The native UAD Lion '68 Super Lead Amp plug-in gives you the classic British amp sounds made famous by decades of legendary artists including Jimi Hendrix, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, and more.*
Based on the award-winning UAFX pedal, the Lion ‘68 plug-in delivers the dead-on tones of three distinct 100-watt plexi amplifiers. Built on world-class UAD modeling, you get all the gorgeous cleans, aggressive breakup, and hot-rodded roar of the originals. Plus you get classic boost effects, room sound, and a collection of perfectly mic'd speaker cabs.
In this article
Setting input levels
Lion '68 is calibrated to provide the exact same tone and response as the original amp when used with Apollo and Volt interfaces. Simply connect your instrument to a Hi-Z input, set the channel's preamp gain to minimum, and leave the plug-in’s IN control at its default Hi-Z (center) position.
For optimum performance with other audio interfaces, follow the same guidelines.
Input level guidelines for best tone and response
- Connect to your audio interface's Hi-Z instrument input
- Set the interface channel's preamp gain to minimum
- Set the plug-in's IN knob to its Hi-Z (center) position
Lion '68 Controls
Tip: Option-click (macOS) or Alt-Click (Windows) to set most controls to their default values.
In
Adjusts the input level to the plug-in. Hover your mouse over the knob to see the HI-Z and LINE labels.
The plug-in input level is calibrated so that a Hi-Z input without added preamp gain provides the proper operating levels when IN is set to the default center position (HI-Z). When using the plug-in on hotter signals (such as tracks that have already been preamplified), reduce the IN knob towards the minimum (LINE) setting. Reducing this knob can also help get cleaner tones when using hotter instrument signals, such as those produced by humbucking and/or active guitar pickups. You can also adjust the knob for more gain to get a range of creative tones.
Tips
- Hover over the knob, then click the HI-Z or LINE labels to set the control to those values.
- The IN value doesn't change when you load different presets, so you can set the level once and freely browse presets without big level changes.
Gate
Lion's noise gate silences extraneous noise generated by these high gain tube amps by detecting signal at the input, but acting at the end of the signal chain. This clever design is extremely effective at both detecting and stopping extraneous noise.
Toggle the Lion Noise Gate with the button to the right of Gate. Drag the triangle to the left up or down to adjust the noise gate threshold.
To adjust more Gate controls, click ••• to open the additional Gate controls. Drag up or down to adjust the values.
Noise Gate setting | Description |
Threshold | Sets the level at which the noise gate opens/closes. Set this while playing with the pickup combination and levels you will normally use. Adjust the threshold until your lightest notes are not cut off, but the noise is suppressed. |
Release | Sets the length of time before the noise gate closes after dropping below the threshold, from fast to slow. Set this to have a natural release. |
Attenuation | Sets the level of attenuation. Generally this can be set very high if your other settings are correct. Very high settings will allow absolutely no amplifier noise through the gate; set this lower if you want to allow some noise. |
Hold | Determines how long the noise gate holds the note after it drops below the threshold, and before the Release time starts. Works in combination with Release to avoid "note chatter." Set this so notes decay naturally. |
Presets
Lion '68 includes a full range of presets designed to provide classic sounds. Lion '68 includes a preset browser that provides deep and comprehensive ways to browse and work with the presets. Click the preset bar (top center of plug-in) to select presets from the browser, or click the previous/next (< or >) buttons to cycle through presets.
Room
Adjusts the amount of room tone mixed into the signal.
Room tips
- Room amount only affects your sound when you use a speaker cabinet. When the speaker cabinet is bypassed, there is no Room sound.
- Set Room to noon for a good starting point, and add or remove room to taste. Setting Room fully off is like recording your amp in an isolation booth. Turning up the Room knob adds ambience from the room microphones set up in the tracking room of a studio.
- There is no fully wet Room sound.
Out
Adjusts the output level from the plug-in. When the Output volume is set at noon, the amp will be roughly the same level as the bypassed volume.
On / Off
The On / Off switch bypasses the plug-in and reduces plug-in processing.
Presence
Adjusts the amp's brightness and gain.
Bass
Adjusts the low frequency response of the amp's tone stack.
Middle
Adjusts the mid frequency response of the amp's tone stack.
Treble
Adjusts the high frequency component of the amp's tone stack.
Middle and Presence use Notes
- The Middle control can have a lot of impact. Reduce the mids for Fender-style scooped tones. Increase the mids for more lead impact and warmth.
