I'll get right to the point: the Neural DSP Fortin Nameless Suite X amp sim is my favourite of the Neural DSP plugin line up.
I mean, Neural DSP is widely regarded anyway as having some of the best amp simulators for metal, but for me, the Fortin Nameless Suite X stands out.
And NOT because it's the "djent/Meshuggah" amp. It's actually not for that reason at all.
Let me put forward my argument why I believe it's one of the best Neural DSP plugins, and how it's shockingly underrated.
My Story With The Fortin Nameless Suite X
To be honest, when the original version of the Fortin Nameless came out, I made a video about it and I did like it, however...
The Fortin Grind pedal really wasn't for me, and it did feel shoe-horned into being a djent machine, which is not my thing.
But even back then, I found so much potential in it being a black metal and death metal powerhouse.
Later, I proved this once and for all with my Marshall Metal preset pack by recreating an AC/DC guitar tone, among other tone recreations based on NILE and Slayer, etc.
When It Became The "Ultimate Marshall" Amp
A few years later, Neural DSP updated it and it became the Fortin Nameless Suite X. This is when it truly became legendary for me.
Neural DSP describes it as "specifically crafted to meet the demanding needs of extreme metal musicians" and this is true. I just wish they'd make it known that it can do more than djent!
That said, it was updated with:
- 9-band graphic EQ
- Post effects pedals (delay and reverb)
- Transpose & Doubler
- Tuner
- Metronome
I should also mention that before that, the Fortin Hexdrive was added and this greatly improved the amp sim overall and I much prefer it over the Fortin Grind pedal.
Why It's Underrated & Wrongly Pigeon-Hold as a "Djent Only Amp"
I mean, it's right in the marketing.
You've got Greg Kubacki from Car Bomb just playing in a low tuning doing open string muted chugs.
It sounds cool, but because of this, Fortin Nameless Suite X gets cut off at the knees and limits how people think of it.
It doesn't help that reviews of the updated suite didn't really do anything except rehash the marketing language on Neural DSP's website.
If you avoided Nameless because "it's just a djent amp", I can't blame you.
How I Use Fortin Nameless Suite X Differently
First of all, I play a lot of riffs in Standard E or Standard D. Obviously I also play in Drop A, but you get so much different character in higher tunings.
Also, when you lower the gain and push the mids and presence and adjust the microphone on the speaker to be a bit more round, you get very punchy rhythm guitar sounds that kick you in the chest.
Additionally, Nameless is really good at atmospheric/ambient leads now because of the added delay and reverb pedals.
Turn down the gain, maybe engage the doubler and use the delay and reverb and you can actually generate post-black metal style sounds.
But this will probably shock you the most: I don't dime the gain knobs. I like to experiment where I get just a smidge of that silky/plexi type sound mixed in because it makes my tremolo picking sound really cool.
What I Love Most
I believe the Fortin Nameless Suite X has a feel and dynamic about it that makes it fun to play.
Some amp simulators feel flat, but this fat and thick feeling is retained with the Nameless even when you push it pretty hard.
Another thing is the user interface is much simpler than some of the newer Neural DSP amp sim offerings.
I don't generally like having to click 50 times when I'm creating guitar tones. The interface is pretty straightforward and easy to navigate.
Lastly, it's one of the more unique Marshall-styled amps because of how modded it is.
In fact, when people try to play other Marshall amp sims, they expect to get a Nameless type of sound, which isn't how Marshalls sound at all.
Which again just speaks to it's unique character and versatility when you adjust the gain knobs, mids, and presence in particular.
My Recommendation
If you already use Neural DSP plugins (or are considering one) and want something that gives heavy stuff but also leaves room for other styles, then the Fortin Nameless Suite X is a strong choice.
And yes, I've built a number of tone packs for it. You can get my entire bundle of Nameless Suite X preset packs, or you can get them individually below:
Last Words
In short, the Fortin Nameless Suite X is not just a "djent" amp. It's an underrated Neural DSP plugin for metal guitarists and a versatile tone machine.
Use it creatively and you'll be surprised how many different sounds you can get from one amp sim.
After some experimentation it might just become your favourite amp sim too.