fender mustang micro vs vox amplug
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Fender Mustang Micro vs Vox Amplug [WORTH the Premium Paid?]

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Do you sometimes think you are making noise instead of playing a melody whenever you play a beat a two on your guitar?

Or have you thought about what is wrong with your guitar though you are sure you invested in a good one? Is it your guitar playing skills, or is it your guitar? Time to find out!

A lot of good guitarists and other music enthusiasts avoid picking up the guitar because they think every time they play, it is just a nuisance for others. With this thought, they keep on practicing to get their tunes right.

While your playing skills or coordination may sometimes be a problem, it is not always the case. It could be your guitar, not you.

Wouldn’t it just be great if you could pick up your guitar any time of the day and start playing without a care in the world?

And it actually sounded like you want it to. It is time to make this dream a reality as we are here with an effective solution to your problem- guitar amps!

In this article, we will talk about two guitar amplifiers, the Fender Mustang Micro and the Vox. You can see all their features, specifications, pros, and cons. But the question arises, Fender Mustang III v2 -or- VOX amPlug AC30? 

Another query is, which one do you really get if it comes down to Fender Mustang Micro Vs. Vox Amplug?

If you go for the Fender Mustang Micro, what are the best Fender Mustang Micro settings? Without further delay, let’s jump right into it.

Fender Mustang Micro Vs. Vox Amplug

Vox Amplug Overview

One of the most affordable options that you will come across is the Vox Amplug, a good product with decent performance.

The Vox Amplug range is among the first to hit the block, offering an experience that few other amps delivered.

The most popular models include the AC-30 Vox Amplug, a legendary product used by several celebrities, from U-2 to the Beatles. The other Vox Amplug models are no less, playing excellently in genres like metal and classic rock.

The Vox Amplug’s most iconic model is the AC-30, with a distinctive tone that is somewhere between the clean sound of a Fender amp and the classic crunch of a Marshall.

Therefore, it is safe to say that most guitarists will be able to get the tone they are looking for with the Vox Amplug. What more could you ask for?

The Vox Amplug plays agreeable tones with minimum fuss. It also works reasonably well with guitar cables, allowing you to plug them directly into a guitar’s input port.

Once that is done, just connect your desired set of wired headphones, and you are ready to rock!

The Vox Amplug runs on two AA batteries and will run for longer if you avoid taking advantage of the built-in ambient (delay, reverb, and chorus) effects. But this is not a necessity.

Still, you get to play continuously for over 10 hours, so we recommend enjoying whatever FX you prefer.

With the AC-30 Vox Amplug, which is based on the Top Boost model, you will get volume, tone, and gain controls. With a simple design, the Vox Amplug is a great pick.

The Vox Amplug series was launched in 2007 as a practice tool. They are so small that you can carry them pretty much anywhere in your guitar case or even in your pocket.

This will probably be among your best buys if you are a street performer. Most would agree that this is a better alternative to packing a small amplifier.

Currently, six models of the Vox Amplug are available. They all feature a delay effect, a tremolo effect, and a reverb effect. Moreover, you can enjoy an output port for plugging in headphones so you can practice in silence.

The Vox Amplug models produce variable sounds, including the following:

  • Blues: the Vox Amplug offers a crunchy blues sound that also imitates a tweety speaker, but the sound is higher.
  • Bass: it is ideal for bass guitars with a wide overall range.
  • Clean: it produces clean boutique-like sounds.
  • Classic Rock: it plays a UK-like crunch sound with low and mid-end presence.
  • Metal: offers the most powerful and high output sound among all the series.
  • Lead: it provides a high-gain searing with solo power.

The Vox Amplug initially came out with three versions: Blues, Classic Rock, and Metal.

Each of these models gained so much popularity due to their affordability and reasonable performance that Vox expanded its range, and more models are still expected to come.

The Vox Amplug is pretty easy to use and understand. It is a solid-state amplifier that works on the typical analog circuit.

The AC-30 Vox Amplug also comes with nine effects within its tremolo circuit. The effects are delay, reverb, and chorus, all of them working on a toggle button. If the button is pushed enough, all the effects turn on.

The AC-30 also has an automatic-off feature that turns off the device if it is not played for long.

