Developer DamyFX has released HellsBass, a free rock/metal-inspired bass amp simulator for Windows.
If you aren’t familiar with DamyFX’s work, the developer offers a handful of free VST3 plugins, including analog-inspired effects and a classic polysynth emulation.
However, most of DamyFX’s work focuses on guitar-based products, such as amp simulations and profiles for platforms like AIDA-X and IK Multimedia’s TONEX.
HellsBass is an electric bass amp simulator designed to deliver a powerful sound, particularly effective in rock and metal genres.
Although designed with more aggressive tones, you can deactivate the Overdrive (Hells) if you want something more subtle.
In addition to the Overdrive control, the visually pleasing interface offers Gain, EQ (with settings for Bass, Mid, and High), and Presence controls.
The interface design is influenced by classic and iconic bass amps.
DamyFX suggests that HellsBass can deliver tones ranging from those of Jaco Pastorius to Pantera, which is very interesting.
Pantera’s Rex Brown is known to throw up some melodic lines in his uber-heavy rhythmic playing, but there’s still a long way between Pantera and Jaco. So, if HellsBass, with its tube-style character, can cover so much ground, that’s very cool.
The downside is that, despite sharing the news, I haven’t heard HellsBass in action. At the time of writing, I couldn’t find any audio demos, and since my setup is Mac-only, I’m unable to test it out.
Once again, I have to rely on you, Windows users, for some feedback. If HellsBass sounds as good as it looks, it could be a gem of a freebie.
Bassists, let me know how you get on with HellsBass in the comments.
If you’re a Mac user, you might want to check out Audio Assault’s free BassTR.
DamyFX also offers guitarists the sound of the iconic Marshall Plexi amp head (1987) with the Mr Jose AmpSim plugin.
More specifically, Mr Jose offers the sound of the late José Arredondo, who modded amps for the likes of Eddie Van Halen and Steve Vai.
HellsBass is available in VST3 format for Windows.
Again, please share your thoughts on HellsBass in the comments.
Download: HellsBass (FREE)
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Last Updated on May 30, 2025 by Tomislav Zlatic.
