BRIT HI GAIN: Compare this model with a Marshall JCM 800. Although the original was renowned mainly for its distorted sounds, this amp also sounds very good with low gain settings. It’s good at reproducing Steve Ray Vaughan’s and Michael Landau’s sounds. In distortion mode it sounds like Gary Moore in his early days, but it’s also good for heavy metal.
BRITISH CLASS A 15 W: Another Vox model, based on the first channel of an AC 15 from 1960. Unlike the AC 30 this amp had only one 12" speaker, instead of two, and produced a warmer sound. Tip: to make this simulation sound as authentically as possible, leave the BASS and MID controls in mid-travel position and vary the TREBLE control only.
RECTIFIED HI GAIN: This model is based on a 1994 Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier Trem-O-Verb featuring a modern, high- gain sound that also comes over well in a band context. The tone control is post-gain, which allows you to tailor distorted sounds to great effect. This amp is perfect for heavy metal, but also for Steve Lukather sounds. The best-known user of this amp is Dream Theater’s guitarist John Petrucci.
RECTIFIED HEAD: This simulation is modeled on a Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier top. Unlike the Trem-O-Verb, this amp produces a more modern high-gain sound. The tone control is most effective at high gain settings.
MODERN HI GAIN: Here, too, the tone control is post-gain, allowing the extremely distorted sound to cut through the mix. The MODERN HI GAIN sound is ideal for playing Grunge, but is also used by guitarists such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. Among others, Steve Lukather, Nuno Bettencourt and Steve Vai have all popularized the Soldano sound. If you’re playing a Gibson Les Paul, MODERN HI GAIN sounds best when you turn down the volume control on the guitar a little.
SAVAGE BEAST: Engl is well-known for amps that really cut through. The Savage 120 in particular has built up a large following among guitarists. For some time now Ritchie Black- more has been a major endorser of this German company, and Randy Hanson, the best Hendrix since Jimi, also swears by this amp. The unique feature of the Savage is its extreme power and is therefore highly popular with heavy metal guitarists. Silent Force/Sinner guitarist Alex Beyrodt has been an enthusiastic Engl user for years. An amp for making yourself heard!
FUZZ BOX: This sound is not actually based on any one amp, but on a particular fuzz box. Jimi Hendrix was one of the first guitarists to recognize the potential in this legendary broadband transistor distortion. The humming distortion sound of the FUZZ BOX has returned to popularity with Alternative Rock and Grunge.
CUSTOM HI GAIN: This sound goes back to a 1969 50-Watt Marshall Plexi modified by Jose Arrendondo. Arrendondo was none other than Eddie Van Halen’s guitar technician. The unique features of this amp are its fine mid-range sounds and its ability to produce the ultimate in gain without making the sound muddy. Warning: highly addictive!
ULTIMATE V-AMP: From clean to brutal hi-gain, this “brute” covers the entire range. The ULTIMATE V-AMP is basically a souped-up rectifier amp.
ULTIMATE PLUS: Those who find the ULTIMATE V-AMP too tame will find enough gain here for an overdose.
DRIVE V-AMP: This simulation is based on a more modern high-gain lead amp producing a soft but precise sound with plenty of drive, making it ideal for lead guitar work. The DRIVE V-AMP is modeled on the Mesa Boogie Mark III.
CALIFORNIA DRIVE: Based on the Mesa Boogie Mark II c, this is purely a simulation of its drive channel—definitely the right choice for Santana songs.
CRUNCH V-AMP: This amp is ideal for modern blues or jazz. Its sound is not too subtle, but not in-your-face either—it’s crunchy, that’s all.
CUSTOM DRIVE: This simulates the Dumble Overdrive Special—an amp that was at the top of many guitarists’ wish-list but beyond their financial means. Dumble amps are hand-made and can be custom-built for the individual guitarist. What we’ve done here is simulate the drive channel of one of these rare Dumble amps.
CLEAN V-AMP: Here we have managed to simulate the sound of a Roland JC-120 and comine it with our BRIT CLASSIC model. The result is the brilliance of a transistor amp which, however, features the cutting power of a Marshall Plexi. Turn the GAIN control clockwise and the Marshall comes in.
CALIFORNIA CLEAN: This model is based on the clean channel of the Mesa Boogie Mark II c. It sounds a little like a Fender, but has more of a punch in the mid-range.
TUBE PREAMP: Sound engineers were quick to recognize the appeal of tubes. They used tube amps to add warmth to all kinds of sounds. This amp model is not only for refining guitar sounds. Try putting a vocal track through the V-AMPIRE/V-AMP PRO/V-AMP 2 and give it the finishing touch with TUBE PREAMP.
CUSTOM CLEAN: This simulation is of the clean channel on our Dumble amp. A clean sound that really cuts through, especially when used with compressor attack settings around 2 ms.
PREAMP BYPASS: In this setting, no amp simulation is se- lected. This makes it possible, for example, to play through an external guitar preamp and only use the effects or the speaker simulation. To activate the PREAMP BYPASS, press TAP and
TUNER.
Fender, Vox, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, Gibson, Soldano, Matchless, Dumble, Budda, Tweed, Engl, Roland and the names of musicians and groups are registered trademarks belonging to the respective owners and are in no way associated with BEHRINGER.
5.2 Speaker descriptions
The sound of any guitar combo depends largely on the type and combination of speakers used. In the past 50 years there has been widespread experimentation to find out what type of speaker is best suited to any one specific guitar sound and in what way the sound is modified when a certain speaker is combined with others.
+When you select an amp simulation, an appropriate speaker simulation is activated automatically (see tab. 5.2). Otherwise, the authenticity of the sound could be affected by an unsuitable cabinet— especially if you are using headphones. Naturally, you can combine the amp simulations with other cabinets according to taste.
The character of a loudspeaker is a combination of its power rating, impedance, sound pressure and size, as well as the material it is made of. 8", 10" and 12" speakers have established themselves as the best sizes for electric guitar amplification. The following table shows a list of all speaker cabinets on the V-AMPIRE/V-AMP PRO/V-AMP 2.
