BluGuitar Amp1 Mercury Edition 100-watt Pedalboard Amp with Nanotube Reviews

The BluGuitar Amp1 Mercury Edition is a great sounding Plexi amp for your pedal board. You can dial in a different number of Plexi tones, from clean to metal. I use the clean and the first two overdrive settings but not the metal: it's just too much distortion. It has a Master volume, but there is a separate gain and master for the three distortion channels, which is nice. The clean channel also sounds great with a Tube Screamer. But make no mistake; this is a Plexi amp. To me it will not quite reproduce the sag of a warm Fender tube amp. I can get close to the tone, especially when run through my Mesa cabinet. But I knew that before I made the purchase. In the video, Thomas Blug makes it very clear that this is a Plexi. The controls are well thought out and each one has an effect on the tone. The three tone controls work well and can be fine-tuned with the side controls. The crunch feature is a nice touch, and the noise gates work well. The Reverb is ok but not the best. You might want to keep your reverb pedal if you like a lot of reverb. Because of the odd shape of the Amp1, I had to get creative to get it securely mounted on my pedal board. It's a little large for a pedal board (it takes up the same space as three pedals) but it works. You can also place it on top of your speaker cabinet. It fits right over the handle. Everything considered - it's a great addition to my board. I highly recommend The BluGuitar Amp1 Mercury Edition.

From Fender cleans to full blown Marshall soaring leads,this is your amp. All analog circuits designed by Hughes and Kettners Thomas Blug to sound just like the great Marshall's. JTM45, PLEXI and JCM800. To my ears he nailed it. This thing sounds so good I just want to crank it, and it's LOUD. If you pull the trigger on this you'll be glad you did.

From Fender cleans to full blown Marshall soaring leads,this is your amp. All analog circuits designed by Hughes and Kettners Thomas Blug to sound just like the great Marshall's. JTM45, PLEXI and JCM800. To my ears he nailed it. This thing sounds so good I just want to crank it, and it's LOUD. If you pull the trigger on this you'll be glad you did.

This thing is nothing less than amazing! Incredible tone and extremely easy to follow manual!
Plenty of power.

I've been playing this amp1 everyday for 3 weeks and totally loving it. I own 8 tube amps including 3 plexi's, jvm205h, dsl100hr, jcm800, Friedman JJjr, and a jet city custom 2.X so I'm very familiar with tube tone and feel and the amp1 is the real deal. The touch sensitivity and note articulation actually feels better on the amp1 over my tube amps and there's so much versatility in the 4 channels and tone controls that it's such a joy to play that I'm logging 3-5 hours a day playing. I took a gamble on this and I'm so glad I did. Once sweetwater gets more iridium units in I will be purchasing that one also. Totally exceeded my expectations!

I used to have one, had to sell it, and moved to a different rig. A year later, I'm watching a video I did with the Amp1, and was blown away by the tone. Some of the best tones I ever had. I was getting compliments on my tone. Since I saw the video I made, I decided that I need that sound again. So this time, I actually bought TWO!

I've tried every tube-like amp out there from Milkman's "The Amp" to Roland's "Blues Cube." They're all "good" in the sense they all offer warm, tube-ish sounds in a wonderfully portable, affordable package. However, BluGuitar's Amp1 definitely takes the cake in every way you would want it to.

I tested it out with a 2021 Gibson SG Modern and a Fender Custom Shop 1960 NOS going into a Yamaha 150watt/8ohm 1x12 cab. The results were simply staggering. Cycling through the main knobs and overdrive settings on the face of the unit, my jaw dropped at the accuracy and overall attention to detail tone-wise. Thomas really did his homework to replicate every tube sound you'd ever want. What really impressed me the most were the little eq knobs on the left side of the unit. Personally, I wish they were a little bigger (they're super tiny). But, these knobs are extremely important to dial in the precise tone and tube amp style you're looking for. Also, thanks to the preset option, I officially have no further use of an overdrive pedal. Simply use a basic boss footswitch and you can preset your favorite clean-to-overdrive options for gigs. However, it should be noted that the device takes up a lot of pedalboard space. Since the belly of the unit thoughtfully fits over the carrying strap of any 1x12/2x12 cabinet, I would suggest placing it on top of your cab in most situations.

