BluGuitar Amp X

[Jarick]

We need to talk about the Amp X. Does it bring enough to the table?

Seriously though, I'm wondering now who this is designed for. The appeal of the original BluGuitar amps is that they were small but versatile analog amps that would combine easily with pedals. Now this thing has amp models that you may need to download (and purchase?) and a tiny screen that's needed to dial in effects? I'm struggling to see how that's going to be better than the latest generation of digital modelers.

 

[Fireproof]

We need to talk about the Amp X. Does it bring enough to the table?

Seriously though, I'm wondering now who this is designed for. The appeal of the original BluGuitar amps is that they were small but versatile analog amps that would combine easily with pedals. Now this thing has amp models that you may need to download (and purchase?) and a tiny screen that's needed to dial in effects? I'm struggling to see how that's going to be better than the latest generation of digital modelers.

My guess is that he’s counting on people valuing “analog” a lot more than digital.

Certainly if it weren’t for the analog part of this thing, it would be DOA in my opinion. But still - the lines have blurred between analog and digital so much now, that they are basically indistinguishable. So any “value add” from the analog circuitry I think is not enough to make up for all the other shortcomings and limitations.

I predict a flop. My $0.02.

 

[Jarick]

My guess is that he’s counting on people valuing “analog” a lot more than digital.

Certainly if it weren’t for the analog part of this thing, it would be DOA in my opinion. But still - the lines have blurred between analog and digital so much now, that they are basically indistinguishable. So any “value add” from the analog circuitry I think is not enough to make up for all the other shortcomings and limitations.

I predict a flop. My $0.02.

Agreed...with the Friedman IR-X series and the Tone King Imperial preamp and similar units, it's going to be a harder sell. Granted all in one is nice, but you can get just about any flagship floor modeler plus a solid state power amp for that cost. Or go the preamp pedal and multi effects route.

 

[laxu]

We need to talk about the Amp X. Does it bring enough to the table?

Seriously though, I'm wondering now who this is designed for. The appeal of the original BluGuitar amps is that they were small but versatile analog amps that would combine easily with pedals. Now this thing has amp models that you may need to download (and purchase?) and a tiny screen that's needed to dial in effects? I'm struggling to see how that's going to be better than the latest generation of digital modelers.

It has 4 tiny screens + main screen for dialing in fx params afaik. I think you can also page the 4 params as sets somehow.

I was playing my BluGuitar Amp 1s loud through my big cabs this weekend and it made me think if I should sell my Mesa Mark V. It took so much less time to get tones I loved out of the two BluGuitars, and those tones were totally comparable to the Mesa. The Mesa can do so much in one amp, but there's so many shades of "that's not quite it" until you land on the magic.

To me the strengths of the Amp 1 are that it's so simple to use, versatile and compact. I can fit two in a backpack or carry-on suitcase, Amp X is like 1.5x Amp 1 afaik. The premise of having both Iridium and Mercury Edition sounds in one box + more + effects is a solid one.

It hasn't been talked to much, but based on the material on BluGuitar's website, there's going to be two ways to work with the Amp X:

1. With the flap open, it works like adjusting an amp and fx, this is basically programming mode. Figure your settings, save a preset.
2. With the flap closed, the amp EQ knobs become more like a global post-EQ similar to what the Amp 1 uses, and they will have an effect on all your presets. So if you find your tones too boomy on stage, just turn down the bass and your sound is corrected on every preset.

The way to use it in "flap closed" mode is probably the same as Amp 1: Adjust it to work with your guitar, cab and venue and then just forget about it. It works really well on the Amp 1 and those don't allow you to adjust an amp's tone stack at all.

The "flap closed" mode might have some deficiencies like not being able to adjust say delay mix globally, not sure what the reverb knob will do in that scenario.

I expect Blug will figure out good ways to work with it, but so far I'm not confident it's the way I would like to work with something like this compared to what you can do with modern touchscreen modelers.

 

[timbuck3]

My guess is that he’s counting on people valuing “analog” a lot more than digital.

Certainly if it weren’t for the analog part of this thing, it would be DOA in my opinion. But still - the lines have blurred between analog and digital so much now, that they are basically indistinguishable. So any “value add” from the analog circuitry I think is not enough to make up for all the other shortcomings and limitations.

I predict a flop. My $0.02.

I think he wanted to stay true to that form of the blue amp one iridium and mercury, but I think that was kind of a mistake. I think he should’ve gone with a big touchscreen like the helix and then put that analog amp on board maybe even put two of them in there for a stereo unit and then it would’ve been something really unique.