- The Presence control controls the overall brilliance and gain of the power amp section in the original amp. Increase presence to add more available gain and edge to the sound.
Volume I (VOL I) and Volume II (VOL II)
Adjusts the amp's channel I and channel II gain. Channel I is brighter and more aggressive as you turn it up, and channel II is darker, with more bottom end. As you increase one or both volume controls, the character of the amp changes, becoming much more saturated and distorted.
Lion's channels are connected with a virtual Y cable. To use Volume I or Volume II independently, turn the other channel volume completely down.
Tip: These are the volume controls on the original amp. For clean "post-amp" volume adjustments, use the Output control.
Lion Inputs
Lion includes detailed modeling of the original amp's inputs.
Click on an input pair to switch to it. To Jump inputs, click again on the currently selected input pair.
By default, the Lion inputs are routed as if you are plugging into the High inputs with a Y cable. The Y cable method gives you the exact same signal with no coloration or attenuation between the channels.
When either Volume is on 0, Lion behaves as if you are plugging in to only the input for the channel that is turned up. You can configure Lion so you can plug into the High input, the Low input, or a "Jump" setting where a patch cable connects the Low input of Channel I to the High input of Channel II.
Tip: The Input Routing setting is not global, and applies only to the current sound. Input Routing settings are saved with a preset.
Input Routing | Description | |
LOW | Y cable into Low inputs. Cleaner, slightly darker sound. When only one Volume is turned up, you get the sound of only that channel on the Low input. When both channels are above 0, you get the sound of a Y cable plugged into both Low inputs. | |
HIGH | Y cable into High inputs. Brighter sound, with more gain and edge. When only one Volume is turned up, you get the sound of only that channel on the High input. When both Volumes are above 0, you get the sound of a Y cable plugged into both High inputs. This is the default setting for Lion '68. | |
JUMP | Replicates the exact signal path of plugging into High input I, and connecting a short patch cable ("jumping") from the Low input of Channel I into the High input of Channel II. Adds some circuit coloration and attenuation to Channel II. Subtle but noticeable tonal differences with the Jump setting include less treble and slightly less gain from Volume II. |
Lion '68 Models
Lion '68 includes three independent amplifier models, each of which provides different amp character and features.
Click on a model name to select it, and use the Boost knob to push the input of the amp for more added gain. See Lion '68 Models for more details about the amp models.
- BASS is based on the classic 100 Watt "Super Bass" amplifier. The Super Bass is great for cleaner tones, fat rhythm tones, and bass. The Super Bass is often chosen by guitarists for its smoothness, richness, and ability to take pedals. All of your Hendrix dream tones are in here.
- LEAD is based on the classic 100 W "Super Lead" amplifier. Similar in design to the Super Bass, but with a big reduction in bottom end and an increase in available gain, the Super Lead is where rock rhythm guitar tones live. Lots of crunch, no flabbiness, even some saturation when pushed hard.
- BROWN takes the Super Lead to a higher gain level, employing several signal chain changes including a Variac to reduce the voltage, an EQ pedal with customized settings, and an EP-III preamp, to create a classic hot rodded sound that countless players have sought out over time.
Lion Boost
To enable the boost, click the button. Boost is enabled when the button is lit. To increase the amount of gain and the effect of the boost, rotate the Boost knob clockwise.
Lion's Boost knob adds color and gain from multiple elements with a single control. The Boost elements work together to create harmonic density. As always, use your ears to find the sweet spot.
When enabled, the EP-III preamp is engaged, adding color and warmth. Increase Boost towards the 10 o'clock position to add clean gain and push the amp's front end. Past 10 o'clock, the midrange boost curve from a graphic EQ pedal adds thick character.
When the Boost is disabled, there is no effect on amp color and gain.
Lion Mods
Lion includes two custom modifications to further tailor your sound. These modifications are not global, and are applied only to the current sound. Lion's customizations are saved with a preset.
To toggle Ghost Notes or the Bright Cap on/off, click their respective buttons.
Note: The Bright Cap mod is not available on the Bass amp model.
