BluGuitar AMP1 User manual
| 100 Watts Tube Guitar Amp designed by Thomas Blug
™
AMP1
®
BluGuitar
MANUAL
2
3
™
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction 4-11
Setups
AmpHead 12
StompAmp 13
Recording 14
Programmable Guitar System 15
AMP1+ REMOTE1+ LOOPERKIT = fully programmable professional guitar system 16-17
Control Panel 18-19
Inputs 20-21
CUSTOM CONTROL 22-23
Nanotube, Power Amp and Speaker 24-25
Recording Out 26-27
AMP1’s Channels
Clean Channel 28
Vintage 29
Classic 30
Modern 31
Tone Control 32
Boost, Reverb, Noisegate 33
FX Loop 34-35
FOOTSWITCH / MIDI1 / REMOTE & MIDI 36-37
REMOTE1 & your favourite sounds on the foot pedals 38-39
PowerSoak, Accessories 40-41
Academy Of Tone
Your Sound in the Band 42-43
Mastering Different Sound 44-45
Home & Recording 46-47
Troubleshooting and Maintenance 48-49
Safety Instructions 50-52
Technical Data 53
AMP1 Family 54-55
™
I HAVE A DREAM
Dear Guitar buddy,
Many congratulations on your
™
AMP1
is an extraordinary amplifier, and its back story is just as unusual…
AMP1
™
purchase!
… I had a dream. This dream has come true,
and you’re holding it in your hand right now.
I’ve always dreamed of an amp that can fulfil all my professional requirements onstage and
in the studio, and that at the same time is so small and light I can always have it with me in
my gigbag. The powerful tones of guitarists like Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck and Ritchie Blackmore
have inspired and influenced me. As a professional guitarist, sound designer and co-develop-
er of numerous guitar amps, I feel committed to continuing these powerful tonal traditions
that are naturally assertive and full of character. As well as my own trademark sounds, my
work requires me to have a wide tonal palette – from jazz to metal – and all in professional
quality. My dream was to put the immense power and character of vintage tube amplifiers
into one small package that would fit in your glove compartment or gigbag – without com-
promising on the tones. Sounds like Mission Impossible!
My dream amp should suit any guitarist, whether he or she plays country, blues or heavy
metal. It should also suit everyone from purists to full-on sound geeks, without weighing
them down with unnecessary features, but also leaving all the vital functions intact!
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5
™
TUBEAMP EVOLUTION
1950s and 60s
The main function of the first tube amps in the 50s was to get guitars heard over
bands and orchestras. When distorted guitar tones were at last discovered in the
60s, this radical stylistic device paved the way for new genres like rock. In those
days, before the birth of the PA system, the only source of sound for concert audiences came from the onstage amps themselves. Because of this, volume was the
key feature of the 60s tube amp.
1970s and 80s
In the 70s and 80s, guitarists demanded more and more features from their amps.
Multiple channels and an effects loop became the new amp standard. The newly
emerging digital technology brought programmable amps into the marketplace for
the first time. However, a massive flood of additional features meant that before
long, hardly anyone was able to make good use of them.
1990s
Seeing as the first digital modelling amps offered a bunch of presets, but couldn’t
convince tonally, the 90s saw a return back to the true virtues of the tube amp.
Traditional build types – like Plexi or Tweed – experienced a renaissance as players
once again expressed the desire for more individual tones. Some classic amp models
were upgraded with MIDI interfaces to be more flexible.
Since 2000
Since the turn of the century, a clear trend towards smaller, more portable amps
has appeared – seeing as not every guitarist wants to have to take a van to the gig.
However, these so-called “Lunchbox Amps” are often limited to just one sound.
Should a genuinely clean or heavy sound be desired, these small specialist amps
are often lacking in headroom, dynamics, tone and assertiveness. While 30 watts
may be enough for a living room, they quickly reach their limits when playing on big
stages, at open air gigs, or even in the practice room. The sound becomes “muddy”
and can’t fill the space. Sometimes you just need the power reserves of a 100-watt
amp; it’s just that no one wants to lug these heavy boxes around nowadays.
