UAD Lion '68 Super Lead Amp plugin interface by Universal Audio

UAD Lion '68 Super Lead Amp: Plexi Amp Simulator Plugin

Rated 4.3/5 on Plugin Boutique (12 ratings)

UAD Lion '68 Super Lead Amp is an amp simulator plugin from Universal Audio that models three late-'60s 100-watt plexi amplifiers, including Super Lead, Super Bass and Brown setups, with mic and speaker cabinet pairings.

VST3AUAAXWindowsmacOS64-bit

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01Overview

Universal Audio's Lion '68 Super Lead Amp brings plexi-style guitar tones into your DAW without requiring an Apollo interface. It is based on the UAFX pedal and covers three 100-watt plexi amp variants, from bell-like cleans to high-gain breakup. The plugin also includes classic boost emulations, room sound and a set of microphoned speaker cabinets, so you can shape the signal from preamp to cabinet inside one plugin.

Best for

Classic rock guitar
Hard rock lead tones
Van Halen-style brown sound
Clean plexi guitar parts
Metal rhythm crunch
Boosted solo tones

Developer: Universal Audio
Category: Amp Simulators
Store: Plugin Boutique

02Key features

What you get

Emulates three 100-watt late-'60s plexi amp variants inside your DAW
Super Lead, Super Bass and Brown amp setups in one plugin
Six mic'd speaker cabinet setups with room sound
Built-in Maestro EP-III preamp and Boss GE-10 EQ boost emulations
Based on the UAFX pedal and built on UAD modeling
Curated presets covering rock, metal, pop and country
Available in VST3, AU and AAX plugin formats

03In depth

Plexi Amp Sounds: Super Lead, Super Bass and Brown

The plugin offers three plexi setups. Super Lead is modeled on a hand-picked vintage Super Lead head and covers bell-like cleans, aggressive breakup and soaring distortion. Super Bass is the cleaner option, with a spongier attack and more clean headroom.

Brown is built around the hot-rodded sound that Universal Audio associates with Van Halen. It includes the sag of a voltage-starved Super Lead amp and a mixed Celestion 25-watt Greenback and JBL D-120F 4x12 cabinet, which gives a softer midrange attack and sharp string-to-string definition.

Cabinets, Boosts and Controls

Six speaker cabinet setups are included, each paired with specific studio microphones and dynamic room sound. Options range from a 1x12 Electro-Voice EVM12L miked with a 414 condenser to a 4x12 Celestion Greenback cabinet recorded with ribbon and dynamic mics.

Two classic boost emulations are built in: a Maestro EP-III preamp and a Boss GE-10 ten-band EQ, which you engage with a knob to push crunch and lead tones further. Presets covering rock, metal, pop and country are included to help you start quickly.

04Specs

Will it run?

Formats, systems and requirements as listed by Plugin Boutique. Missing details are left out, not guessed.

Developer	Universal Audio
Type	Plugin
Category	Amp Simulator
Formats	VST3, AU, AAX
Operating systems	Windows, macOS
Architecture	64-bit

05FAQ

Questions, answered

What do I need to run UAD Lion '68 Super Lead Amp?

You need a supported DAW compatible with VST3, AU or AAX, a 64-bit Windows 10 or 11 system or a supported macOS version, an internet connection and a free iLok account. A free UA Connect application is used to manage UAD Native plug-ins. An iLok USB key is optional.

Which formats and operating systems does it support?

The plugin is available in VST3, AU and AAX formats and runs on Windows and macOS. Both 64-bit Windows and macOS versions from Big Sur 11 through Tahoe 26 are listed as supported.