I FINALLY tried the BluGuitar Amp1 IRIDIUM....

[@BluGuitar]

I just discovered and really enjoyed this video! Thanks 🙏 This AMP1 iridium edition I designed with exactly your style of player in my head. Your video shows me that it has what I thought was needed for the modern (metal) player-makes me happy 😊 Greetings from Germany 🇩🇪, Thomas Blug

[@sonidojamon]

Glad to see you in the comments!! I'm a big fan of your designs!!!

[@BluGuitar]

@@sonidojamonthank you so much 😊!

[@lukzriffs1564]

Thomas is the Best!

[@martinlahaie6012]

The Isaac Newton of guitar amps

[@ogfdnbvjkfdn]

Can't wait for the AmpX!! (take your time :))

[@rossbalch]

The story with the nano tube (more correctly sub-minature tubes) is that they are literally just regular tubes but smaller. They are actually the most modern in terms of tube design and were invented mainly for military purposes such as is aircraft. They're probably the most reliable and well built tubes you can get with pretty tight specification tolerances. You could technically sub in a normal 12ax7 into the circuit and it would be essentially the same.

[@roundy72]

The side controls don’t just “shape the boost for each channel” it contours the overall tone of each channel for crazy tonal possibilities

[@lars2766]

like the contour in the legendary Marshall Valvestates

[@gabrielstevens41]

Euge valovirta was using this in his live rig up until recently on the classic channel boosted with an SD1.

[@Synic42]

He even had his Bad Boy JCM 800 modelled by Thomas Blug for the upcoming Amp X.

[@JoelCSabo]

I came here to speak about Euge and the Bad Boy as well. I'm glad to meet you fine folks.

[@jamesfindice2871]

Yeah it sounds amazing in his hands!

[@ontologicaldiarrhea6582]

What does he use currently as a live rig?

[@gabrielstevens41]

@@ontologicaldiarrhea6582 he just switched to a Quad Cortex. He has a video about it on his channel

[@Cobbath]

I love this amp and got it for a killer price. Most versatile amp I have tried and officially own. Have that amazing tube tone, and I'll never get rid of it. I thank Euge for getting me sold on it. Also, Thomas Blug is an amazing amp engineer, and he loves his product and has shown how it can mimic thousands of dollars amps easily.

[@joelsmith4816]

My Mercury is my best friend

[@bjstein4242]

About time Kyle.. !!! I have both mercury and iridium versions.. all based upon thomas' own JTM45's, plexis, modded and JCM 800.. but the Mercury has SAG.. and the iridium was designed to be tight.. try the Iridium CLASSIC with the tone knob cranked on the side with an SD-1.. best modded JCM800 ever.. the Modern voice is more engl tbh.. these amps rock my hotel playing.. headphones.. no cab.. with cab.. AMAZING SOUNDS.. Thomas Blug is a genius.. he designed the Triamp for H&K as well..

[@mrcoatsworth429]

Do you plug your headphones straight into the amp1?

[@bjstein4242]

@mrcoatsworth429 yes..has a line out/headphone jack..it's how I bring it on the road with me and a travel guitar..and my own overdrive of couse..love my own boost over the one of the unit for higher gain stuff it's a 1/4 inch jack so your headphones need that adapter

[@gtrman69777]

I forgot that he had something to do with the Triamp. Those are amazing amps.

[@anvil777]

I’m using the Mercury Edition of the Amp1 together with the FatCab (also BluGuitar). Always got compliments on the sound from engineers and also spectators. Great amplifier for anyone looking for the Marshall sounds.

[@MaxPowersTastyTones]

Thomas‘ videos are called Tone Academy for a reason. He‘s a legend. Sounds crushing!

[@russellzauner]

He'll answer any questions on his frequent livestreams but be careful he's super smart so make sure your question makes sense, good thing he's also a pretty kind person so it works out.

[@bennybroll]

Mike from Madball has been using one of these for a while now. Was surprised at how great it sounded. We went on a tour with them and my head blew up and he plugged this in for me and it was actually badass sounding. Saved the day. Not sure if I would grab one but it def works well!

