Mooer GTRS S801 | Review

Mooer GTRS S801 Intelligent Guitar

MSRP: (UK) £485 / (US) $527

As the first guitar from Mooer Audio, the GTRS boldly expresses Mooer's philosophy of innovative technology and tonal flexibility with unmatched affordability. The Standard 801 model features an American basswood body, roasted Canadian maple neck, and a maple fingerboard that feels great in the hand and provides all of the functionality of a normal guitar even if the GTRS intelligent process system is turned off. Here's Sam Bell to tell us more.

The GTRS is an 'Intelligent Processor System' designed in conjunction with digital sound engineers' Mooer' – This is the all-in-one solution for the practising guitarist starting out their journey.

What is it? Well, in a nutshell, it's a well-built S-Type HSS configuration Guitar, available in some cool colours, with a roasted maple neck and complete with a Gig bag. It's a solid guitar that I'd say any aspiring guitarist starting out would get a lot of use from. However, the real magic is in the GTRS system that is built into this guitar which works in conjunction with an app.

Once you get your guitar, you charge it up with the included USB C cable, head over to your app store and download the GTRS app. This app pairs by Bluetooth to the guitar and turns it into a tone powerhouse! You can plug directly into headphones or a mixing desk or DAW from the guitar and control all your amp sounds from the app. No amp or multi-FX board is needed (Although you can also use this like a normal guitar as well!)

The app allows you to cycle through pre-sets, but that's not all. You can edit the pre-sets and create your own. You have access to pretty much everything that Moore has made in terms of amp and pedal modelling. You can go through a huge variety of amplifiers and separate cabs. Overdrive, Modulation, Reverb Pedals, EQ and more. You can tweak each of these aspects to dial in your perfect tone.

If this isn't enough, you can also download different Guitar Pick-Up profiles. Want to change the neck single coil to voice it like Les Paul Neck Humbucker, no problem! Through the app, you can download profiles which can be assigned to pretty much all the five positions.

Once you're into the app, you also have access to some extra utilities, such as a drum loop player, so you can practice along to a beat. You can also use the loop functionality to jam along to your own riffs and chord progressions. There's also a rudimentary chord app built in as well; you can find 3 positions of almost all standard chord types there in all keys. Brilliant for beginners trying to find those tricky voicings for their favourite songs. GTRS/Moore also sent us the accompanying wireless Bluetooth footswitch, which allows you to cycle through pre-sets, tap tempo on delay fx and access the tuner. This is also chargeable by the included USB-C cable.

I think it's impressive how much can be done with this guitar/app combination. It's also a really cool idea to have a built-in amp modelling system going direct out the guitar. It would be cool to see this kind of technology available on more instruments in the future. It's probably been done in some ways, but this is very classy. It's very hidden within the guitar aside from the big switch to turn it onto the app or traditional mode. Having said all of this, this system doesn't come for free. Looking at UK dealer' Gear 4 Music', the S801 goes for around £500. This isn't bad considering what you get; however, if you are starting out, it might not be your first port of call. However, if you're already playing and have younger people in your life who aspire to play guitar and you want to get them their own all-in-one solution, this is well worth taking a look at. Very impressive!

For more information, please visit:

https://gtrs.tech/