Built by a hobbyist, for hobbyists.
Your modeler, finally explained.
Amps, pedals, and cabinets in your modeler — explained in plain language. What each model is, what the controls do, and where to start — so you can spend less time searching and more time playing.
Why I built this
I'm a guitar hobbyist. I play for fun — weekend jams with friends, nothing professional. I've never had access to the volume of guitars, amps, and pedals that exist in the world.
Then I bought a modeler, and it changed everything. Suddenly I had hundreds of amps and pedals at my fingertips. The problem: I had no idea what most of them actually were.
Every time I found a model I liked, I'd end up down a rabbit hole searching for manuals, watching YouTube videos, trying to understand what the controls actually do and what the original gear even sounded like. More time researching than playing.
So I built ToneRef for myself. A single place to look up the amps, pedals, cabinets, and mics in my modeler and understand them — in plain language, without the jargon. It worked. And now I'm happy to share it with you. Let's take this journey together.
Be sure to check back regularly as I update with more models and content.
How to use ToneRef
Find your gear
Browse by type — amps, pedals, cabinets, mics. Or use the filter to narrow down to what's in your modeler.
Read the breakdown
Every entry explains what the gear is, what each control does in plain English, and what genres and tones it's known for.
Start with a sample config
Each page includes starting-point settings for common tones. Dial those in, then adjust by ear.
Tell me what you think
What works, what doesn't, what's missing? This site gets better with your input. All feedback goes directly to me.
If this saved you time
ToneRef is free and always will be. If it's helped you spend more time playing and less time searching, buying me a coffee keeps the site going and the content growing.
☕ Buy Me a Coffee