UAFX RUBY ’63

SEPTEMBER 2022 TOTAL GUITAR
THE TG TEST
85
I
n 2021, Universal Audio
entered the pedal market, and
they did it in style. The UAFX
Golden Reverberator, Starlight
Echo Station delay and Astra
Modulation Machine were
premium stompboxes with premium
modelling tones. For the next three pedals
in the UAFX range, the company is getting
even more ambitious with its vintage
recreations via three pedals that aim to
capture a trio of iconic guitar amps; the
Woodrow ’55 with the Fender Tweed, Ruby ’63
with the Vox AC30 Top Boost and Dream ’65
with the Fender Deluxe Reverb. Instead of
trying to oer quantity, UA seem to be making
a statement on quality and detail while oering
a compact, digital take on valve amps that can
be used onstage and on your home studio desk.
We’re used to modelling processors oering
a range of amp choices, and even the closest
modelling competition to these pedals (the
Strymon Iridium and Walrus Audio ACS1 oer
the choice of a three amps in each). UA are
leaning into authenticity with pedals that don’t
just reect the controls their respective vintage
originals, but also a few popular mods too. It’s
certainly a distinct approach but it of course
hinges on how close they get.
The amp pedal market has stepped up in
recent times; oering players the exibility of
going direct from the pedalboard to a PA or
active cab, and their USB interface. For many
players, the allure hinges on how closely they
can capture the elusive response of playing
through a valve amp and variable picking
dynamics, in addition to the detail of tone.
Modelling has come a long way in the last two
years with companies including Neural DSP
honing in closer on the dynamics of touch
response. We’re now listening to what
Universal Audio has to oer.
All three of these pedals oer six onboard cab
models (via online registration you can add
a trio to the stock three on each pedal) that
have been curated for the specic amp in
question. And we know UA already has
expertise in dynamic speaker modelling
eld from using its Ox.
Each pedal has two footswitches that can be
assigned to dierent functionality via bluetooth
connection with the UAFX Control mobile app.
The app also accesses a range of UA and artist
presets to showcase the range of sounds these
pedals oer. So without further ado, let’s take
a trip through a virtual hall of fame of classic
guitar amps...
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