IK Multimedia TONEX Brown Sound 78/79 Collection - Download

The Brown Sound 78/79 is the first in a limited series of three exceptional TONEX Signature Collections, diving deep into the legendary guitar tones that helped define modern rock. Using period-correct gear and an obsessive attention to detail, this collection features 50 Tone Models that capture the unmistakable sound of the rock icon's first two groundbreaking albums.

Every decision behind the Brown Sound 78/79 was made to capture not just the gear, but also the attitude, the feel, and the raw sonic blueprint of a genre-defining moment in rock history. With a mix of confirmed and speculated setups, including alternate speakers such as the 4x12 combo cab loaded with two vintage JBL® D120s and two 25W Greenbacks®, these Tone Models deliver stunning accuracy and creative flexibility. Complete the experience with Sunset Sound Studio Reverb and recreate the tone that changed guitar forever.

Collection Overview

• 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

Note: This expansion is for the TONEX ecosystem and requires either the free TONEX CS software, TONEX pedal, or full version software.

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.

Captured Cabinets:

- Marshall® 1960A loaded with Celestion® G12M 25W Blackbacks (75 Hz)
- Marshall® 1960A with Celestion® G12M 25W Greenbacks® (75 Hz)
- Marshall® 1960A with Celestion® G12EVH / Heritage 20W Greenbacks® (75 Hz)
- Marshall® 1960B "Peeled" combo cab loaded with two 25W Greenbacks® (75 Hz) and two JBL® D120 speakers

Signal chain: Secret sauce included

Beyond the amp and cab, the front-end signal was run through the exact vintage pedals used in the original recordings, even when bypassed, to retain their subtle but crucial tonal imprint.

Signal chain:
- Vega Wireless system (used on several '79 captures)
- 1977 MXR® MX117 Flanger
- Mid-'70s MXR® MX101 Script Logo Phase 90
- 1970s Maestro® Echoplex EP-3
- 70 feet of Belden 8410 & 8412 guitar cable (for realistic high-end rolloff and cable capacitance)

System Requirements

TONEX for Mac/PC is a 64-bit application and requires a 64 bit CPU and Operating System.

Mac®
Intel: Intel® Core™ i3 (Core i5 recommended for Modeler), macOS® 10.15 (macOS® 11 Big Sur required for Modeler), 4 GB of RAM, 6 GB of hard drive space
Apple Silicon: Apple M1, macOS® 11, 4 GB of RAM, 6 GB of hard drive space. TONEX is a native Apple Silicon application.
Supported Plug-in formats: Audio Units, VST 3, AAX.

Windows®
Intel: Intel® Core™ i3 or equivalent CPU (Core i5 recommended for Modeler), Windows® 10, 4 GB of RAM, 6 GB of hard drive space, NVIDIA GPU with Maxwell or newer architecture is recommended to reduce training times (eg. GeForce GT 750 or higher).
Supported Plug-in formats (64-bit): VST 3, AAX.

Internet connection is required to authorise the application and access ToneNET.