[@sjb454]

I have had one a few years now and Love it. Do not understand why it has not blown up and been way more popular.

[@rutger4131]

Because plugins and modelers got extremely good at the same time. But it seems they would offer the same kind of functionality.

[@joelsmith4816]

My thoughts Exactly

[@joelsmith4816]

Just remember there in a side panel with all types of tones on the side. My Mercury is just incredible. I run a spark boost in front. Best 850 ive ever spent, seriously😊

[@bolusbw]

My live rig is Amp1 iridium + HX Effects. Helix let the midi capabilities of AMP1 shine (AMP1 gain on 10, so I can bypass shared gain knob and control its amount by midi). Currently I am experimenting with additional Tonex One preamp to get additional tones out of it (e.g. my good old Mesa Tremoverb boosted by TS9 capture). Good stuff worth every money.

[@fatalstep1870]

I use the classic channel on the Iridium with half the gain, and a Keeley modified TS9, and i absolutely love it. I get that Akira Takasaki tone and hit the boost for leads.

[@Mutombo71]

Awesome amp. I love it. It's 100% analog. Fantastic.

[@TheStinkyDinkyBand]

Okay, this is what I understand. The blackstar Amp’d series (1,2 and 3) took this Nano technology (stole?) and made 3 pedals. They each can do 1 watt, 20, and 100. The Amped 1 is mostly power section but can switch different tune voicings at the flick of a switch. They also have desktop software called Arcitecht which I have yet to use. Pedal 2 (these are larger than pedals, think more like 3/4 size of letter paper) so pedal 2 is red and is more for effects. But same nano tube technology. Pedal 3 is black and has clean, crunch, crunch 2, overdrive, and super over drive. They also can be programmed to your liking. So the knobs on the physical unit won’t change until you turn MIDI off or something. I haven’t played with it too much. So yeah, this is before I heard of this Iridium. But really it’s a 100 watt amp you can just throw in your bag and go! With 3 to choose from, there’s one I’m sure you’d like. But if they did steal the technology that’s BS. Online on their site they have a good users manual as well to read through.

[@tjborekvideo]

Thank you for reviewing this amp. It sounded pretty good through my phone speakers. I will play it later through my 6-in studio monitors to judge it more fairly.

[@josephrusso7069]

When the X model finally comes out, it's going to sell out so fast! And if it sounds even better than this, some amp companies just might be shaking in their boots.

[@joeywilson5998]

I bad one for 22 months. Was a little fizzy but otherwise sounded awesome. At the 22 month mark it released the magic amoke during a show and could never figure out why. The folks at Blu were pretty good to replace it, but i immediately sold the new one they sent out and got a new 5150 iii.

[@grasmo]

Great video and a great amp - Amp 1 is kick-ass sounding. There's also a MIDI adapter out there which allows you more control over the device -128 stored presets, switchable powersoak, 2nd mastervolum, fx-loop on/off as well as boost & reverb. I am using it with a morningstar MC-8 and a small pedalboard for a delay, a phaser/vibe, pitch shift and dirt/boost in front.

[@Margilio5150]

I have one, happy with my purchase, it has its limitations but that comes with the design, 1. You cannot have 3 high gain analog preamps without sharing EQ among them. However two of them have their own tone mini knob. 2. The side mini tone knob is just too small (that’s what she said) 3. The proprietary MIDI cable is not cheap, there’s gotta be a reason why 3.5mm Jack was not used, this is the biggest gripe I have, however I bought it and it is a breeze to program it, and has a good set of features.

[@BluGuitar]

Our MIDI1 adapter isn’t cheap as it is actually a midi interface (inside the 5 pol connector includes an optocupler and a few more tiny parts). Just a cable would not work. It’s also needed as the socket on AMP1 is multifunctional (standard footswitch, MIDI1, Remote1/1Control)

[@Margilio5150]

@@BluGuitarI know, I bought the adapted and I’m happy with it as well, it opens up a lot of options, I understand some decisions were required to kept the price, the sound and the design. But still, overall, I see this as a factor that a lot of people consider when looking for MIDI equipped gear. Cheers,

[@PooNinja]

Thomas knows what it takes to get the tone

[@russellzauner]

bro is a legendary amp designer for Hughes and Kettner as well as has a couple signature guitars with Trev Wilkinson's (yep that Wilkinson) Vintage guitar company (yep it's named, literally, "Vintage", so good luck on web searches). He RIPS, a complete and utter shredder. Like, *shredder* shredder.

