Mercuriall releases Ampbox amp modeling platform (free update)

[Barmaleus]

I know metal seems to be the focus of many amp sims, but there's plenty of guitar players out there who'd still really like a killer Vox AC-30 (I'll even take an AC-15 or Matchless DC30), Fender Tweed Deluxe (5E3), Fender Princeton Reverb, etc. Yeah, there's models of those out there, but I'm yet to find a really killer one when it comes to any of those 3.

Feels like we've got a million good Plexi's, and JCM's, and Bogners and Boogies. Give us some of the really old stuff!

I've got a wonderful sounding vintage Princeton Reverb with Chicago Jensen CK10's if anyone wants to come by and get some IRs!

While we are here - to model something we have to buy a hardware prototype. So it has to be something that can be purchased. Extremely rare and expensive units might be very hard to find/buy.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

While prices are a bit insane these days, nothing is unobtainium. A 90's UK AC-30 can probably be had for under 3 grand (there's one in Texas on Reverb right now for $2,200 that's tempting), vintage Princeton Reverbs can go for around 3k if a 60s model, there's a new heritage edition by Fender that looks handwired and is 2k, a new PCB-based '65 Princeton Reverb Reverb RI goes for around a grand. I got my vintage unit on Craigslist for under a grand, but that was pre-pandemic and took a lot of Craigslist stalking. Lots of terrific builders (e.g. Tyler Amps) doing amazing clones of Princeton Reverbs and 5E3 Deluxe's. These things are available.

[Echoii]

"Legendary device", you say? Hmm. I kinda am not seeing Mercuriall modeling anything Fender for some reason. They don't seem to be into that type of thing. But I'd be glad to be pleasantly surprised.

They already did some Marshall, Mesa and Bogner. They might be doing SLO 100, I think. Maybe Hiwatt 100.

I just hope it's not 5150 or AC30. It's a bit of a tired road at this point. If you wanna go Vox, go all the way and push the nitro. Do Matchless HC-30.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I just hope it's not 5150 or AC30. It's a bit of a tired road at this point.

But what's the great algorithmic Vox AC-30 amp sim?

Amplitube 5 - the two stock ones are not great and based on old tech
Amplitube Brian May - missing knobs - non starter
Kuassa Lancaster - Ice pick to my ears
Nembrini - Pretty good but not great IMO
Neural DSP - none that I'm aware of
TH-U - don't rate the modeled AC-30's at all - the one Rig Library I have sounds good though - but not quite the same as an algorithmic amp

#JustSayin'

[Barmaleus]

While prices are a bit insane these days, nothing is unobtainium. A 90's UK AC-30 can probably be had for under 3 grand (there's one in Texas on Reverb right now for $2,200 that's tempting), vintage Princeton Reverbs can go for around 3k if a 60s model, there's a new heritage edition by Fender that looks handwired and is 2k, a new PCB-based '65 Princeton Reverb Reverb RI goes for around a grand. I got my vintage unit on Craigslist for under a grand, but that was pre-pandemic and took a lot of Craigslist stalking. Lots of terrific builders (e.g. Tyler Amps) doing amazing clones of Princeton Reverbs and 5E3 Deluxe's. These things are available.

This sounds not unrealistic, yeah =)
There are often more problems with shipping stuff to Russia, but that is solvable in most cases.

[Echoii]

great algorithmic Vox AC-30

Nembrini did well

There is AC30 in Tonality Andy James worth looking at.

I remember to be liking one in Revalver 4 as well. Oldie but goldie sorta thing.

Although, I'm not concerned if it's algo or sampled. If it sounds best, it sounds best, regardless. SoundDrops just dropped Kent and it's definitely worth checking out. That's probably the best AC30 you can get with the existing tech nowadays.

Seen a couple of newcomers to Vox amp sim territory, namely Kiive LunchBox and Dr. Brujo DRXC30, but I doubt they have anything to say. Must be run of the mill stuff.

Well, I see people praise Amplion 2, which has AC30. I'm yet to run it through its paces.

BTW, what is the word on Softube Amp Room AC30?

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

SoundDrops just dropped Kent

Took a few searches to find this. Nebula library? That's a hard pass from me. That whole eco-system just feels like it has you constantly jumping through hoops.

