The Micro Plex is a Class A, hand-wired tube amplifier that offers a versatile range of classic rock tones – from “The Wind Cries Mary” to “Back in Black.” It features a 5 Watt Class A design, with push-pull gain and tone shift modes. It’s circuit is similar to that of the Fargen Mini Plex MKII, but in a slightly smaller footprint measuring 16.5 x 9 x 7 inches. Priced at $999 MSRP, the Micro Plex is Fargen’s first production amp available at an entry-level boutique price point.

“Players looking to upgrade to the boutique market can grab the Micro Plex’s top-shelf tone, at a non-boutique price” says Ben Fargen, founder and CEO. “And boutique customers looking for a compact amp will find a lot of tone in this package. Think of this as the little brother to the Mini Plex; it is a wonderful way to capture your rock vibe.”

The Micro Plex is an amp that retailers can offer in their mix, providing customers with an exciting alternative at an attractive price. It is available for shipment immediately with the 2012 holiday season in mind. Fargen with have this amp, along with its complete line of amps and Sonic Edge pedals, at the upcoming Winter NAMM show, booth 2595.

Hear the Micro Plex

Micro Plex Demo 1

Micro Plex Demo 2

Micro Plex Demo 3

Images

Features

• 5 watt Class A design
• Hand wired design
• Push-pull gain & tone-shift modes
• Swap between 6 different power tubes
• Vintage 60’s style mustard caps
• Vintage style Carbon comp resistors
• USA built transformers

Specifications

• Compact design (16.5 x 9 x 7 in.)
• SoZo vintage style mustard capacitors
• Dual power tube sockets for use with any octal power tube(no re-bias)
• Use EL34/KT66 /KT77/6550/6L6/5881/6V6 ECT
• DC Filaments for ultra quiet operation
• Tube Complement: (1) 12AX7, (1) 6V6

MSRP Pricing:

Fargen Microplex Price: $999 USD

Hear the Micro Plex

Micro Plex Demo 1

Micro Plex Demo 2

Micro Plex Demo 3

Images

By David Desrocher

You don’t have to be a guitar God to get the same professional tones as Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, as I discovered when I turned over my custom edition Fender Blues Junior to Fargen.

One of the world’s best selling tube amps, the Fender Blues Junior is a warm-toned, reliable & loud amp right out of the box. Even though I was happy with the amp, I took a friend’s advice and carefully packed up my Fender and shipped it across the country to Fargen Amps for a hot-mod. Within a couple of weeks, I received a tracking number from Fargen and watched as my amp made its way home to me.

I immediately fished it out of the box and plugged it in. Before switching it on, I reset all knobs to their familiar position. The first thing that I noticed was that my old knob positions would have to be readjusted because the amp was much louder than before the mod. As the tubes warmed some feedback began to hum and shook the cymbals and snares from the drum kit in the corner of my home studio. I immediately turned the volume down and found the right adjustment. (More on the volume in a moment.)

Once adjusted and warmed up, the sound that came out of my Blues Junior was completely new to me. If the Blues Junior was already known as warm in the mid-tones, the sound after the hot mod only increased that warmth exponentially. In addition, the lower tones were sharper and fatter than prior to the mod. Generally speaking, the sound itself was clean and robust, even when playing naked through the amp. The FAT boost, which I had always thought distorted the sound too much for my liking, now gave the lower and middle tones a heavier, cleaner sound than before.

As for volume, the difference is simply unmistakable. The amp is significantly louder than before, but what is best about this change is that there is no loss in the clean, warm sound that the custom mod provided. Whereas the Blue Junior is great for small area gigs due to its sound, volume and easy mobility, the modified amp could easily play somewhat larger venues without needing to mic it.

Bottom line – a custom mod by Fargen is a great way to upgrade an existing amp into something that is far superior.

Dovetail-jointed 18mm (3/4″) high-grade Baltic Birch cabinet with 13mm (1/2″) high-grade Baltic Birch speaker baffle and rear panel. Specially developed oval semi-open back achieves optimum tonal balance while adding integrity to the cabinet structure. Pocket Hole Screw cabinet corner reinforcement, 7/8″ Bracing, hardened fasteners and black powder coated steel hardware.

Dovetail-jointed 18mm (3/4″) high-grade Baltic Birch cabinet with 13mm (1/2″) high-grade Baltic Birch speaker baffle and rear panel. Specially developed oval semi-open back achieves optimum tonal balance while adding integrity to the cabinet structure. Pocket Hole Screw cabinet corner reinforcement, 7/8″ Bracing, hardened fasteners and black powder coated steel hardware.

Dovetail-jointed 18mm (3/4″) high-grade Baltic Birch cabinet with 13mm (1/2″) high-grade Baltic Birch speaker baffle and rear panel. Specially developed oval semi-open back achieves optimum tonal balance while adding integrity to the cabinet structure. Pocket Hole Screw cabinet corner reinforcement, 7/8″ Bracing, hardened fasteners and black powder coated steel hardware.

Dovetail-jointed 18mm (3/4″) high-grade Baltic Birch cabinet with 13mm (1/2″) high-grade Baltic Birch speaker baffle and rear panel. Specially developed oval semi-open back achieves optimum tonal balance while adding integrity to the cabinet structure. Pocket Hole Screw cabinet corner reinforcement, 7/8″ Bracing, hardened fasteners and black powder coated steel hardware.

Dovetail-jointed 18mm (3/4″) high-grade Baltic Birch cabinet with 13mm (1/2″) high-grade Baltic Birch speaker baffle and rear panel. Specially developed oval semi-open back achieves optimum tonal balance while adding integrity to the cabinet structure. Pocket Hole Screw cabinet corner reinforcement, 7/8″ Bracing, hardened fasteners and black powder coated steel hardware.

Dovetail-jointed 18mm (3/4″) high-grade Baltic Birch cabinet with 13mm (1/2″) high-grade Baltic Birch speaker baffle and rear panel. Specially developed oval semi-open back achieves optimum tonal balance while adding integrity to the cabinet structure. Pocket Hole Screw cabinet corner reinforcement, 7/8″ Bracing, hardened fasteners and black powder coated steel hardware.

Dovetail-jointed 18mm (3/4″) high-grade Baltic Birch cabinet with 13mm (1/2″) high-grade Baltic Birch speaker baffle and rear panel. Specially developed oval semi-open back achieves optimum tonal balance while adding integrity to the cabinet structure. Pocket Hole Screw cabinet corner reinforcement, 7/8″ Bracing, hardened fasteners and black powder coated steel hardware.