Guitar tone enthusiasts can finally access the complete evolution of one of music's most legendary sounds with IK Multimedia's release of the Brown Sound 82/84 Signature Collection – the third and final instalment of their acclaimed TONEX Brown Sound series.
With 83 carefully crafted Tone Models, this collection brings back the days when studios were pushing boundaries like never before. Sure, radio-friendly polish seemed like the be-all and end-all, but somehow a raw edge still cut through every track.
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Several amp-only captures provide flexibility for players who prefer using their own impulse responses or connecting directly to real cabinets on stage. Both authentic recreations and thoughtful variations appear throughout the collection, reflecting different theories about how engineers achieved these groundbreaking recorded tones during the height of 1980s studio innovation.
The studio evolution years
Two distinct periods showcase the Brown Sound’s evolution during these pivotal years. Recording sessions from 1982 at Amigo Studios introduced a brighter, more layered approach while maintaining the core character that made earlier recordings legendary. G12-65 speakers delivered that crucial tight low end and warm midrange, with strategic changes in microphone placement and outboard gear adding studio polish.
1984 marked a quantum leap in tonal precision when sessions moved to a newly built studio in Coldwater Canyon. Processing became more controlled and refined, though the essential grit and energy remained intact. Telefunken EL34s likely contributed additional warmth and mid-forward presence, while precise Variac adjustments gave each track its own sonic identity.
Central to every Tone Model is “The ONE” – a Marshall-style amplifier built from the ground up to match the exact specifications of the infamous 1968 Super Lead serial number #12301. Every crucial modification that shaped the Brown Sound’s DNA has been faithfully reproduced, creating an amp model unlike any other available today.
Period-correct gear and authentic capture techniques ensure each Tone Model reproduces the actual recorded album tones without any post-processing. Players will find an ideal foundation for adding their own time-based effects, whether through TONEX’s built-in options or favourite external pedals.
The Brown Sound 82/84 Signature Collection is available now. For local enquiries, head here.
