News

With the release of AmpStamp 1.8, we venture deeper into the world of guitar tone, into uncharted territory, to bring you relics from eras past.

Woolly Mammoth

Let’s start with the VG204D Amplifier and VG 2×12 PB 100W ’63 Cabinet. This amplifier and cabinet exemplify an era of amplification that we haven’t heard from in a while. The tone is raw, chewy, and complex. Dial the cabinet Color darker and boost Presence for a unique bite.

Kick a$$ and Scream

Of course, you’ll need some modulation to add movement to your tone, enter the PH103A Phaser, and FL101 Flanger. At least one of these two effects is found in almost every pedal board today. They are instant classics, and we’ve added a twist. You can push the Feedback (PH103A) or Regeneration (FL101) into self-oscillation. Let the noise rock begin.

We’re also introducing the DS101A Distortion. Presented in it’s bud box form, this pedal brings a level of distortion that was unheard of in 1978. Here too, you can easily push the Feedback into self-oscillation. However, try dialing it back just before that point, then crank it for brink-of-destruction tone. Oh, and don’t forget to have fun tweaking Slew Rate.

Singing and Chirping

While you’re wailing away, don’t forget to add some Ambience. With the AMB 200 Spring Reverb you can now add the unmistakable chirp of spring reverb to any amplifier and cabinet. We’ve kept the same controls from our other ambience effects so you can even dial back the decay and create a springy room reverb.

SAME SUBSCRIPTION, MORE GREAT PRODUCTS

As always, we think you’ll find that AmpStamp has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitarists in any genre of music. If you’re already a subscriber, thank you! If you haven’t subscribed yet, hurry up! You’re missing out! Check out the Gear Shop and stay tuned for new products.

With the release of AmpStamp 1.7, we’re excited to announce that we now support macOS! Starting with macOS Catalina and Big Sur, you can now rock out with AmpStamp on your Macbook or Mac, as well as record with AmpStamp as an Audio Unit (AU) in your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) of choice, where AUs are supported.

SAME SUBSCRIPTION, MORE FLEXIBILITY

If you already subscribed or purchased gear, then you’re all set. Your purchases and subscriptions will transfer automatically, as always they can be restored if needed. With the ability to run as an Audio Unit (AU), you now have even more flexibility. By running multiple instances of AmpStamp in your DAW, you can experience:

• Parallel Processing – blending different amplifier and cabinet combinations
• Chaining – running the pre-amp of one amplifier into the power-amp of another (for amps with an FX Loop, set to Return)
• Post-FX – placing stompboxes after cabinet and ambience effects
• Post-EQ – taking advantage of your DAW’s channel strip for additional tone sculpting

HIGH RESOLUTION AUDIO

We’ve also added support for high-resolution audio with sampling rates up to 192kHz. When you’re creating your masterpiece, audio quality is of the most importance. Extending sampling rates beyond what is required for human hearing can avoid aliasing when distorting your input signal. This becomes especially important when running high gain amplifiers and recording more modern guitar tones, but the entire signal chain will benefit from this decision. We’ll be going into more detail on how to get the most out of your signal chain since running at a higher sampling rate also uses more processing power.

AUPRESETS

When you’re ready to save your sound, you can still do so with the internal bank provided by the Floor Controller. This bank of presets is synchronized between our standalone application and all Audio Unit (AU) instances, available on all platforms (iOS, iPadOS, macOS). Additionally, we have added support for AUPresets which can be saved externally on macOS and shared with anyone. On iOS and iPadOS, AUPresets are saved to an application directory and can be recalled at any point within your DAW. To get started, we have also converted our Factory Presets into AUPresets as well, making preset navigation easier when running as an AU. AUPresets are seamlessly bridged with the internal bank of presets, giving additional flexibility if you need to save an update for recall with MIDI and/or live operation.

EXPLORE AND MORE

Stay tuned for our evolving Explore tab where we feature Classic Sounds, Field Guides, new System Presets, and much more. We’ve added a new Ambience effect, the AMB300 Echo Chamber. Now you can get the rich sound of a chamber behind your guitar which has powered classic hits for decades. And the ’80s are by no means over. With the introduction of High Gain amplifiers, there is still a lot of ground to cover!

Welcome to the eighties! With the release of AmpStamp 1.6, we are ushering in the era of high gain amps with some serious tone sculpting, effects loops, MIDI control …oh the technology! From blues revival to early thrash metal, there is a lot of ground to cover. Classics were becoming classics and modifying said gear was in vogue. Everyone was searching for something uniquely theirs, the ability to stand out from the pack. Now it’s your turn to relive some of the early tones from the most decadent of decades.

