20
Amp models and effects
In this section we’re going to talk about the eleven amp models and effects.
XL A
MP
MODELS
For the XL range of amplifiers, we wanted to design an amp with a selection of sounds
that would span the entire range of heavy music. We already had a truckload of great
amp models from the acclaimed "VT" or "Chrome" series, so we set to work brainstorm-
ing ways that we could modify these sounds for the heavy player, at times throwing out
the rule book entirely. We found ourselves asking things like "What would this British
head sound like if it were Class A rather than Class AB? What if we gave a California-
style EQ to a Bristish amp or vice versa? The results are some of the hottest hard rock
and metal sounds we've designed to date. And all of them are based on some of the
most legendary amps in history. So plug in an turn up. Extreme lead awaits!
C
ONTROLLING
F
ACTORS
As already touched on in this manual “Guitarist’s Guide” although the top panel of your
Valvetronix amp houses controls for TREBLE, MIDDLE, BASS, GAIN, VOLUME, and
MASTER, not all of the amps we’ve modeled have as many controls. In such cases,
rather than leave you with knobs that do nothing, we’ve made full use of all five Val-
vetronix amp controls without compromising the accuracy of any of our models. This
means you’ll be able to mimic the full tonal spectrum of each and every one of the origi-
nals we’ve modeled ... and then some, thanks to the extra flexibility and additional control
the five Valvetronix amp controls give you.
For example, if an original doesn’t have a Gain Control (FUNCKED, CRUNCHED,
BUZZSAW), the Valvetronix’s GAIN control will mimic the original’s Volume control. This,
of course leaves you with three volume controls to use; VOLUME, GAIN, and MASTER.
As you already know, MASTER is a universal, non-programmable control that allows you
to set the overall volume of the amp. So, the programmable VOLUME control (the knob
right next to GAIN) effectively acts as a second “Master Volume,” allowing you to ensure
that the volume of each of your programs compliments the rest. Cool stuff, I’m sure you’ll
agree ...
Also, if an original amp doesn’t have a complete 3 band EQ network then we’ll set
up the “missing” tone controls on our model to be “neutral” (i.e. as the original) when set
at 12 o’clock — thus giving you extra tonal flexibility in those EQ areas, if you so wish.
Just so you know, the amps we modeled that don’t have individual controls for Treble,
Middle and Bass are:
Amp
Original tone controls
CRUNCHED (AC30TB)
Treble and Bass controls