Seen a couple of newcomers to Vox amp sim territory, namely Kiive LunchBox and Dr. Brujo DRXC30, but I doubt they have anything to say. Must be run of the mill stuff.

Well, I see people praise Amplion 2, which has AC30. I'm yet to run it through its paces.

Never heard of these. So many amp sims. Thanks!

BTW, what is the word on Softube Amp Room AC30?

Really old model. There's a constant fizzy distortion in the background with it. Kind of a bummer because it's otherwise alright and they had recently redone the cab model. I'm hoping they do a MK II at some point.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

There are often more problems with shipping stuff to Russia, but that is solvable in most cases.

Russia you say? I have no idea what those old Sovtek amps actually sound like, but I'd love to find out.

[Echoii]

Nebula library? That's a hard pass from me. That whole eco-system just feels like it has you constantly jumping through hoops.

It's rather easy, if you ask me. Install free N4 player, load and play. I couldn't get Kent during intro pricing, but last year I got Surrey (Hiwatt Custom 50) on sale and it's pretty amazing. I'll get Kent on sale next summer, I hope. Main problem with this tech remains CPU load, but that is also true in case of high oversampling modes of algo amps. Apparently, it's the price you pay for quality. We need more powerful CPUs.

Softube completely redesigned Amp Room around 6 months ago. I hoped they brought a sonic upgrade to their old models just as well, but, allegedly, that's not the case. Shame. A wasted opportunity.

TH-U - the one Rig Library I have sounds good though

If that's Vocs 30C1 rig you have, check out Vocs 30 Heritage HW as well.

[Barmaleus]

There are often more problems with shipping stuff to Russia, but that is solvable in most cases.

Russia you say? I have no idea what those old Sovtek amps actually sound like, but I'd love to find out.

It's the hard part. There are so many cool and interesting amps around. We'd love to model all of them, of course =)
But we have to select carefully and make sure an amp makes sense from the business point of view. I am not sure if Sovtek is highly sought after by majority of people using amp sims.
Additionally, our modeling approach/technology is different from most of the competition. We cannot spit out new amps every month like some other companies.

If we had around $1 000 000 to burn through and model whatever people want, that'd be amazing, of course =)

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

I hear you. It's hard to know what people would be after. I'm more of an indie-rock guy and I've never heard a Sovtek. But I see them in the background of the JHS videos on YouTube and can't help but think they look so cool. I read the Mig50 is basically a Bassman circuit with the Mig60 like a variation on a JCM800 circuit. Sounds like they'd be cool amps and could be easier to get in Russia versus the states. Was just a thought. Good luck!

[Barmaleus]

I hear you. It's hard to know what people would be after. I'm more of an indie-rock guy and I've never heard a Sovtek. But I see them in the background of the JHS videos on YouTube and can't help but think they look so cool. I read the Mig50 is basically a Bassman circuit with the Mig60 like a variation on a JCM800 circuit. Sounds like they'd be cool amps and could be easier to get in Russia versus the states. Was just a thought. Good luck!

Yup, understood. I personally think it would be cool to model something uncommon one day.

[Echoii]

I knew about Sovtek pedals, but the first time I ever heard Sovtek amp was when MIG-50 made it on Dan and Mick's Top 10 favorite amps TPS episode

A fair chunk of headroom, that one. Seems to be swimming in Hiwatt waters. Early Plexies, JTM, that sorta thing.

I'd love to see an early 70's DR103, which TPS has not one, but a whopping two of those.

Damn, I wish amp sim developers were friends with D & M, Johan Segeborn, Rhett Shull, Rick Beato... Lots of cool amps in storage, both vintage and modern boutiques...

[Echoii]

I personally think it would be cool to model something uncommon one day.

Agreed. I particularly would like for the developers to start looking at modern amp builders, which is relatively uncharted territory. Matchless, Dr. Z, Two Rock, Amplified Nation, Divided by 13, Morgan, Lazy J, Bad Cat, Tone King, Victory, etc.

[tappert]

But we have to select carefully and make sure an amp makes sense from the business point of view.

What about a poll here on KVR?