UAFX RUBY ’63

TOTAL GUITAR SEPTEMBER 2022
88
THE TG TEST
FINAL VERDICT
L
et’s start with where we feel these three
fall short; the lack of a dedicated
headphone output is our biggest gripe.
Walrus, Strymon and Blackstar o er it
with their amp pedals and with the
market of home players so sizeable, we are
mysti ed by the exclusion and the Features
scores here re ect that.
True to their vintage amp roots, there’s also
no onboard e ects loop on these pedals that
could be an issue for some players wanting the
 exibility of where to place their own reverb
and delays in the pedalboard signal chain.
MIDI functionality is something UA declined
to include on the previous trio of pedals, too.
But the strengths here are signi cant for us.
These are some of the best amp modelling
tones we’ve ever heard. They’re inspiring and
versatile and they react like the real thing. We
found UA’s decision to hone in on each amp for
a deeper experience to be a strength for their
usability as physical pedals. A mix of old-school
functionality, canny additions with cutting edge
modelling, they are relatively accessible ways to
access authentic tones on amps that sell for
north of £1,500 – and that’s just the
contemporary reissues.
Each pedal o ers clear strengths for us that
could dictate the buying decision. The Woodrow
is a much more a ordable way to get authentic-
sounding Tweed tone on your ’board; either
immerse yourself in that world or bring it in and
out as a vintage voice. It’s less of a Swiss Army
Knife pedal platform and more for those who
know they want that Tweed sound.
The Ruby has the most authentic modelled
AC30 tones we’ve heard to date and that will be
enough for many; a great portable alternative
to the real thing but could certainly be the basis
of your ’board. But it’s the potential widest
appeal of the Dream ‘65’s strengths as a clean
machine, coupled with its reverb, vibrato and
surprising versatility in the gain stakes make it
the number one choice for us if you’re making
the switch to a pedalboard amp, and the best
value of the three.
Now, we can’t wait to hear what other amps
UA have in their sights for future pedals.
UAFX DREAM ’65
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
UAFX RUBY ’63
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
UAFX WOODROW ’55
FEATURES
SOUND QUALITY
VALUE FOR MONEY
BUILD QUALITY
USABILITY
OVERALL RATING
SUMMARY
UAFX DREAM ’65
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