Marshall Bluesbreaker 1962: Guitar Amp Preset Pack by Softube

The Bluesbreaker's amp section is based on the Marshall JTM45 Tremolo head, Jim Marshall's first amplifier model. The Model 1962 was the company's first combo, with an open-back cabinet holding two 12-inch Celestion T650 speakers. Softube says the open back and Alnico speakers set it apart from most Marshall cabinets, which are usually closed and use ceramic speakers.

The cabinet was recorded by producer and engineer Tony Platt at the Strongroom studio in London. Platt is known for his work on AC/DC's Highway to Hell and Back in Black. The recordings used three microphone combinations, each with four microphone sets, which gives a range of tones from one source.

The plug-in offers a channel strip where you can switch each microphone channel on or off, pan it in the stereo field, and set its level. A Main Out Volume control sets overall output without changing the tone.

Cabinet Microphone Select lets you choose between Valve, FET and Dynamic close-mic sets. Each set includes condenser and ribbon room mics. Blending these channels is the main way to shape the tone, so the channel strip is where most of the sound design happens.

The 50 Tony Platt presets give you starting points for both the native plug-in and Amp Room. They show how the mic blends are used in practice, which can help when you are learning the controls.