DSP Rig
Mike McCready Tone — Plugins & Amp Sims
Fender Stratocaster into a Marshall head, often with a Uni-Vibe running for slow passages. The tone is blues-inflected rock — relatively clean rhythm with a moderate overdrive pushing the solos above the mix. A Cry Baby wah adds expressiveness to lead lines. The feel is Hendrix in a grunge context.
Mike McCready's signature pedal-driven tone — built around Fender and Marshall voicings — can be replicated in the box using modern amp sim plugins and IR cab loaders. This page maps the full DSP signal chain: guitar sim → amp sim → FX → IR, so you can dial in that soulful, expressive character without physical gear.
Full DSP Chain
Est. £3,227Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster
$3,809
Archetype: Tim Henson (clean channel)
≈ Fender Vibroverb
$253
Helix: Coliseum Mini Wah
Helix: Transistor Tape Delay
Helix: Double Tank Reverb
York Audio TW 212 Mix Pack (IR)
≈ Fender Twin 2×12
$37
Hybrid Option
Est. £3,227Real guitar into a DSP amp chain — best of both worlds.
Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster
$3,809
Archetype: Tim Henson (clean)
≈ Fender Vibroverb
$253
Helix: Coliseum Mini Wah
Helix: Transistor Tape Delay
Helix: Double Tank Reverb
York Audio TW 212 Mix Pack (IR)
≈ Fender Twin 2×12
$37
Tone DNA
Gain Structure
pedal-driven
Amp References
Fender, Marshall
Key FX
Wah, Delay, Reverb
Tonal Character
soulful, expressive, bluesy, raw
Where to Buy
Browse amp sims, IRs and FX plugins at these retailers: