Can the Sim1 XT-1 really make your guitar sound like any other?

23 Dec 2017 by Jef | Approximate reading time: 2 Minutes

Sim1 XT-1 pedal models guitars and allows you to simulate them with your own guitar · Source: Sim1

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Guitar modelling is, of course, not a new concept. However, when someone claims to make a pedal that can make “every” guitar “every” other, it’s something new. At least as far as we know. XT-1 is a new effect pedal by Sim1, and is deisgned to work with both electric and acoustic guitars. Is this too good to be true?

XT-1

This unit was shown earlier this year at Musikmesse 2017. Then all went quiet and it totally slid off the radar. Sim1 aims to re-launch the XT-1 is at NAMM 2018. So what’s this thing all about?

The XT-1 learns your guitar after a minute or two of you playing some scales and chords at it. Then you just take one of the 12 factory presets from other guitars and, voilá! A completely different guitar sound. I suppose there’s probably an EQ and perhaps some dynamic tool at work, such as a transient shaper, perhaps. The conversion is done at 48 or 96 kHz and produces no latency (delay) in the calculation.

Presets

From the factory, the XT-1 includes a Gibson Les Paul Custom 1973, Musicman Axis, Fender Telecaster 1964 or acoustic guitars like the Martin D35 or a Gibson J200. Using USB or WiFi and a special smartphone app (iOS or Android) you can change the presets and buy new ones. Sounds like a solid concept to me. If it does work seamlessly then it could be a fantastic tool for musicians looking to cover a lot of ground live or in the studio, especially if you are on a restricted budget and cannot afford to lug around lots of different guitars.

Will this new product be a cure for GAS? I doubt that, but it does look really useful and also nice and easy to use as well, so I like the concept.