Waves GTR3.5 what am I missing?

Yesterday, I downloaded the demo of Waves GTR3.5 (full version, not solo);  I had seen the Neil Citron youtube 5 part series/promo on it and also the Paul Reed Smith's promo on his boutique amps that were used in the making of GTR, and I thought "Wow, I should have this plugin in my toolbox".  However, after downloading the demo and playing with it for several hours, I just did not "get it".  It did not impress me at all.

Now to be honest, I am a big fan of Scuffham Amps S-Gear 2.0 and also of Amplitube 3.7.  I am not a metal guy and I like my amp sims to have some transparency.  I find that I tend to use Amplitube for clean Fender tube type tones and Jazz (AC120) type tones, and for some light saturation or overdriven blues, and that I use Scuffham S-Gear (Duke and Stealer) for more saturated and overdriven sounds (but not really for that Fender clean bell tones).  When I need a really driven cranked distortion I either use Amplitube's Soldano or their Metal pack or even NI's GR4.  I was hoping that Waves GTR3.5 would be a good addition for some transparent blues and slightly overdriven tones.  So I tried it out with both my ES335 and ES175 gibsons and I kept asking myself, "what am I doing wrong?" and "What am I missing?"  The GTR was lack luster and dull --at least compared to S-Gear's Duke and Stealer and compared to Amplitube's Fenders.  I plan on putting a Les Paul and a Strat through the GTR later today, but really feel so disappointed that I need some convincing. 

So, I assume several of you veteran Waves guys have GTR3.5 and that you use it from time to time.  How do you think it compares and what are its strengths?  Before I dismiss it altogether, I wanted to make sure that I hear from some of you as to your opinions on GTR's value and strengths (and if possible how you think it compares to S-Gear and Amplitube).  

So, what do you use GTR for and why?

Thanks for any input.
Cecelius2 

Edited:  So tonight I gave GTR a second "hearing."  This time I used my strat and I admit that it seems to be a little better sounding, at least brighter, but it can be brittle if not harsh to my ears.  After another couple of hours of testing, I think it just does not fit well with my ears/needs. I suspect that this is just a matter of taste and individual preferences.  I really wanted it to be better, and it was a little better with the strat, but it still is just not right for me, and I can get the tones I like from Amplitube's clean tube tones and S-Gear's gentile overdriven Duke.  As they say, however,-- "your mileage may vary".

I like the "rack" system in GTR and use it alongside other emulators and just any ol track that needs some "stompage".  It's really just another flavor.  I also like the fact that it has some "boutique" amps and not just the same ol Fender, Mesa, Marshall, Vox stuff...Amp3 has that covered.  I also agree about Mike Scuffham's stuff.  Just great.

Thank you guys for the needed helpful feedback.  I played with it yet again and know that I "should" like it for all the reasons you guys spell out.  It has the Citron and PRS boutique amps, it has a great and simple layout, and it provides a different flavor/color in the musical spectrum.  Your feedback here helps me not to dismiss it altogether.   
 
    It occurs to me that I have only been playing with the standalone version and comparing it side by side with Amplitube and S-Gear.  It seems to lack the "out-of-the-box" wow/shine and fullness that other sims have; this may have to do with its high gain or its reverb.  Given that GTR sounds more bright and "brittle" to my "vintage" (aging) ears, perhaps it will sound better in a mix; perhaps it cuts through better in a mix.  I have just been trying out the presets but realize that I need to just try building some of my own with it.  At first I even thought I had a blown monitor speaker, then realized it was the preset gain/volume settings (something which others have noted).  I will certainly need to tweak the eq some more based upon what I have heard and also have read from you and others.  

    My next attempt in this demo period will be to demo it in a mix, to replace an Amplitube patch with it, and play with the dials and knobs and see if it does in fact shine through and give what it is promoted to do.  I figure it has such high praise, great pro endorsements and it is by the Waves people that it just must be really good.
   
Again, thanks for posting your thoughts.  This does help me in my purchase evaluation of GTR.  I still have 4 more days in the demo and I will not give up yet; I really want to give it a fair hearing.

Cecelius2

karma1959


Hi,
I have GTR3.5, but hadn't used it in quite a while given I went 64 bit with my entire workstation and couldn't get it to work until the latest v9 release with official 64 bit support.  Like you, I'm not a metal guy, I tend to prefer vintage sounding rock tones - the classic Les Paul or Strat through a Plexi. 

When I purchased GTR3.5 a while ago, I tried all the amp sims on the market and felt GTR3.5 was the most flexible and realistic, although it took tweaking.  The Neil Citron amps were a bit better and required less tweaking IMO.  
Russ

Russ:  I agree with you about the Plexi and Neil Citron amps.  I am hoping that I can get these particular sims in GTR to have that transparency and still have the overdriven tone. 

After several days of playing with GTR 3.5 I decided it just was not right for me.  I decided to save the money for a future purchase of their NLS which I think I would use more than the GTR.  

In place of GTR, today I ended up buying some cab impulses from RedWirez for my S-Gear from Scuffham and could not be happier!!!!!  Adding the Roland AC120 and Twin Jensens C12Ns cabs opened up a whole new sound arsenal to my Duke.  Now it is a great Jazz amp in addition to the way cool blues overdrive it already was.  Plus the TweedP12Rs and Deluce REv12k56s cabs are just great for blues.  If anyone is interested, you can buy just one or two cabs and they are very affordable, and they sound absolultely amazing right out of the box.  This is a cool way of expanding the sound pallet of S-Gear.
Sorry Waves, but I promise you will get my money for other plugins soon.

Isn't it great that we have so much choice. I'm a bit like Rain and many other guys here. I have most of the guitar sims and it can be mind boggling. Each have strengths and weaknesses and you may end up finding just a few sounds on each sim that work for you. Or you might have only one that does everything you need.

Some of the things in this article (by Anderton) can be a big help using any amp sim.
http://www.guitarplayer.com/miscellaneous/1139/-seven-steps-to-amp-sim-goodness/23054
 
I have AT4, GTR3.5, GR5. Ampire, Nomad Factory Rock Amp Legends, etc.  At different times I favor different sims.  Sometimes I don't like any of them, so I DI my Laney IRT Studio into one of them for cab/mic/fx.
 
IOW, I haven't found anything that works for me 100% of the time.