The "American Tube Clean" is world-class. It reacts to your pick attack like a real tube amp. If you roll your guitar volume down to 5, it cleans up beautifully. For jazz or pop-punk cleans, this is indistinguishable from the real amp.
Yes, IK Multimedia wants you to spend money. The Custom Shop is always there, tempting you with a $14.99 overdrive pedal or a $69.99 Dimebag Darrell collection. But here is the secret: you don't need them. With careful tweaking, the free gear is capable of radio-ready recordings. ik multimedia amplitube 5 cs
Every piece of gear you see grayed out in the list (the famous Slash collection, the Mesa/Boogie pack, the Brian May rig, the Syntronik synths) is a one-click purchase. The "American Tube Clean" is world-class