Last year, Universal Audio decided to make the jump from plug-ins to the pedal with the UAFX line. Then it entered the mainstream audio interface game, launching a line of high-end modeling microphones and even a subscription plug-in service. But UA isn’t ready to slow down just yet. Now the company is expanding its line of stompboxes with a trio of amp modellers.
The Dream ’65 Reverb, Ruby ’63 Top Boost and Woodrow ’55 Instrument Amplifier bring UA’s excellent emulations of vintage amps to a board-friendly format, using the same hardware as last year’s Astra, Golden and Starlight pedals. The UAFX guitar amp emulators all have a host of modern features and options, but essentially they are replicas of iconic amps that have been the staple of studios around the world for over five decades. The Dream is based on a Fender Deluxe Reverb, Woodrow is a Fender Tweed Deluxe and Ruby is a take on the Vox AC30.
Each pedal has a handful of speaker, cabinet and mic options to further shape your tone, as well as reverb and vibrato on the Dream and Ruby respectively. The pedals also have additional customization options available in the UAFX Control mobile app, plus the ability to save presets.
Of course, UA doesn’t skimp on the hardware either. These are solid pedals that can withstand abuse, with stereo ins and outs, plus USB-C and Bluetooth connectivity.
All three UAFX guitar amp emulators are available now for $399. Which is certainly not impulse buying territory, but considering a genuine Fender Tweed Deluxe can run for around $5,000, this seems like an absolute steal.
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