MIDI CONTROL

With support for MIDI Control, you can now take your tone live! Using basic MIDI messages, you can change presets, toggle switches, control knobs, and of course use the expression pedal, all from the perspective of the Floor Controller.

By using the Routing Editor to configure how each of the controls interacts with your effects, amp, cabinets, and ambience, there is a virtually limitless combination of control that you can program. Combined with hands-free access, it’s time to rock!

HIGH GAIN CLASSICS (WITH FX LOOPS!)

What is there to say about the amp that defined high gain for the ’80’s and continues to be sought after today? Well, here it is, the VG802C Amplifier. Those in the know might understand that this amplifier went through several revisions and was getting constantly tweaked until it finally arrived at its most coveted version. We’ve captured that here, as well as an optional flaw/feature with the original implementation of the FX Loop.

Which brings us to FX Loops! What would go on to define a modern feature set for an amplifier in the ’80’s definitely included an FX Loop. With all of the gain now happening in the preamp section, it made sense that things like echo should be after the distortion for a more realistic sound, similar to what studio engineers could provide during the recording process. Doing this also cleaned up effects like chorus and flangers too!

Speaking of modern feature sets, the VG408D Amplifier would define the next several decades of modernism in amplifier design. With channel switching, an FX Loop, and built-in Reverb, it was all there. This amp would gain some notoriety for including a diode limiting section, and also went through several revisions.

We’ve captured one of the earlier incarnations, and on playback we think that you’ll agree, this is a classic! Don’t miss out on the awesome clean channel too, there is a lot of tone to be had with this one.

SUGGESTED MULTI-SPEAKER PAIRINGS

Of course with each great amplifier must come a great cabinet. And we’ve got just the thing for the new high gain amps. The VG 4x12HBA 250W ’85 Cabinet and the VG 4x12B 260W ’82 Cabinet. We suggest mixing and matching to find your tone. These ’80s cabs also sound great with some earlier classic amps too, more to come on that soon!

Each cabinet features either two different speakers, or a blend of similar speakers in different positions. We think you’ll instantly fall in love with these cabinets.

MORE EFFECTS

Here we have the definitive overdrive, perfectly complementing a high gain amp, cleaning up some flub in the bass, and adding just a little nudge during a ripping solo. The OD101 Overdrive definitely delivers. We’re exited to explore the wonderful world of overdrives in parallel with our extensive collection of fuzzes.

And of course, the ’80s would not be complete without a chorus pedal. The CH102 Chorus may not have been the first but it certainly is one of the most distinctive. Add a subtle shimmering effect to clean tones, more width to distorted tones, or crank up the speed for some otherworldly sounds!

But don’t bother listening to us, just plug in and play…

SAME SUBSCRIPTION, MORE GREAT PRODUCTS

As always, we think you’ll find that AmpStamp has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitarists in any genre of music. If you’re already a subscriber then thank you! If you haven’t subscribed yet, then hurry up! You’re missing out! Check out the Gear Shop and stay tuned for new products.

With the release of AmpStamp 1.5, we’ve added an entirely new category of products–Ambience effects, expanded the tonal capabilities of all cabinets, and added a new 2×12 combo that has been a missing link at the heart of countless classic tones. As we continue to iterate, the number of unique tones that you can achieve with AmpStamp is ever-increasing. With more accuracy, and amazing levels of touch sensitivity, we think you’re going to find endless inspiration in your playing. Let’s take a quick look at what’s new!

Color and Offset

We have updated all cabinets with Color and Offset controls. Color transitions between the unique sound of miking a speaker at its center (Bright) versus all the way out at the very edge (Dark). Offset places a second angled microphone near the edge, simulating a common technique used to tame a bright top end.

This makes the unique tonal combinations with just one cabinet very deep, not to mention when blending two cabinets together. The possibilities are wide and varied, and we encourage lots of experimentation with these new controls!

Ambience

We’re also excited to announce the addition of Ambience effects to AmpStamp! Once you have the right amplifier, cabinet, and effects, that will get you extremely close to your favorite records. But that last mile of the signal chain, for instance adding something like a plate reverb, really puts a finishing touch on your tone.

Expensive, hard to find, and hard to maintain, the legendary sound of plate reverb is now at your fingertips with the AMB400 Plate Reverb. We’ve also added a few conveniences like high and low pass filters, as well as pre-delay, elements commonly used in the studio to shape the final guitar sound.

