IK Multimedia’s TONEX family has expanded with the new TONEX ONE modeling pedal. This powerful pedal crams all of IK Multimedia’s impressive modeling technology into a miniature pedal format. And now, when you purchase the TONEX software, the TONEX pedal, or the TONEX ONE pedal from Sweetwater, you’ll get our Sweetwater-exclusive sound library. These unique sounds include modeled guitar and bass gear from our very own Mitch Gallagher, Don Carr, Nick Bowcott, and a host of other Sweetwater team members. Each of them brought in rare and coveted gear that you truly cannot find anywhere else. Let’s dive in.
Introducing TONEX ONE
TONEX ONE is the next evolution of the IK Multimedia TONEX modeling experience. It puts the entire TONEX ecosystem on your pedalboard without taking up too much space. This pint-size pedal comes with 20 onboard Tone Model slots, giving you the freedom to load any one of IK Multimedia’s 200 Premium Tone Models, your own gear models, or the 25,000 user-generated Tone Models on ToneNET.
TONEX ONE is far more than a modeling pedal. It also functions as a USB audio interface for recording and as an IR loader for performing onstage. Speaking of performance, the A/B switching function lets you switch between two tones for sonic agility. Finally, buying a TONEX ONE pedal gives you access to the IK Multimedia TONEX SE software, which creates virtual models of all your favorite gear and presets.
Capturing Perfect Emulations of Your Gear
Remember that magical guitar tone you dialed up years ago that you haven’t fully replicated? With TONEX ONE and the included TONEX SE software, losing the perfect sound is a thing of the past.
Once you find a great sound, fire up the TONEX SE software and create a new Tone Model. The software will guide you through the process and automatically conduct the sound-capture process. Then, after a few minutes, IK Multimedia’s AI Machine Modeling technology delivers a lifelike emulation of your amp, guitar rig, or favorite pedal. Load all your favorites into the TONEX ONE, and you’ll have that sound anywhere.
Note: When using direct pedal captures with the TONEX pedal or TONEX ONE software, bypassing the cab in global settings delivers optimal results.
A Memorable Day in the Studio
IK Multimedia stopped by Sweetwater Studios in April 2024 to show off the TONEX ONE and the TONEX SE software. We spent all day in Studio A, watching and listening as a revolving door of exceptional gear strutted its stuff through the monitors. Along the way, we had the privilege to talk to the great people sharing not only their favorite gear but also the history and stories behind each piece. Read on to meet the gear and the people who made this project possible.
Meet the Gear Behind the Project
Paul Rivera-modified Fender Deluxe Reverb
A modified Fender Deluxe Reverb headlines the Sweetwater TONEX library. Owned by our very own Mitch Gallagher, this amplifier began life as a combo but has been repackaged as a head with a separate speaker cabinet loaded with an authentic NOS Electro-Voice EVM-12L speaker. And did we mention it’s a prototype? Mitch Gallagher explains:
“The amp I brought in is the prototype for what became a limited run of Stage IV-modded Deluxe Reverbs that Sweetwater sold for a time. The amp is the basis for Rivera’s current Stage IV amp, which is an even more updated version. My prototype Stage IV-modded Deluxe Reverb was further modified for me by Paul with an added effects loop. Paul also made me a twin sister to my amp so I could run stereo. I stupidly sold it, but I have right of first refusal to buy it back if the current owner ever sells it.” — Mitch Gallagher
According to Mitch, amps like his have been used extensively on hit albums, television scores, and film scores. “It’s super-versatile,” he says. “It can cover everything from all sorts of ‘California clean’ tones to crunchy rhythm tones to medium-gain, singing lead tones.”
Mitch feels confident that you’ll love this amp just as much as he does. “It has a certain voice that I can’t find elsewhere,” he mused. “There’s a midrange character and dynamic response that is just fantastic. It’s also almost impossible to dial in a bad tone!”