Powerful All-Tube Amps
Big amps want to be played loud, though, but in many situations, they’re just too
loud, and clog up the stage sound. Everyone – the crowd, the soundman, and
the band – ends up being unhappy with the results. Despite this, many guitarists
don’t want to go without the fat, warm sound of a driven tube amp. They buy into
the purist solution of a full-tube amp with PowerSoak. A PowerSoak enables the
player to push the amp into saturation while limiting the volume to more tolerable
levels. Unfortunately, due to flaws in the system, the PowerSoak also leads to a
loss in sound quality. The power reduction doesn’t just reduce the volume, but
also the power amp’s “Current Feedback”, which leads to a flatter, less lively
tone. To combat this problem, it was necessary to develop a new power reduction
system that doesn’t compromise on sound quality.
Most of today’s amps are still based on the philosophies of yesterday. In order
to fully meet musicians’ current needs, I have had to go down completely new
technological and conceptual paths.
™
Time For A New Standard 100 Watt Compact Tube Amp
Pros
•
good, individual tone
•
few control
buttons/features
•
easy operation
Cons
•
not flexible
•
normally only works in one
1960
1970
situation
The New Standard:
™
AMP1
- 100W TUBE TONE POWER
In 2014,
stress-free operation and professional features.
™
AMP1
becomes the first ever guitar amp to bridge the previously insurmountable gap between the loud, characterful tube sound, and easy transportation,
™
AMP1
is the first of a new generation of amps: without compromise on sound quality and performance, suitable for
any application, and always with you wherever you need it. As a guitarist, with
™
AMP1
heralds the start of a new tube amp era.
1980
AMP1
1990
™
, you’re ready for anything, anywhere.
2010
2000
Pros
•
flexibe
•
versatile
Cons
•
compromises on sound
•
complicated operation
•
too many features
™
AMP1
is an amp with genuine character. You can play any style with it.
™
AMP1
’s uniquely customisable sounds and features give you the freedom to realise, save
and recall all your favourite tones at any time. Despite its versatility and its remarkable options for expansion, AMP1TM does not burden you with any unnecessary
features, so you can concentrate on the most important thing: making music.
I wanted to create an amp that would deliver the perfect sound in ANY SITUATION: from 0.15 Watts at home to 100 Watts on big stages.
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INDIVIDUAL
During my career as a pro guitarist, I have had the chance to test nearly all the
legendary guitar amps of the past five decades, and have tried countless FX units.
Thanks to my experience, today I know what good tone depends on, and how to
recognise what is unnecessary or even disruptive. To find your own tone, you need
room to manoeuvre. But too many features are not the answer!
make you stand out from the crowd. It offers you every possibility to find your own
personal tone without having to get lost in a jungle of countless functions.
If you’re a player who needs just a few basic sounds, then
match. Should you want more sounds to play with, though,
bunch of extra possibilities. Plus, if you want to integrate your favourite pedals into
AMP1
™
setup, use the
REMOTE1
your
fully programmable switching system featuring four true bypass relay loops. You
decide what you need.
My tip: less is often more! ;-)
™
with the
AMP1
REMOTE1
LOOPERKIT
™
AMP1
will
™
is your perfect
™
offers a
™
to create a
™
UNIQUE
Only with ‘your tone’ will you become one with your guitar. Find it, and you’ll be
truly happy. You’ll hear and feel that it’s not just
but that its playing feel will also draw you in – until you’re hooked!
direct response, booming bass that never muddies, trebles that never get tinny and
annoying, and almost unfathomable depth of tone allow you to become one with
AMP1
™
you’ll find your own tone!
6
your guitar. With
AMP1
™
’s tones that inspire you,
AMP1
™
’s
EVERyTHINg yOU NEED –
ALwAys ON HAND
63
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VERsATILE AND LOUD
™
AMP1
100-watt power amp delivers your own tonal palette with the best tube quality and
enormous sound pressure levels.
AMP1
a stunning journey through the history of the guitar amp (from Clean to Vintage to
Classic and Modern tones).
and Reverb controls, three integrated footswitches, a truly outstanding Speaker
Simulation mode for recording, and a headphone output, giving you all the options
you would expect from a modern, boutique tube amp.
