Shreddage 3 Archtop is a hollowbody electric guitar instrument for Kontakt, featuring the S3 engine, deep articulation control, and a modular FX rack with custom cabinet IRs.
Purpose
Shreddage 3 Archtop is a virtual instrument designed to capture the warm, smooth tone of a hollowbody electric guitar. It is a six-string model based on a Sadowsky Jim Hall guitar with dual pickups, recorded through a true analog signal chain. The instrument excels in clean and amped playing styles, making it suitable for jazz, blues, R&B, funk, pop, and alt rock.
The upgrade to the S3 engine brings improved performance playback, expanded editing capabilities, and a more intuitive user interface. This engine also includes a new poly input feature for realistic chords and multiple fret and string voicing algorithms. It is built for composers and producers who need an expressive, playable guitar that fits seamlessly into a mix without external processing.
Key Capabilities
The S3 engine includes the Console, a modular effects rack and mixer with over 30 effect modules, including EQs, compressors, spatial effects, modulation, amps, distortion pedals, reverbs, and custom cabinet IRs. These presets allow for direct processing without additional plugins. Each sample is cleanly recorded, and the instrument offers a variety of articulations, including sustains, palm mutes, harmonics, hammer-ons, and release noises.
Total Articulation Control Technology 2.0 (TACT) provides extensive mapping and triggering customization, letting you assign articulations to keyswitches, velocity layers, or other controllers to suit your workflow. The instrument also includes a strumming tab for creating rhythm parts, and dynamic layer adjustments, mute levels, and per-articulation velocity curves for nuanced performance.
Workflow
Shreddage 3 Archtop is designed to integrate into a Kontakt-based workflow. With the Console, you can load or save FX chains for use across projects or other Shreddage 3 instruments. The instrument allows blending between the two pickups, with optional custom inserts for each, giving you control over tone shaping. TACT lets you create a personalized mapping setup that matches how you write music.
For rhythm work, the new strumming engine and voicing algorithms help you generate chords that feel natural, while the poly input feature supports realistic chord voicings. You can also adjust dynamics and mute levels to match your song’s intensity. The on-screen interface simplifies editing, making it easier to navigate articulations and effects.
Practical Applications
This instrument is best used for genres that benefit from the hollowbody’s smooth tone, such as jazz, fusion, pop, blues, funk, and R&B. It can handle hi-gain styles, but its strengths are cleaner tones where the inherent warmth and detail of the recording shine. Use it for melodic lines, chord comping, or arpeggiated parts that require a natural, organic feel.
For producers, the included cabinet IRs and amp models give you a range of tones without needing external gear. The articulation set supports everything from subtle finger-style passages to more aggressive strumming. Whether you are writing a laid-back ballad or a funky groove, this guitar can adapt to your arrangement with clarity and nuance.
Key features
- S3 engine with improved performance and editing
- Console modular FX rack with 30+ effects and custom cabinet IRs
- TACT 2.0 for customizable articulation mapping
- Poly input for realistic chord voicings
- Multiple strumming and voicing algorithms
- 30+ production-ready tone presets
- 24-bit recordings from a session musician
Best for
Best for jazz, blues, R&B, pop, funk, and alt rock productions needing a warm, clean hollowbody guitar. Ideal for composers and producers using Kontakt who want an expressive instrument with comprehensive articulation control and built-in effects for direct integration into mixes.