IK Multimedia TONEX Brown Sound 78/79

50 exceptional Tone Models for use across the entire TONEX ecosystem
Based on a ′68 Marshall® Super Lead modified to serial number #12301 specs
Models feature multiple 1960 Marshall cabs with different speakers
Details include running the signal through specific pedals and a Vega wireless
Captured using period spec studio gear, just like the original recordings
Created using AI Machine Modeling™ technology with advanced training
Compatible with all TONEX software versions, including the free TONEX CS
Tone Models can easily be loaded to TONEX pedals for live performance
The explosive tones of two iconic albums

All in the details

The amp: “The ONE”

At the heart of the Brown Sound 78/79 collection is “The ONE” — a meticulously crafted Marshall-style amp built from the ground up with the exact same spec as the infamous 1968 Super Lead serial number #12301, including crucial mods that capture the DNA of the early brown sound like no other amp model.

A big part of that sound comes from the Fat Cap mod, a custom tweak to the preamp’s second gain stage that increases low-frequency gain and creates that signature chewy midrange and hair on every note. Combined with a 50K mid pot (which shifts the EQ balance toward a more vocal, aggressive midrange), as found on the legendary #12301 Plexi, the amp punches with the exact presence and attitude heard on the earliest Brown Sound recordings

A 100K NFB (Negative Feedback Resistor) from a 4Ω tap was added to the amplifier to further refine the distortion characteristics, making the tone a little bigger and bolder, just like those early recordings.

Under the hood, Heyboer transformers (faithful recreations of the original Dagnall iron) deliver the correct dynamics and feel that only properly wound vintage-style transformers can. These aren’t just clones; they’re the backbone of the amp’s response and harmonic complexity.

Voltage controlled

TONEX’s advanced AI technology captures the true character of any amp as well as its organic feel and response to changes in voltage and bias. TONEX perfectly captures the saggier response and thicker gain produced when the voltage drops and tubes are starved for voltage.

The internal amp bias was maxed out and captured using several different Variac™ settings: 68, 89, and 78 volts. For the ′78 Tone Models, we used 78V and 89V and ran through all cab configurations, allowing you to hear and feel the various combinations of voltages and speakers.

We removed output tubes 4 and 5 to push things even further, breaking the traditional push/pull topology and producing an asymmetrical “pull-only” distortion, giving ′78 captures their signature bite, bloom, and angry edge. At 89 V, the amp tightens up with a little less gain, while 78 V makes the amp more spongy with a tad more gain, perfect for tapping and fiery leads.

For the ′79 captures, we used all 4 output tubes and set the Variac to 68 V amp, which gives you a meaner but slightly clearer sound heard throughout the album. You will notice the amp starts to breathe, but still delivers a natural amp compression that glues together legato notes.

Cabs: Built to shape the sound

Speaker choice was everything. We captured several classic and hybrid cab setups, each chosen for its unique role in crafting the tones of the era. Some combinations replicate known rigs, while others explore options players and experts speculate were used in-studio. Each cabinet was captured using a variety of voltages to provide a spectrum of feel (from tight and punchy to spongy and loose), tailoring the sag and compression like on the records.