American Mainstayer
by Softube · Amp Sim · 1990s high-gain tube amp
Not rated yet
American Mainstayer is Softube's model of an iconic early-1990s American high-gain tube amp, with tight lows, aggressive mids and heavy gain.
It runs on its own or inside Amp Room and Flow Mixing Suite, for €29 (about $32.93).
Best for: Guitars. Genres: Metal, Rock & Indie.
Keywords: aggressive, 90s, tube, electric guitar, tight, mixing, crunchy, heavy, classic, bass.
What it does
American Mainstayer (listed in Softube's suites as American Mainstayer 100W) is Softube's model of a two-channel American high-gain tube head that has been "an absolute 'mainstay' in the scene" since the early 1990s. Softube does not name the original amp.
- Two channels: Channel 1 is voiced for crunchy hard rock with heavy lows; Channel 2 is tuned for high-gain metal.
- Gain stages: Gain, Master Volume and Presence knobs, which Softube says give the best results when tweaked together.
- Tone stack: Bass, Middle and Treble controls.
- Sound: Softube describes it as tight lows, aggressive mids and searing gain for rock and metal rhythm parts.
- Matching cabinet: in the Amp Room Metal Suite it is paired with the American Mainstayer 4x12, loaded with Celestion Vintage 30 speakers and built for firm low end at high gain.
- Where it runs: on its own as a plugin, or as a module inside Softube's Amp Room and the Flow Mixing Suite.
- Also in a bundle: it is one of four amps in the Amp Room Metal Suite, next to the Vildsint 50W 6L6, Higain 100W 6L6 and Marshall JCM800 Lead Series.
The sources do not mention a trial.
When to use it
American Mainstayer is the cheap way to add one classic 90s American high-gain voice to Amp Room, rather than a complete guitar rig. Compared with Archetype: Nolly X or Archetype: Gojira X, it gives you a single two-channel head instead of several amps, pedals and effects in one window, but it costs a fraction of the price. Unlike AmpliTube 5 MAX or Guitar Rig 7 Pro, it does not try to be a whole collection; its value grows if you already use Amp Room and want to pair it with Softube's cabinets and pedals. Next to Neural Amp Modeler, which loads captures of real amps, it offers a modelled amp with a familiar knob layout.
- Best for: tight, palm-muted high-gain rhythm guitars, and crunchier hard rock parts on Channel 1.
- Genres: metal, hard rock and modern rock.
- Look elsewhere if: you want a full rig with pedals, cabinets and effects in one plugin; a Neural DSP Archetype or AmpliTube 5 MAX covers that.
- Tip: Softube suggests an overdrive pedal in front of Channel 1, with a high-shelf EQ if the low end gets loose.
Where to buy
- Softube: $32.93 (€29 converted to USD (ECB rate, 29 Sep 2026))
Tutorials and reviews
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