At the beginning of the year I started working on a new audio software project; a custom guitar VST plugin designed around one of the most iconic rock and metal tones ever created, the classic JCM 800 paired with vintage V30 and G12-65 speaker cabinets. As a guitarist, recording musician, and developer, I have always been fascinated by the way certain amps react to picking dynamics, gain structure, and cabinet coloration. Modern amp simulators have become incredibly advanced, but I wanted to see how closely I could recreate the aggressive midrange punch and tight response of a real tube amp using my own plugin architecture.
The goal of this project is not simply to copy an existing amplifier, but to capture the feel players like myself associate with those classic recordings from the 80’s and early 90’s. The JCM 800 remain one of the most influential guitar amplifiers ever produced. From hard rock to thrash metal and classic punk, its raw gain structure and articulate attack helped define entire genres of music. What makes the amplifier special is not just distortion. It is the way the amp responds to the guitarists hands. Light picking cleans up naturally while aggressive playing creates harmonically rich saturation that cuts through a mix without sounding overly compressed. Many modern digital plugins focus heavily on ultra high gain tones, but I wanted to focus on realism, dynamics, and responsiveness.
A major part of guitar tone comes from the speaker cabinet and microphone chain. For this project I have been experimenting with impulse response closely modeled after vintage Celestion V30 and G12-65 speaker combinations. The V30 style response provides the aggressive upper midrange bite that helps lead guitars stand out in dense mixes, while the G12-65 adds warmth and smoother high frequencies. Blending these characteristics together creates a balanced tone that works well for rhythm and lead playing. I have also been testing different microphone positions and cabinet resonance behaviors to make the plugin feel more natural during recording sessions.
The plugin itself is being developed as a VST guitar amp simulator with low latency and real time responsiveness in mind. The plugin can be heard here https://youtube.com/shorts/MbeQEcVPYIA?si=4d9guJinp5a3bhMjOne of the biggest challenges when creating amp simulation software is preserving the feel of a real amplifier while keeping the CPU usage reasonable for home studio users. Some of the areas currently being developed include tube saturation modeling, dynamic input response, cabinet impulse response loading, analog style EQ shaping, oversampling for smoother distortion, stereo room simulation, and recording friendly output levels. The long-term goal is to create a plugin that works equally well for direct recording, Livestream performances, and content creators who need high quality guitar tones without expensive hardware setups.
One interesting trend in software development is how quickly independent developers can now build niche creative tools. Large companies often move slowly due to production cycles and market demands, while smaller developers can experiment rapidly and focus directly on musicians feedback. That freedom allows projects like this one to evolve organically. Features can be tested quickly, tones can be refined in real time, and community feedback can directly shape development. For musicians, this means more specialized tools designed by people who actively play, record, and perform.
As development continues, I plan to expand the plugin with additional cabinet options, custom IR blending, preset sharing,, and a standalone desktop app. I am also interested in integrating Livestream friendly features for musicians who perform online and need reliable low latency guitar processing without requiring expensive external hardware. This project combines several things I enjoy the most: music production, software development, and tone experimentation. More updates coming soon as the plugin progresses.
Written by Dwight Bedsaul
Other links of interest
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dwight-bedsaul-3b7a92344/
https://www.youtube.com/@dwightbedsaul
https://github.com/eldorado101
https://www.contentsocial.net/dwight-bedsaul/
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