[@PooNinja]

@@russellzauner when I met Paul from the quire boys and he swears by his Vintage guitars ( well 10 years ago he did anyways )

[@sonidojamon]

he really REALLY does!

[@sonidojamon]

@@russellzaunerThe white "aged" one, right? I've had that guitar on my radar for years!!!

[@tidymilk5162]

I’ve had the mercury edition for a couple years and IMO with a boost in front it’s voiced even better for hardcore/thrash than the iridium. Played them both side by side a few weeks ago. Awesome amps

[@sb6232]

Sounds killer..My buddy stopped using his plexi because of this...Read that again...Live and loud, 2 guitar players , metal band..Other guitar player uses Engl Artist Edition 1/2 stack, BluGIridium on the other side.. Both sounded CRUSHING... Pretty amazing!

[@jasonfrench8851]

I want one but was waiting to see what the amp x turned out to be like. Btw excellent playthrough kyle, i felt like the iridium would deliver.

[@rk28984]

I got that amp around 4 years ago, been playing all live shows with it, was touring the EU with it and also use that amp at home for practice. It's rock solid and it sounds awesome no matter the volume you play it. It can be super quiet and blow your socks off with stadium stage volume. The only thing you have to get used is the 3 band EQ as changing the knobs doesn't effect the other 2 bands (like pretty much all other EQs do). Love my Bluguitar Amp1 Iridium on the Vintage channel (Bass/Mids on full and Highs around 6/10), using the low gain setting and boosted with an Boss OS2 style pedal, sounds very close to my Laney AOR that way. I play in a Slude/Doom band tuned to dropped A# and it sounds crushing that way. I think getting the Amp1 was one of the smartest buys ever.

[@joelsmith4816]

Yes sir!

[@robertdonosobuchner3129]

I have it on my pedalboard and a 2x12 cabinet from Barefaced Audio. It's the best if you are touring or if you are getting older... I don't want to carry all the heavy stuff anymore... 😉

[@adriancole9681]

Took one of these on tour, absolutely ripped and was super convenient.

[@thestrum71]

Bought mine 2 years ago new for 280 Euros. B-stock from Thomann. Works great.

[@axelherrera9943]

Just for the record .. 5:32 this is NOT A SOLID STATE AMP .. but a TUBE AMP !!

[@roundy72]

Solid state preamp, tube power section

[@alienlovesecrets9379]

It's rather a hybrid amp. But who cares, these are names. It sounds fantastic.

[@Bluecollarleft]

I played a little weekend run of shows with Madball last month and their guitar player was using the other version of this and it sounded so good. I had never heard of this brand, but I’m definitely interested. Currently running a Helix with a Powerstage 200 and this seemed like a great alternative.

[@griffsimcox9459]

dude i have owned one for a couple of years stellar piece if gear i run mine on top of my 2x12 with a 2 button pedal super light rig with endless tones

[@JoelCSabo]

I was impressed both by the tones and you losing your mind around the 20:55 mark. Question: Have you ever really considered getting a Bass VI guitar to play the same E standard riffs an octave lower? I don't know if you nor your loyal audience would mesh with it long-term, and you are currently trying to offload gear, but maybe that'd be a neat thing. Have a good'n.

[@jconner3891]

Great video Kyle.

[@jasonsapp792]

Thomas was a amp designer at Hughes and Kettner so he is a very skilled amp tech person ... He is not some upstart

[@panic-revv85]

I love big amps! One of the last shows we played i had a full stack 5150iii mxr a/b switch and a H&K coreblade w/ marshall and peavey cabs❤... and an 8 string guitar. The bass player uses an 8x12 and 1x15. It was amazing ❤❤❤ Bar owner made us turn it down half way through the set because they couldn't take drink orders.

