TC Electronic adds Ampworx DC30, Deluxe '65 and JIMS 45 preamp pedals

August 7, 2023 · 3 sources

TC Electronic has unveiled the Ampworx Vintage Series, a trio of preamp pedals modeled on vintage Fender, Marshall and Vox tube amps, MusicRadar reported on June 28, 2023. The series comprises the JIMS 45, Combo Deluxe '65 and DC30¹. Delicious Audio covered the three pedals on August 7, 2023, describing them as "the latest tools in this growing niche"².

Each pedal is a two-channel design with six dials and two footswitches, one for channel selection and one for an additional feature¹. On the JIMS 45 and DC30 the second footswitch activates a boost; on the Combo Deluxe '65 it engages a four-second convolution reverb algorithm¹. Delicious Audio lists the boost as 5dB and switchable before or after the gain via a pre/post switch, with a presence control and a Celestion 4x12-inch G12M Creamback cab sim on the rear panel². MusicRadar reports USB connectivity, DI support by way of a 1/4-inch output and a 1/4-inch headphones output¹.

The pedals differ in channel names, EQ and cab sims:

MusicRadar reports that TC Electronic takes a component-based approach to modeling rather than using the overall output as a reference, which the company says is more detailed¹. Michael Engel, product manager at TC Electronic, said:

The Ampworx pedals are priced at $149 each¹. MusicRadar reported the pedals as unveiled in June 2023; Delicious Audio's August post listed them as "Coming soon"². Pedal of the Day, writing on October 15, 2023, described the JIMS 45 as a digital simulation of a 1965 Marshall JTM45 and reported up to +18dB of on-board boost, set pre- or post-amp, with Normal and High knobs controlling normal and bright gain³. That figure differs from the 5dB boost reported by MusicRadar and Delicious Audio²¹. Pedal of the Day also reported that three more Ampworx preamp pedals were coming³.