An amp, short for amplifier, is a crucial piece of equipment that boosts the signal from your guitar or other instruments, allowing you to control volume and shape your tone. Guitar amps come in various styles, including valve (tube), solid-state, and digital modelling, each offering unique sound characteristics. Whether you’re practicing at home, recording in the studio, or playing live, the right amp can make all the difference in achieving your desired sound—from clean and crisp to rich overdrive and distortion.
Electric guitars use magnetic pickups to convert string vibrations into an electrical signal, which is then amplified. Unlike acoustic guitars, they rely on amplification for volume and tone shaping, making them highly versatile in genres like rock, blues, jazz, and metal. Electric guitars come in many body styles—solid, semi-hollow, and hollow—and feature different pickup configurations, neck types, and hardware. From smooth clean tones to aggressive distortion, they offer a wide sonic range, making them the backbone of modern guitar music.
Overdrive is a type of guitar effect that simulates the natural distortion that occurs when a tube amplifier is pushed beyond its clean limit. Overdrive pedals achieve this by boosting the input signal of the guitar, causing the amplifier to saturate and produce a warm, saturated, and crunchy sound.
Overdrive pedals are commonly used in various styles of music, including rock, blues, and punk, to add grit, sustain, and harmonic richness to the guitar’s sound. They are versatile tools that can be used to achieve a wide range of tones, from subtle breakup to full-on distortion, depending on the settings and the amplifier being used. Some classic examples of overdrive pedals include the Ibanez Tube Screamer, the Boss OD-1, and the Fulltone OCD, among others
A special usually refers to a model or edition that stands out from standard versions due to unique features, limited production, or custom touches. This could include upgraded hardware, exclusive finishes, distinctive woods, or artist signature details. Specials often offer enhanced playability, tone, or aesthetics, making them prized by collectors and players alike. Whether it’s a “Standard,” “Custom,” or “Special Edition,” these guitars bring something extra to the table—whether that’s rarity, style, or performance.
We have new and used Universal Audio musical equipment available on our website for fast direct delivery from sellers across the UK & Europe.
Universal Audio (UA) is a leading manufacturer of professional audio recording hardware and software, renowned for their high-quality audio interfaces, preamps, and analog modeling plugins. Founded in 1958 by Bill Putnam Sr., UA has a rich heritage in recording technology, with a legacy that includes designing classic studio gear used on countless hit records. Today, Universal Audio offers a range of products, including their acclaimed Apollo series audio interfaces, featuring real-time analog processing and high-resolution audio conversion, as well as their UAD-2 DSP accelerator cards and plugins, which faithfully model vintage analog hardware. With a commitment to preserving the analog sound of yesteryear while embracing modern digital technology, Universal Audio continues to be a trusted name among audio professionals, musicians, and producers seeking premium-quality recording solutions.
£379.00 £345.26
Get the fabled Overdrive Special amp tones made famous by John Mayer, SRV, Robben Ford, Joe Bonamassa, and Santana Powerful UAFX dual engine delivers the most authentic emulation of three decades of the original handmade amps ever placed in a stompbox Dial in Jazz and Rock modes to experience cloud like cleans and creamy overdriv that blooms in you…
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£379.00 £334.86
Powerful UAFX dual-engine delivers the most authentic '60s British tube combo sound ever placed into a stompbox Includes the world's best speaker cabinet, mic, and room tones derived from the award-winning OX Amp Top Box International products have separate terms, are sold from abroad and may differ from local products, including fit, age ratings, …
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£327.00
The most authentic emulations of classic UA 1176, Teletronix LA-2A, and classic Dyna Comp compressors, in a single pedal Full emulation of UA's legendary 610 tube preamp and EQ Stack and layer any combination of compressors Tweak preamp EQ settings, configure footswitches, add a sidechain bass filter, and more with the UAFX Control app Silent switc…
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£154.33
Authentic emulation of a vintage digital studio hardware, in a compact stompbox Bit-for-bit emulations of iconic Room, Small Hall, or Large Hall programs Vintage-correct Bass, Mid, and Treble decay lines Mod control for lush, grainy "early-digital" textures Selectable true/trails bypass, short/long Pre-delay, analog dry through Timeless UA design a…
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