustain isn't even close. One solution might be to try cranking ur monitors to get some natural feedback into ur guit, this will add sustain. But then, most people use amp sims because they need to be quiet, so not sure if that will help you.

I feel ur pain though. I barely ever record guitar anymore. Its such a PITA getting tones that stand up to good commercial records.

Hello futurefields, i hear you and understand what your saying. The best bet AFAIK and have tried out is this new and updated version of The Motherload:

http://www.motherload.co.uk/products/mo ... elemental/

Palmer Electronics do a decent one also, then Demeter pedals do a few compact solutions for sensible money that might be worth investigating my friend

Hope that is of some help/use to you and yeah i agree the real deal at healthy volume levels through a suitable cab/speakers with three or four microphones on the source is the supreme 'Nirvana' which is untouchable but if compromises have to be made then the solutions are getting much better indeed for us all. I actually refuse/resist buying any valve amps that put out more than 50-Watts RMS since i can not get their with that much power but with my DSL 50 Head i can do and even more so with my Blackstar HT-5 'Mini' Head I also have a TSL 100 Watt 2x12" and that thing is pretty much never used but it has got a '25-Watt' power-switch which helps but compromises the sound to my ear. Randall Smith has got the multi-watt/dynawatt thing down to a tee compared with Jim Marshall

Dean/Nekro

[Mokafix]

A bit of self ad, but I just made an update to EZ-Driver (based OCD overdrive). It has been extensiveky fine tuned with the real thing which is famous for leting harmonic content pass through nicely.
And now you can change the battery voltage on GUI. It is supposed to be used between 9 and 18, but I know a user of mine uses it up to 50 volts to get a kind of clean booster too.
The demo is online (you will find no mention of the update yet but it's definitely in the demo file).