Rock Bug

Rock Bug

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!

Reviews

I have for many years wanted a DI pedal to use between my pedal and soundcard or PA mixing console. The Carl Martin Rock Bug is such a product.
The Rock Bug features apart from the Guitar in also a stereo RCA in for iPod or similar, so it’s possible to rehearse together with your favourite backing tracks on a set of headphones.
There’s out’s for headphones and XLR balanced out for direct in at a soundcard of mixing desk without any problems, the Master pot controls the RCA in level, the Guitar knob controls the guitar level, furthermore there’s a toggle switch to change between open and closed cabinet simulation.

To give the Rock Bug a tuff test I plugged my Tyler SE HD guitar direct in it, and from the Rock Bug direct to a studio desk, with a set of Adam A7 monitors attached.
With the open/closed switch set at open I was meet with a really nice warm well-balanced and dynamic tone.
I then plugged in my pedalbaord to the Rock Bug, with a good quality compressor I found the sweetest funk sounds. With the different Drive and Dist pedals I found I preferred the closed cab simulation, which sounded really great. The Rock Bug preserves the character of the guitar as well as the different pedals.

I use a lot of digital simulation unit’s for recording, but I must say the Rock Bug in combination with a good set of pedals, beats most digital units by far.
I cannot say exactly what it is and why, but the Rock Bug simply feels very “right” to play with.
The Rock Bug is a very pleasant surprise, and work better than I expected, and would be the solution for many people wanting direct recording or PA use.

Are you not happy with what on the market of digital solutions, I suggest to check out the Rock Bug.

By Mats Nermark Fuzz Magazine Sweden April 2009.

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Product: Carl Martin Rock Bug
Price Paid: CAD 245
Submitted 05/01/2009 at 10:51am by Yoza

Ease of Use : 10

The pedal is extremely easy to work with. In; out; cab switch - that's about it! The manual is a one page sheet of paper and you don't need more.

Sound Quality : 9

I hooked up my G&L Comanche and my Gretsch 6120 alternately, direct to Rock Bug and into sound card (TC Konnekt 8) thru the XLR out. I was looking for a nice, clean 'tube' sound with no digital side effects. The 'Bug' is extremelly silent & clean indeed. However, without additional gear (pedals) it's not really what I was looking for. It's a nice, hi-end addition to your rack of pedals - good for live or studio. But left alone, it cannot produce a real guitar sound. Said that, I hope it's understood I'm not trying to compare this to a real miked amp. I was looking for a direct-recording, 'condo-suitable' device.

Reliability : No Opinion

Built like a tank, I've had it for a short time though.

Customer Support : 10

This is where it goes to a 10+++! These are the sweetest, most responsive people I ever dealt with! Replies to mail would arrive almost instantly, with helpful info. I contacted CM way before the Bug came out. Soren (CEO) sent me a brochure with the pic of the pedal even so it wasn't out for a next few months! All the best to Carl Martin!

Overall Rating : 9

I play for more than 25 years. Lots of live play, studio session recording, producing etc. I've been through a lot of gear & styles of music. I always leaned towards a nice, clean natural sound of guitar - almost country-ish. This is somehow always the hardest to create and record. Lots of today's gear (analog, digital, software) fail to provide a simple but good crystal clean sound. The 'Rock Bug' is a great piece of gear but unfortunately it can't work alone. So my quest continues...

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Product: Carl Martin Rock Bug
Price Paid: Euros 150
Submitted 04/01/2009 at 11:33am by Jurgen NL
Email: jwhouwers<at>orange dot nl

Ease of Use : 10

stereo aux in, guitar in, volume knob, guitar volume knob, xlr-out, phones out.
it HAS a dc9V in. closed / open back design switch.
you can play along with cd or mp3 or whatever, use headphones and have a rich sound.
very easy. but be careful with volume!

Sound Quality : 9

I play electric violin and I practice with headphones on.
my fuzz pedal still sounds good thanks to the rock bug.
I can play along with music on my laptop and I can play stereo when I play live without having to use two heavy amps, thanks to the xlr out which goes to the pa.
it is not noisy, only a little when it's very loud but that's bad for your ears anyway..

I hear lots of details of my pedalboard. actually I hear details I didn't notice before.
it made me improve my pedalboard a bit.
the rock bug has a rich sound that doesn't bore me like cheap digital multifx units with headphones out do.

it's great for recording too.
the only thing I can't judge is its 'tube amp sound'. because I only play with solid state amps (good ones, though).

the xlr out doesn't send the aux in signal.
at first you may think that's stupid but it's actually very clever.

Reliability : No Opinion

all quiet on this front

Customer Support : 8

nice friendly people who email back if you ask them a question

Overall Rating : 9

It's perfect for what I need.
the only thing is : I may want to buy another one to practice in stereo.