MXR Micro Amp - EQ Version Worth It?

InactiveX

My favourite pedal to hit my vintage-style Marshall amps with is the MXR Micro Amp (M133 version). I prefer it to all the other boost and overdrive pedals I've tried.

I was wondering if it's worth me trying the newer model with the two EQ controls, the Micro Amp+ M233. I think I heard that it had a redesign to make it quieter. Has anyone compared both? How does the colouration of the sound compare?

It's the colouration of the Micro Amp that I really like with the Marshalls, as well as it giving those valves a real kick.

Stratavarious

I’d consider the + version with tone controls if my ancient MXR Microamp ever dies.. just to attenuate the treble sometimes.. had mine for decades though.  

Simplest and best pedal in the armoury.

The alternative is the TC Spark Boost which I’d pick up if they go cheap again. Adds a little more grit.  Coukd stack them  

NickBotfield

There's also the Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster which does a similar "lots more level and not much else" job.  It has the pickup resonance switch which does add a little beef to single coils but that's a secondary feature.

thecolourbox

There's a sort of Micro Amp model in the Legacy section of the Helix effects, which has extra parameters that aren't on the original nor the newer deluxe version. There's gain and comp level I think, as well as the usual Level, Treble, Bass. Just a thought in case you have one lying around

steamabacus

I can't give you a direct side-by-side comparision with the original but I have a MicroAmp Plus and it's become one of my favourite pedals. Does the job perfectly and - hard to put my finger on exacly why - it just sounds really 'musical'. It won out compared to an Xotic RC Booster I also have and that's supposedly very popular in professional session guy circles.

I'm using it in front of various stacked overdrives (in a direct set-up at home) so a similar use case to putting it in front of the amp.

Highly recommended by me.

InactiveX

Thanks everyone. I think I'll have to get myself the newer model.

InactiveX

Stratavarious said:

I’d consider the + version with tone controls if my ancient MXR Microamp ever dies.. just to attenuate the treble sometimes.. had mine for decades though.  

Simplest and best pedal in the armoury.

The alternative is the TC Spark Boost which I’d pick up if they go cheap again. Adds a little more grit.  Coukd stack them  

I got my Micro Amp broken, and it was simple enough to fix IIRC. I would probably never have tried it if I hadn't had the broken pedal pass my way. I'm glad I did though - for me it's perfect! You can buy a DIY PCB for less than a fiver too.

I think on reflection that my money is better off spent elsewhere, rather than buying the EQ version Micro Amp+. Unless a broken one should come along...

fretmeister

I've never had one of these.

Are they just a completely clean and flat boost or is there some fairy dust going on in there too?

matt_sefton

fretmeister said:

I've never had one of these.

Are they just a completely clean and flat boost or is there some fairy dust going on in there too?

Come on, there’s always fairy dust in gear you don’t have 

Lebarque

matt_sefton said:

fretmeister said:

I've never had one of these.

Are they just a completely clean and flat boost or is there some fairy dust going on in there too?

Come on, there’s always fairy dust in gear you don’t have 

And unicorn poo

ICBM

fretmeister said:

I've never had one of these.

Are they just a completely clean and flat boost or is there some fairy dust going on in there too?

It’s a very basic single op-amp gain stage. They’re not completely clean and flat, although that was the original designed intention - any ‘fairy dust’ is in the limitations of the components (the IC in particular, at high gain settings), not really the circuit design.

In my (possibly controversial) opinion they sound much better than modern clean boosts, which I always find bland and uninspiring. In my (possibly more controversial) opinion original ones sound better than reissues too.