THU Made In Rock – Dark 50
THU Made In Rock DARK 50 is an exceptionally accurate emulation of the 1971 JMP50* head and matched 4x12" cabinet used by Dan Hawkins* on The Darkness* albums and tours.
Blend the amp’s bright, crunchy Channel 1 with the fuller, fuzzier Channel 2 to shape everything from articulate classic-rock rhythm tones to thick, harmonically rich leads.
Runs as a THU expansion or standalone plugin.
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THU Made In Rock DARK 50 Guitar Amp Plugin
THU Made In Rock DARK 50 is a JMP50* guitar amp plugin based on the 1971 head and matched 4x12" cabinet used by Dan Hawkins* on albums and tours with The Darkness*. It combines two blendable amplifier channels, detailed cabinet and microphone controls, song-inspired presets, and 18 additional effects. Use DARK 50 as a standalone guitar plugin or add it to an existing Overloud THU installation.
Standalone and THU Expansion Pack
FREE-STANDING PACK: THU Made In Rock DARK 50 is both a THU expansion pack and a fully standalone guitar amp simulation plugin. It can expand the model list of an existing THU installation or run as a self-contained plugin with all the THU editing features, including the Rig Player, Amp Tweaks, Tuner, and Looper. No previous THU license is required.
What’s Inside the DARK 50 Guitar Amp Plugin:
- The Made In Rock DARK 50 amplifier model.
- An emulation of the matched slanted 4x12" cabinet with Celestion* G12T-75 speakers.
- A dedicated preset bank recreating tones from well-known songs by The Darkness*.
- Additional presets covering classic styles associated with this amplifier.
- Models created using Fluid Capturing, Overloud’s advanced emulation technology introduced in 2025.
- 18 additional models, including overdrives, modulation effects, and reverbs.
Every Detail Captured
The THU Made In Rock DARK 50 head has two input channels. Channel 1 is brighter and crunchier, with plenty of presence. Channel 2 has a fuller low-frequency response with a slightly fuzzier character.
Inputs 1 and 2 were often connected with a jumper so both channels could be blended. The two volume controls let you balance the amp’s top-end bite against its low-end weight, providing a broad range of rhythm and lead tones from the original circuit’s straightforward control layout.
The Matched 4x12" Cabinet
The DARK 50 pack also includes an emulation of the matched slanted 4x12" cabinet equipped with Celestion* G12T-75 speakers, known for their deep low-end punch and bright, aggressive top end.
The cabinet was captured using 18 microphones with high-resolution nonlinear impulse responses. Overloud’s Fluid Convolution lets you position up to four microphones in a full 3D space around the cabinet and blend them with custom IRs. The AIR control adds depth and a more immersive listening perspective.
The History of the DARK 50
The reference amplifier is a 1971 Marshall* JMP50 head, serial number 4626C. It was owned by Dan Hawkins* and used extensively in both live performances and studio recordings with The Darkness*. The amplifier was acquired directly from Hawkins and his engineer, Nick Brine.
The head is paired with a slanted 4x12" cabinet equipped with Celestion* G12T-75 speakers.
The original amplifier is part of the Made In Rock private collection, a unique archive that has expanded over the last 20 years through the acquisition of amplifiers, effects, guitars, and stage equipment used by influential artists such as Jimmy Page*, Black Sabbath*, and Keith Richards*.
Overloud Fluid Capturing Technology
Also known as schematic-assisted capturing, Overloud’s Fluid Capturing combines the strengths of amplifier modeling and capturing.
A traditional amp capture provides a highly realistic but fixed representation of an amplifier at a particular setting and operating level. It cannot reproduce the amplifier’s response at every control position. A modeled amplifier responds dynamically across different settings, but it may not precisely match the character of a specific reference amp.
Fluid Capturing models the amplifier while also sampling it at multiple settings and operating levels. This combined data produces a digital model that responds across the amplifier’s controls while retaining the specific tonal character of the original hardware.
Made In Rock
Made In Rock manages a private collection of instruments and artifacts connected to the history of rock music. The collection includes guitars, basses, amplifiers, speaker cabinets, effects, clothing, memorabilia, and stage equipment owned or used by influential artists.
The organization preserves these items and documents their place in music history. Overloud’s Fluid Capturing technology extends that preservation work by reproducing the sound and response of selected amplifiers from the collection.
THU Made In Rock DARK 50 FAQ
What amplifier does THU Made In Rock DARK 50 model?
DARK 50 models a 1971 Marshall* JMP50 head, serial number 4626C, that was owned and used by Dan Hawkins* for recordings and live performances with The Darkness*.
Can I use DARK 50 without owning THU?
Yes. DARK 50 runs as a standalone plugin with its own editing tools, Rig Player, Amp Tweaks, Tuner, and Looper. It can also be installed as an expansion inside an existing THU setup.
What cabinet is included?
The plugin includes the matched slanted 4x12" cabinet fitted with Celestion* G12T-75 speakers. The cabinet was captured with 18 microphones using high-resolution nonlinear impulse responses.
Can the two amplifier channels be blended?
Yes. Channel 1 provides a brighter, crunchier sound, while Channel 2 adds low-end weight and a slightly fuzzier response. The channels can be connected with a jumper and balanced using their individual volume controls.
What presets are included with DARK 50?
DARK 50 includes a preset bank inspired by well-known songs by The Darkness*, plus additional presets covering classic styles associated with this type of amplifier.
What additional effects are included?
The collection includes 18 additional models covering overdrive, modulation, and reverb effects.
What is Overloud Fluid Capturing?
Fluid Capturing combines circuit modeling with samples taken from the reference amplifier at multiple settings and operating levels. This allows the plugin to respond naturally across the amp controls while preserving the specific tonal character of the original hardware.
Can I use custom cabinet IRs with DARK 50?
Yes. Fluid Convolution lets you position and blend up to four microphones around the included cabinet and combine its microphone captures with custom impulse responses.
*Any use of third-party trademarks, logos, mentioned brand names, artist names, band names, products, and services is referential only. Overloud disclaims any sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement by or of any such third party. The Marshall brand name appearing in Made In Rock collection images is referential only, and Overloud disclaims any sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement by or of Marshall.
