IK Multimedia offers the officially certified Soldano SLO-100 head model free to all AmpliTube 5 users (including the free AmpliTube 5 CS).
The offer will only be available for a limited time and will include further free presets throughout March 2021.
See also: Swanky Amp Is A FREE Tube Guitar Amp By Resonant DSPThere are a few versions of AmpliTube 5, from the free Custom Shop version to the flagship AmpliTube 5 Max. While the offer is available to both free and paid AmpliTube 5 users, paid users will get more free presets over the next month. Custom Shop users will get at least 1 preset per week, paid users will get 20 presets per week.
The Soldano SLO-100 has been around since 1987 and is hailed by many as the ultimate high-gain amp. Like most iconic amplifiers, the SLO-100 has its fair share of high-profile users; Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, and Mark Knopfler, to name a few.
There’s always some doubt when software emulates iconic hardware, but AmpliTube 5 has some heavyweight endorsements from the likes of Slash and Brian May. My take on AmpliTube 5 and the SLO-100 head (as someone who plays guitar like they are wearing boxing gloves) is that it’s very convincing. When I need to record a fairly simple guitar part, I like to do it myself rather than bring in a guitarist. So, for me, AmpliTube is very handy to have.
My own playing sees me lean more towards the clean channel on the SLO-100, which may disappoint the shredders out there. It’s lovely to let clean chords ring out naturally or add some crunch so you can hear the target notes in your arpeggios trigger that break up when you dig in. Of course, in going away from the clean side, you can turn it into a different beast altogether.
I haven’t been lucky enough to own or play through a real SLO-100, so I can’t give a direct comparison. But, if we can take anything from online comparisons, it seems as close as any software will get. I’d have to imagine even you guitar gods out there will find something to like from AmpliTube 5 and the SLO-100, and for anyone like me, it’s definitely convenient to have.
IK Multimedia do get some complaints about their convoluted authorization process. I haven’t experienced anything too irritating personally (I do wish there were no authorization limits, though), but I know many of you have. From memory, I think installing/authorizing Custom Shop and AmpliTube 5 took around 10 minutes; hopefully, it’s the same for you.
More info: AmpliTube 5 Soldano SLO-100 (FREE @ IK Multimedia)
More articles:
