When people ask me what the best guitar plugins for Reaper are, I always go back to the same two tools I’ve relied on for years: Waves GTR Tool Rack and Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7. I’ve tried a ton of free and paid plugins, from niche boutique amp sims to giant all-in-one suites, and these two still blow everything else out of the water. If you’re a guitarist, producer, or songwriter working in Reaper, this is exactly what you need to dial in pro-level tones.
Why Reaper Is Perfect for Guitar Plugins
Before diving into my go-to plugins, let me say this: Reaper is one of the most flexible DAWs for guitar recording.
It’s lightweight, blazing fast, customizable, and handles third-party plugins like a dream. No matter what you throw at it, VSTs, impulse responses, complex routing, Reaper just works.
That’s why choosing the right guitar plugins for Reaper matters. You’re already using a powerful DAW. Now you need tools that match what Reaper can do.
1. Waves GTR Tool Rack – My Secret Weapon for Classic Tones
I’ve used Waves GTR Tool Rack for over a decade, and it continues to be one of the cleanest, most reliable guitar amp suites I’ve ever loaded into Reaper.
Why I Love It
- The tones just work. I can pull up a preset, tweak two knobs, and I’m tracking in seconds.
- Super low CPU load. Perfect if I’m running tons of tracks in a session.
- Simple interface that doesn’t overwhelm me with 200 amp models I’ll never touch.
- Pedals that actually sound like real pedals, especially the overdrive and chorus modules.
This plugin shines for:
- Clean and edge-of-breakup tones
- Warm blues crunch
- Classic rock rhythms
- Tight leads that cut without being harsh
In Reaper, I keep a track template ready with GTR Tool Rack already loaded. I grab my Telecaster or my Les Paul Studio, arm the track, and I’m off.
2. Guitar Rig 7 – The Most Versatile Guitar Plugin in Reaper
If GTR Tool Rack is my “meat and potatoes,” Guitar Rig 7 is my playground for creativity.
What Makes Guitar Rig 7 Stand Out
- Huge amp selection for everything from vintage combos to modern high-gain monsters
- Incredible effects, including studio-grade reverbs, delays, and modulation
- Drag-and-drop workflow that makes experimenting fun
- Insane sound quality. This version finally nailed realism
I use Guitar Rig 7 when I want to explore:
- Ambient guitar soundscapes
- Thick modern rock tones
- Experimental textures for film-style music
- Layered delays and modulated cleans
- Saturated fuzz or synth-style effects
This plugin turns Reaper into a full guitar lab. I love building chains from scratch and saving them as presets for future recordings.
Why These Are the Best Guitar Plugins for Reaper
After trying nearly every free and paid amp sim on the market, here’s why GTR Tool Rack and Guitar Rig 7 consistently sit at the top of my list:
Realistic tone
They avoid that plastic digital harshness a lot of other plugins struggle with.
Easy to use
No over-engineering, just practical tools that help me get creative faster.
Work flawlessly in Reaper
No crashes. No heavy CPU load. No weird routing. Just plug in and go.
Covers every sound I need
Between the two of them, I can record:
- Punk
- Rock
- Indie
- Reggae rock
- Ambient
- Blues
- Cinematic textures
They’ve become core pieces of my sound as Tony Oso.
Final Thoughts: The Best Guitar Plugin Setup in Reaper
If you’re searching for the true kings of guitar plugins in Reaper, look no further than:
Waves GTR Tool Rack: fast, classic, reliable
Guitar Rig 7: creative, modern, endlessly versatile
Whether I’m tracking my Fender P Bass, laying down guitar layers for a mix, or building new tones for songs like Mistakes, Identity, or Welcome to the New Frontier, these plugins always deliver.
If you’re using Reaper and want pro-level guitar tones without overthinking it, these two plugins are the best on the market, hands down.
If you want to see the full list of music production software and plugins I use, check out everything I use here.
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