ii
ii
MGP-1A Advanced Modeling Guide
Introduction
Introduction
Now that you have a handle on what each of the MGP-1A’s controls do, there’s two ways to
approach the unit. One is just to play around and find the sounds that work for you. In this case, the
modeling aspects don’t matter as much as the end result.
Others may like to work by first dialing up a specific amplifier and going from there. This Advanced
Modeling Guide will show you which amplifiers you can successfully model with the MGP-1A
Modeling Guitar Preamplifier.
For some, it may be difficult to grasp why we included certain features like an Alt EQ or a Mod switch. Each
feature was included to maximize the number of preamplifiers the MGP-1A can model. That’s it.
Sometimes the difference between amplifiers is not as big as you might think, so small changes, such as a
different tone stack, can get you the tone of a completely different make and model.
It’s important to keep in mind that a guitar amplifier is a complete system consisting of a guitar, preamplifier,
power amplifier, and speaker/cabinet (some may argue that the room is part of the system as well) . For the most
accurate modelled tones, these other components need to be taken into consideration. Changing just one of the
system’s elements can drastically change the tone of the overall system.
The Advanced Modeling Guide will take you alphabetically by manufacturer through the amplifiers the MGP-
1A can model. We will show you the MGP-1A’s switch settings to use, highlight power amplifier and speaker
cabinets and provide tips that may help get you even closer. Note that the speaker recommendations are the
ones the amplifier came with or was made to be used with. Usually amp heads were to be paired with a matching
cabinet, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t use other cabs. Try whatever sounds good.
You’ll notice throughout the Advanced Modeling Guide the knobs don’t always have position indicators. This
is because when the MGP-1A’s switches are set a certain way, the knobs will all behave nearly identical to the
original amplifiers we are modeling, so it doesn’t matter how you have them set. Just set them to sound good.
When they do have position indicators, it means that those settings will give you the most authentic tone of the
originals. Many amplifiers use tone stacks which have only one or two controls, so our three-control EQ needs to
be set a certain way to emulate the originals. This doesn’t mean deviating from our settings will result in bad tone,
just that the original model couldn’t get the same tones with the controls set elsewhere. Feel free to experiment;
there are no “wrong” settings.
This guide is by no means exhaustive. There are MANY different amplifier makes and models out there, many
we’ve never even heard of, and many we will never get a chance to see, study or play through. The MGP-1A is
not capable of modeling them all, but it will likely be capable of modeling some we don’t know about.
And lastly, some settings may be duplicated under different amplifiers. This is OK. Sometimes the duplicate
amplifier’s preamplifier tones are identical, it’s the power amplifier and speaker sections that make them a
different amp.
To use this guide, simply look up an amplifier and set the MGP-1A the way it is shown in the drawing below. If
an LED appears red, it means that feature should be on. If the LED appears white with a black circle, turn that
feature off. If an LED is white with a red circle, that means it is optional or used for an amp’s special features.
If a knob has a position pointer that is solid red, it means that is how to set that specific control for authenticity.
If a knob has a red outlined position pointer, it means to set the control there under certain conditions, which we
will explain in the description.
* All product names used herein are trademarks of their respective owners, which are in no way associated or affiliated with Black Widow Audio Designs. These trademarks of other
manufacturers are used solely to identify the products of those manufacturers as a means to compare the sonic performance characteristics and tones of the Black Widow Audio Designs
MGP-1A. The MGP-1A and its features have been created by incredibly detailed analysis of the actual amplifiers from which they are inspired.
