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Chapter 1 Amps and pedals 20
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Combos or Stacks: Combo amps include both an amplier and speakers in a single enclosure.
These usually have an open back, so the sound resonates in multiple directions. The resulting
sound is open—with bright, airy highs and a spacious sound. Amplier stacks consist of
an amplier head, with the speakers in a separate cabinet. These cabinets generally have
a closed back and project the sound forward in a tight, focused beam. They tend to sound
more powerful than open-back cabinets, and typically have a tighter low-end response at the
expense of some high-end transparency.
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Old or New Speakers: Amp Designer models based on vintage cabinets capture the character
of aged speakers. These may be a bit looser and duller sounding than new speakers, but many
players prefer them for their smoothness and musicality. Sounds based on new cabinets tend
to have more snap and bite.
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Large Speakers or Small Speakers: A larger speaker doesn’t guarantee a larger sound. In fact, the
most popular bass guitar cabinet in history uses 8" speakers. You can often get a deeper, richer
tone from a 10" speaker than from a large 4 x 12" cabinet. Try several sizes and choose the one
that works best for your music.
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Single Speakers or Multiple Speakers: Guitarists typically choose cabinets with multiple speakers
for their big sound. The number of speakers is less important than it may appear. Phase
cancelations occur between the speakers, adding texture and interest to the tone. Much of
the “classic rock” sound, for example, is due to tonal peaks and dips caused by interactions
between the speakers in a 4 x 12" cabinet.
Choose a microphone type and placement
1 Choose a microphone model from the Mic pop-up menu.
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Condenser models: Emulate the sound of high-end studio condenser microphones. The sound
of condenser microphones is ne, transparent, and well-balanced. Choose Condenser 87 or
Condenser 414.
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Dynamic models: Emulate the sound of popular dynamic cardioid microphones. Dynamic
microphones sound brighter and more cutting than Condenser models. The mid-range is
boosted, with softer lower-mid frequencies, making dynamic microphones a good choice for
rock guitar tones, especially if you want guitars to cut through other tracks in a mix. Choose
Dynamic 20, Dynamic 57, Dynamic 421, or Dynamic 609.
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Ribbon 121: Emulates the sound of a ribbon microphone. A ribbon microphone is a type of
dynamic microphone that captures a sound often described as bright or brittle, yet still warm.
It is useful for rock, crunch, and clean tones.
2 Drag the white dot in the graphic above the Mic pop-up menu to set the microphone position
and distance relative to the cabinet.
Choose and adjust an EQ type
1 Click the word EQ or CUSTOM EQ above the Bass, Mids, and Treble knobs to open the EQ pop-up
menu, then choose an EQ model. See Amp Designer EQ types on page 22.
2 Rotate the Bass, Mids, and Treble knobs to adjust the EQ model you choose.