Using freeware is a good way to get started and try out the waters when starting to use amp sims. With plenty of good freeware available there’s no need to invest big in buying software to start out and try playing with amp sims.
Here are some suggestions on freeware that we here at Guitar & Bass Amp plugins enjoy and that we think will help you create good guitar tones with your computer. (the items are listed in no particular order)
FREEWARE GUITAR AMP SIMS
- Audiority – L12X
- Audio Assault – Blacksun
- AXP / Softamp – PSA
- Black Rooster Audio – Cypress TT-15
- Blue Cat’s Free Amp
- Honest Amp Sim Reviews Free Pack 2.0
- Ignite Amps – Anvil
- Ignite Amps – NRR-1
- Kuassa – Amplifikation Lite
- LostIn70s – Tone Deluxe
- ML Sound Labs – Amped Roots (with one free amp)
- Nalex – Crunchman & Gerbert
- Nembrini – Crunck V2
- Resonant DSP – Swanky Amp Free
- STL / Ignite Amps – Emissary
- Viator Dsp – Diode Amplifier
- VTarAmps – Raven Volcanic
FREEWARE BASS AMP SIMS
FREEWARE PEDALS / FX
- Audiority Dr. Drive
- Chow BYOD (Distortion and FX modular plugin)
- Distorque Vitamin C compressor
- Doom Plugs – Bratwurst Fuzz
- Fuse Audio Big Sur (part of the VPB-bundle)
- Ignite Amps ProF.E.T
- Ignite Amps TSB-1
- Kuassa Efektor Silencer (noise gate)
- LostIn70s Devil Spring Reverb
- Mercuriall Audio WS-1 Chorus
- Mercuriall Audio GreedSmasher
- Nembrini Analog Rack free (including a noise gate, chorus, delay and more)
- Nembrini 808 Overdrive
- Nembrini Clon Minotaur
- Schrammel OJD
- Shameless Plugs – Fuzzploid
- Shameless Plugs The Dom
- TSE R47
FREEWARE IMPULSE RESPONSES AND IMPULSE RESPONSE LOADERS
Free Impulse loaders
Free Impulse Responses
- Celestion Free Cab
- Coffee Cabs Latte 2×12 IRs
- Devil’s Lab IRs
- Line 6 Allure Pack (requires signup)
- Redwirez Free Cab (free on signup to newsletter)
- Science Amplification IRs
- Studio Nord Bremen Cab Library
- Wilkinson God’s Cab
- Valhallir V2 Teaser Pack
The Honest Amp Sims Reviews
“HASR FREE PACK 2.0”
Click on link to get the old HASR Free Pack 2.0 amps.
This was a collaboration by VTar Amps, Luan Albani, and Honest Amp Sim Reviews.
These are windows only preamp plugins. You’ll get the best out of them by using an IR Loader afterwards.
NadIR by STL Tones is a great free IR Loader… but there are many others available. See here for more about IR Loaders:
QUICK GUIDE TO IMPULSE LOADERS
Other good freeware for the guitarist/bassist
This is by no means a complete listing, just pointers to some of all the good free stuff that exists and that can be a part of your recording chain.
- Bertom Denoiser (a noise reduction plugin)
- Blue Cat Audio Free Pack (incl modulation fx/gain/eq and more)
- Chow Tape Model (tape emulation)
- Ignite Amps TPA-1 (poweramp)
- Softube Saturation Knob
- TDR Nova (eq/multi-band compressor)
- TDR Molotok (compressor)
- TDR VOS SlickEq (mixing/mastering eq with saturation)
- Tritik Krush (bit crusher)
- Xfer Records OTT (up-/downward compressor)
Latest changes:
| Date | Changes |
|---|---|
| 2022-01-18 | Removed Seacow Cabs since there are no freeware cabs on the site anymore. |