And for close-in, tight room sounds, we’ve added something more basic. Check out AMB100 Early Reflections. This effect captures a series of reflections in three dimensions, similar to how an acoustically treated studio might sound. But of course, you can exaggerate the effect, with a bigger, longer echo, or get closer and more claustrophobic, like an isolated booth typically used when driving amplifiers at full volume.

With this new category of effects you can now get that much closer to the recorded guitars on your favorite records. So keep exploring!

The Missing Link

It was surprising to find out just how many artists have used this amplifier in its various incarnations. Once we plugged into the VG302E Amplifier, it became obvious why. This amp is awesome! With relatively low power, an absence of negative feedback, and a now-classic top boost tone circuit, there is a lot that contributes to this amp’s unique sound.

But don’t bother listening to us, just plug in and play. We think you’ll instantly fall in love with this classic. And make sure to try various cabinets, as even today, modern versions will sell with two very different speaker options.

Same Subscription, More Great Products

As always, we think you’ll find that AmpStamp has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitarists in any genre of music. If you’re already a subscriber then thank you! If you haven’t subscribed yet, then hurry up! You’re missing out! Check out the Gear Shop and stay tuned for new products.

We think you’re going to love this next revision of AmpStamp, version 1.4. It’s vintage gear done right so you can sound closer to recorded tones, more than ever before. There are so many sounds packed into this release we didn’t know where to begin so lets just start by giving an overview of what’s new. Stay tuned for more detail about how to achieve some seriously legendary tones with our Classic Sounds Series.

Classic Combo

We’re sure by now that you’ve heard of the mojo tweed amplifiers can add to your playing. Loaded with an upgraded speaker (VG 1X12C 15W ’68 Cabinet), this amp will place you in one of several places… a hot studio in Miami recording some assorted love songs, the studio scene in LA circa 1976/77, or amidst the second guitar revolution that was launched in 1978. Regardless of the year, the tone is unmistakable so make sure to check out the VG207A Amplifier, you won’t be disappointed.

Another 100W Cabinet?

You heard us right, we have another 100W cabinet. This time capturing classic tone from 1973. This cabinet barks and howls at exactly the right moments bringing you instantly into it’s sonic temple. From quiet finger-picked passages to blistering leads and everything in between, make sure to check out the VG4X12B100W73 Cabinet.

Heavy Fuzz

Speaking of blistering leads, get ready for some serious fuzz with the FZ104A Fuzz. What’s most impressive is how different this pedal sounds depending on which amplifier it’s being run through. We encourage experimentation and think you’ll find some really interesting tones. Turning the tone down will add more bass helping to overdrive small combos while turning it up will yield a high end sizzle ready to cut through any mix.

Ultimate Phaser

Last but not least is this awesome pedal, the PH102B Phaser. There is a lot going on with this effect. Simply put, it’s two phasers in one. And you can run them in series or parallel, with the latter configuration giving its characteristic deep phasing effect. But that’s just where the fun begins, the second phaser can also be controlled by a second LFO. In this configuration setting different speeds for each LFO will provide endless variations on some very unpredictable rhythms. Then, each LFO can be toggled between sine and square waves for even more interesting effects. As if that weren’t enough we’ve also provided a twist that allows the first LFO to be modulated by the second LFO. Needless to say there are a lot of options. Oh and try adjusting LDR sensitivity for a brighter or more mellow sound.

Same Subscription, More Great Products

As always, we think you’ll find that AmpStamp has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitar players in any genre of music. If you’re already a subscriber then thank you! If you haven’t subscribed yet, then hurry up! You’re missing out! Check out our product page for more details and stay tuned for new products.

At The Musicology Group we’re constantly searching for vintage gear, listening to classic records, and reading various articles to build a picture of what artists were using in the studio when recording some of their most famous works. Whether trying to assemble a collection of different gear or taking one element and tweaking it to perfection, it has to sound good and it has to sound right.

With that kind of mission statement it’s no less than a miracle when we find the right piece of gear that not only sounds good but sounds right. This is the magic we have captured with the VG 4x12A 100W ’67 Cabinet. Plucked from the confines of a home lost to time, nearly invisible to passerby, it’s what makes for a great quest. We think you’ll agree we have captured the sound of the Summer of Love, the year 1967.

Along with the VG402B Amplifier, your tone will be unmistakably familiar. And you won’t hear it anywhere else as manufacturing techniques and circuit designs after this point went through dramatic change. The intent was to improve upon previous limitations but the result was to isolate a period of rock n’ roll history with a unique sound. Stay tuned as we continue to revisit a long list of classic tones for the electric guitar through our app for iOS, AmpStamp.

