BluGuitar Amp X

[laxu]

Its also a mix of random stuff bunched together, with a load of bland surfaces/textures and colours. Screams to me that its one person handling absolutely everything, when there should be other people on board doing what each of them do best. Wouldn't be surprised if Thomas is doing the website and handling all the emails as well.

I think most of the design comes from a "what makes sense for a live player" point of view. It takes a lot of things that work from the Amp 1 - all the amp controls, the footswitches and the way the controls are recessed a bit. Add a presence knob, and quick buttons to go to the main effect types you'd want to adjust. That's all good stuff and should make it really easy to work with if you treat it as just an amp.

The flap that opens is probably convenient to protect the unit, but I can bet most people would just prefer it didn't have it and cost a bit less. At best it should be an addition you can buy to prevent dust going into the top portion or something.

The upper section is where trouble starts, because it is likely to feel dated when it launches with its single encoder to navigate menus and the weird choice of non-encoder knobs for the "X-controls". Durable? Probably, but it still makes no sense to me and just adds extra complication.

BluGuitar is going to have another livestream tomorrow and if I'm not busy I'll try to check it out and ask why they didn't use infinite rotaries for the X-controls.

 

[MirrorProfiles]

I think most of the design comes from a "what makes sense for a live player" point of view. It takes a lot of things that work from the Amp 1 - all the amp controls, the footswitches and the way the controls are recessed a bit. Add a presence knob, and quick buttons to go to the main effect types you'd want to adjust. That's all good stuff and should make it really easy to work with if you treat it as just an amp.

The flap that opens is probably convenient to protect the unit, but I can bet most people would just prefer it didn't have it and cost a bit less. At best it should be an addition you can buy to prevent dust going into the top portion or something.

The upper section is where trouble starts, because it is likely to feel dated when it launches with its single encoder to navigate menus and the weird choice of non-encoder knobs for the "X-controls". Durable? Probably, but it still makes no sense to me and just adds extra complication.

BluGuitar is going to have another livestream tomorrow and if I'm not busy I'll try to check it out and ask why they didn't use infinite rotaries for the X-controls.

From a functional point of view, it makes sense for the most part. The flap seems like something that’s a bit prone to breaking or being annoying, and the recessed area sort of lends itself for crap going into it. I think you can tell all the focus is into that side of things rather than it being something eye catching that someone would want to own and show off/draw attention to. It looks like the kind of gear I saw in used music stores in Portland, where there are random odds and ends from the 80’s and 90’s and you have no idea what it is or if it’s good.

 

[norminal]

Status report:

3:29 Hall effect sensor for the expression pedal? Yes please!

 

[GuitarBilly74]

I think the ship for the X has kind of sailed unfortunately.
But I love my ME. They recently released the 1control pedal for the Amp1 and it's great. It adds an additional volume and gain control plus power soak. I'd like to see more stuff like that. It looks like too many resources are tied up to the X development, but I think Thomas would do better expanding the Amp1 line with more amps and accessories.

 

[hehasthejazzhands]

I think the ship for the X has kind of sailed unfortunately.
But I love my ME. They recently released the 1control pedal for the Amp1 and it's great. It adds an additional volume and gain control plus power soak. I'd like to see more stuff like that. It looks like too many resources are tied up to the X development, but I think Thomas would do better expanding the Amp1 line with more amps and accessories.

I've been saying that there needs to be a standalone stereo power amp or maybe even stereo variants of the Amp1 pedals. Maybe even some kinda micro head variant since not everyone vibes with the pedalboard format.

 

[laxu]

I've been saying that there needs to be a standalone stereo power amp or maybe even stereo variants of the Amp1 pedals. Maybe even some kinda micro head variant since not everyone vibes with the pedalboard format.

Blug has said he's thinking of making a poweramp version after the Amp X launches. Which would make sense for wet/dry rigs for example.

Right now the easiest would be to just use two Amp 1 units.

 

[laxu]

Here's BluGuitar's answer to "why don't you use infinite rotaries for the X controls":

 

[EOengineer]

By the time this thing makes it to market there’s going to be some other game changing technology that totally changes the landscape. Or aliens. Or war.

It feels like this thing has been in development for an eternity.

 

[Enchilada Jones]

If he nails the versatility of the digital multi box crossed with 'it sounds like an amp in my room' I wont care what looks like.
As long as all that versatility isnt hiding in a series of paging and drop down menus and air is moved at my pant leg he wins and "Amp X, Worth the Wait" can be his slogan, I'll order the T Shirt.