[@ImDumbSry]

I’ve heard good things about using these to run a modeler through a cab

[@kasakka]

The BluGuitar stuff does so much on it's own that it's a bit redundant, but they do make great poweramps to use with modelers too. The more vintage voiced Mercury Edition is the only amp I own anymore.

[@revengernovember]

Sounds amazing. Been waiting for this demo. Kills in drop C, wow. Go Blug or go home!

[@Sludgepit666]

I have one for 2 years now and it kick's ars,,750 Euro great deal

[@dannys.902]

Around 15:40 you mention the side controls being there to affect the boost function, but that's not totally correct. The Boost knob controls the amount of gain going to the boost but everything else about the boost control is fixed. The Vol/Tone for the Classic & Modern channels is for the overall channel sound. The Volume knob allows you to great unity volume throughout all the channels, that way you don't have to mess with the Volume knobs on the top of the pedal for switching on the fly. The Tone knob changes the overall midrange to effectively get different specific amp sounds. For example: The manual says that on the Classic channel, when the Tone control is all the way to one side you get "Hot Rodded British High Gain" and all the way to the other side gets you "German wall of sound" tone & then anywhere in between the two.

[@russellzauner]

make sure to ask Tom at NAMM when AMP X is coming out. He LOVES it when people ask for a hard delivery date lol

[@TheChristafershawn]

I had the Mercury and sold it to purchase other gear (also a reason to buy the new X version of the AMP One but still waiting for that) but almost immediately regretted it and now I am considering picking up another one on the used market. The clean sounds on that are really good and if your learn how the amp works with your guitars pickups you can dial in some really great OD tones.

[@joshmcclure5150]

That thing sounds amazingly good.

[@billyturk8117]

All those guitars, I'm surprised you don't have a 6 string baritone over a 7 string. A 26.5" or 27" really doesn't feel much different compared to a 25.5", imo. Might feel a little closer to home than a 7.

[@joshuaray2657]

That sounds amazing!

[@belligerentamateur]

agreed

[@GrMfull]

Sounds really great and versatile

[@jasonsapp792]

I own this unit... Have had it since they came out.... Not my go to but could be if I spent more time with it... I am guilty of "gear chasing/gear hoarding" lol

[@Jason-Taylor]

Same. I’ve had the Iridium since it came out and barely touched it because I was already hypnotized by the next piece of gear to come out at the time and I’ve never gone back to it. I should definitely hook it up and see what I think or move off it which I should do with most of my gear.

[@DavidAllenMD]

that sounds sooo good dam im blown away

[@patrickkem689]

Will you try out the Mercury edition?

[@Fuzzybunny-ki1cw]

Can you make a video comparing and ranking these units Kyle?

[@Wellcee426]

Kyle Bull: “ I only play shows in a 3 hour radius from home😢” ……also Kyle Bull “ I’m playing a show in Costa Rica in a few months”……..

[@hbomb495]

“Do you work out?…” “No, but do you tour?” RIP

[@TheStinkyDinkyBand]

Misses leg day…

[@suavonman9539]

It’s sound very good to be a small unit.

[@djabthrash]

11:34 that tone rips

[@rolandvoros6640]

The Studio sounds so massive! No competitor...

[@Shawkdawg]

Awesome video, I have always wanted to see you demo this. I do have a question for you and or a potential video. I have seen the amp1 iridium and the quilter tone block 202 often used as poweramps, I would love to see you shoot them both out. In your opinion which one would you consider the better poweramp?

[@gsbguitarsgsb679]

Absolutely would love to have that in my life, but I’m not a wealthy man so it’s a wishlist item and damn it that sucks because I want it…

[@Ozzyfrk18]

Coheed “feathers” dad rock lol

[@ratt669]

How much? 😮😮😮

[@redkurn]

that intro. 😂🤣 killer little amp. i did notice the bass for most of the settings was dimed, glad to see it didn't really need it in the modern setting. seems the mercury edition is $30 less, i'd guess it's for the color unless the tube is different? not bad for a $900 micro pedal amp. i'd be into getting one.

