MXR1978 (reissued and popular through the 90s-2000s)Clean BoostClean Boost$Budget($50–250)
MXR Micro Amp
Guitarists wanting a genuinely transparent, dead-simple clean boost to push an amp or solo section.
Find on ReverbUsed-gear listings, graded conditionCheck prices on eBayBroader inventory, live auctions
Check your gain staging
Free tool — convert dBu/dBV, chain gain stages, and check your headroom before it clips.
Strengths
- A genuinely transparent clean boost with a single knob, doing exactly one job extremely well with zero complexity
- Extremely cheap and small, making it one of the easiest pedals to add to any board as a solo-boost or amp-push utility
- Its simplicity makes it a real workhorse rather than a flashy centerpiece pedal
Trade-offs
- Does genuinely only one thing — pure volume boost — with no tonal shaping beyond that
- Easy to overlook next to MXR's more famous Phase 90/Dyna Comp in casual conversation
Full Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | MXR |
| Model | Micro Amp |
| Era | 1978 (reissued and popular through the 90s-2000s) |
| Typical Price Tier | Budget ($50–250) |
| Effect Type | Clean Boost |
| Circuit | Analog |
| True Bypass | No |
| Power | 9V battery/adapter |
| Controls | 1 knobs |
| Tap Tempo | No |
| I/O | Mono in/out |
A relative used-market guide, not a live quote — real prices vary by condition, region, and timing. Check the Reverb/eBay links on any item for current listings.
Match Score Explorer
Weight what matters to your workflow. Every deck is re-scored live against your priorities, benchmarked against the MXR Micro Amp.
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This deckMXR Micro Amp
Match66
Flexibility25
Portability90
Ease of Maintenance82
Tonal Neutrality68
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Maintenance & Supplies
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