Vigyata.AI
Is this your channel?

Can the BluGuitar Mercury hang with the Friedman JEL20?

2.1K views· 80 likes· 27:42· Feb 23, 2026

🛍️ Products Mentioned (16)

0:00 - Setup and testing info 1:37 - Crunchy sounds 4:40 - Higher gain crunch 8:22 - Lead channels 9:46 - Boosting the amps 16:33 - Modern channel on the Mercury 18:29 - Drop tuning 22:47 - Thoughts and conclusion ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Much appreciation to Zzounds and Thomas Blug for lending me this gear to show you guys! If you like my content, feel free to use the links below to purchase gear and help support my channel! 🤘 Friedman JEL20 https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--FRDJEL20H BluGuitar Mercury https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--BLGAMP1ME Schecter C-1 EA Classic https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--SCEC1EACL Splawn Amps https://barrztrading.company.site/Splawn-Amps-and-Cabinets-c41630011 Scumback Speakers https://www.scumbackspeakers.com/h_series.html Boss Waza SD-1w https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--BOSSD1W Check out the KHE amp switchers here! https://www.khe-audioelectronics.com/ Cables D’Addario Cables https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--PTWPWAMSG Ernie Ball Flat Ribbon Cables https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--ERNP06221 Strings StringJoy Mark Morton set https://stringjoy.com/guitarstrings/strings/artist-series/mark-morton-artist-series/ Camera Setup Lighting Equipment https://amzn.to/3CXBcp3 Camera Gear https://amzn.to/41f9s7i Rode Lav System https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--RODWIPRO Rode Lavalier II Pro https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--RODLAVALIERII SM57 https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--SHUSM57LC MD421 https://www.zzounds.com/a--3989488/item--SENMD421II

About This Video

In this video I do a quick, real-world comparison between the Friedman JEL20 (20-watt Jake E. Lee head) and the BluGuitar Mercury (the AMP1 Mercury). The whole point here is letting the Friedman “lead” the tones and seeing how close the Mercury can get, because Thomas Blug built the Mercury around a bunch of classic Marshall-style flavors in a super compact, gig-friendly format. I start with that crunchy Plexi-ish rock sound, then push into higher gain crunch and lead tones, and finally mess with boosting and the Mercury’s Modern mode so you can hear how the voicing shifts. Everything is run through my normal switching setup: both amps into a Splawn 4x12 with a V30, miked with an SM57 and MD421, and I’m toggling between them with the KHE switcher so you’re hearing the same cab/mics. My big takeaways: the Mercury is louder, cleaner, tighter, and more composed, and it absolutely has the punch to hang on a loud stage if you give it a real cab. The Friedman has more of that “messy” Plexi thing that people actually want for that sound, and the Mercury can get there, but it’s a different flavor of gain/structure. Also, I’m not a huge fan of hopping modes on the Mercury mid-song—those voicing changes feel like plugging into different amps—so I prefer sticking to one drive mode and working boosts/volume from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

🎬 More from FastRedPonyCar