If you are a fan of classic rock then the odds are you are also a fan of Slash – all round guitar hero, rock ‘n’ roll survivor and, by all accounts, a genuinely nice guy to boot. And, if you are a guitar wielding, iDevice owner, you can now grab a slice of the Slash’s classic guitar tone with. Available in both iPhone/iPod and iPad versions, this is a Slash-themed version of the IKM’s excellent. The app is equipped with models of all the core gear that Slash uses to create his own tone; two Marshall amps, a Marshall 4 x 12 cab emulation and 6 virtual stompboxes. The included single-track recorder can be expanded to a full 8-track via an in-app purchase.

In addition, owners of the standard versions of AmpliTube can, if they wish, add the full Slash equipment collection to their existing version via an in-app purchase within that app. I checked out the iPad version for the purposes of this review (and the screenshots are all taken from the iPad) using an iRig to connect my trust Les Paul but, while slightly different in appearance, the features offered by the iPhone/iPod version are the same.

Well Stacked. Slash’s iconic amps and effects in a virtual format.

Click on any of the images to see a full size version. AmpliTube Slash includes two amp models; a Marshall AFD100 and a Marshall JCM Slash Edition Silver Jubilee 2555SL. In the ‘real’ world, the AFD100 is a current Marshall model in their signature series, designed (with Slash’s input) to replicate two of the amps that created Slash’s tone from the Guns ‘n’ Roses ‘Appetite For Destruction’ era, while I think the JCM Slash is based upon an amp Marshall made as a Slash ‘signature’ in the mid/late 1990s. As shown in the screenshots, both virtual versions attempt to model all the features of the original amps. Both also include ‘dual channel’ switching – essentially giving you access to instant switching between two different sounds and a greater flexibility in terms of tones.

A single Marshall cab – based on a 4 x 12 model – is provided. The six effects include are staples of Slash’s usual rig; a noise gate, a wah/distortion (this is available as a free download once you register the app), an octave effect, chorus, a signal booster and a delay. Note that there is no reverb but you can create something close by using very short delay times on the delay pedal (you can purchase a reverb pedal as an add-on in the standard version of AmpliTube – hopefully, these same Shop items will appear in the Slash version as some point?).

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As the wah pedal is a big part of Slash’s sound, it’s nice to see that included here and, while you obviously don’t get to actually control it via your foot (unless, of course, you have a MIDI foot pedal connected to your iDevice as the app does support MIDI control), you can adjust the pedal with your fingers (so you can set it in a ‘half-cocked’ position) or via a ‘tilt’ mode (where you tilt your iDevice to control the pedal movement) and there is also an auto-wah mode. Off The Shelf Slash. The presets include some classic Slash tones as well as examples suitable for bread and butter ‘rawk’. Given that the whole point of this app is to give the player an instant dash of Slash, how does it actually sound? Well, in a classic rock sort of a way, pretty good actually. Apple and oracle announced java for mac.

As with the standard AmpliTube amp, the sound modelling is of a very good standard – perhaps not up to the level of a top-of-the-range hardware modelling unit or the full-blown version of AmpliTube on your Mac or PC (and, incidentally, there is a Slash version of AmpliTube for Mac/PC also) – but still very good indeed and, like all the mobile amp modelling apps, the better your hardware connection to your iDevice, the better the results. To get you started, IKM have provided a decent collection of presets. While there are some generic rock tones amongst this lot (‘Hugh Solo’ or ‘Just Heavy’ for example), there are also some tones that draw on particular tracks such as ‘Appetite For Rhythm’, ‘Paradise Intro’, ‘Jungle Delay’ or (and bringing us right up to date with Slash’s current album featuring Myles Kennedy on vocals) ‘Apocalyptic’. If you know anything about the man and his music, you will know exactly what to expect from these presets.

While they are perhaps dominated by distorted, overdriven and crunch tones, Marshall amps can do clean and there are also a number of very usable clean presets that take advantage of this (‘Vintage Clean’ anyone?). The range of available tones is, therefore, perhaps a little more diverse than you might expect if, when you play word association with ‘Slash’, you instantly think ‘heavy rock’. In Summary For guitar playing, iDevice owning, Slash fans, the purchase decision is a bit of a no-brainer. It looks really cool, sounds great and offers up an instant dose of ‘Slash-ness’ as soon as you plug in and let rip with some suitable riffs. However, I suspect the app ought to have a wider appeal amongst classic rock players even if Slash isn’t a particular favourite because the modelled gear could be just as easily used to conjure up guitar sounds from Thin Lizzy to Kiss with a multitude of other Marshall-stacking, heavy rock bands in-between.

