Do You Need a Reamp Box to Make Models with NAM?

The answer is no! There are different methods with different requirements. Although it's recommended (in T3K's guide) to have a reamp box for the sweep method, the wet/dry capture method simply requires that you have something to split your signal with. This is important because to keep in mind before you commit to buying an expensive reamp box.

What a reamp box does in the context of NAM

Reamp boxes take your interface's balanced signal and ouput an unbalanced signal for your amp. There is also an "impedance matching" aspect to a lot of these. The idea is to give you a more guitar-like signal when you reamp.

Although there's been a lot of debate about the extent to which reamp boxes are necessary, I think it definitely makes sense to use them for the sweep method of capturing for NAM. If I am trying to model how my gear creates output from an unbalanced signal, why use a balanced signal to train the model?

What I've been using

Radial Engineering's products seem to be well-regarded in the NAM community (and was recommended to me by my sales rep too), and I went with the Radial Reamp JCR Passive Re-Amping box. I've used it to create over 40 models so far, so I am satisfied with the gear, even though it was pricey.

Although, as I said at the start of the article, you don't need one of these to make NAM models, if you're in the market you can check this product out on Amazon to learn more (earns commission).

Conclusion

Most guitarists don't need a reamp box, and you certainly don't need one to get start making models with NAM if you can do the wet/dry capture method. Many opt to use them for the sweep method though. I hope you have found this article helpful and concise.