NAD: BluGuitar Amp1 Iridium

[timbuck3]

The most likely explanation for the price increase is their costs going up. If the costs go up $100 and they don’t raise the price, they’ve discounted their product $100.

 

[timbuck3]

I just

The most likely explanation for the price increase is their costs going up. If the costs go up $100 and they don’t raise the price, they’ve discounted their product $100.

wonder if when prices go up and the I'm being a dipshit and starting a political thread are to blame if they go down when I'm being a dipshit and starting a political thread come down,? Some companies may but likely most will consider the new price just that.. the new price

 

[2dor]

This thing through a Mesa 2x12 horizontal Rectifier cab straight up rips.
The high-end does feel a little bit compressed compared to some of my amps but the way it reacts / feels and sounds, overall, it definitely hangs with the real deal.

 

[BahamaDada]

I actually consider buying the Iridium this summer (especially after I saw Euge Valovirta's (spellings?) vid about it comparing it to his modded JCM800.

Right now I am debating if I go 2x12 with V30s (or Greenbacks) or if I should consider the Fatcab for some serious chugs. 2x12 V30 is a safe choice, but also super milquetoast.

@laxu You are the Fatcab guy IIRC?

 

[laxu]

I actually consider buying the Iridium this summer (especially after I saw Euge Valovirta's (spellings?) vid about it comparing it to his modded JCM800.

Right now I am debating if I go 2x12 with V30s (or Greenbacks) or if I should consider the Fatcab for some serious chugs. 2x12 V30 is a safe choice, but also super milquetoast.

@laxu You are the Fatcab guy IIRC?

Yeah I have a Fatcab. I think it's an excellent pairing for the Mercury Edition at least, but I've only used it at home. The BluGuitar speaker is kind of like a mix between a Greenback and V30, leaning more heavily on the GB.

However, it's a 60W speaker so BluGuitar recommends running the amp in the half power mode. I run mine at the full 100W, but only at home volumes so it's fine. The half power mode does feel a bit different, similar to the difference between 50 and 100W amps.

I'd probably go for the 2x12 if you're going for "serious chugs", but you could consider other speakers than the V30 too. The Fatcab sounds bigger than its size suggests, but it's still no 4x12 or anything.

 

[laxu]

This thing through a Mesa 2x12 horizontal Rectifier cab straight up rips.
The high-end does feel a little bit compressed compared to some of my amps but the way it reacts / feels and sounds, overall, it definitely hangs with the real deal.

Now that I've used my Mark V 90 for a bit, I've come to appreciate how simple the BluGuitar is to dial in, if the goal is not to use all the channels at once. If used more like a "clean + choose your own overdrive adventure" amp the shared EQ works really well.

Someone is selling the Iridium Edition pretty cheap used and I'm tempted...

 

[BahamaDada]

Thx for your insights. I don't know how loud the Iridium realy gets, but I guess I wouldn't blow them out. Besides the sound and wattage there's also the price. Fatcab is 500 (you talked about that in your Fatcab thread), usual V30 2x12 cabs go for 250 here used.

 

[2dor]

Someone is selling the Iridium Edition pretty cheap used and I'm tempted...

HA! I'm now looking for deals on the Mercury

 

[BahamaDada]

@laxu @2dor Will the built-in boost also boost the volume for a lead/solo? Or does it just "fatten up" the sound? I guess it depends if it's a pre or post boost?

EDIT: Just looked in the manual, it's a pre.

 

[2dor]

@laxu @2dor Will the built-in boost also boost the volume for a lead/solo? Or does it just "fatten up" the sound? I guess it depends if it's a pre or post boost?

EDIT: Just looked in the manual, it's a pre.

