Guitar players: Any use digital studios and amp plugins?

So, Id like to casually get back into playing guitar. I have no room for a traditional amp, and with the convenience of modern computers, it seems easier than ever to buy an interface and let the computer become your amp. Honestly, for $100 bucks, you can essentially buy a program that accurately emulates a $2000 amplifier. What a time to be alive!

Question is, what is a relatively cheap (or legally free) digital studio thats good for this? Ola Englund's review of the Kerry King Signature Marshall Amp plugin developed by Softube makes me REALLY want to get into the world of amp plugins.

Add to it that I wont have an amp taking up space when I eventually lose desire to play haha. Feedback is appreciated.

03cobra#694 said:

@STAMPEDE3

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I'm still old school. lol

I can't really help ya with the computer stuff, as I'm technologically impaired when it comes to such things, but the Marshall Code Amps are a nice little cheap amp that has alot of effects, and you can bluetooth your phone to it and play backing tracks or music through the amp. You can also do all your effects and amp adjustments thru an app from Marshall from your phone. They come in a small 25 watt, middle of the road 50 watt and a 100 watt dual 10 inch speaker combos.
-Satch

_Satch_ said:

I can't really help ya with the computer stuff, as I'm technologically impaired when it comes to such things, but the Marshall Code Amps are a nice little cheap amp that has alot of effects, and you can bluetooth your phone to it and play backing tracks or music through the amp. You can also do all your effects and amp adjustments thru an app from Marshall from your phone. They come in a small 25 watt, middle of the road 50 watt and a 100 watt dual 10 inch speaker combos.
-Satch

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I just saw Ola review the Marshall DSL1. Holy shit that little amp gets it! With a tube screamer in front of it, it had some BIG tone and gain.

I run a Boss GT100 board through my laptop and play through the external sound system. Sound is good enough for me.

Sent from my LG V30 ThinQ using the svtperformance.com mobile app

The only effect I use is a digital tape echo. Other than that, plain 'ol tube amps and passive pickups, all the way. Of course, since I make my own amps, I'm admittedly biased. But I could make electronic amps, I don't because I like tubes better.

James Snover said:

The only effect I use is a digital tape echo. Other than that, plain 'ol tube amps and passive pickups, all the way. Of course, since I make my own amps, I'm admittedly biased. But I could make electronic amps, I don't because I like tubes better.

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What do you think of all these micro watt tube amps on the market? I have to admit, the demo of the Marshall DSL1 has really left an impression with me.

lexustech48 said:

What do you think of all these micro watt tube amps on the market? I have to admit, the demo of the Marshall DSL1 has really left an impression with me.

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I like them. Been thinking about making one of my own. You can crank them up and get natural tube distortion without knocking down your own walls, and if it's a real analog amplification circuit, you know that if it sounds good, it's _you_ that sounds good; not digital trickery. And believe me, digital has been developed to the degree it can make you sound good.

Fact: some of the best classic rock, and even unto modern times, has been recorded using a Fender 5-Watt Champ tube amp. Kieth Richards, Billy Gibbons, on the early ZZ-Top albums, and scores of others, use the Champ in the studio. On the Stones recent album, Blue and Lonesome, Richards used a thirty year old champ on a lot of the tracks.

On the digital tape echo: sadly, making a tube-based tape echo, while possible, is a non-starter. Hugely complicated, hugely expensive, massively heavy. I've tried. I have to hand it to the transistors, chips, and 1's and zero's: there are some things digital does do better. And tape echo is one of them.