It refuses to sound sterile. It fights back when you play sloppily and rewards you when you dig in. In a market saturated with 5150 and Rectifier clones, the Plexi mod remains the gold standard for feel, and Overloud has done it justice.
In the world of digital guitar modeling, few names command as much respect as Overloud. Their flagship product, TH3 , is a titan of amp simulation, boasting over 300 models covering everything from sparkling vintage combos to modern high-gain behemoths. However, within this massive library of presets and gear, one specific designation has garnered a cult-like following among rock, hard rock, and metal guitarists: Overloud TH3 345 . overloud th3 345
Have you created a unique TH3 345 preset? Share your settings in the comments below. It refuses to sound sterile
Open TH3. Go to "Amp Heads." Locate the 345 . Turn your monitor volume up to 100dB (safely). Strum an open D chord. Smile. In the world of digital guitar modeling, few
This article is a deep dive into the —breaking down its origins, its sound characteristics, and a step-by-step guide to building your perfect preset. Part 1: Decoding the Number – What is the "345"? Unlike Fender or Marshall, Overloud uses a legal-safety coding system for its amp models. The "345" is not a random number; it is Overloud’s alias for the legendary 1968 Plexi Super Lead 100-watt head —specifically, the "Lead" channel modded by a famous guitar icon (Eddie Van Halen) in the late 1970s.
In the analog world, the real amp is a mythical beast. It starts as a standard Plexi but is modified (often called the "Variac" mod or specific component swaps) to increase saturation, tighten the low end, and create that singing, harmonic-rich sustain.
If you’ve scrolled through forums, watched gear rundowns, or searched for "how to get the Van Halen tone in TH3," you have likely stumbled upon the "345." But what is it? Why is it special? And how do you use it to achieve sonic nirvana?