[@gilbertduenas6031]

The Mercury edition is more for classic rock tones. It’s more Marshally. It can do metal but just not in the same way the iridium edition does. The iridium is voiced specifically for metal

[@redkurn]

@@gilbertduenas6031I see, wouldn’t mind seeing a video for the mercury. I like this one, but if it can do a better Marshall metal tone I’d be in.

[@maddnotez]

Bought a 3120 off this guy who had one of these. Sounded great for what it is

[@andrewbecker3700]

I'll never "get" the aversion to using the neck pickup? The Custombucker in that AJ sig. is, in my opinion thee best PAF style pickup available. Wouldn't it have been easier to just flip the toggle swtch? Love the 58/15 LT pickups too, but them Custombuckers are the shiznit. Peace!

[@belligerentamateur]

Neck pickups are for sissies

[@kmichaelp4508]

@@belligerentamateuryeah there are so many sissies out there. Have been since the beginning. Eric (x2) Jimi, Stevie, Robin and the biggest sissy of all, Chet. Yeah! All garbage in their own right.

[@SmashAtoms]

If it’s good enough for Andy Williams, it’s good enough for me!

[@frankhunt2800]

Could you do a review of an e2 eclipse

[@nacktheslayer9882]

how does the neck on the adam jones feel compared to an ltd ec-1000? I want an adam jones epi

[@SamBrockmann]

"I'M A BIG KID NOW!" - the iridium

[@ShawnStaplesFreeGuitarLessons]

Buying one through your link. That is less than 40 bucks a week at the 6 payment option. BTW did you try the clean sound?

[@belligerentamateur]

Thanks a ton! No I didn't try the clean, sorry!

[@ShawnStaplesFreeGuitarLessons]

@@belligerentamateur Been wanting one of these for awhile and already researched it many times but no clean sound videos but that is ok because I called Zzounds and they said they have a 45 day return policy. I highly doubt I will return it but good to know because I need a decent clean sound but that is a sound that is easy to get on most any quality amp nowadays, buying one through your link next week. Enjoyed your video BTW.

[@DerSilvano]

17:01 Dat drop C tone *bites lip*

[@fromalongtimeago]

There's a lot of undertones and squeal under what you're playing

[@sgtbill1365]

Love mine - a killer amp

[@gab_ale]

Just a few seconds in already think it sounds amazing.

[@dinofond]

I would have really liked to hear the other two channels. I feel like I only got 2 bites of the burger ya know?

[@jamesfindice2871]

Welcome to belligerent amateur central!

[@dinofond]

HAHA! Thats te spirit!

[@robspectre1973]

Sounds great.

[@bluematrix5001]

I wonder which one is better, this or the NAM Player

[@Fuzzybunny-ki1cw]

what is the difference between this and the NAM player?

[@jamesfindice2871]

@@Fuzzybunny-ki1cwThis is a full 100w tube driven 3 channel amplifier. NAM player is a microchip that does some digital guitar sounds. It needs an amplifier to be played through a cab.

[@southernpanda33]

3:27 I play within a 3 minute radius of my kitchen.

[@renevillalba]

With the last 3 guitars/pickup high gain tones it sound a lot of hiss maybe are my headphones idk

[@youngandrew66]

Nerdy dad rock riffs?! Why thank you Beavis

[@belligerentamateur]

hehe. hehe. hell yes.

[@hellfinger6842]

Try the master around 6-7 and more magic happen...

[@jamesnorton7601]

Feathers by Coheed. Nice riffage Kyle

[@sjb454]

Thought I was the only one to catch that 😂

[@jamesnorton7601]

@@sjb454 they rock

[@KB_Joys]

I never heard of one before now, but wow it sounds really good * Edit and they should 800 buck!

[@KelticKabukiGirl]

Its sounds awesome, $900 AWESOME? No, Stick with my Revv G series preamps and eqs. Just need a cheap high headroom SS Amp that isn't crazy expensive.

[@cunjoz]

9:00 words are hard, take it easy, okay?

[@USAJ31]

Hilarious intro man....ROFL.

