Universal Audio Woodrow ’55: The Sound of the 1950s Now Available as a Plugin!
When Retro doesn't just Sound Retro
5,0 / 5,0 | 
Universal Audio Woodrow '55: The Sound of the 1950s Now Available as a Plugin! · Source: Universal Audio
With the Woodrow ’55 Instrument Amplifier, Universal Audio brings one of the most iconic guitar amps in music history directly to your DAW. An emulation of the classic American tweed amp from the 1950s, the plugin is based on the legendary 5E3 circuit that has been used in countless studio and live productions. From The Eagles to Chuck Berry to Neil Young, this amp’s distinctive, rich tone has influenced generations. Now, Universal Audio transfers this DNA into a meticulously modeled plugin based on physically accurate replicas of the original circuit components such as tubes, transformers, and potentiometers.
UA Woodrow ’55 Plugin: Tweed Amp for the DAW
To celebrate the birthday of Spark, Universal Audio’s native plugin collection, and “Guitar Month,” the popular manufacturer is bringing another emulation of a legendary guitar amp to the digital world. The Woodrow ’55 Amplifier mimics the amp of the same name down to the last detail. The special feature of this plugin is the depth of the tonal reproduction, because not only the final sound has been captured, but also every relevant detail in the behavior of the analog electronics has been simulated.
The transition from clean, open sounds to harmonically saturated crunch, which is typical for this Woodrow amp series, is achieved by a simple control with only one volume knob. This organic overdrive reacts instantly to playing style and dynamics – an element that often has to be replaced by complex signal chains in modern guitar production, but here is intuitively available directly in the plugin.
Virtual Amp Classic for Real Guitar Sounds
Especially interesting for studio work is the possibility to use the plugin not only live with a virtual amp sound, but also in post-production as a re-amping engine. With Woodrow ’55, a dry DI guitar track can be sent through accurately modeled amp circuits, cabinet simulations and a selection of classic studio microphones. The entire sonic character can be precisely controlled in the DAW – without the need for a real amp, recording room or microphones. This feature greatly expands your creative freedom in the mix, allowing you to shape your sound without re-recording.
What’s more, Woodrow ’55 offers a wide range of presets developed by artists and experienced engineers. This gives you quick access to a wide variety of styles and cool sounds, from warm country cleans to mid-aggressive blues tones to compact rock crunch. This plugin is not meant to be an emulation, but an extension of a classic concept that provides an inspiring foundation for both traditional guitar sounds and modern productions. The Woodrow ’55 fits into any music production as a tool and delivers results that are more than just a simple simulation of a vintage amp. Very nice!
Pricing and Specifications
The Universal Audio Woodrow ’55 is available at an introductory price of $60.00 / £56.00 / 64.00€ until April 30, 2025 here at Thomann*.
The plugin runs on macOS 10.15 or higher (including Apple Silicon support) and Windows 10 or higheras AAX, VST3 and AU in 64 bit. A set of presets is included.
More Information
- Product page at Universal Audio
- More about Universal Audio
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