An AUX input allows you to jam along with your audio player and the amPlug G-2 offers the easiest way to get the most serious sound, occupying virtually no space.

The AUX input feature allows you to hear yourself and your track at once. All these features contribute to the device’s overall ease of use.

Although we recommend keeping a spare back of batteries, the device can run for up to 17 hours in one go.

The Vox Amplug series produce a fully-fledged sound with superb definition, a bit of crunch, and articulation. The girth level is also pretty charming, getting you the maximum gain level. Most models offer a high-quality standard.

Fender Mustang Micro Review

Next, we have the Fender Mustang Micro, another stellar amp that you can use for your guitars and other instruments. It is basically a simple headphone amp reminiscent of Fender’s classic reputation products.

It offers a clean, filtered sound and comes with features such as a 270° rotating input plug, the latter allowing you to plug the device into almost any electric guitar regardless of its output jack style.

Some of the headphones, however, have fixed jacks and may not be compatible with the Fender Mustang Micro.

The Fender Mustang Micro comes with four simple controls, including Modify, EQ, Effects, and Amp.

They are all pretty easy to use. The Amp control allows you to select from a set of 12 preamps built into the device.

The EQ control lets you modify the one, and the Effects control gives you 13 different FX types to choose from. The Modify control knob allows you to modify the amp’s parameters.

Another remarkable feature of the Fender Mustang Micro is its ability to connect with Bluetooth and audio stream.

While numerous alternative options mostly have aux, Fender Mustang Micro boasts the rare Bluetooth connectivity within the headphone amp.

This feature gives you more freedom to move around and thoroughly enjoy your song while playing.

The Fender Mustang Micro comes with a USB rechargeable battery that helps keep long-term ownership expenses low. The charging is reasonably quick and gives you 4 – 6 hours of playback time.

Moreover, the Fender Mustang Micro also has a USB-C connection that allows the user to plug straight into the computer. You can make firmware updated or double your USB interface. This makes this process a lot easier and quicker.

The Fender Mustang Micro is sure to impress you with the wide variety of tones that it can play. Though it is a basic modeler, the Fender Mustang Micro will still play like most of the other high-end amps.

Although some users may feel it is lacking slightingly on the fullness and depth parts, especially if you compare it to amps like the Boss Katana Waza Air headphones.

The Fender Mustang Micro has 12 built-in amps that include pretty much all the Fender classics, such as the ’65 Fender Twin, a Tweed Twin, ’65 Fender Deluxe, and the Fender Bassbreaker.

The Fender Mustang Micro also performs considerably well for practice purposes, apart from professional use.

If you select the Fender ’65 with the Ibanez TS-808, the Fender Mustang Micro will not disappoint. It will give you a pleasing sound you might even want to hear again.

For some distorted tones, try the Marshall Super Lead amp and the Mesa Dual Rectifier. Both will give you a nice chug, but the headphones may affect the sound quality.

The effects section of the Fender Mustang Micro will give you basic guitar effects, such as tremolo, chorus, delay, and reverb. The effects will generally be good but might be an issue if you skip using any digital controls.

Conclusion

Although both the Fender Mustang Micro and Vox are stellar options, pick the one that suits your taste and budget the best.

While the Vox amp is more of a traditional model, the Fender Mustang Micro boasts more advanced features. The former comes with multiple built-in FX options, but only the latter has additional functions.

The Vox amp is a good choice if you have a limited budget or do not plan on recording or modeling any features.

Although the Fender Mustang Micro is slightly heavy on the pocket, it has a better build, plays like a classic amp, and has a Bluetooth feature, allowing you to move freely as you practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Fender Mustang Micro worth it?

The Is the Fender Mustang Micro is a good option for guitarists who want a silent, portable practice amplifier. Although the price is higher than some other options, it is a lot lesser than the high-end amps with similar features.

Can you plug a Mustang Micro into a speaker?

You can connect your Mustang Micro to any electric guitar or speaker as long as it is compatible and does not have a fixed jack.

Can you use the Mustang Micro with a bass?

Although the Mustang Micro is designed for electric guitars, it works reasonably well with bass.

Does Fender tone work with Mustang Micro?

Once you have practiced switching chords and scaled like a pro, you can sync the Mustang Micro with the Fender Play to further immerse in your session.