Positive Grid Bias Mini Guitar

Oh So So... It's nice to have but not a must have – I'm an ageing guitar player. I wanted something light to carry around. Also, I've never been happy with just one guitar sound. Depending on my song, I need an appropriately matching guitar sound. In the old days, I'd have a multi-effects unit or a box full of pedals. Unfortunately they could not replicate the various sounds I wanted unique to… Read more

different amps.

Over the years, modelling amps have come out but most of them have questionable sounds. So, along came Positive Grid with their Bias Mini Guitar Amp, a 300 Watt transistor amp. It comes with BIAS AMP 2 software.

How does it work? You can either connect the amplifier to an external speaker box like any other amp. It's got 16 pre-programmed sounds. It has the usual gain, middle treble and volume controls. I won't bore you with that. You can connect the amp via a USB cable to your computer and access the BIAS AMP 2 software. You can then create your own amp sounds and save them into the amplifier, either by downloading sounds from the cloud or developing your own by sampling your favourite amp through a feature called 'Amp Match'. BIAS AMP 2 software features the ability to Amp Match, analysing a source guitar tone and applying the necessary corrective processing to make a custom amp more closely match the original. Cool, right?

What you want to know is: does it really sound like the various amps as claimed by the manufacturer?

That's a 'yes' and 'no'. Generally speaking 'yes'. Some of the sounds are almost indistinguishable between the real thing and the amp, especially in a mix with other instruments. So what's the difference? Valve amps push more air through the speaker. They sound very dynamic. Valve amps generate random overtones that add 'sizzle' to your sound. Bias Mini Guitar Amp is 'predictable' and the supposedly generated overtones sound artificial to my ears. While the sounds generally sampled are 'authentic' it's when playing a lot of different notes where you hear the difference between a valve amp and Bias Mini: the dynamics and variations in random overtones are gone in the Bias Mini. Again, this would only be evident if playing alone for a while. Your ears actually get tired of hearing the same sound over and over again.

Therefore, if you tend to switch between sounds at a gig, you'll be fine, because you have variation. If you listen to Angus Young of AC/DC, over the past 50 years, he's always had the same sound through his Gibson SG, Marshall valve heads and Celestion Greenback speakers. The reason he never sounds boring is not just because he's a great guitar player but because the minute variations in his tone creates diversity and excitement. The same note played by him never sounds the same because of this random variation in overtones.

I have a Marshall valve amp here to compare with the Bias Mini, and although the Bias Mini is extremely versatile, for a pure rock gig, I'd take the Marshall.

Some other considerations: when I got the Bias Mini, it was faulty on arrival. It was swapped over for a working unit. Then I had software issues. Sounds that I dragged on my computer between sound banks should have merely changed the position and not the actual sound. Positive Grid provided a software upgrade which fixed that. Then I noticed that even when turned off, the Bias Mini produces heat. It uses power when plugged in. When downloading sounds, they only sound 'real' if you use the same pickups as the original sound was recorded with. The midi input is useless. I cannot define midi-through parameters and the midi jack plugs are extremely fragile and not good for on-the-road. Rack ears were not available for rack-mount. Finally, I have issues with syncing the amp with the BIAS AMP 2 software and... support sucks. If I didn't have all of these issues, I'd actually give it 4 or 5 stars.

Conclusion: If you want Fender-ish sounds, mild overdrive, bluesy tones, you could be happy. It offers great solutions for tone freaks, especially for jazzers. You can seriously customise your sound. But leave Marshall sounds to Marshall.

UPDATE 8.2.2020: After playing on my replacement Bias Mini Guitar amp for a year, I decided to use the 'line output' and go into a mixing desk. It didn't work. I had a conversation with the distributor, Link Audio, who said that early versions of this amp had issues (e.g. the line out fried if connected to phantom power). The newer models had motherboard upgrades which fixed a lot of issues (e.g. fizzling sound, defective line out etc). Link Audio did not argue about warranty and sent out a 'new' unit. Some wholesalers would have argued that the amp was more than 12 months old but not these guys. Thanks!

Now here's the thing: I originally got a defective unit right out of the box. The second one also had issues. After plugging in my third amp, I realized that the second unit that I had had for a year had been incredibly faulty - right out of the box. My two previous units had a fizzy sound when notes faded out, the hardware would often not connect to the software and the unit got hot even when turned off. Imagine the fire hazard! This third unit does not have those issue. The sound is beefier and rounder, it doesn't get hot and it always connects to the software. Link Audio said that the fizzy sound was due to lack of processing power or degradation of the motherboard or something like that.

In my second conclusion, I can't believe I actually got two defective amplifiers. Guys at Positive Grid: listen, this isn't good enough! That's what happens when companies stumble because of greed. They can't wait to hit the market with an obviously untested and defective product. Out the door without proper testing. Quick, quick, we have sales targets regardless of consequences! The promises of Positive Grid to upgrade the effects loop to accommodate serial feed hasn't happened. The rack ears I was told are coming still haven't arrived a year later and the Sound-cloud does not feature cool amp sounds as advertised. Most sounds are really bad so that I had to create my own. Positive Grid US support sucks! No further comment!

I still wouldn't play live with this amp as it appears fragile. My Laney valve amp is built tough. Whoever designed the Laney used their brains. The Bias Mini amp is like a precious, delicate petal that can't be knocked. I'd be afraid of breaking off the wobbly knobs if I put it in a backpack as shown in Positive Grid advertisements. The wobbly knobs are unprotected and stick out. Brrr. God forbid a dope pours a beer over it.

So, for those who are thinking of buying one of these. It's OK for a studio or rehearsal room at best. While I give Link Audio 5 stars for great service, the product itself has been reduced to 2 stars. The sound is great (now) but two defective amps later? Really!