Chronologically, John first used the MXR Micro Amp on his pedalboard during the By the Way tour. He appears to have kept it in his setup until his departure from the band after Stadium Arcadium.
Unfortunately, John has never discussed the Micro Amp in detail in interviews, so its exact role in his sound remains speculative. However, it’s likely that he used it to add slight crunch to his clean tone. This is most noticeable on songs like Can’t Stop, where the guitar is pushed almost to the point of breakup. This characteristic sound is also evident in his solo performances during RHCP concerts, where the tone remains clean but feels like it’s being driven right to its edge.
Leave a Reply