Morgan DC22R
Don Carr’s Morgan DC22R is a real-life instance of turning lemons into lemonade. When the 2020 lockdown happened, Joe Morgan found himself at home with an empty schedule and itching fingers. So, he and Don collaborated on a custom amp. “I loved the SW22R and wanted a few custom tweaks,” Don remembers. “Then the lockdown happened, and suddenly, Joe’s schedule opened up. My project was a perfect fit and one of the few positive takeaways from that time.”
So, what makes Don’s amp so special? It takes the SW22R and adds a Dwell control on the reverb, much like the Morgan PR12. Don also specified a bedroom-volume switch for quiet playing. “Joe also suggested changing the value of the midrange pot to 25k from 100k,” he says. “That makes the amp a little quieter, but it really opens up the dynamic range and gives the amp a little more tonal flexibility. It’s what makes the amp truly unique.”
“This amp excels as a clean platform. The input stage is robust enough to take whatever you throw at it but forgiving enough to not be stiff. The sonic character of this amp is full-range with clean top end and full low end. The oversized cabinet design and Celestion G12H-75 speaker really assist in that, as well. Aside from the normal gain and tone controls, there’s a bright switch and a Sun/Moon switch that lowers the peak of the low end.”
Marshall JCM2000 Dual Super Lead DSL100
“This British-built, 100-watt, twin-channel tube head is one of my all-time favorite Marshall amps,” Nick Bowcott states. “Released in 1997, the DSL100 ticked the proverbial box for a great many JCM800-loving metalheads, myself included! The reason? While its predecessor, the JCM900 Series, boasted a Nigel Tufnel-approved gain control that went to 20, it lacked the organic ‘punch in the chest’ of the Marshall JCM800 2203 head that ruled the metal kingdom in the ’80s. The DSL100 righted that wrong gloriously, marrying the JCM900’s high gain with the JCM800’s gloriously aggressive, guttural roar. As a result, this British beast has been in my backline for nearly three decades.”
As for the cabinet? “I pair it with the trusty 1960A angled 4×12 cabinet I’ve been dragging around the world since the early ’80s,” Bowcott continues. “It’s loaded with a quartet of Celestion 12-inch G12M-70 speakers, and, to misquote Judas Priest, it ‘delivers the sonic goods!’”
Doug Sewell-modified 2018 Marshall 1959HW
Another Marshall entrant, this handwired Marshall 1959HW 100-watt Super Lead was built in 2018 and purchased by Matt Duncan, a member of Sweetwater’s merchandising team. The story of this amp is similar to other amps above — it was missing that special something.
Matt later sent the amp to Doug Sewell, one of the amp designers at PRS, to have an effects loop added. Coincidently, Paul Reed Smith happened to have Jimi Hendrix’s Monterey head at the time. “PRS took some of the secret ‘mods’ found in the Monterey head and implemented them in my amp along with the effects loop.”
Now, years later, Matt Duncan still loves his amp. It effortlessly covers glassy cleans and Allman Brothers-style leads with the trademark transformer “clank.” When cranked, it has more than enough gain to blow him away. “Having the effects loop really opens the amp’s ability to be a platform I can use daily,” he reports with a wink, “if I dare to upset the neighbors that often.”
1984 Marshall JCM800 Combo
Like musicians everywhere, many guitarists at Sweetwater did plenty of virtual window shopping during 2020 and 2021. For one such guitarist, a mysterious player who wishes to remain unnamed, a chance encounter online netted him a 1984 Marshall JCM800 combo amp. “For one thing,” he says, “this amp sounds sensational. The other thing is that it gets loud.” The stock speakers have been swapped with Celestion G12 EVHs, which sound magical.
There aren’t many other amps that sound quite like the vintage JCMs do. And now you can experience the magic for yourself.
Peavey 5150
You know it; you love it. The Peavey 5150 is a classic high-gain amp for a reason. Other than being the foundation of Edward Van Halen’s modern tone, this amp is known for its ability to get rowdy and retain its clear articulation well past breakup.
Despite not retaining a permanent spot within Sweetwater Studios, many different 5150s have been used to craft stunning tracks right here at Sweetwater’s campus in Fort Wayne, Indiana. This particular 5150 was provided by the generous folks at Gear Exchange in the Sweetwater Retail Store.
Ampeg B-15
Originally belonging to his uncle, Pat Hannon’s Ampeg B-15 is both a musical heirloom and a force to be reckoned with. His uncle used it as a daily driver for electric and upright bass for more than a decade. Eventually, the amp got stowed away in a garage for many years.
“The amp came to me in disrepair about 10 years ago,” Hannon reports. “I had a tech pull it apart and restore it to its former glory. It sounds incredible!” The amp sounds so good that he took it with him to Los Angeles, California, and deployed it on studio sessions, live gigs, and more. Now he’s the category manager for guitar accessories in the Sweetwater merchandising department, and Pat’s B-15 spends more time in the studio than on the road. “These days, I mostly favor more portable amps,” Hannon told us. “But the B-15 is one of the most recorded bass amps in history, and there’s always something special about a classic amp like it.”
If you’re anything like Mr. Hannon, then you’ll keep coming back to the Ampeg B-15 emulation again and again.
1970s Ampeg SVT
Legend has it that this 1970s-era Ampeg SVT was owned by a popular ’70s power-pop band. While the amp’s current owner can’t confirm or deny those rumors, one thing’s for sure: this amp rules. It delivers every ounce of the classic SVT roar and thunder. Plus, it’s more than loud enough to keep up with the loudest drummers when playing live. Since it’s in your new, exclusive TONEX library, the Ampeg SVT can help you nail the perfect bass tone while playing out, tracking in the studio, or jamming with your buddies.
Bad Cat Black Cat
An amp with an interesting backstory, this Bad Cat Black Cat has had a handful of owners in the past — all of them having been part of the Sweetwater family at one point or another. But before we get into that, this amp is a Mark Sampson-era Bad Cat, which means it’s overbuilt in every possible way. This ensures that it sounds incredible but carries significant weight.
“I acquired the amp from a friend in Chicagoland,” Brandt Miller, the amp’s second owner, remarks. “Then, I spent years in my 20s breaking my back, lugging it around to gigs.” Despite the amp sounding incredible, its significant weight meant it started gathering dust in his home studio. “An amp like this is extremely unwieldy to gig with in 2024,” Miller says. “For that reason, I think this amp is a perfect candidate for the TONEX library.”
Greg Titzer, Sweetwater Sales Engineer and the amp’s current owner, agrees. “Honestly, if it wasn’t so dang heavy, I’d be gigging with it in my current cover band!” Greg quickly fell in love with the Black Cat. “I love the ferocity of its tones,” he says. “I sold my Vox AC15 after I got the Black Cat because [the Black Cat] blew it out of the water.”
Klon Centaur
Possibly the most famous and sought-after pedal in the world, real-deal Klon Centaurs are hard to find. Originally produced between 1994 and 2008, fewer than 10,000 were ever created. Due to their tonal qualities and scarcity, original Centaurs command eye-popping prices on the used market. These pedals are known for their iconic, transparent overdrive tones and have been used by John Mayer, Jeff Beck, and so many other top players. This Klon Centaur was provided to us by J. Rockett Audio Designs and Holloway Sales. We’re extremely excited to include it in our TONEX library.
JHS “Klone”
Speaking of transparent overdrives, we also had the privilege of modeling a JHS “Klone.” According to Sweetwater Sales Engineer Khaleed Matmati, one of JHS’s first pedal builders, this is as close as it gets to the real deal.
“In fact,” Matmati recalls, “when Bill Finnegan found out we were making them, he asked us to stop because we did such a good job.” As an early employee of Josh Scott, Khaleed knows a thing or two about how Josh used his Klone, saying, “Josh would run his Klone into a JHS Morning Glory and get really great overdriven tones.” Whether you use it as a boost or as a clean overdrive, we’re sure you’re going to love the sound of this pedal.
