Universal Audio finally completes its UAFX Amp Modeller Quadrilogy with the notably hitherto missing Lion '68 Super Lead Amp / 3-way Plexi style Preamp

Universal Audio launched its UAFX Amp Modeller range in May of last year (2022) - consisting of the Woodrow 1955 Fender Tweed style Preamp, Ruby 1963 Vox AC30TB style Preamp, and Dream 1965 Fender Deluxe Reverb. Many wondered why UAFX had decided on 2 Fenders and a Vox as being its initial offering versus the more obvious Fender / Vox / Marshall trifecta that everyone is so familiar with. I guess they felt they hadn’t quite nailed those chewy Marshall tones yet.

The certainly have now - and that one commission now completes a very formidable Digital Amp Modelling Quadrilogy - where I was always most interested in the Ruby / AC30 - while you can add the Lion / Plexi to that number now. I don’t really need another representative of that genre - but as part of Guitar Pedal X I do enjoy trying out different devices - right across the spectrum of analog, hybrid and digital. And Marshall and Vox voicings are always a big part of my rig. I would not be using any of the Cab Sim stuff - so it’s just the actual core voicing - its nuance and dynamics - that spangle, jangle and chewy texture.

And UAFX have done a genius thing here by including an Eddie Van Halen Brown Sound Voicing also - which is kind of the main event for me - as the EVH sound is something I particularly subscribe to. I have no shortage of superior pedals for that task already - but the demos of the UAFX Lion sound really stellar!

Controls - Volume I, Volume II, Output, Cab : GB25 / GB30 / JB|GB, Options : [Alt] / Amp / Store, Model : Bass / Lead / Brown, Bass [Room], Middle [Presence], Treble [Boost], On Footswitch, Preset Footswitch.

In some ways I still prefer the control topologies of my Tsakalis Room #40 and Sinvertek N5 MGAT-1 pedals. While I feel I may come to really like the Lion too if I give it a chance. It’s slight larger than I would like it to be - while its capabilities - including the 1 preset set it apart from most analog types.

These are pricey for sure - even more than the MGAT-1 - where they come in at $399 in the USA, and between £349 and £379 in the UK. The pricing means that these will never be an impulse buy really - and where I have the killer Tubesteader EggNogg Tweed style Tube Preamp which totally represents that genre - so it really is just the Lion and Ruby editions I am interested in currently.

Pricing denotes that it won’t be a major priority - in fact I will likely try to pick those up very opportunistically - on sale or pristine second hand even. But they’re certainly interesting propositions. And I love the design of the enclosure - while I would definitely have made them more toward standard 1590BB dimensions.

Pretty cool nevertheless - do you have any of these? And / or are you thinking of getting in a UAFX Lion? I would love to hear your usage experiences and insights in the comments below!