On the other hand, thanks to its lively overtones,
fat at living room volume. And with the PowerSoak, you can even do an authentic
"Jimi" in your bedroom using just 0.15 watts of power.
is designed for professional use onstage and in the studio. The Nanotube
™
is incredibly LOUD! Four amazing, modifiable channels will take you on
™
AMP1
also features switchable and adjustable Boost
™
AMP1
also sounds balanced and
™
FLExIBLE
You can take your
It’s incredibly compact and very light. Just to make everything that little bit quicker
before and after the gig,
from) your pedalboard or amp cab in seconds thanks to
magnetic attachment system from BluGuitar
you can build
PowerSoak.
AMP1
AMP1
™
AMP1
with you wherever you are – it fits right in your gigbag.
™
AMP1
™
into a fully programmable amp system – including adjustable
™
offers you the ultimate in practicality and tonal flexibility.
can be securely attached to (and then removed
EASYLOCK
®
. With the
REMOTE1
™
– the
™ floor control
BOUTIQUE TO gO
6564
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My DREAM CAME TRUE
For a very long time, it seemed to be impossible from a technical viewpoint –
but I finally managed to achieve the unachievable by collaborating with a brilliant
Russian engineer. By employing an unusual technical mix, we were able to keep a
100% analogue signal from the guitar to the loudspeaker, just like with a classic
tube amp:
years of experience as a pro musician and developer.
AMP1
™
was born! All of
™
AMP1
’s features draw on my 30-odd
™
To make my dream come true, I founded
complete and uncompromising implementation of my visions and product ideas.
As a guitarist, I only want to develop products that are also fun for me to use and
play with. For this reason, I hope I can offer really interesting products to every
guitarist out there.
As well as my personal signature tones,
numerous classic amps – from American clean to metal – all at professional quality. I have made this dream come true for every guitarist out there – and for me.
The dream of a huge sound in your gig bag. From now on,
companion wherever you are.
Have fun, and I wish you every success with it!
BluGuitar
AMP1
®
. This brand stands for the
™
naturally offers the tones of
™
AMP1
will be your
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AmpHead StompAmp
™
AMP1
is a fully analogue guitar amp with four separate channels, amplified by a 100-watt Class D tube
power amp.
nels can be supplemented with an extra portion of gain via the built-in Boost control.
™
AMP1
features ONE Clean Channel and THREE Overdrive channels. Each of the four chan-
AMP1
™
is perfect for
use without a loudspeaker, just with headphones or for “Silent Recording” (see pages 27 ). You can use
™
AMP1
like an amp head on top of your cab, connect it up to your effects board and stompboxes,
or simply have it on the floor in front of you.
The underside of
™
AMP1
also features a handy recess that allows the system to sit safely on cabs that
have carry handles on top.
Put your
CLEAN/OVERDRIVE and BOOST On/Off settings. Your
™
AMP1
on a guitar cab, and you can use a standard double footswitch to select between
™
AMP1
is now a fully-fledged 100-watt amp
head!
™
AMP1
is equipped with numerous ports and features. With these, you can operate
AMP1
™
as a single or
multi-channel amp, or even as a completely programmable MIDI system.
Footswitch
t
u
p
n
I
™
AMP1
is designed so that you can have it as a fully-fledged, standalone amp right on the floor in front of
you. The illuminated footswitch 11 allows you to select between Clean and the desired Overdrive Chan-
nel. With 12, you activate the Boost, and with 13 you can choose Reverb.
For this use, you will need a longer speaker cable to plug your amp cab in with, as you should always put
the cab behind or next to you.
REMOTE1
™
has been developed for those of you who want direct access by footswitch to all four chan-
nels, the FX loop, Reverb, Boost, a second Master Volume, PowerSoak and programmable Gain.
REMOTE1
™
connects to
same time transfers all the switching functions to
controllers, the
For the optimal use of
MIDI1
™
AMP1
™
AMP1
simply via a normal guitar cable. The cable powers the unit, and at the
REMOTE1
™
. For controlling
™
AMP1
via other MIDI foot
Adapter is available (see page 37 ).
™
as a StompAmp, you can program the three footswitches with individual
sound settings (see page 39 ).
It’s your choice whether you want to use
with
REMOTE1
™
.
