Last week IK Multimedia announced the latest addition to the Amplitube Software lineup, Amplitube Slash featuring 2 new Marshall Amp models, the JCM Slash and the AFD100 as well as some stomp boxes: Gate, Delay, X-Chorus, Booster and Octo-Blue.
Update: I didn’t realise at the time of writing that if you register the app by logging in to your IK Multimedia account via the in-app register section you also get an extra pedal unlocked, the Wah/Distortion. I am a bit confused as to how you are meant to use this however while playing, one setting allows the pedal to be motion controlled so I guess creative people will maybe strap it to their leg or something to use the Wah? There is also a mode that allows you to set the Wah in a locked position if you like that cocked Wah tone. Finally there is an AutoWah mode but this didn’t seem to work for me.
This app is available for the iPhone, iPad and the amps available via the Custom Shop in Amplitube 3 for desktop. I found that I got different results depending on the guitar that I used, higher output pickups seemed to help reduce noise and in some cases I didn’t even need to use the noise gate whereas my guitar with vintage Alnico pickups did tend to produce more hiss which can be reduced using one of three settings on the noise gate: Full, Midrange or Hiss. For this demo of the iPhone version of Amplitube Slash and my Patrick Eggle Berlin guitar loaded with Bare Knuckle Pickups Rebel Yell humbuckers and the Peavey Ampkit LiNK audio interface. I took some screengrabs of the settings that I used for each audio example as you will see in the video above, with the higher gain settings I introduced the Gate to combat some of the hiss produced.
I found that the JCM Slash had a traditional gritty Marshall tone perfect for cutting through a mix while the AFD100 in AFD mode had a more mellow tone, it still has plenty of gain on tap but it seems to have reduced the presence in comparison to the #34 mode or the JCM. When you switch to #34 mode this is replicating the modded JCM800 amp that was used by Slash on the original Appetite For Destruction recordings. I found this amp sounded quite thin in comparison but a little research explained why, the mod that was made to the original amp reduced the bass output which makes the overall tone much brighter but because Slash uses a smooth sounding Alnico 2 based Humbucker it counters some of this brightness. Anyway what IK Multimedia have done is model both modes of this amp for you to try with your different guitars to see what sounds you like best, very cool.
Check out more info about Amplitube Slash over at IK Multimedia’s website.
