Neural DSP Archetype: Nolly X guitar amp simulator: features and spec-based rating

Neural DSP’s Archetype: Nolly X is an amp simulator from Neural DSP (a company that makes sound processing run on dedicated hardware) that recreates the amps modified by the producer and bassist Nolly (Adam Getgood). It has four amps: clean, crunch, rhythm and lead.

A guitar amp simulator recreates the sound of real guitar amps and effects pedals inside your computer. Even without an amp, you can shape a guitar sound and record.

In this article we compare Archetype: Nolly X with 18 guitar amp simulators and rate how well it serves its purpose on three criteria. The basis is official manufacturer information.

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Summary

Among the 18 guitar amp simulators, Archetype: Nolly X is rank B. The ranks run S, A, B and C, and B is third from the top. Averaging the scores for each criterion (out of 5, with the one criterion that matters most for the purpose counted double) gives 3.0.

Strengths

• Recording and practice (4 points): it has features that are handy for practice and home recording.
• Modeling technology (4 points): it uses its own technology that captures the response of real gear.

Things to keep in mind

• Also usable for bass (1 points): it includes few or no bass amps.

Who it suits: people who want to make a thick, clear guitar sound for modern metal and prog

Main features of Archetype: Nolly X

Four amps that recreate those Nolly modified

Archetype: Nolly X is a plug-in that recreates the amps that the producer and bassist Adam “Nolly” Getgood modified himself. It has four amps: a clear clean, a British-style crunch, a thick high gain and a high gain with a different flavor. The manufacturer says it covers the whole range of tones modern guitar needs.

640 IRs and cabinets

IRs that Nolly recorded with his favorite microphones are included, and with the four amps you can combine 640 IRs. You can also swap amps and cabinets to try them. It supports loading your own IRs.

Pedals and EQ before the amp

Before the amp there are two overdrive/boosters, a solid-state compressor and a delay. Besides the nine-band graphic EQ, there is a setting called Nolly’s Mod that emphasizes certain bands. Reverb and delay add depth to leads.

Where it is useful

• Recording rhythm guitar for metal or prog with a thick high-gain sound
• Playing ambient chords with the clean amp
• Swapping amps and cabinets to find the combination that suits the song

Rating by criterion

Range of tones: 3 / 5

We look at the choices of amps, cabinets, microphones and so on.

It has four amps and effects such as two overdrives, a compressor and a delay, and you can load your own IRs.

Recording and practice: 4 / 5

We look at features that help with home recording and practice.

You can run it as a standalone app, which has a tuner and a metronome (when run standalone).

Modeling technology: 4 / 5

We look at the technology used to recreate real gear.

The cabinet section includes IRs that Nolly recorded with his favorite microphones, and you can combine four amps with 640 IRs.

Also usable for bass: 1 / 5

We look at whether it includes bass amps and the like, so you can record bass with it too.

It is made with amps and effects for guitar.

If “also usable for bass” matters most to you, AmpliTube 5 and Guitar Rig 7 Pro (5 points) are a better fit.

How we score (Guitar amp simulators)

Criterion	Basis	5 pt	4 pt	3 pt	2 pt	1 pt
Range of tones	Choices of amps, cabinets, microphones and so on	400 or more models, plus adjustment of microphone position, room and even your own IRs	Many amps and effects, plus loading your own IRs	Dozens of amps and effects can be combined	A small number of models (such as a free version)	—
Recording and practice	Features that help with home recording and practice	A recorder, a looper and a tuner are all included	Two or more, such as a looper and standalone use	Can be run as a standalone app	—	Not mentioned on the official page
Modeling technology	The technology used to recreate real gear	Has models made with machine learning or AI	Has its own IR (cabinet response) technology	Standard modeling	—	—
Also usable for bass	Whether it includes bass amps and the like, so you can record bass with it too	The official page states that it includes gear (amps and so on) for both guitar and bass	—	Stated to be usable for bass too (general-purpose processing)	—	No bass gear, or not mentioned

Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5 on how well the product serves one goal: recording guitar and bass through a line at home and making them sound like an amp. Scores follow the conditions in the table above, and the rank is based on an average in which "Range of tones" counts double. The basis is official manufacturer information. Sound quality and CPU load are not measured, so they are not scored; reviews from trade magazines are introduced in the articles for reference. Price is not part of the score. Features that cannot be confirmed from the manufacturer's or a retailer's description are scored as if absent. "Also usable for bass" is a criterion that answers the common search for "bass amp simulator". The "OBS (streaming)" column in the table shows whether the official page lists the VST2 format that the streaming software OBS Studio can use (○). OBS does not support the VST3 format. It is not part of the score.

Archetype: Nolly X system requirements and getting started

Operating system	Windows / Mac (Apple silicon supported)
Plug-in formats	VST2, VST3, AU, AAX (64-bit)
Standalone	Yes (with tuner and metronome)
Other	An iLok account is required (no USB key needed). It can also be used on the Quad Cortex
Trial	14-day trial available
OBS (streaming)	Works as it is (VST2 is listed)

Checked on the manufacturer’s official pages on September 27, 2026.

Compared with other guitar amp simulators

Click a heading to sort. On a phone, the table scrolls sideways.

Read next

• MGuitarArchitect: features and rating (rank B)
• Archetype: Gojira X: features and rating (rank B)
• BIAS FX 2: features and rating (rank A)
• TH-U: features and rating (rank A)