I purchased my first MXR Micro Amp used on E-bay for about $60. I loved it but it was an older model without a light to let me know when it is on and without an input to allow me to use a wall wart. I bought another one new and paid $90 at a local music store.

I don't know if you can really call this pedal a guitar "effect" because it does not really color my tone in any way. What the Micro Amp does is provide the player with a gain boost. It has one nob that allows you to determine how much of a boost you want. This pedal lets me set my amps volume so that I am where I belong in the mix with the rest of the band and then when i go to play a lead or a subtle finger picking part I can step on the pedal and get that extra juice I need to move out in front slightly. Before i found the MXR Micro-amp i had tried to use an EQ pedal for the same purpose, i found that it was harder to manipulate and actually changed my tone rather than just boosting my signal.

Now that I have the newer model I don't know how I ever lived without the on/off light.

Made very well and it's such a simple concept that there is very little to go wrong.

If you play both rhythm and lead guitar in a project this pedal is great. You won't believe how such a simple function will add to the depth and power of your playing.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com