Custom Mod | Description |
Ghost Notes | The original transformer and power supply for the amp is subject to some extra hum and resulting "ghost notes" — harmonics around certain notes that are the result of intermodulation distortion. When off, the amp switches to a cleaner power supply that reduces much of this transformer hum, and eliminates these ghost notes. In practice, ghost notes can add some life and "scream" to notes higher up on the guitar neck. By default, ghost notes (the stock amp behavior) are enabled. |
Bright Cap | Toggles the bright cap on channel I. The bright cap has the effect of adding brightness at lower gains. The effect is reduced as you increase the gain for Channel I, and completely removed at full gain. Disable the bright cap for a darker sound. The bright cap is on by default on the Lead amp and off on the Brown amp, but may be enabled or disabled individually and on presets. This mod is not available on the Bass amp model. |
Speaker Cabinet
The speaker cabinet appears on the right of the Lion '68 plug-in. Click the cabinet name to choose a cab from the menu, or click the previous/next arrows (< and >) to cycle through the cabs and microphones.
For details about the speakers, see Lion '68 Speaker Cabinets.
Lion '68 Speaker Cabinets
Each speaker, cabinet, and mic setting has a unique sound. Select speakers from the drop-down list or by pressing the previous/next (< or >) buttons.
Speaker | Speaker/Cab/Mic | Notes |
Stripped On-Axis | Vintage 1968 basketweave 4x12 cabinet with vinyl removed, with Celestion Greenback speakers, miked with a ribbon 160 mic and a dynamic 57 mic. | Classic Celestion bark with the smooth open midrange of a '60s ribbon mic and the edge of a 57. |
Stripped Off-Axis | Stripped cab miked off-axis with a ribbon 160 mic and a dynamic 57 mic. | Less edge and brightness compared to the on-axis cab. |
GB30 | Vintage Celestion greenback 30-watt speakers in a 4x12 closed-back cab, miked with a 57 dynamic mic and a ribbon 121 mic. | Tight bass response and good treble definition, great for distorted classic rock tones. |
Brown JB | 1968 basketweave 4x12 cabinet with vinyl removed, with two Celestion Greenback speaker and two JBL 120F speakers. Both speaker types are miked separately with dynamic 57s, and pre-mixed. | Combines the girth and midrange of the Celestion speakers with the high end sizzle of the JBL speakers. |
EV12 | Classic 12", 200 watt Electro-Voice EVM12L speaker with a massive magnet in a 1x12 cabinet, miked with a 414 condenser mic. | Focused single speaker, thick and tight bottom end with airy top end, a wonderful, versatile speaker. |
D65 | Custom ported 2x12 cabinet with British 65-watt speakers, miked with a 421 dynamic mic and a ribbon 121 mic. | Tight bottom end clarity, favored by many blues and rock players. |
V30 | 4x12 cabinet with British V30 speakers, miked with a 414 condenser mic. | A standard for modern rock and metal, with a tight bottom end and high end punch. If you want a more scooped sound, this is it. |
External | No cabinet/mic/room emulation. | Use with a real guitar cabinet or external cabinet emulation. |
Lion '68 Models
Each amp has a unique gain structure and sound. You increase the amount of gain and the effect of the boost by increasing Volume I and Volume II, and rotating the Boost knob (in ALT mode) clockwise.
Model | Description | Notes |
Bass | The cleaner, higher headroom Super Bass version of the '68 amp, running at 117 volts. The lack of a bright cap prevents this amp from getting overly bright or brittle. | Designed with bass players in mind, but extremely popular with guitarists for its darker, mellower sound. A wonderful pedal platform and some nice dark crunch sounds when driven. |
Lead | The higher gain, brighter Super Lead '68 amp running at 110 volts. The Super Lead amp includes a "bright cap" which increases high end. Our Super Lead model includes the most common modification which removes the bright cap completely (via the UAFX Control app). We've modified the stock bright cap to 100 pF, as used in the earlier JTM 45 amp, for jangly highs without the harshness of the original cap value of 5000 pF. | More gain, more saturation, and a whole lot brighter than the Super Bass; for your classic late '60s and '70s rock tones, push Volume I and Volume II. Use Volume I for brightness, edge, and tight gain, and Volume II to bring in bottom end girth and balance out the high end. |
Brown | The Super Lead amp, Variac'd down to 90 volts for more sag and thickness, then biased high for aggressive attack and bounce with more sustain and compression. By default the bright cap is removed; you can enable it in UAFX Control for dynamic edginess. | Darker, thicker, and more gain. Can get very heavy, with loose, saturated gain at higher Volume settings. Great for leads, rhythms, and very loose and fat cleans on lower Volume settings. |
*Product names used herein are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way affiliated with Universal Audio Inc. These name(s) are used solely to identify products studied in the creation of the sound models found in Lion ‘68 Super Lead Amp. Use of artist names does not constitute official endorsement of Universal Audio software.