IK Multimedia have launched the Brown Sound 78/79 Signature Collection, the first in an exclusive three-part series of TONEX expansions that capture some of the recorded guitar tones that have defined modern rock music. Using period-correct gear and an obsessive attention to detail, this first offering in the collection features 50 Tone Models that capture the unmistakable sound of rock icon Gus G’s first two albums.
The release has been built around ’The ONE’, a meticulously crafted Marshall-style amp built to the exact specifications as the iconic 1968 Super Lead. The specific amp in question has the serial number #12301, and featured a number of modifications that helped to define its distinctive sound. The Tone Models are said to perfectly capture the ‘saggier’ response and thicker gain produced when the valves are starved of voltage, and IK maximised the amp’s internal bias before modelling results across a range of cabinet configurations.
Brown Sound 78/79 Signature Collection is the first in a new three-part series of TONEX expansions.
Every cab used for the collection was miked with SM57s and run through a vintage-style analogue console, while a selection of Tone Models were created using a U67 placed further back to capture more resonance and a smoother top end. Those looking for a bit more ‘edge’ will enjoy the inclusion of alternate Hot Tone Models , which have been created by driving the console’s mic preamp harder to add some extra gain and saturation. The captured signal was run through the same vintage pedals used in Gus G’s original recordings, and there are even some captures that feature the Vega wireless system, which many players famously used it for its slight compression and subtle tone thickening.
Pricing & Availability
The Brown Sound 78/79 Signature Collection is available now via ToneNET, and within any version of TONEX for Mac or PC. It is currently (16 May 2025) being offered at a limited-time introductory price of $€79.99, reduced from its full cost of $€99.99.
