Mooer Micro Preamp Series & Baby Bomb 30 Power Amp

SEPTEMBER 2017 TOTAL GUITAR
The Tg TesT
99
Hasn’t this been out a while?
Yes, but the BluGuitar Amp 1 is still hugely popular in this space, as
critical and user reviews will attest. Its main promises are headroom
and versatility, with an explicit focus on being able to go toe-to-toe
with a 100 watt head, and on that it certainly delivers.
How do the different preamps in the pedal stack up?
The vintage sounds in here are good and the distortion channel in
vintage mode has a touch of that familiar Marshall heft. Smashing
the front end with a full-range boost pedal results in a pleasant
This seems like a simple option...
Indeed. The logic behind the PowerStage is very much ‘do one thing,
and do it well’. Essentially a power amp in a pedal with a simple
preamp and a three-band EQ, it’s built like a tank and looks really
cool nestled on your board amongst your pedals.
Does it take pedals well?
Designed as a pedalboard amp solution, or a driver to place after a
modelling preamp like the Line 6 Helix, the PowerStage handles
various distortion pedals thrown at it well. In fact, it even managed
saturated breakup, and rolling the gain up further pushes the
preamp into a solid lead tone. Clean is the easiest guitar tone to
model, and as there is a sub-mini tube in the pedal, it should be no
surprise that this is the strongest sound in the unit. The modern
distortion sound sways dangerously close to fi zz territory.
How are the boost and reverb?
The reverb may not be the most feature-laden, but chances are you
run your reverb in front of the amp anyway. The boost function is
handy for an extra kick, but considering how nicely the Amp 1
responds to having a boost in front of the unit, you’ll probably just
use one on your pedalboard instead.
some saturation of its own with a boost in front of it and the volume
up. The only complaint would be that when pushed, the amp felt
tonally dark, meaning the treble control had to be rolled up.
Can you record with it?
If you want to record with it, you’re going to have to use a loadbox
with cab simulation like the Two Notes Torpedo Live and the sound
is not going to stack up to a full-fat tube head. Or, you could stick a
mic up in front of your cab, just as you would with a normal tube
amp. This is clearly more aimed at gigging than studio use and it
should be judged accordingly. For the guitarist looking to strip back
their live rig to a board and a cab, this could be the silver bullet.
BLUGUItaR
aMP 1
The complete solution
SeYMoUR dUNCaN
PoWeRStaGe 170
Alive and amplified
£569
£345
TYPE: Power amp/cab driver
POWER: Mains Kettle/IEC (supplied)
KEY FEATURES: Solid-state
class D power amp.
Can drive a cabinet for
live use; simple interface
CONTACT: Rosetti 01376 550033
www.rosetti.co.uk
aT a gLance
TYPE: Preamp, power amp,
cab driver
POWER: 100-200V Mains
Kettle/IEC lead (supplied)
KEY FEATURES: Can be used
direct for recording as well as
drive a cab onstage; powerful and
has great headroom
CONTACT: JHS Distribution 01132
865 381 www.jhs.co.uk
aT a gLance
TGR297.gear_test.indd 99 8/16/17 12:41 PM