With this next revision of AmpStamp, version 1.3, we unveil some legendary speakers from the mid-1960’s, offer up one of the first tone shaping effects, and add a tape echo so classic, all delays that followed make reference to this seminal unit.

The Many Uses Of Tape Echo

From the first notes from Les Paul to the classic recordings made at Sun Studios in Memphis, treating the guitar with echo quickly became a new tool that all musicians had to learn how to wield. It started with a type of echo referred to as slapback, a short delay (longer than what’s used in chorus effects, but those hadn’t been invented yet) that sounds similar to shouting in a narrow alleyway between two buildings. Almost immediately many in the music technology field realized that with a loop of tape and possibly more than one tape machine, the record and playback heads could be used to add a repeat of what was played. This was at first reserved for studio recordings as most musicians did not carry tape machines for live use, let alone possess the technical skill or bring someone with them who could maintain and operate these units. But then in 1952 the EchoSonic was released, an amplifier with a built-in tape echo effect.

Quite a bit later this was productized into a more portable unit that could be used in a variety of settings. One key improvement that the EchoSonic and its successors had was the ability to feed back the current echo for additional repeats. With a simple potentiometer, variable decay could be dialed in and with a small signal amplifier, the repeats could be sustained and even grow louder! This is usually referred to as runaway sustain or oscillation, as the original signal is reduced to noise it’s an unmistakeable sound.

But what else was it about tape echo that makes it so desirable? Of course, the imperfections. As you dig deeper with the EC101C Echo, we’ve captured several elements that truly make a tape echo sound the way it should. First and foremost, tape is not a perfect medium. When first recording to a new reel of tape any studio engineer will tell you, the tape machine needs to be calibrated. Both frequency and level are not consistent even between two batches of tape from the same manufacturer. Furthermore, after heavy use specifically associated with tape echo effects the constant erasing will degrade the performance of the tape. And so with Tape Quality you can adjust this from near perfect to very poor. Additionally, the motors that drive the reels of tape often suffered from performance issues as well. And so we’ve provided a Wow and Flutter control to help capture some of the more extreme variation that you might experience with an older unit needing some maintenance. Of course, you don’t have to worry about that now, the control is all at the tips of your fingers.

Another 100W Amplifier?

You heard us right, we have another amplifier that captures classic tone in transition from 1966-67. We think you’re going to love the VG402B Amplifier. It captures the sound of the first super amplifiers with all of the extra Bass and additional part variations that were so common in amplifiers built during this period.

But it would not be complete without the VG 4x12A 100W ’67 Cabinet. This cabinet gives you the legendary sound of near unobtainable speakers. This is the sound of rock n’ roll from the mid-to-late 1960’s. You won’t hear it anywhere else as manufacturing techniques and circuit designs after this point went through dramatic changes. The overall effort was to improve upon previous limitations but the result was to isolate a period of rock n’ roll history with a unique sound, nearly lost for the generations to come.

We have been working hard to bring you the sounds of rock n’ roll history and this is another milestone for us. We can’t wait for you to rock out with this new amplifier and cabinet combination, or for that matter any combination of our gear, with a product this flexible keep an ear out for some classic tones. More on this soon!

Tone Shaping Primer

Last but not least, it was also important for us to being our investigation into EQ effects. Tone shaping is a key component to modern day signal chains and whether good or bad, it can have a drastic effect. So like most things at The Musicology Group, we decided to start at the beginning with the EQ100 Treble Boost. This unit is rumored to have been used on some genre-defining recordings, though never confirmed, we couldn’t help but try it for ourselves.

We also added an additional twist to make things interesting of course. Accessing the More Control section, you can flip the effect from a Treble Boost to a Bass Boost and adjust the tone anywhere in between. Boost your solos or just tweak your sound with this first offering, you just might find the tone you’re looking for.

Same Subscription, More Great Products

As always, we think you’ll find that AmpStamp has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitar players in any genre of music. If you are already a subscriber then thank you! If you haven’t subscribed yet, then hurry up! You’re missing out! Check out our product page for more details and stay tuned for new products.

We are excited to announce a new update to our application for guitarists, AmpStamp version 1.2.1!

What’s In A Name, Again

You are probably wondering, another name change? This time we think we landed on the perfect name, something that represents why this application sounds so much better than the competition. And also we wanted to avoid any confusion with the popular TAP-TONE Delay Pedal (please note there are no tone controls on this unit).

