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(More customer reviews)For anyone who requires to play guitar silently, or requires an amp backup when your amp fizzles out on stage, the Carl Martin "Rock Bug" Amp Simulator does the job well.
There are three inputs for the Rock Bug, two RCA L/R line level jack inputs for using with an external mp3 or CD device, and one unbalanced 1/4" jack input for guitar. The outputs of the Rock Bug are a 1/4" unbalanced jack output, and a balanced female XLR output for sending signal to a mixer or other recording device.
The two control knobs, 'Master' and 'Guitar' are used for balancing RCA input and guitar signal, as well as providing overall headroom for sending signal to a mixer or external recording device.
The Rock Bug is best used with a pre-amped monaural guitar signal, such as placed through an effects pedalboard, for best operation and sound quality. Carl Martin has indicated on its website that the Rock Bug will sound good without the guitar signal being pre-amped, but this is debatable. An effects board which was tested included a guitar boost and overdrive provided very good sound quality with the Rock Bug, much like a good tube amp would. The circuitry of the Rock Bug simulates the tone of a good tube amp.
The RCA inputs of the Rock Bug cannot be used to receive a pre-amped amp signal, into the Rock Bug. (This was tried with a Fender Blues Deluxe preamp-out into the RCA inputs; all that was heard through the mixer was loud hiss). The guitar input of the Rock Bug was not tested to receive the preamp-out of the Blues Deluxe.
It is possible to send an external music player through the RCA inputs of the Rock Bug, but if the output of the Rock Bug is intended to play through a mixer, it is also possible to send the music player signal directly into the mixer inputs with a greater degree of flexibility, instead of playing through the Rock Bug inputs.
The purpose of this pedal, the "Swiss Army Knife" of a musician's toolkit, is that if your amp fizzles out on stage, and you don't have spare tubes, fuzes, or needed circuits so that you can repair your amp in a hurry, the Rock Bug can save the gig. Just plug your pedalboard into the Rock Bug, and the output of the Rock Bug into the PA mixer. Set the level on the Rock Bug, and you are back in business.
Another application of the Rock Bug is if you want to play silently through headphones. This can be done by plugging your guitar into your effects board, through the Rock Bug and directly into your headphones (check your headphone impedance before buying the Rock Bug; some headphones will not work with the output of the Rock Bug), or by sending the output of the Rock bug into a mixer, and listening to your headphones from the mixer. If necessary, both the XLR and 1/4" outputs of the Rock Bug can be utilized at the same time, one for headphones at the Rock Bug, the other for recording or PA at a distance.
All said and done, the Rock Bug is a useful tool for a musician who would need a backup amp if his amp failed on stage. The Rock Bug is excellent insurance against such problems, and is recommended for any gigging musician who doesn't carry two stage amplifiers with him at all times.
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The Carl Martin Rock Bug is an Amp/Speaker Simulator and Headphone rehearsal unit that operates on a single 9v battery. Although this type of accessory is not new, we believe there is nothing on the market that feels as real or sounds as realistic as the Rock Bug! You simply get the feeling that you are playing through a good tube amp. Just plug your guitar (with or without pedals) into the unbalanced ¼" input, plug your favourite headphones into the unbalanced ¼" output and off you go! Adjust your instruments\' volume with the Guitar knob, select an open cabinet or closed cabinet simulation with the mini-toggle switch, and wail away through the privacy of your headphones. If you like, use the AUX stereo inputs and add an MP3, CD or DAT player to the mix; adjust the Master volume for your music, blend in your guitar sounds with the Guitar volume, and either play along with your favourite cd\'s or add a personal touch to your pre-recorded backing tracks. Utilizing the balanced XLR output, you can connect your Rock Bug to a mixing console for recording, solo gigs accompanying the pre-recorded music with your live guitar, or as a DI for live performance when you are packing light, or your amp goes down. You might not think an Amp-Speaker Simulator is new, but with all these features, the Rock Bug is the little Danish-Swiss Army Knife that belongs in the pocket of every guitar-players gig-bag!
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