New user need help with new kit

[lrutherford]

Hi,

I’m a new AmpliTube 4 user. Really impressed so far... I record using reaper and previously used a digitech rp355 for guitar tones. AmpliTube 4 is a nice upgrade on that setup.

I notice that I have 35 credits in the CS store. As there is a wealth of options in the store, what would people recommend as a useful additions to my current setup?

I mainly play blues/rock.

Cheers

[carlaz]

Remember that you can "try before you buy" from the Custom Shop! See https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/amplitubecs/.

But, for blues-rock, I unhesitatingly recommend the JH Gold, modeled on an actual Jimi Hendrix JTM45/100, I believe. For cabs to go with it, much depends on personal taste, but the starting points might be the 4x12 Closed 25 C, 4x12 Closed 75 C, and 4x12 Closed J120. For a more modern vibe, the "Slash" cabs (modeled with V30s) are also solid choices, IMO.

I'm personally very much a "Brit-style amp" guy (and more rock than blues), but if the JH Gold is not your thing, I would think some of the Fender models might be the next ports of call. Maybe a choice amongst the '65 Twin Reverb, ’65 Super Reverb, ’59 Bassman LTD, or ’57 Custom Champ (all with their various matching cab models)? And, actually, though I've never tried it, based on what I've read, the Z Wreck amp model (with its matching cab model) might also perhaps be a contender?

[lrutherford]

Thanks for the reply Carlaz,

So far I am happy with the Marshalls in APT4... was mainly thinking of other pedals.. chorus, tubescreamer maybe?

If I were to look at another amp, then I may look at the AC30.

Thanks for the reminder about trial versions.

Cheers

[carlaz]

Right, gotcha! (And the AC30 models are probably good choices, too.)

Hard to go too far wrong with a basic TubeScreamer-type deal for any kind of overdrive-friendly guitar environment. Amplitube's Overscream stomp model is the "based on" one, there. However, I might also consider some of the more recent stomp models in the file, like the Fulltone OCD model and the T-Rex Møller model (which isn't actually that recent ... but is TubeScreamer-ish, and has some added flexibility of its own).

Something you might not have thought of is a noise gate: The "Slash Gate" from the "Slash" bundle is well worth it, IMO, to most anyone. It's based on the MXR Smart Gate. (Or is this just "Gate" now?)

All that said, IMO, the real secret weapons of Amplitube (and, probably, the real world!) are cabs (and to a lesser extent mics). Being able to swap and mix'n'match between "based on" SM57, MD421, R121, U67, U87, etc. noticeably extends the tonal range from amps and pedals you already have -- and having a pile of different cab (and, thus, speaker) models vastly extends that tonal range. I've honestly bought cab models without even buying the matching amp sometimes just because ... they can be useful.

[lrutherford]

Thank you Carlaz.... your reply is very helpful...

Reverb is also on my list as it's not available on the newer British models in APT4.

[carlaz]

I'm not an expert on the reverb options -- the stuff I do tends to be pretty dry. Maybe a tiny bit of 'verb when mixing, sometimes, or I use small amounts of delay to do a similar job. But for bluesy-type stuff, consider cranking up the "room mics" in the "cab room" part of Amplitube. You can actually choose a modelled space, the models of mics being used in it, and of course the level to mix into your tone from those modelled room mics.