Is there some kind of software that can credibly emulate the effects of various amps or pedals?

All my real equipment is in storage and i've only got an accoustic electric lined straight into my PC, fucking around with Audacity, but all in all it lacks balls, everything's sounding a little John Mayer. Just looking for something to do on a boring Thursday night.

Ideas?

just play like john and pull in that high school poon.

bump?

mick, you still looking for something?
i have this usb input that line 6 makes which doubles as an effects modeler [gtr, bass, and vocals, including most of the effects you can get with a line 6 pedal - the green one with the looping function]. it'a about 185 bucks [american $] and i have to say, for the price the quality is pretty good.
you might also look into the zoom H4. portable dig recorder with 4 track & usb input, + gtr effects. about 300 bills american.

i can vouch for the line 6, but not the zoom.

I've had a Zoom bass multi effects pedal deal for about 10 years and even though I don't use it anymore, it has held up incredibly well considering its age, original price (cheap), and how much I abused it and spilled various fluids in it.

I was just talking about free stuff i can get from the internet. If i'm gonna pay money i'd wanna get hardware