SoftAmp GT
Key Features
- Three amp voicings (Tweed, British, California) plus a Hot Wired high-gain mode with high-frequency boost, covering clean American tones through modern high-gain
- Triode clipping mode replaces all op-amps with accurately modeled 12AU7 triode stages for asymmetric soft-clipping and musical even harmonics
- Three virtual microphone positions (Classic, Center, Off-axis) shape the speaker simulation's tonal character from warm and distant to bright and focused
- 16x oversampling eliminates aliasing caused by nonlinear distortion, with a useful side-effect of smoothing the overall tone
- Real-time transfer function scopes for each clipping stage and a bode plot for all pre/post filters including the speaker simulation
- Bypassable built-in speaker simulation and mono/stereo switch to cut CPU consumption in half when processing a single channel
- Licensed for unlimited usage including commercial applications with no restrictions
Description
SoftAmp GT by AXP is a virtual-analog emulation of the Tech21 SansAmp GT2, one of the most iconic solid-state guitar amp simulator stomp boxes ever made. The plugin recreates the original circuit's op-amp saturation and moderate filtering signal path, while adding enhancements the hardware never offered.
Three amp voicings cover the essentials: Tweed delivers classic American clean tones, British brings crunch and moderate gain, and California provides modern high-gain with a deep low end. A fourth Hot Wired mode adds a high-frequency boost to the California circuit for extra bite and presence.
What sets SoftAmp GT apart from a simple clone is its Triode clipping mode, which replaces every op-amp in the signal path with a virtual 12AU7 triode stage. This produces asymmetric soft-clipping with dynamic behavior that generates musical even harmonics, bringing genuine tube-like warmth that the original hardware was often criticized for lacking.
The speaker simulation uses a steep low-pass filter combined with mid-frequency shaping across three virtual microphone positions: Classic (far), Center (bright), and Off-axis (smoothed highs). A 16x oversampling option eliminates aliasing artifacts from the nonlinear distortion stages.
Users praise the plugin for its organic, dynamic response and surprising tonal versatility, with particular appreciation for its clean-to-crunch Tweed tones and its ability to produce heavy but articulate bass tones. The GUI includes real-time transfer function scopes for each clipping stage and a bode plot for all filters, making it an educational tool as much as a creative one.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What guitar amp is SoftAmp GT based on?
SoftAmp GT is modeled after the Tech21 SansAmp GT2, a well-known solid-state guitar amplifier simulator stomp box. The plugin faithfully recreates its op-amp clipping circuit and filtering while adding features like triode emulation and 16x oversampling that the original hardware doesn't offer.
What does the Triode clipping mode do compared to the Normal mode?
The Normal mode uses symmetric hard-clipping modeled after the TLC2262 op-amp, just like the original SansAmp GT2. The Triode mode replaces every op-amp with a virtual 12AU7 triode stage that produces asymmetric soft-clipping with dynamic behavior and even harmonics, resulting in a warmer, more tube-like saturation character.
Can SoftAmp GT be used for bass guitar?
Yes. Users have reported excellent results using SoftAmp GT on bass, describing it as their go-to for heavy but crisp bass tones. The California amp voicing with its deep low-end emphasis is particularly well-suited for bass processing.
Can I disable the built-in speaker simulation to use my own cabinet IRs?
Yes. SoftAmp GT includes an option to bypass the embedded speaker simulation entirely, allowing you to route the amp signal into your own impulse response loader or cabinet simulator plugin for more flexibility.