 

[paisleywookiee]

I think the ship for the X has kind of sailed unfortunately.
But I love my ME. They recently released the 1control pedal for the Amp1 and it's great. It adds an additional volume and gain control plus power soak. I'd like to see more stuff like that. It looks like too many resources are tied up to the X development, but I think Thomas would do better expanding the Amp1 line with more amps and accessories.

I’d like to see a mini head with dedicated controls for each channel.

 

[banned]

If he nails the versatility of the digital multi box crossed with 'it sounds like an amp in my room' I wont care what looks like.
As long as all that versatility isnt hiding in a series of paging and drop down menus and air is moved at my pant leg he wins and "Amp X, Worth the Wait" can be his slogan, I'll order the T Shirt.

You can get the 'amp in my room' sound today from digital perfectly - just turn OFF cab modeling, skip the whole "FRFR" thing, and run your modeler into a guitar cab via a transparent SS power amp.

I really want Thomas to succeed because he's poured so much into this - but with were digital is at today, there's not much more you're getting from Blug's analog SS solution. Digital is pretty much no compromise in tone and feel if you have the right sound reproduction set-up.

 

[2dor]

Digital is pretty much no compromise in tone and feel if you have the right sound reproduction set-up.

...and is consistent (big deal imho)

 

[laxu]

You can get the 'amp in my room' sound today from digital perfectly - just turn OFF cab modeling, skip the whole ""FRFR"" thing, and run your modeler into a guitar cab via a transparent SS power amp.

I really want Thomas to succeed because he's poured so much into this - but with were digital is at today, there's not much more you're getting from Blug's analog SS solution. Digital is pretty much no compromise in tone and feel if you have the right sound reproduction set-up.

How many threads have there been about things like "should I use a SD Powerstage, should I use a Fryette Power Station?" etc about connecting modelers, with promonents and detractors for each? By comparison no Kemper user is complaining about those things, even though afaik those just use the same ICEPower modules the SD Powerstage does.

I can see value in an "everything you need" box like the Amp X where you don't have to think about how to connect it to anything really, whether you want to run into a real cab or "FRFR" or both at once. It functions closer to a modern amp with IR support in that sense, just with a lot more versatility at a smaller form factor.

My Amp 1 does feel just a bit more immediate to play than the Axe-Fx 3 I had. But I've never been a stickler for latency so it does not really matter much to me, but there are those who might consider it a plus. Same people are likely to be more adamant about the analogness of things.

 

[Orvillain]

By comparison no Kemper user is complaining about those things, even though afaik those just use the same ICEPower modules the SD Powerstage does.

Literally sounds like plugging an SD-1 into a 1x8.

 

[Mongillo19]

All I've gathered from this thread is that I miss the OG creator, Fireproof

 

[timbuck3]

I've been saying that there needs to be a standalone stereo power amp or maybe even stereo variants of the Amp1 pedals. Maybe even some kinda micro head variant since not everyone vibes with the pedalboard format.

The ampx for2k should be stereo amp and effects

 

[laxu]

The ampx for2k should be stereo amp and effects

Would you be fine if it was also double the size? The poweramp and power supply takes a good chunk of the space on the Amp X, and doubling the analog preamp hardware would make it even more complex.

IMO a separate poweramp for stereo users is a much more sensible option. I plan to just use my Amp 1 ME for this as I already have it.

The Amp X already supports a mono send, stereo return fx loop, stereo line out (single TRS jack) and stereo recording outs (separate XLR/1/4" jacks). The line out is intended for stereo, wet/dry or wet/dry/wet rigs.

The effects should support stereo for any post-amp fx.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Here's BluGuitar's answer to "why don't you use infinite rotaries for the X controls":

That's 100% a Boomer-answer.

 

[laxu]

That's 100% a Boomer-answer.

I don't agree with it either. The only benefit of that is that you can feel the start/end of the pot's travel without looking at the screen. Which to be fair, might have some value on a dark stage if you are the type of player who likes to do the "turn knob to zero or max, then quickly turn it to about where you want it" thing.

My Hydrasynth Explorer users infinite rotaries, but they don't have notches like e.g Fractal's encoders. So they feel like regular pots and you simply watch the screen values change. Yet you still "feel" the start/end when the value stops changing, you just need eyes for that. IMO it's a better design than catchup features for regular pots.

That said, I'm pretty used to having to turn knobs back to find the preset setting on my Strymons if I want to adjust it a bit. It's an inconvenience but it's not a dealbreaker for me.

 

[likitlikeyoulikeit]