The Mooer Taxidea Taxus, model number 014, is a mini preamp pedal in Mooer's Micro Preamp series: a compact amp-in-a-box that puts a full preamp, EQ and speaker cabinet simulation on a small pedalboard footprint. It arrived in May 2018 alongside the 015 Brown Sound as one of two new entries in the line1.
What it gives a player is a dual-channel preamp in one box. Each channel has its own Gain and Volume controls and its own 3-band EQ, so you can set up two different rhythm and lead voices and switch between them, much like switching channels on an amp head23. The built-in speaker cabinet simulation means it can be used without a real guitar speaker cabinet, for recording or for going straight into a PA3.
What it is and what it does
Mooer's Micro Preamp series packs a preamp, tone stack and cab simulation into the company's small pedal housing. The Taxidea Taxus is the 014 model in that series, announced in early May 2018 with the 015 Brown Sound13. Each Micro Preamp in the line comes with dual channels, integrated speaker cabinet simulation and dual operating modes4.
gearnews noted that the two new pedals were based on "two pretty familiar guitar amps/ tones, which I am sure you can guess", without naming the amps3. The Taxidea Taxus name itself is the Latin binomial for the American badger.
On the analog versus digital question, the values conflict. RockBoard's product listing gives the circuit type as analog43, while gearnews described the Micro Preamps as digital recreations3.
The controls
The control set is the same idea on both channels, which is what makes the pedal work as a two-voice preamp32:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain (per channel) | Sets the amount of drive for that channel23 |
| Volume (per channel) | Sets the output level for that channel23 |
| 3-band EQ (per channel) | Independent bass, middle and treble shaping for each channel23 |
Because the EQ is independent per channel, a player can, for example, leave one channel scooped and clean-ish for rhythm and push the midrange on the second for a solo voice. The dual operating modes round out the feature set4.
Power and connections
No battery option. The pedal is too small to house a 9V battery compartment, so it must run from an external supply3. At 300mA it also draws more current than many small overdrive pedals, so check that your power supply can deliver it2.
Mooer specifies a DC 9V power supply with a center negative plug and a 300mA current draw2. The single input is a 1/4" mono jack with a 1 meg Ohm impedance, and the output is a 1/4" mono jack at 100 Ohms2.
For output use, Mooer recommends connecting it to a power amp or to your amplifier's effects return, and says it can also connect directly to a sound card for recording, using the speaker cab simulation2. gearnews made the same point from the player's side: the built-in cab sim makes these pedals handy for recording or for going straight into a PA3.
Price and what the press said
At launch in May 2018 the Taxidea Taxus carried a recommended retail price of USD 99, or GBP 100 in the UK3. MusicRadar reported the two new Micro Preamps available for $99 apiece5, and MusicPlayers gave the same $99 street price1.
gearnews' take was pragmatic. On the digital question the writer allowed that "Being digital recreations, these may not be aimed at tone connoisseurs", but concluded3:
"But for the price point, I don't think you can go far wrong with these preamps."
The same review flagged them as a handy backup for gigs, given the tone shaping on offer in a small box3.
Where it sits in the Micro Preamp line
The Taxidea Taxus is one of a numbered series of Micro Preamps from Mooer, each modeling a different amp character in the same compact format. Siblings in the line include the 015 Brown Sound it launched alongside, plus models such as the 007 Regal Tone, 008 Cali MK 3, 010 Two Stones, 013 Match Box, 016 Phoenix, 017 Cali Mk IV and 018 Custom 100. Mooer later expanded its preamp offerings with dual-channel digital units like the Preamp Model X X2, which adds editable presets and third-party impulse response support.
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Questions
Does the Mooer Taxidea Taxus take a battery?
No. The pedal is too small to house a 9V battery compartment, so it has to run from an external power supply delivering 9V DC at 300mA with a center negative plug. Plan on a dedicated spot on your pedalboard power supply rather than a battery or a low-current daisy chain output.
Is the Taxidea Taxus analog or digital?
It depends on who you ask. RockBoard's product listing gives the circuit type as analog, while gearnews described the Micro Preamp series as digital recreations of familiar amp tones. Either way, it is a compact amp-in-a-box preamp rather than a full modeling multi-effects unit.
What is the model number of the Mooer Taxidea Taxus?
The model number is 014. It sits in Mooer's Micro Preamp series, where each pedal is numbered, and it was announced alongside the 015 Brown Sound in May 2018 as one of two new additions to the line.
Can the Taxidea Taxus go straight into a PA or recording interface?
Yes. It has a built-in speaker cabinet simulation, which makes it usable for recording straight into a sound card or going directly into a PA system. Mooer also recommends connecting it to a power amp or your amplifier's effects return, ideally a tube amplifier.
How much does the Mooer Taxidea Taxus cost?
When it launched in May 2018 it carried a recommended retail price of USD 99, with a UK recommended retail price of GBP 100. MusicPlayers reported it available at a street price of $99 each at launch.
Sources (5)
- Mooer Adds Two New Micro Preamps, MusicPlayers.com, 2018-05-04
- 014 - Taxidea Taxus_MOOER Audio, MOOER Audio
- Mooer adds new Taxidea Taxus and Brown Sound micro preamps to its line-up, gearnews.com, 2018-05-05
- Micro Preamp 014 Taxidea Taxus by MOOER, RockBoard (rockboard.de PedalPedia), 2026
- Mooer debuts 2 new Micro Preamps, the Taxidea Taxus and Brown Sound, MusicRadar, 2018-05-09