You can add extra features via the Shop. If money is not an issue, and you want access to a broader range of amp models, the standard (and more expensive) version of AmpliTube is probably a better place to start and you can then purchase the Slash models as an in-app add-on. Even once you add the costs up (expensive in app terms but cheap in guitar amp modelling software terms), it is still an awful lot of guitar tone for a pretty modest outlay. The one word of caution would be to note that, at present, AmpliTube on iOS is not a universal app; the iPhone/iPod version will scale up and run on an iPad but, if you want the dedicated iPad version you have to make a second purchase. I can understand that the iPad version is different visually to capitalise on the extra screen real estate, but make sure you pick the version that is right for you unless you are happy to pay twice. Whichever way you decide to go – dedicated app or in-app add-on – AmpliTube Slash is pretty cool.

Although not, of course, as cool as the man himself! Still, £6.99 (or the equivalent US$ price) is a pretty modest outlay to get a slice of Slash in your tone locker. AmpliTube Slash for iPad – available via the iTunes App Store AmpliTube for iPad – standard version of AmpliTube is also available The iPhone/iPod version of AmpliTube Slash is also available The standard AmpliTube version is also available as an iPhone/iPod app.

IK Multimedia Releases AmpliTube Slash / Apocalyptic tone on your iPhone, iPod touch, iPad and Mac/PC - IK Multimedia has announced the release of the AmpliTube® Slash, the official Slash apps and software that let you play, practice and record with Slash's signature pedals and amplifiers on the iPhone®, iPod touch®, iPad® and Mac®/PC All versions of AmpliTube Slash feature models of the signature gear used by Slash in the studio and for his live performances. Now users can rock with models of the legendary Marshall® amplifiers used by Slash together with his signature guitar pedals. Also included is a comprehensive collection of Slash's guitar tone settings provided as starting points for tone tweaking or playing along. Additionally AmpliTube Slash provides a fully integrated multi-track recording studio for capturing ideas quickly and easily or producing entire songs and compositions. A robust song player section gives users the ability to play along with songs or backing tracks by importing them directly from their device library or computer. 'My new album, Apocalyptic Love, was entirely written while we were on tour,' states Slash, adding, 'If we are not performing we're traveling, so there is little time for creating music.

By using my iPhone along with IK's AmpliTube and iRig I was able to capture whatever ideas I had swimming in my head, usually around 4am.' 'AmpliTube iRig comes in really handy for on-the-go practicing, recording, or just jamming on different ideas - even if it's on the bus - it's right with me all the time', Slash adds, 'I'll do some tweaks on the Marshall's, but there are also different effects that are available including distortion, chorus, auto wah and more.' Superior Modelling - The Real Deal IK have worked closely with Slash to model his entire rig comprised of 2 must-have classic rock amplifiers - the Marshall JCM Slash Edition Silver Jubilee and the Marshall AFD100 - both equipped with Slash's favourite 1960 Marshall speaker cabinet.

Together with these sought-after amplifiers users will be able to choose from 6 stompbox effects that includes Slash's signature Delay, Gate, Octave/Fuzz, Chorus, Booster and Wah/Distortion. The rig is fully configurable so that the signal chain can be freely customized depending upon the device used: 3 stompbox effects into an amp and cabinet on the iPhone/iPod touch; 4 stompbox effects and amp/cabinet/mic on the iPad, and up to 12 stompbox effect combinations into dual amp/cab/mic/room on the Mac/PC. AmpliTube Slash is the latest addition to the family of official IK guitar and bass products that, thanks to IK's unmatched modelling technologies, features products with the best names in guitar effects and amplification such as Fender™, Ampeg®, Orange®, Soldano™, Seymour Duncan™, T-Rex® as well as legendary artist Jimi Hendrix™.

Hook up with Slash Users can plug their guitar into their iPhone, iPod touch or iPad using IK's extremely popular iRig™ guitar interface adapter or the coming soon iRig STOMP pedal interface adapter. Users with Mac/PC can connect their guitar via USB port using IK's StealthPedal™ digital audio interface pedal or StealthPlug™ cable interface that now also works with iPad using Apple Camera Connection Kit. Pricing and availability The AmpliTube Slash for iPhone and iPad apps are now available on the App Store? At an introductory price of $9.99/€7.99. Existing users of AmpliTube for iPhone, iPod touch or iPad can purchase AmpliTube Slash as an in-app purchase for $9.99/€7.99, or individual models a la carte starting at $2.99/€1.99.