BIAS FX 2 Metal Tones: High Gain Virtual Amps
If you’ve been following me for a while (thank you, I appreciate you!), you know that I’ve been using Positive Grid’s plugins for a while. In fact, I’ve recorded 3 albums with their virtual amps and effects.
So it’s no surprise that I jumped on the latest BIAS FX 2. And as you would expect, I went straight for the high gain metal amps. But when I purchased it, I had no idea that I was going to do what I did…
I got this crazy idea to create a video playing through all 30 of the high gain amps.
TMI Backstory: I was actually taking an Epson salt bath when I received this holy revelation to record a video with all 30 BIAS FX 2 high gain amps.
So I immediately cut my bathtime short and started working on this for you! Yeah, I know…TMI.
Anyway, here’s what you’ll get in this post…
- Video: Listen to All 30 BIAS FX 2 High Gain Amps
- BIAS FX 2 High Gain Amp List
- My Favorite 5 Amps for Metal Tones
- BIAS FX 2 VS the Original BIAS FX
- Recording with BIAS FX 2
- What Songs Was I Playing?
Video: Listen to All 30 BIAS FX 2 High Gain Amps
First, I’m going to give you the video below so you can listen to all 30 high gain amps. You’ll hear each amp cranking out some metal for just under a minute.
Oh, and so that you know which amp is being played, there’s a screenshot of the amp in the lower right corner of the video. And one more thing – I’m wearing a different t-shirt for each amp as another distinguishing factor for each tone.
*I didn’t realize I had that many shirts…and here I am trying to be a minimalist!
Here’s the BIAS F 2 high gain amps video…
Special Note: What you’re hearing is the factory settings. I did not (and did not have the patience to) mess with the EQ or cabinet it was paired with and such. I literally just pulled up each and started playing/recording.
BIAS FX 2 High Gain Amp List
Before I go into the details of each amp, here’s the full list of BIAS FX 2 high gain amp. I also included the time each amp is being played and the t-shirt I’m wearing for each amp.
This helps serve as a reference guide for the video (and it also helped me when it came time to synch the audio and video!).
Below this reference table, I’ll give my 5 personal favorite BIAS FX 2 amps. And don’t forget at the end of this post, I’m giving you the details of how I recorded these tracks.
| Time | High Gain Amp | Shirt I’m Wearing |
| 0:17 | 04 Insane 5153 V2 | Keep it Metal |
| 1:03 | 92 Treadplate V2 | Masterpeace |
| 1:49 | 92 VH4 | Meow |
| 2:35 | 1979 British High Gain | Lightning |
| 3:20 | American High Gain | Chuck Norris |
| 4:06 | BE 101 | Red V-neck |
| 4:52 | Black 100 | I Pooped Today |
| 5:38 | Black Bull | Tie Die |
| 6:24 | Classic Insane | Captain America |
| 7:09 | Cobra | Nightwish |
| 7:55 | Ecstasy 101 V2 | Testament |
| 8:41 | German Fire V2 | Keep Calm Listen |
| 9:26 | High Gain EL34 V2 | Arch Enemy |
| 10:13 | Insane 6508 | Justice for All |
| 10:59 | Insane Hargen | Hurley Tank |
| 11:44 | Insane Roadie | Delain |
| 12:30 | Insane SATAN V2 | Chang |
| 13:15 | Invader | Lobsters |
| 14:01 | Lighting | Atari |
| 14:47 | Mark V CH3 | Singha tank |
| 15:33 | Modded Mark IIc+ V2 | GWAR |
| 16:19 | Pushed Mark IV | Rust in Peace |
| 17:04 | RD 53 | Vader |
| 17:50 | RD V2 | Light Blue V |
| 18:35 | SLO SP88 | Heavy Metal Workout |
| 19:22 | Slayer King | Doxie green |
| 20:07 | Snake’s Lead 800 V2 | Unicorn |
| 20:53 | SwitchAxe Lead | Amon Amarth |
| 21:39 | Two Stone Lead | Blue V-neck |
| 22:55 | YM 100 | Hawaiin |
*You can get the comprehensive list of BIAS FX amps and what each amp is modeled after on Positive Grid’s website: BIAS FX Amp 2 Amp Model List.
