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Amps and sims
Overview
Tight metal rhythm is mostly hands and mute. The amp should not add a second envelope of fizz that hides those hands.
Who it helps
Players whose chugs bloom into sludge. Pair with palm muting.
Key features
Enough gain to sustain; a cab/IR that does not pile boxy mid-mud; a gate that closes between chugs without chopping note fronts.
Advantages / limitations
Sims are quiet and consistent for practice. They will not fix an inconsistent mute. High-gain + no gate + open unused strings is a hiss generator.
Alternatives
Low-volume tube amp with attenuator; modeler; clean practice amp plus headphones later.