Play, practice, compose and tweak your guitar tone anywhere
Review By Paul Vnuk Jr. with Samuel Vnuk
TONEX Plug is the latest hardware interface for the software-based TONEX guitar amp and effects modeling ecosystem from IK Multimedia—and it is the most personal and portable iteration yet.
The History of IK Virtual Amps
IK Multimedia released one of the world earliest software-based guitar amp modeling applications in 2002. AmpliTube offered not just amp modeling, but a comprehensive guitar signal chain—from stompbox effects to amp and cabinet selection, along with studio effects, room ambience and mic modeling. AmpliTube 5 is still going strong today.
In 2023, IK Multimedia introduced TONEX, a virtual amp and effects platform built around AI-based machine learning and detailed gear profiles and impulses. TONEX captures and recreates the sound and behavior of real-world gear as highly accurate virtual amps that can be used in a DAW or loaded directly into AmpliTube signal chains.
TONEX Hardware
An additional benefit is that your favorite TONEX models and signal chains—whether your own gear captured with the TONEX Capture Tone Modeler and Re-amp Box ($179), tones shared among users via the ToneNET community, or selections from the deep IK Multimedia library—can be imported into a growing number of portable TONEX hardware devices.
First came TONEX Pedal ($329), reviewed by Alex Hawley in our July 2023 issue. Next was the compact TONEX One ($199), reviewed by John Czerwinski and Chris Davis in July 2024. Both can serve as direct live and recording devices or be paired with TONEX Cab ($799), a 700-watt 1 x 12″ powered speaker cabinet. Now, with TONEX Plug, there is a third and even more personal entry point into the TONEX ecosystem—its most portable option to date.
TONEX Plug
Rather than a pedal designed for gigging, TONEX Plug is a compact 2.95″ (T) x 1.57″ (W) x 0.79″ (D) device—about the size of a typical clip-on tuner—that fits easily in the palm of your hand. On one end is a hinged 1/4” TS plug that, as the name suggests, connects directly to the 1/4” output jack of your guitar. The pivoting hinge allows it to fold conveniently out of the way.
On one side is a pair of +/- volume buttons that also handle Bluetooth pairing. The opposite side has similar incremental buttons for scrolling through presets and engaging the onboard tuner, along with a dedicated power button. Along the top panel are a 1/8” headphone output and a USB-C port for charging and connectivity. Finally, the front panel features three red LED indicators for status and level monitoring.
Computer
At the heart of TONEX Plug is TONEX Editor software. Importantly, this is the same fully functional version included with every TONEX product—there is no stripped-down “lite” edition here. In fact, even if you do not yet own TONEX hardware, TONEX Editor is available as a free download.
In use, the editor/librarian allows you to import and organize Tone Models, tweak settings on TONEX Plug in real time, audition and store presets, and access additional amps and models online via ToneNET.
IK Multimedia also includes access to AmpliTube TONEX SE standalone software, which comes loaded with 200+ Tone Models, as well as AmpliTube 5 SE, adding 77 additional amp and effects options.
TONEX Editor connects via the included USB-C to C cable or over Bluetooth.
Phone
Free TONEX Control apps for iOS and Android make on-the-go editing and control of TONEX Plug especially convenient given its compact, direct-to-guitar design. This is a great place to note that the mobile app offers the complete functionality of its computer-based counterpart. In fact, my 16-year-old son spent his first month with the TONEX Plug using only the mobile version, never feeling the need to open the computer version and preferring the complete mobile experience.
You can stream Bluetooth audio directly to TONEX Plug, making it easy to play along with your favorite instructional videos and tracks.
TONEX Plug is more than a portable practice companion—it can also function as a USB-C audio interface, allowing you to record ideas directly into your DAW with ease.
Chasing Tones
TONEX Plug comes preloaded with 30 factory presets to get you up and running immediately. The initial amp selection spans a wide range of clean, edge-of-breakup, boosted and high-gain tones modeled after classics from Marshall, Roland, Vox, Fender, Soldano, Orange and Diezel, along with a rare Dumble Overdrive Special (serial number 0080). Matching cabinets cover a wide range of sizes and styles to complete the signal chain.
A trio of Ampeg SVT-CL presets offer solid options for four- and five-string bass players. Some presets incorporate virtual stompboxes such as Ibanez TS9, Maxon OD808, Boss GE-7 and Fulltone OCD for additional gain staging and tone-shaping flexibility.
You also get five reverb types—spring, plate and room variations—along with two delay options and five modulation effects. And this is only the starting point; the editor and ToneNET dramatically expand the tonal palette.
This is our third time covering TONEX sound and feel, and once again these machine-learning, AI-driven amp models are impressively realistic. They convincingly capture the sonic character of the original gear and respond and “feel” like real amps, with excellent sensitivity to playing dynamics, guitar volume changes and pickup selection.
Use Cases
While it would be easy to view TONEX Plug as simply a great-sounding practice companion—which it undoubtedly is—its seamless integration into the broader TONEX ecosystem elevates it well beyond that role. For owners of TONEX Pedal, TONEX One and TONEX Cab, it becomes an exceptionally convenient way to craft, tweak and audition new sounds between gigs and sessions.
One of the TONEX core strengths is the ability to model your own amps and gear. Here again, TONEX Plug keeps you connected to your personal tones wherever you are—on the tour bus, on a train, in a hotel room, or even at the beach.
Second Opinion
All that said, as I have mentioned in past reviews, while I own a guitar and can strum a few chords, I am not really a guitar player. Fortunately, my 16-year-old son Samuel is. In truth, TONEX Plug was a Christmas gift for him, and it already sounds better through his headphones and earbuds than his small practice amp. Just as importantly, he can play to his heart’s content without disturbing the rest of the household.
Here are some of Samuel’s thoughts:
“The first thing I noticed is that you can pretty much replicate any tone you want. One of the first presets I tried was for Soundgarden’s ‘Black Hole Sun,’ and it was pretty spot on.
About a week ago I started learning the ending section of ‘Holy Drinker’ by Steven Wilson. That one is not a preset, but it was easy to dial in using the TONEX app on my iPhone. Now I am trying to get the sound of ‘Cath…’ by Death Cab for Cutie.
I also like how effortless it was to set up and use with both my phone and computer. It even let me record guitar directly into Ableton Live without any hassle.
TONEX Plug is pretty sick, in my opinion!”
Wrap Up
Whether you are already a TONEX aficionado or simply looking for a great-sounding, affordable way to play, practice and tweak guitar tones wherever you go, TONEX Plug is well worth checking out.
Price: $149; $159 with optional carry pouch
More From: ikmultimedia.com