Input
™
AMP1
as a single, double or multi-channel system together
Speaker Out
12 1313
OVERDRIVE
BOOSTCLEAN/
OVERDRIVE
BOOSTCLEAN/
REVERB
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Recording
Programmable Guitar System
You can also use
™
AMP1
without loud speakers: just with headphones, or by connecting it to a mixing
desk or a home stereo system. Even without load, the amp won’t get damaged, whatever setting you
select. The Recording Out delivers the very authentic signal of a miked-up guitar cab.
That means you can make recordings at any time, or practice through headphones.
In this context, the Master Volume 3 then controls the volume of the Recording Out or headphones
(see pages 26 and 27 ).
Attention!
If you connect the Recording Out to your home stereo, make sure not to overload your hi-fi speakers.
This kind of speaker does not provide the volume levels needed to play in a band. However, it should
provide sufficient power to practice at moderate volumes in most cases. Compared with guitar amps, home
stereo speakers are designed to produce a deep bass response, which makes them a lot more sensitive.
Recording Out
Input
With
™
AMP1
it’s possible to build a complete 100-watt guitar amp and effects setup on a single pedalboard
for the first time ever. This will really help reduce the amount of cabling guitarists will need to use compared
to a normal amp/FX/pedalboard setup.
pedalboard. With
™
AMP1
– you can securely attach and then remove
EASYLOCK
™
(see page 40 ) – the magnetic attachment system for
movement (no fiddly Velcro required!) to use it as a “standalone”. With
™
AMP1
’s functions and create Presets too. With each Preset,
™
AMP1
is so light and compact that you can easily mount it to a
™
AMP1
to and from your pedalboard in one quick
™
, you can use all of
simultaneously sends a MIDI
REMOTE1
REMOTE1
™
program change command that can be used to switch external MIDI-enabled effects equipment.
For those who wish to use their own MIDI board, there is an adapter available that transforms
Remote port into MIDI:
™
AMP1
’s switching and control functions – just like you could with
™
MIDI1
. When plugged in, you can use your own MIDI board to operate all of
REMOTE1
™
(see page 38 ).
AMP1
™
’s
Speaker Out
FX-Loop
™
REMOTE1
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AMP1
™
+ REMOTE1
™
+ LOOPERKIT
™
=
The pedalboard of the future!
A fully programmable professional guitar system
DIRECT ACCESS - MODE
This
REMOTE1
CLEAN, VINTAGE, CLASSIC, MODERN, BOOST, REVERB, FX-LOOP, as well as MasterVolume
and PowerSoak.
•MasterVolume expands your
footswitch-selectable second Master Volume.
•PowerSoak expands your
footswitch-selectable reduction in power.
•LEVEL controls the level of the previously selected function.
PRESET - MODE
In Direct Access Mode, every footswitch setting can be saved on one of the 36 Presets (which come in four
banks of 9). Like this, you can save the same sound with different volumes and effects as rhythm and solo
tones, for example. The Gain level is also controllable for each Preset, which opens up a lot of new sound
nuances. With each Preset, a MIDI program change command is sent via the MIDI-OUT connector to switch
external MIDI-enabled effects equipment. This way, you can control all of
stomp of your foot, and switch a MIDI FX unit to your chosen Preset at the same time.
LOOPERKIT
For players who want to integrate their favourite FX pedals into the
Looper Kit extension, which features four true bypass relay loops, is available. The switching status of the
Loops is saved together with the Presets. With just one stomp of the foot,
’s sound, the FX pedal in the FX Loop, and the four Loops simultaneously. This makes tap dancing on the
pedalboard a thing of the past! Thanks to the four True Bypass Loops, the signal only passes through the
FX units that are active within the specified Preset. This guarantees the shortest signal path, with as little
sound loss as possible.
™
mode enables the following convenient footswitch options:
™
AMP1
’s functionality by adding a controllable and
™
AMP1
’s functionality by adding a controllable and
AMP1
™
AMP1
guitar system, the optional
REMOTE1
™
’s functions with a simple
™
controls
AMP1
™
Speaker Out
™
REMOTE1
1 2 3 4FX-Loop
Looper Kit
With
™
AMP1
it’s possible to build a complete, programmable guitar amp and effects setup on your pedalboard for the first time ever. This doesn’t just save on weight and extra equipment, but also significantly
reduces the amount of cabling, which not only benefits your tone, but saves you an awful lot of time with
assembly and clear-up before and after the gig!
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