Universal Audio’s Showtime ’64 Tube Amp Plugin Is Free (For Now)
Universal Audio has built its reputation on meticulous hardware modeling, from vintage compressors to iconic guitar amps. Their latest release, the Showtime ’64 Tube Amp, pays tribute to the legendary Fender Showman, an amp that defined the sound of surf and early rock ’n’ roll in the 1960s. And for the entire month of October (aka Rocktober), UA is giving it away for free. Normally priced at $149, this is a rare chance to grab a flagship-style UAD plugin without spending a cent.The Showman’s legacy looms large in guitar history. Known for its sparkling cleans, massive headroom, and smooth breakup when pushed, it was a go-to for surf pioneer Dick Dale and later found its way into the rigs of artists like The Beatles, David Gilmour, and John Frusciante. Universal Audio’s Showtime ’64 aims to bring that same punch and vibrancy into the DAW, complete with modeled vibrato circuitry, multiple mic choices, and room ambience controls. It delivers the kind of vintage American tone that sits beautifully in a mix—whether you’re chasing authentic surf textures, jangly ’60s rhythms, or clean modern indie tones. Unlike UA’s older plugins, the Showtime ’64 is fully native. That means you don’t need Apollo hardware or DSP cards to run it—just install via UA Connect and load it into your DAW as a VST3, AU, or AAX plugin. For guitarists and producers alike, this makes it one of the most accessible UAD amp sims to date, and a perfect entry point into their growing collection of guitar-focused software.
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What the Plugin Does
At its core, the Showtime ’64 Tube Amp plugin captures the essential character of the Fender Showman: shimmering cleans with plenty of headroom, a smooth transition into warm tube overdrive, and the lush tube-driven vibrato circuit that made the original amp stand out. It’s not just about distortion or crunch — this plugin is designed to give you the kind of detailed, three-dimensional clean tone that can sit upfront in a mix or carry an entire performance on its own.
Universal Audio has also included plenty of flexibility for shaping your sound. You get a choice of classic microphone emulations—including the Shure SM57, Royer R-121, AKG C414, and Beyerdynamic M160—so you can dial in anything from tight, focused mids to airy, open highs. The Room control lets you blend in natural ambience, while the Bright switch and traditional EQ give you quick ways to sculpt tone without losing the amp’s core identity.
Even though it’s modeled after a very specific piece of gear, the Showtime ’64 isn’t just for surf rock purists. It covers ground from sparkling indie cleans to crunchy blues leads, making it versatile enough to use in a wide range of sessions. And because it’s fully native, you can run it directly in any DAW without worrying about UAD hardware requirements, which makes it much easier to integrate into modern production workflows.
Context in UAD’s Catalog
The Showtime ’64 arrives as part of Universal Audio’s growing lineup of guitar-centric plugins, a space the company has been steadily expanding over the last few years. If you’ve kept an eye on UA’s releases, you’ve likely seen the Dream ’65 Reverb, Ruby ’63 Top Boost, and Woodrow ’55 Instrument Amplifier—all faithful recreations of classic amps that guitarists still swear by. Each of these plugins aims to bottle up the sound of a specific era and make it accessible in a DAW, complete with cabinet and mic modeling that rivals standalone amp sims.
Where the Showtime ’64 stands out is in its heritage and tone profile. While the Dream ’65 focuses on Fender’s blackface sparkle and the Ruby ’63 nails British chime, the Showtime goes straight for the surf rock powerhouse—big, clean tones with headroom for days, the kind of sound that stays pristine even at higher volumes. For producers and guitarists who already own UAD’s other amps, this one fills in a very specific niche: American surf and early rock tones that still hold up for modern indie, pop, and cinematic scoring.
It’s also notable that Universal Audio is giving away a plugin in this category. UAD’s amp sims usually come in at $149 each, and while sales aren’t uncommon, free releases are. Offering the Showtime ’64 at no cost not only makes it more accessible, but it also puts UA’s amp line directly in competition with established players like IK Multimedia’s AmpliTube and Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig—tools that have long appealed to the broader guitar community.
Cool Alternatives
If you’re curious about other ways to shape guitar tones in the box, there are some solid alternatives to check out alongside the Showtime ’64.
IK Multimedia AmpliTube has been around for decades and remains one of the most versatile amp and effects suites available. With a huge library of officially licensed amps, cabinets, and pedals, it’s a great option if you need variety. AmpliTube’s strength lies in its sheer depth: you can build complex rigs, mix and match components, and even simulate full signal chains for both studio and live use.
Native Instruments Guitar Rig Pro takes a slightly different approach, leaning more into creativity and experimentation. It offers a wide range of amp models, effects, and routing options, but where it shines is in how easy it is to push beyond standard guitar tones. Whether you want a pumping guitar tone, or design sounds that blur the line between guitar processing and sound design, Guitar Rig Pro is an excellent tool.
Softube is another strong contender, especially if you’re after realism and detail. Their amp sims, like the Marshall Plexi Super Lead 1959 and Amp Room platform, are praised for their authentic tone and analog feel. Softube tends to go deep into a few carefully chosen models rather than spreading wide, so you get highly accurate emulations that feel close to the real thing. For players and producers who value nuance and “feel” as much as flexibility, Softube’s offerings are hard to beat.
How to Get It? Act Fast!!
The UAD Showtime ’64 Tube Amp is available for free until October 31, 2025, and all you need to claim it is a Universal Audio account and the UA Connect app. Once installed, the plugin runs natively in VST3, AU, and AAX formats, so it’ll slot into just about any DAW setup without requiring Apollo hardware or extra DSP.
For guitarists, it’s a no-brainer addition to the toolkit—especially if you’ve been curious about Universal Audio’s amp lineup but hesitant to drop $149 on a single plugin. For producers, it’s a chance to add a versatile clean and crunchy tone machine that can cover everything from surf rock sparkle to indie rhythm guitars and beyond. UAD has been steadily building out its amp collection, and with Showtime ’64, they’re offering one of the most accessible entry points yet.
Whether you’re a guitarist chasing classic tones or a producer looking for authentic tube color in your mixes, this is one of those rare free plugins that feels like a genuine score. Just make sure you grab it before the giveaway window closes.
This site contains affiliate links. If you book or purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the site and keeps my content free. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.