MRH159 Brown Sound

Name: MRH159 Brown Sound
Price: 137 USD
Author: Nembrini Audio

by Nembrini Audio · Amp Sim · Modded plexi amp sim

Not rated yet

A two-channel guitar amp plugin from Nembrini Audio modeled on a modified 100W Marshall Super Lead 1959, aimed at the "brown sound".

It includes six cabinets, an IR loader, a noise gate and cleaner, and is on sale for $24.99 (regular $137).

Best for: Guitars. Genres: Rock & Indie, Metal.

Keywords: electric guitar, classic, impulse-response based, 50s, clean, hardware emulation, tube, 60s, bright, steep learning curve, transformer, vintage.

What it does

MRH159 Brown Sound (MRH159 Brown Sound Guitar Amplifier) models a Marshall Super Lead 1959, the 100-watt plexi head, modified to get the "legendary BROWN SOUND" of classic hard rock. The model includes the mods behind that sound.

Modifications: mains voltage dropped to 90 V by a variable transformer, 6CA7 "Fat Bottle" power tubes, a 50 kΩ middle pot in the tone stack, and a 25 µF cathode bypass capacitor on the V2 preamp tube.
Two channels: a bright channel with high-treble response and a balanced normal channel, each with two inputs and its own loudness control.
Tone and noise: a three-band tone stack, a noise gate and a cleaner circuit that reduces rumble and harshness.
Cabinets and mics: six cabinets, including a blend of JBL D120 and Celestion G12M Greenback speakers, with four microphone models (among them an SM57), on/off-axis switching, distance and position controls, and a mixer.
IR loader: load and blend up to three third-party IRs with volume, pan, phase, solo and mute.

The current version is 1.0.7. It was on sale when checked, and a demo is available.

Source: Nembrini Audio product page

When to use it

MRH159 is the pick for the late-70s modded plexi sound in a cheap, single-amp plugin. Compared with AmpliTube 5 MAX and Guitar Rig 7 Pro, it offers just one amp, but it models a specific modded 1959 in detail, down to the voltage drop and tube changes. Unlike Nembrini's own JMP Pro or Jazz Chorus, it has no built-in effects beyond the gate and cleaner, so you add delay, reverb or a boost yourself. It also needs more care than a preset-heavy suite: the KVR reviewer found that not every setting sounds right straight away.

Best for: classic hard rock and blues-rock rhythm and lead guitar.
Genres: hard rock, classic rock, blues rock.
Look elsewhere if: you need modern high gain (Archetype: Gojira X) or built-in effects and many amps (AmpliTube 5 MAX).
Tip: set the gain with care and try different cabinets or your own IRs to shape the tone, as the KVR reviewer suggests.

What producers say

The one user review found it very convincing, with a learning curve and limited cabinet choice as the drawbacks.

KVR users rate it 5 out of 5 from 1 review (2021), which called it the first plexi simulation that felt like it was "reacting and behaving" like the real amp, and "perfect" for classic blues rock to hard rock.
Criticisms: the same reviewer wanted more G12M or G12H cabinet options and warned that "not all possible settings automatically sound right".

KVR user reviews

Where to buy

Nembrini Audio: $137

Tutorials and reviews

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