Still Real Cabinets, Still Real Sound

After many hours of playing through AmpStamp, testing out different effects, and capturing some classic tones which we will share with you via presets, we realized that effects pedals are only going to sound as good as the amplifier you are playing through. Even further, in most cases, the amplifier is the last piece of the signal chain that imparts its sonic signature most identifiably on your tone. With our technology we are able to stamp your guitar signal with a near perfect representation of the recorded tones of the amplifiers and cabinets that we characterize. We always knew this was the case but the exciting fact that this plays a huge part in your ability to achieve great tone means more great tones are on the way!

Same Subscription, More Great Products

As always, we think you’ll find that AmpStamp has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitar players in any genre of music. If you are already a subscriber then thank you! If you haven’t subscribed yet, then hurry up! You’re missing out! Check out our product page for more details and stay tuned for new products.

We are excited to announce the next version of our application for guitarists, TapTone Vintage Guitar version 1.2! There are a few major enhancements that we would like to highlight, overall we think the quality of sound and flexibility has increased to a point where you can now achieve near-perfect tones to match your favorite artists. Here’s what’s new:

What’s In A Name

Most obviously, we have modified the name of the application to avoid any confusion with the print and digital publication Vintage Guitar. Our focus is still on Vintage Gear and we will continue to expand our offerings under the TapTone moniker.

New Gear Shop

We have updated the Gear Shop to include new models of Amplifiers. We realized that getting a great sounding amplifier for free was a good place to start but found most musicians were looking for ways to achieve tones even closer to their favorite recordings. Similar to how we provide accurate and tweakable models of your favorite pedals, we are now going to include the same level of performance, accuracy, and flexibility with your favorite amplifiers. This includes details that drill down to specific revisions of amplifiers only offered for a few years before changing, stay tuned for some great new products.

Real Cabinets, Real Sound

Of course, with great amplifiers come great speaker cabinets, and so we have also updated the shop to include cabinet simulations that pair with their respective amplifiers. In keeping with our goal of flexibility and performance we are offering new cabinets as individual products so you can mix and match to suit your needs. All amplifiers now come with a Rear Panel that provides extended control which includes a Cabinet Blend control. You can load up to two cabinets and smoothly blend between them, even during live performance.

Our previous Amplifier has now been split into the original Amplifier and Speaker Simulator as a separate product, all for free. The Speaker Simulator has added tone flexibility and can be blended with real speaker cabinets for even more options. We will be slowly revealing some new presets that accurately capture classic tones, sounds that are so good you won’t believe your ears.

Same Subscription, More Great Products

We think you’ll find that TapTone Vintage Guitar has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitar players in any genre of music. If you were already a subscriber then everything we just mentioned here, the new amplifiers, new cabinets, and all of our pedals are available to you today! If you haven’t yet subscribed, hurry up! You’re missing out! Check out our product page for more details and stay tuned for new products.

Follow with us as we revisit a long list of classic effects for the electric guitar through our first app for iOS, Vintage Guitar. The history of rock n’ roll sound is at your fingertips.

Free Stuff

First things first, effects were never meant to replace good tone. In fact starting with a great sounding amp is always the best way to get the most out of any pedal. So we decided to give you just that, great tone, for free. As soon as you launch the app you’ll be greeted by our Compressor and Amplifier models that can be used to instantly shape your sound. You might stop there if you want, as good tone can go a long way but we know your creative spirit is ceaseless and will lead you to more experimentation.

Head to the Pedal Shop

From the first batch of transistorized effects to the latest boutique pedals our goal is to experience classic fuzzes and distortions, phase shifters, chorus/flangers, and wahs with a fresh take. With such a long list of great sounds it was difficult to decide where to start, so why not right at the beginning. Starting with the very first transistorized fuzz effect released in 1962 we begin our journey, here’s a look at the current effects available in the Pedal Shop.

Save Your Sounds

When you first launch the app you’ll see the Floor Controller, the center of your operation. Here you can save, recall, reorder, edit, and delete presets, as well as route any of the knobs/switches or expression pedal to any (and multiple) physical controls modeled in any pedal in your signal chain including the Compressor and Amplifier. This all-in-one pedal is also a classic take on a piece of vintage gear but with much more capability.

Stay Tuned

With unlimited possibilities for realtime control, a growing list of vintage effects, and an awesome Compressor and Amplifier that you get for free, we think you’ll find that Vintage Guitar has endless variations of tone to satisfy guitar players in any genre of music. Check out our product page for more details and stay tuned for new pedals.