Mooer Micro Preamp 017 Cali Mk IV

The Mooer Micro Preamp 017 Cali Mk IV is a mini preamp pedal that puts a whole amp's preamp section on a small pedalboard-friendly box. RockBoard's PedalPedia describes the Micro Preamps as "sonically accurate digital recreations of the preamp sections of popular tube amplifiers," and says the company developed them "by directly analyzing real tube amplifiers using a brand new technology to capture their sound, dynamics and response"¹. The 017 specifically recreates two channels from what RockBoard's PedalPedia calls one of the most famous modern-day session player combos¹.

For a player, that means a pedal that can replace an amp front end: plug your guitar into it, run the output into a power amp, a mixer or an audio interface, and the built-in speaker cabinet simulation stands in for a cab. It was announced in August 2018 alongside two other new models, the 016 Phoenix and the 018 Custom 100².

Two channels, clean and gain

The Cali Mk IV gives you two channels, clean and gain, in one mini pedal. Gearnews reported that the pedal "is intended to map two channels, clean and gain, from one of the most popular modern session" combos². As with other Micro Preamps, each channel carries its own controls: Guitar World and MusicRadar both describe the series as offering "dual channels with independent gain, volume and EQ"³⁴.

Mooer's own description of the two channels:

Gearnews summed up the same idea from the press material, saying the clean channel should sound "shimmering and lively"².

Cabinet simulation and operating modes

Every pedal in the Micro Preamp series, the 017 included, comes with dual channels, integrated speaker cabinet simulation and dual operating modes¹. That cab sim is what lets the pedal work straight into a PA or recording setup without a separate speaker simulation unit, and the dual operating modes mean the pedal can adapt to different output situations.

What amp is it based on?

Mooer does not name the amplifier. The company points only to "one of the most famous modern-day session player combos"¹. Gearnews filled in the context, describing the pedal as based on "the ultimate compact and versatile Californian combos"². The "Cali" in the name is the clearest hint at the amp family Mooer had in mind.

The Micro Preamp series

Mooer launched the Micro Preamp series as a line of compact preamp pedals in the Micro Preamp format⁵. The range grew over time with additional models, and reviewers covered the line as it expanded⁶. The 017 is one of the models in the series.

Models in the series named in the press and maker pages include:

The 008 Cali-MK 3 is the closest relative to the 017: an earlier Micro Preamp built around the same Californian combo idea, listed by RockBoard's PedalPedia as an analog-circuit preamp pedal with booster and equalizer functions⁹¹.

Price and availability

MusicRadar reported in August 2018 that the Micro Preamps 016 to 018, the 017 included, would be available soon for $99 each⁴, and Guitar World gave the same price at the same time³. Guitar.com followed in September 2018 with word that the three pedals would be available from official Mooer dealers and distributors worldwide at a street price of around $99 USD each¹². In the UK, MusicRadar's demo video gave the preamps as £95 or $99⁶.

A demo of the range

MusicRadar's Simon Arblaster and Michael Astley-Brown ran through all 10 pedals in the Micro Preamp range when the series was new, noting the £95 or $99 pricing and showing what the mini preamps do. It predates the 017, but it gives a clear picture of the format the Cali Mk IV fits into⁶¹.

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