To conclude, the results were simply breathtaking and well worth the money. I don't say this often, but the device is flawless in what it sets out to do.

I am a gigging musician, and was looking for a smaller, lighter rig, (I am now 55). Was using an EVH 5150iii 50 watt amp prior to this. I bought the first edition Bluguitar amp 100 watt. It is on my pedal board. This little thing sound amazing, and has PLENTY of headroom. Besides that, it can be run through the house through the record out 1/4" output. So now my rig is literally my bin with cables, tools, etc…, my pedal board, and 2 guitars. Simple and foolproof. We play 80's to today rock/hard rock and this amp delivers in a big way! I could not be more pleased with this amp.

Nick Huskins was my salesman and he directed me toward this unit, the best decision I ever made and he wasn't lying about the sound of this thing it's amazing!

The BluGuitar Amp1 Mercury Edition packs 100 watts of serious volume, and can morph into a wide variety of classic amps. The side tone controls for each channel allows the user to dial in their preferred tones that can be later be recalled quickly. The microtube and 100% analog signal path allow you to jump from Fender sparkling clean to Marshall soaring leads. The only digital sound is the reverb which is quite good. The Amp1 Mercury behaves and sounds just like much larger and heavier tube heads. And the Amp1 take pedals extremely well, either before the amp or in the effects loop. I paired it with the BluGuitar Twin cabinet, but if you're touring I'm sure the Fatcab ad NanoCab sound great as well. Kudos to Thomas Blug for creating this amazing amp!

It really is awesome. I love the tonal flexibility on the sides, gives you so many options. For me, I wasn't sold at first, but then I set mine to 1/2 power, and low gain mode (which has plenty of gain) and wow. I also feel it only takes dirt pedals well when the clean channel is on bright mode/fender tone FYI. Sold a bunch of pedals, amps and simplified my rig.

I bought this amp to use in my studio. I have it pumping into a Suhr Inductive Load with IR and my Focusrite interface out to Yamaha Studio Monitors.

It sounds amazing and I can get all of my guitars to sing with vibrant cleans to beautiful breakup without causing the missus to arrive at my door, howling at the volume. (When she goes out for a few hours, I will connect to my Marshall 4X12 to hear it in the wild).

I first used one of these at my guitar teachers studio and was impressed with its tone. Ease of use and adjustability are Excellent and build quality is pretty good.

I don't use the extreme metal channel, but the other 3 are exceptional. (There is another model specifically for you metal heads)

Reverb is pretty good and the clean channel loves my pedal collection

I have a Marshall JVM 410 and the tone pallet is very similar in my experimentation.

I like it very much...

I researched tube amps for months and I was ready to pull the trigger on a very reputable german amp maker, famous for his flamboyant dressing style and awesome tones, very pricy too. Then I saw a video of Thommas Blug and his strat playing thru an Amp1 and was like WTH????? That sounds incredible!!
Ok, so the tone was so awesom,e and most importantly, the way it reacted to his playing spoke to me like nothing else. I dont care about the looks of the amp, or the brand name on it, i care about the sound, and I care about the amp's ability to be extremely flexible, i like amps that clean well and react well to your guitar's controls. I dont like stomping on stuff to achieve a sound, i believe the tone is in your guitar and fingers.
I bought the thing.
The amp is amazing. The clean channel is very Fender-like but the fun starts with vintage channel, and then you have two scorching hot super gainy channels, the classic and Modern. I love metal and for me the classic is the sound, even better boosted with the built in boost. Modern is a bit too compressed for my taste.
I sold all my drive and boost channels after getting the Amp1, there isn't any need for those anymore! I even sold by BEOD Friedman pedal because the classic channel is simply better! and I can get that channel from doom to crunchy to hairy clean with my guitar volume control! that's crazy! its like I have 3 amp channels in my guitar, no need to change channels!
The amp is super low noise, I see no need to use the noise gate with my humbucker guitar, it does get noisier with my p90 but nothing ugly. I simply don't use the gate!
One thing though, this thing is massively loud, I don't go beyond 2-2.5 on the master, but the amp sounds killer. You have separate volume/master controls for the clean and drive channels. you can dime those and control the mix with the overall master.
The amp is effectively a 4 channel amp if you buy the footswitch for it separate, but the amp1 itself allows you to store 3 presets, so you could have 3 channels locked and loaded on the unit itself, no extra hardware.

