The Universal Audio UAFX Lion (annnounced today and available for preorder) integrates the Californian company’s UAFX line of pedals, which already comprised three amp-in-a-box devices with a pedal emulationg the classic tone produced by a Marshall Plexi amp.
Just like the three pedals that preceeded it, the Lion offers a level of tweakability few other amp-inspired pedals deliver. This include multiple amp and cab emulations, two volume levels mirroring the controls of the old Plexi heads, one with more highs and one with more low end..
These are the 3 Amp Modes:
- Lead: Obviously inspired by the 1968 Super Lead sound, the amp most commonly associated with the Plexi sound and its aggressive bite.
- Bass: Emulating another 1968 Plexi amp the Super Bass, and early example of full stack Plexi amp. The original amplifier didn’t include the bright cap, making it a great choice for bassists and guitarists alike.
- Brown: The Variac’d “brown” sound delivered by a modded Super Lead, a tone that born in the late ’70s and became popular in the ’80s.
There are also 3 Cab Modes that greatly affect the final tone of each amp, with an extra 3 added when registering the pedal online and mic placement options accessible via the free app (which connects via Bluetooth and opens up extra tweaking options).
3-band EQ and presets round up the features, while great flexibility is delivered on the routing side of things, with stereo in/out that can be switched to become an FX loop via the app.
We added the UAFX Lion to our comprehensive article about the best Plexi-style pedals.
[Wanna get this baby and be supportive? Preorder it through our Sweetwater affiliate programs – at no extra cost.]
Universal Audio UAFX Lion
(From Sweetwater.com)
Want to plug into some legendary British crunch? If so, plug into the Universal Audio UAFX Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp pedal. It serves up one of the most realistic emulations of the legendary Super Lead we’ve ever heard here at Sweetwater. Moreover, this stompbox is really three amps in one: a Super Lead, a Super Bass, and the coveted Variac’d “brown” sound that erupted in the late 1970s. You also get three speaker options. You’ll be blown away at how closely the Lion re-creates the sound of a cranked tube amp recorded in a live room, thanks to UA’s unparalleled mic, cab, and Dynamic Room Modeling technology. Further, like all the pedals in UA’s UAFX series, the Lion allows you to bypass your amplifier’s preamp when the pedal is engaged via the special “4-cable” mode. If you’re craving greater control, the Lion sports Bluetooth compatibility to connect to Universal Audio’s UAFX app to edit hidden parameters and access artist presets. Finally, the Lion ’68 Super Lead also boasts state-of-the-art analog and digital circuitry, analog dry-through, and a high-quality buffered bypass.
Three amplifier modes
The Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp comes loaded with three different amp versions for a wealth of sonic possibilities. You not only get stock versions of the legendary Super Lead and Super Bass, but also the high-octane Variac’d tone harnessed by a certain trailblazing guitarist.Lead: The definitive 1968 Super Lead sound. The original amplifier employed a bright cap in its preamp for an ear-grabbing aggressive bite.
Bass: The 1968 Super Bass sound. The original amplifier didn’t include the bright cap, making it a great choice for bassists and guitarists alike.
Brown: The Variac’d “brown” sound. This is the hot-rodded hard rock tone that was born in the late ’70s and ruled in the ’80s.
Switch up your speakers
Part of the Universal Audio UAFX Lion ’68 Super Lead Amp’s magic is found in the dead-on speaker/cab emulations, bolstered by Universal Audio’s Dynamic Room Modeling technology. The Lion comes loaded with three cab/mic/speaker settings, seamlessly matched to the three different amplifier modes. Guitarists looking to cover a wide sonic range will love experimenting with the different speaker and amp pairings; plus, when registering the Lion with Universal Audio, you get three more free cab sims to play with!4-cable mode offers powerful channel switching
Each pedal in Universal Audio’s UAFX series features a special “4-cable” mode accessible via the UAFX Control app, allowing you to bypass your amp’s preamp when the pedal is engaged for incredibly realistic tube-style tones. By hooking your pedal up to both your effects loop send/return and the front of amp input, you can instantly switch between your amp’s stock tone and your UAFX pedal routed straight into the power amp, effectively adding two extra channels to your amplifier. What’s more, Universal Audio designed this feature with multiple pedal setups in mind — you can connect any number of UAFX pedals in this configuration for multichannel madness!UAFX Control app
Looking for greater control over your tone? The Lion ’68 Super Lead is Bluetooth and USB-C compatible to pair with Universal Audio’s powerful UAFX app. In addition to giving you greatly enhanced editing options, the UAFX app also includes access to artist tones, custom presets, and more.Features
- Authentic end-to-end replication of the ’98 Super Lead amplifier
- 3 amps in 1: a Super Lead, a Super Bass, and the Variac’d “brown” sound
- 3 separate speaker/cab/mic options for a wide range of different tonal flavors
- 3 bonus cabs are provided when registering the Lion
- 4-cable mode bypasses your amplifier’s preamp when the pedal is engaged
- USB-C port for firmware updates
- Bluetooth-compatible for access to Universal Audio’s UAFX app
- Save and access presets using the right footswitch
