With the Knuckles ’92, Universal Audio continues its series of stereo, amp-inspired stompboxes (part of the broader UAFX line) with what has now become a signature format blending a compact footprint with a noteworthy amount of tweakability. The guitar amp subject to pedal cloning (or sound snatching!) is the venerable Mesa Boogie Rev F Double Rectifier amp from the early ’90s.
Universal Audio UAFX Knuckles ’92 pedal offers a stereo amp and cab simulation that captures all the nuances of the original, with Green, Orange, and Red channels. It offers everything a guitarist into the sound of the California rock of the ’90s may need, from nu-metal riffs to pop-punk crunch or classic metal tones. The Rev F wasn’t made for clean sounds but fares well in that department too.
To facilitate direct recording, the pedal features six classic mic and cabinet configurations, along with a built-in Tubescream-style overdrive, preamp boost, and noise gate. Universal Audio can boast unparalleled experience in this department thanks to its specialization in recording plugins.
A super neat feature accessible via the Bluetooth and USB-compatible UAFX Control app is the ability to let you switch between power tubes, adjust rectification, and fine-tune other settings. The app also gives you access to three additional Cab presets (all strictly 4″x12″) plus artist tones, custom presets, and more.
Like in the other amp pedals in the series, 4 cable mode lets you use the stereo ins and outs to bypass your amp’s preamp when the pedal is engaged and/or set up an FX loop between your amp and the cab sim. If you use a real amp, you can also use a mono output for the FX loop and the other to connect the pedal directly to the amp, resulting in a wet and a dry channel.