The only thing that I wished Thommas had added to the amp1 is a presence knob, but im saying this because it is such a standard feature on most boutique amps, I'm not saying this because I miss it. The tone is great even without one!

The record out is insanely good too! perfect for headphone practicing or a quick recording into your favorite DAW. Actually I was floored by this feature, How did he do it!?!?

I'm super happy with my Amp1, this thing is crazy small, crazy light and crazy good. I play it into a 2x12 cab loaded with V30 and Creamback celestions. This is not a modeler that'll go out of fashion in 1 year. This is a transistor valve amp, with a real nano tube in the power section, pure hardware that will last you a lifetime of awesome rock n roll.

get it!

I've been trying for over 20 years, with much disappointment, to record electric guitar at home at a low volume. I have tried everything. The arrival of plugins seemed promising, but in the end, I could not escape that "digital" sound. I have only been able to achieve warm tones by using vintage amps and speakers—primarily at loud volumes. The AMP1 Mercury Edition has revolutionized my home recording (in tandem with the BluBOX ), and for the first time, I am inspired by tones that I can get at 2 a.m. while everyone sleeps. Thank you, Thomas Blug! Hendrix would be proud. (In terms of warmth for home recording, if you want to take it a step further, I recommend putting a preamp like the Universal Audio SOLO/610 in your signal flow.)

The clean channel really reminds me of a Fender Bassman (Pre-CBS) and/or old Sovtek Mig 50—it can get that thick clean tone that Marshall Plexis aren't necessarily known for. I use the boost feature in tandem with an Ibanez TS9 Tubescreamer for an unmistakable sound that breaks up beautifully. I use the Vintage channel, which sounds nearly identical to a '71 Marshall 50-watt Plexi amp that I used to own. On a side note, if I crank the amp when plugged into a cab (I have the NanoCab, which is also great), I can get feedback that sounds like it is from an old Marshall! So yea, the AMP1 is fantastic—it even fits in a messenger bag.

I know there are many reviews about the Mercury Edition on the web and Youtube but they are a bit coy with the "takes it up a notch" statement. I have both versions now and...Yes it sounds similar to v1.... but I tell you there is something about the Amp1 ME that takes this above and beyond the original. more organic, more headroom, its more squishy sounding on the modern setting, and definitely tighter sound. But I feel all 3 channels... vintage, classic and especially modern... benefits from whatever was done.

Big thanks goes to Zach Garrison my longtime sales engineer. He is a big reason I go back to SW and am blessed by his can do and make it happen attitude.

Seriously, believe the hype. When I think of tube tone, I think of a dynamic experience when I play. The nuances of my pick attack, the reaction of the amp when I dig in, and ultimately, the disappearance of me yearning for something "more" from my tone. When I"ve played through modelers, I always have a "it"s really good...BUT" feeling. And most of the time, those modelers are good enough, especially considering how most of them have lightweight portability compared to awesome sounding but heavy tube amps.

Enter the Bluguitar Amp 1 Mercury edition. It weighs 2 lbs. it puts out 100 watts of tube tone, and it is absolutely the answer I"ve been looking for. Is it loud enough? I haven"t had the opportunity to compare it with a typical 100 W tube amplifier, but tests with my 1X12 cabinet have given me all the power I need. It leaves me wanting nothing else. I spend more time playing and enjoying and not attempting to fix the "something" that the modelers always had. Seriously-I practice and play more and futz with the equipment less.

For those of you that might be worried about running this through a lower powered speaker, you can adjust the master volume to accommodate your speaker wattage. I have a Warehouse Guitar Speaker Veteran 30 which is 60W. So for that, I keep the master around 6-7 for max volume (if needed). This is detailed in the very thorough and well thought out manual. I really believe you"ll be able to use whatever you have and be good, but your experiences may vary of course.

Jazz gigs? Check. Light overdrive? Check. Raging guitar hero tone? CHECK! Plexi goodness? Yes, although I dare say much more controllable. Personally I can"t go turn up a raging 100W plexi to check, but I"m plenty satisfied. It cleans up amazingly well with all channels. I"m a huge fan of using the volume knob for shades of overdrive and this should satisfy 99% of the tone snobs out there.

