UNIVERSAL AUDIO UAFX AMP EMULATORS

105
SEPTEMBER 2022 GU ITARIST
UNIVERSAL AUDIO UAFX AMP EMULATORS
PROS Exemplary emulation of
classic amp; practical range of
complementary speaker cabs;
 exible footswitching options;
preset library
CONS No headphone output or
balanced outputs; app needed
to change presets; no MIDI
PROS As Woodrow ’55
Instrument Ampli er; emulated
spring reverb; clean tones
make it an ideal pedal partner
CONS As Woodrow ’55
Instrument Ampli er
PROS As Woodrow ’55
Instrument Ampli er; Normal
channel provides some
instantly familiar classic tones
CONS As Woodrow ’55
Instrument Ampli er
UNIVERSAL AUDIO
UAFX DREAM
’65 REVERB
AMPLIFIER
PRICE: £339
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Amp emulation pedal
based on a black-panel
Fender amp
FEATURES: True analogue
bypass
SPEAKER OPTIONS: Vintage
Celestion Greenback, Oxford
12K5-6, 200W Electro-Voice
EVM12L, Two-Rock 2x12
extension cab with Celestion
G12-65s, Vintage 1966 4x10
Fender Super Reverb cab
with original CTS speakers,
Vintage 1968 2x12 Fender Twin
Reverb cab w/original JBL
D-120F speakers
CONTROLS: Volume, Reverb,
Output, Bass, Treble (Intensity),
Boost (Speed), Speaker switch,
Alt/Amp/Store switch, Mod
switch, Pair switch, Preset
footswitch, Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard
inputs (1/Mono, 2/Stereo),
standard outputs (1/Mono,
2/Stereo), USB
POWER: 9V DC adaptor
(not supplied) 400 mA
DIMENSIONS: 92 (w) x 146 (d)
x 63mm (h)
UNIVERSAL AUDIO
UAFX RUBY
‘63 TOP BOOST
AMPLIFIER
PRICE: £339
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Amp emulation pedal
based on a Vox AC30
FEATURES: True analogue
bypass
SPEAKER OPTIONS: 15W
Celestion Silver Bulldog
speakers, Celestion Blue Bulldog
speakers, Modern Celestion
G12Hs speakers, 1x12 AC15
cabinet with Blue Bulldog
speaker, 2x12 Matchless cabinet
with Celestion G12Hs, 2x12 Two-
Rock cab with Celestion Golds
CONTROLS: Volume, Cut,
Output, Bass (Room), Treble
(Intensity), Boost (Speed),
Speaker switch, Alt/Amp/
Store switch, Channel switch,
Pair switch, Preset footswitch,
Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard
inputs (1/Mono, 2/Stereo),
standard outputs (1/Mono,
2/Stereo), USB
POWER: 9V DC adaptor
(not supplied) 400 mA
DIMENSIONS: 92 (w) x 146 (d)
x 63mm (h)
UNIVERSAL AUDIO
UAFX WOODROW
’55 INSTRUMENT
AMPLIFIER
PRICE: £339
ORIGIN: USA
TYPE: Amp emulation pedal
based on a tweed Fender amp
FEATURES: True analogue
bypass
SPEAKER OPTIONS: 15W
Celestion Blue, Jensen P12R,
25W Celestion Greenback,
Marshall 4x12 with Celestion
V30 speakers, Fender 4x10
Bassman cab with Jensen P10R
speakers, Fender 1x12 cab with
vintage JBL D-120F speaker
CONTROLS: Inst Vol, Mic Vol,
Output, Room, Tone, Boost,
Speaker switch, Store switch,
Boost switch, Pair switch, Preset
footswitch, Bypass footswitch
CONNECTIONS: Standard
inputs (1/Mono, 2/Stereo),
standard outputs (1/Mono,
2/Stereo), USB
POWER: 9V DC adaptor
(not supplied) 400 mA
DIMENSIONS: 92 (w) x 146 (d)
x 63mm (h)
9
99
make this an ideal partner for your pedals
but plenty of targeted drive, too. The three
options are for a stock amp with a clean
preamp boost for the purists or a choice of
two amp modifications. Lead offers more
midrange warmth, and D-Tex, described
as the SRV modification, is great if you
want an extra bit of gain and singing
midrange. The spring reverb really hits the
spot here, and the speaker options are well
chosen – we really liked the 4x10 option
for a Fender Super vibe.
Verdict
These are excellent pedals that not only
sound exactly like the amp they are
emulating but offer the tactile feel of
playing through one. While other pedals
may offer more amps, concentrating the
DSP power on a single amp is completely
justified if it offers this much attention to
detail. That approach also facilitates an
interface that mimics the original amp and
makes it easy to dial in exactly what you
need without diving into menus.
There are things that stop these scoring
a solid 10, though – missed opportunities,
mainly – but there are workarounds for
them: the lack of a dedicated headphone
feed can be addressed with a Y-cable, for
instance. If you want a range of amps, then
there are plenty of modellers around, but
many guitarists rely on just one amp. So
if your favoured type is represented here,
one of these is absolutely the best way to
get that sound and feel in a convenient box
for studio, home and stage use.
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