[@gravelrocks5588]

Is the new blue guitar still coming out yet ?

[@j.reveille6815]

Still coming…..but not yet.

[@gravelrocks5588]

@@j.reveille6815 i wonder how this compares to the tonex

[@JohnWiku]

The Amp X is still in refinement stages, but I'd expect it now sooner than later.

[@tommanseau6277]

It's looking like early 2025. Thomas wants to get it right because unlike the big companies, he has to live with the basic design for about a decade. It's also going to be a significantly more expensive unit, being at the very least over $2k. That said, how much are Friedman amps, or even a JCM 800/900? The unit should include time based effects and a spot for a way pedal, be all analog signal path except for the time based effects and switching, but digital is perfect for that. He's trying to figure a way to allow it to be programmable to sound like just about any amp and work with the original manufacturer. Want a Boogie Mark iic? A Marshall JCM 800? Buy the upgrade pack and those companies get a royalty to help their bottom line too. It's a lot like IK Media selling time packs from Mesa, etc, except analog.

[@gravelrocks5588]

@@tommanseau6277 thanks for the reply.A friend of mine just got a fractal f.M nine and he said he would never use them anything else

[@Rustinpeace117]

I tried to like it. The modern was way too tight. The classic/vintage was cool but I couldn't get much more out of it.

[@toskaria]

Thank you from PORTUGAL....💪💪💪💪💪💪POWER I was very interested in this one Have good feedback...bur nedded a video Thanks

[@johnmarshall3903]

My buddy bought one of these, it died in less than 2 months 😂

[@patfix]

2:58 I took that personally

[@southernpanda33]

Which part? Weak, noodle armed or the idiot part? We need to know so we know if we relate or not.

[@aaronmowery]

That intro 😂😂

[@KreativeDevices]

🔥

[@1thess523]

Sounded pretty good, but for the price you can get a nice used tube amp if you are a garage player like myself. If I was a gigging musician who traveled maybe 🤔. Or you could get a Kemper for and extra $400

[@Fuzzybunny-ki1cw]

Kyle, can you tell us how this compares to TONE X in sound please?

[@newrockorder]

I‘m a 100 tube amp carry that stuff guy but I played a gig and one guitarist of the other band used it and for that live show it was pretty good and did the job, but I simply can’t it’s in my backbone to use tube amps

[@kmichaelp4508]

For your information this is a tube amp, solid state power amp as in old Music Man, but tube in the pre. So you have the best of both worlds.

[@SparkyGoldsmith]

Jesus loves you the most, Kyle.

[@strungth666]

3:29 😢😢

[@fromalongtimeago]

Black Star ripped off Bluguitar

[@serfillustrated4018]

Looks like it could be a copy of the Hughes & Kettner blackspirit pedal amp.

[@private7g944]

It was in fact released before the Black Spirit and it really sounds much better :)

[@serfillustrated4018]

@@private7g944 That's cool. I had a great H&K in the 90s. Sad that you dont see many metal demos on that brand of amp.

[@serfillustrated4018]

@@private7g944 That's cool. I had a great H&K in the 90s. Sad that you dont see many metal demos on that brand of amp.

[@kmichaelp4508]

No! It’s a ripoff of Blug!

[@giosundance5643]

This dude tried so hard to be funny..it hurts to watch 😔😔😔

[@kmichaelp4508]

I’m kinda shocked by some of the responses on the chat. Are your subs not paying any attention over the past 20 years of technology in the industry? Or are they just too young and full of piss and vinegar to take the time to do any research on their own? Interesting. I’m told this that and the other so …….and so the story goes. Kinda like politics.

[@jamesfindice2871]

You read my mind. Wild 😢

[@johngallagher7884]

Amen, let's bring back the 412 cab and 100 watt amp combo. Hallelujah 🎉

[@matteomidas638]

We are still waiting for the same old video where you cry because you lost your job and need to sell gear to survive. Please do it as soon as possible. Too much weeks have passed since the last one.

[@TheStinkyDinkyBand]

Dang that’s something i missed!

[@alexdenton6586]

So true