Go check out the specs-parallel/serial FX loop options, boost available all the time, and weighs 2 lbs and fits in your gigbag.

There are a series of additional tone knobs on the side that allow you to further dial in the tones needed for your rig. Playing with them ups the "creaminess" or "attack" depending on how you set them. Takes pedals like you hoped for and should make you smile. A lot.

Reverb is nice. Complete honesty here though: it"s probably not going to replace your favorite reverb pedal. It is a good solid reverb sound, that actually has some ducking features. So if you play a lot of fast lines, it won"t wash out, and will come back in after you stop playing to give you a wash of sound. But you have that awesome FX loop to use, so you can get busy with that.

One other thing: this is a four channel amp. True. However, if you want to access all four channels on the fly, you will need to purchase the additional footswitch that allows you to select any of the four channels. Just using this unit allows you to switch between the clean sound, and one other over driven sound. That other overdriven sound will be selected by you with the overdrive select knob.

Sometimes I get buyer"s regret. Not. with. this. Just a phenomenal piece of gear that could become an amazing classic. No regrets. Keeping this forever!

Huge shout out to Roq Martin at Sweetwater too. He"s been my guy since my first purchase there and he"s a true professional and a testament to the Sweetwater philosophy of taking care of customers.

The Small foot print of this amplifier and the Remote is amazing. This is a 100 watt amp and you could gig just about anywhere with this amp. The 4 channels, plus boost has so many different sounds, and this is very close to a Marshall tone. I also purchased the Nanocabinet and the one 12 inch speaker KICKs! All of the channels sound excellent and the amp has a lot of adjustment controls for Volume and tone.

the only negative is the soak function on the Remote. This really works well when the amp is cranked up and sounds great. Unfortunately playing this loud at home is a rare option.

The soak control is a 360 degree Control dial that centers at 12 o'clock. This seems to be the best/least volume you can run and it is too loud for typical home use. Turning the dial clockwise from 12 o'clock increases the volume, but tuning counter clockwise from 12 o'clock seems to have very negligible effect. It goes from loud to an almost a blown speaker sound. Switching through the channels does change the tone, but still sounds like a buzzing insect, and the full range of the dial counter clockwise doesn't really change the volume at all.

With amount Tech in this amp,I would expect more from this feature.

OK I still love this amp, and using the channel volume and master volume, I can still dial in a reasonable tone at lower volumes, especially using pedals.

The Manual is also excellent and easy to read. Overall great amp. I would be willing to pay an upgrade fee for a better soak function.
I have 2 amp attenuators, but they are bigger than the entire Bug setup.

Great piece of gear. Excellent tones, and no problem getting as loud as you need. It's amazing how this unit puts out. Very pleased.

I have several tube amps that I love but they're simply too heavy to transport these days. I tried the modeling route. Spent a couple years with Fractal and Strymon gear. It sounded ok, but it just wasn't as enjoyable to play. It felt like a compromise somehow. I've been playing, rehearsing, and gigging with the BluGuitar Mercury for six months now, and I'm really digging it. It takes pedals really well. I'm running an Origin compressor and revival drive in the front end. It sounds, feels, and responds like a good tube amp does. I'm quite happy with it. It took a little while dialing it in, the mid control has a huge sweep. But the tones are in there! It sounds great through the speaker cab, and routed to FOH from the recording out. If I had to say anything negative it would be that it looks kinda cheap and plastic-ee, the backlit logo, the buttons lit up like a Christmas tree. But that's just me, and it certainly doesn't effect the sound. So, if you can't lug tube amps around anymore, find the modelers underwhelming, you might wanna check this out. Cheers.

Purchased as a back up for my other amp, (Kemper Power Rack, also bought at Sweetwater) After fiddling with the tone nobs on the side, was able to dial in the tones I like. I am now using it on some gigs with very good results! All four channels are very usable, the reverb is one of the best I've heard and the noise gates (selectable) are awesome! Amp 1's selectable boost adds a volume increase (you can adjust how much or how little) The boost can also be used to add extra push to all 4 channels, essentially adding another tone! The only reason I gave this 4 stars was the overall volume. We're not a super loud band. All goes through the PA in addition to our cabs. I found that on the first gig I played, the volume wasn't quite loud enough. Fixable for sure by putting some of it in the monitors. The overall tone and flexibility make this a worth while amp!!