My Favorite 5 Amps for Metal Tones
Now let’s go through which the amps are best for metal guitar tones. As I mentioned in the beginning, this is just my personal opinion based on my taste and style.
I’ll list the amp, what it’s modeled after, and a short description based on my thoughts. And these are in the order of my top preferences, although that’s subject to change at any time. You know how us guitarists are always flopping back and forth between tones!
Also, I’m giving you more details on the below amps as I’ve toyed around with these more after creating the video of the 30 high gain amp (remember, I did not touch the settings for that video). But after making the video, I took my personal favorites and started tweaking the settings, cabinets, mics, etc.
One more thing…you’ll notice ‘V2’ by the first 3 the amps below. These are amps that are in the original BIAS FX suite.
*You can read about and hear my original BIAS FX tones in this post: Positive Grid BIAS FX Metal Tones
92 Treadplate V2
Modeled after the Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier
From the original to the new BIAS FX 2, the ’92 Treadplate has been my favorite virtual amp from Positive Grid (including BIAS Amp 2). It’s also the most diverse as you can dial in tones for almost any sub-genre of metal with this amp.
The Treadplate is super tight and it’s got that nice mid-range. It also gives a ton of clarity making it great if you do a lot of riffing, which is the core reason it’s been my go-to amp for metal.
With the Treadplate V2, you don’t need to crank up the gain super high for your rhythms. Try your gain at around 5-6. That will give you the most clarity while still having that saturated tone. Crank it to about 7-8 for leads and you’ll get all the sustain you need.
The Treadplate V2 can also be paired with the standard cabs or the Celestion cabs if you have the BIAS FX 2 Elite version. I use the Celestion Vintage 30s for one rhythm and the Celestion Greenbacks for the other rhythm track (and hard-pan each; I’ll get into more of that at the end of this post).
I used the BIAS Amp 2 version of the Treadplate for my album Masterpeace. And this album features 7 string guitars and is more of a ‘power metal meets thrash metal’ style. And it has about 4 different vocal styles, too.
I also used the Treadplate from the first geneal BIAS FX for my album Heavy Metal Workout. This is a classic instrumental metal album (and as you may have guess, it’s made for pushing iron!).
04 Insane 5153 V2
Modeled after the Peavey 5150
I was going back and forth between this amp and the Treadplate (from the original BIAS FX) when I was recording the Heavy Metal Workout album. This amp sounds awesome but there was something lacking in the original version that the Treadplate had.
The new version, ’04 Insane 5153 V2, sounds amazing. I’m almost liking it more than the Treadplate V2. I can see myself using both amps together in the future.
One thing I’ve noticed about this virtual amp is I boost the mids a little more than I normally do, and that gives you a smooth, crystal clear tone. And like the Treadplate V2, you don’t need a ton of gain for your rhythms.
Like the Treadplate V2, I also recommend using the Celestion impulses with the ’04 Insane 5153 V2. If you’re using the standard cabs, try the Thrasher; that will give you more of a melodic death metal tone.
Modded Mark IIc+ V2
Modeled after the Mesa Boogie Mark IIc+
Here we are with another V2 from the original BIAS FX. The Modded Mark LLc+ just has a really cool sound. And to me, the BIAS FX 2 version is definitely a step up from the original.
The original has this weird frequency that I just could never get rid of or EQ out. Of course, that could have been just me. But this new version in BIAS FX 2 is solid!
You can cut the mids of the Modded Mark LLc+ V2 and get that old Metallica guitar tone along with several other classic and thrash metal tones.
For cabinets and speakers, I prefer using the standard BIAS FX cabinets for this amp. To my ears, those fit this amp better than any of the Celestion impulses.