MXR “No Knobs” Wylde Overdrive
“I’ve been fortunate enough to be friends with Zakk Wylde ever since I first interviewed him for Circus magazine and also for a cover story for the English magazine in 1988,” Nick Bowcott reveals with a grin. “Because he got tired of well-meaning techs tweaking the controls of his beloved signature MXR overdrive pedal, he had the company make him one with his settings but no knobs! I have one, and before you ask, no, it’s not for sale, and, yes, I do know Zakk’s settings, but I’m not gonna tell you! That would spoil the surprise. It is what it is!” This bad boy sounds best pushing an already overdriven amp, such as a JCM800, over the edge. Go Wylde and enjoy!
MXR “Frowning” KFK 10-band EQ
“During my lengthy tenure at Marshall, I got to work on a bunch of amazing amp projects, including signature/tribute offerings bearing names such as Slash, Zakk Wylde, Randy Rhoads, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, and one Kerry King of Slayer,” Nick Bowcott tells us. “A big part of Kerry’s uniquely brutal sound was his use of an old BOSS RGE-10 Micro Rack Series 10-band graphic equalizer from the 1980s.” This EQ pedal sat in front of Kerry’s JCM800 2203s. How he set it up might surprise you, though. In the minds of many, thrash metal is synonymous with scooped mids, and no one was more brutal or game-changing in the genre than Slayer. That said, Kerry used his 10-band graphic EQ to boost his guitar’s midrange, not cut it. “As he once told me,” Nick reports, “‘You can’t have anything that even vaguely resembles a smiley face in Slayer!’” In keeping with said credo, Kerry’s graphic EQ curve was definitely a frown!
“The signature MXR KFK 10-band graphic features the exact same EQ points and cut/boost levels as Mr. King’s old BOSS unit,” Bowcott says, smiling. “As I know his settings, the frown has been captured. And yes — you’ve guessed it — I’m not gonna tell you his settings!”
Double Anniversary Big Muff Pi
Only 555 Electro-Harmonix Double Anniversary Big Muff Pi units were ever built. These pedals celebrated 55 years of the Big Muff Pi and 50 years of the Ram’s Head. It includes the Violet Ram’s Head circuit for the full-throated power heard on countless classic recordings. We’d like to extend a special thank-you to Gary and the rest of the good people at Electro-Harmonix for allowing us to capture and share this ultra-rare pedal with the world.
Sovtek Big Muff
Serious gearheads know that you find the best deals when and where you least expect them. This Sovtek Big Muff is an example of one. According to the owner, Mat Smith of our merchandising team, “I stumbled across an original Sovtek Big Muff on an online marketplace,” they said. “It was only a few dollars more than what I’d pay for a modern reproduction, so I pulled the trigger.”
“This specific Big Muff talked to me,” Mat says. “I want to share one of my favorite sounds with the people who download this pack.”
1990 RAT 2
According to Pro Co, the RAT 2 in Sweetwater’s TONEX library was originally shipped to Daddy’s Junky Music in New Hampshire on January 29, 1990. Since then, the pedal has had many owners, including three Sweetwater team members. This particular RAT 2’s current owner, Sweetwater Sales Engineer Stephen Gray, uses it to replicate his favorite Nirvana tones. Those are the exact settings you’ll get in the TONEX library.
How to Get Sweetwater’s Exclusive TONEX Library
Want to play with this amazing collection of gear? No problem. We’re including all the aforementioned gear with purchases of the IK Multimedia TONEX ONE and the TONEX pedal. Once the pedal is shipped to you, the Sweetwater-exclusive TONEX Library will be automatically sent to your email inbox. Please contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more information.
Explore New Sounds with Sweetwater and IK Multimedia
With an IK Multimedia TONEX pedal and the Sweetwater TONEX sound library, you’re getting the sonic flexibility of the TONEX ecosystem and a cache of coveted gear you can’t get anywhere else. Whether you use the Klon’s transparent boost, Don Carr’s squeaky-clean custom Morgan, or the fiery Peavey 5150, the Sweetwater TONEX emulations are your gateway to amazing guitar and bass tones. Ready to experience these stunning emulations for yourself? Contact your Sweetwater Sales Engineer at (800) 222-4700. They’ll get you hooked up in no time.