There's a second master volume in there:

Second master volume / solo volume without REMOTE1 or MIDI

Minus booster or volume pedal The 2ND MASTER VOLUME function of the AMP1, which can be called up using the REMOTE1 or MIDI, is suitable for a sound-neutral

support.bluguitar.com

 

[BahamaDada]

There's a second master volume in there:

Second master volume / solo volume without REMOTE1 or MIDI

Minus booster or volume pedal The 2ND MASTER VOLUME function of the AMP1, which can be called up using the REMOTE1 or MIDI, is suitable for a sound-neutral

support.bluguitar.com

Thank you! You already told me that some page above, but that would require another module. For me sometimes a slight boost is enough to cut through enough. At least when the amp gain isn't too far up.

 

[laxu]

Will the built-in boost also boost the volume for a lead/solo? Or does it just "fatten up" the sound? I guess it depends if it's a pre or post boost?

EDIT: Just looked in the manual, it's a pre.

It's mostly to fatten up the sound, could be used to add gain for leads. On the clean channel it adds a pretty sizable mid-boost which I like, but even there the volume increase isn't that big. I almost always use the clean channel with the boost on and the clean channel volume knob quite high because I like "hairy" cleans.

On the overdrive channel I perceive it more like just a gain boost, and the knob on the side determines if it's more transparent or more Tube Screamer-ish.

I don't think it works that well for a boost where you want more volume. The 2nd master would be a better feature for that. It's a shame it's not easily accessible.

I wouldn't bother finding a BluGuitar Remote1 as it's been discontinued, with apparently a new version coming at some point. The MIDI adapter and a MIDI controller of your choice will do the same stuff.

 

[laxu]

Thx for your insights. I don't know how loud the Iridium realy gets, but I guess I wouldn't blow them out. Besides the sound and wattage there's also the price. Fatcab is 500 (you talked about that in your Fatcab thread), usual V30 2x12 cabs go for 250 here used.

Yeah I bought both my Nanocab and Fatcab used for very fair prices so it was a no-brainer.

With that price difference it's easy to go with the V30 2x12. At 120W power handling it should be fine.

I measured the overdrive channel of the Amp 1 ME through a 1x12 Eminence Maverick (100 dB sensitivity). Cranked all the way it put out about 120 dB @ 1m. The entire room was shaking. The Iridium afaik has even more headroom.

 

[Baba]

I picked up a used ME at GC, and have only had like 10 minutes with it, at apartment volume, at home so far, through my Orange 1x12 (V30), about 20 minutes backstage at a soundcheck, at a decent volume, through an H&K 1x12, (also V30), and it's promising.

I'm waiting on the MIDI1 cable, so that I can control the amp via midi from my Stomp XL, but yeah, I'm pretty sure this thing is a keeper.

I'm wondering if I should put it in half power mode for those cabs.

 

[2dor]

I picked up a used ME at GC, and have only had like 10 minutes with it, at apartment volume, at home so far, through my Orange 1x12 (V30), about 20 minutes backstage at a soundcheck, at a decent volume, through an H&K 1x12, (also V30), and it's promising.

I'm waiting on the MIDI1 cable, so that I can control the amp via midi from my Stomp XL, but yeah, I'm pretty sure this thing is a keeper.

I'm wondering if I should put it in half power mode for those cabs.

Consider it a safety-net kind of thing (putting it into half-power mode).

 

[Baba]

Consider it a safety-net kind of thing (putting it into half-power mode).

Wait, I'm looking in the manual, but don't see it, how DO you put it in half power mode?

 

[PLX]

Sounds like a can of bees.

 

[BahamaDada]

There's a preorder on the Bluguitar Homepage for the translucent version, that is scheduled for summer 2025 (very unspecific...). Just placed a preorder and when they will available in stock you get notified for buying the thing with "Vorkasse" (Pay upfront). Nice.

 

[2dor]

Sounds like a can of bees.

Intentionally so - wanted to see how / if it can match the high-end sizzle of a real tube amp; that + the fact that it's recorded through a phone camera and not a mic or the reactive load (which is there just as an attenuator).

 

[laxu]

I'm wondering if I should put it in half power mode for those cabs.

If you are gigging, I'd say it's a good idea. If you are just playing at home, no need.