Tech 21 Acoustic DI

It seems a bit intimidating at first, but once you plug it in and start experimenting it becomes fairly simple to dial in some great tones. All the knobs can make good things happen to your tone. Just try it all out before you make your mind up.

Brilliant. If you want clean acoustic, rock,jazz, bass sounds this pedal will do it perfectly. Best of all, your sound doesn't have that nasty solid-state tone that many other brands give you. I don't know how they do it but this pedal gives such great, warm, ambient sounds.

Seven years of use and not one problem ever.

They email back very quickly and give you all the information you want and then some. They are very honest about what their products can and can't do, and give you many insider tips on how to get that little bit extra out of your rig.

This pedal has been one of my best purchases. Not only does it give exceptional sound, it is very easy to use, very easy to carry along and set up, and very reliable. For the price, this is a great investment.

Very easy to use, but it helps to play a lot with it so you can experience the full range of possibilites. The semi-parametric mid-range is wonderful. The "effects loop" available via an XLR using phantom power is nice, but at first I didn't quite see how to set it up.

I bought this on a whim. I'm just learning how to use a PC for recording and mixing. I thought this might be useful sometimes in the general case, and very nice for interfacing my one acoustic to my cheap mixer. Overall I was just plain amazed at the range, utility, and quality of the sounds I could get using this with a SansAmp GT2 plugged into its "effects loop". I'm still exploring all the options. My wife, who is not that musical or a guitar fan, was equally impressed. I used the software effects for real-time playing and was just so happy with all I could do. And of course, I can record with it. Overall I'm so glad I bought it. The DI with the GT2 give me what amounts to a versatile amp that fits in two coat pockets. One of the best toys I ever bought.

Too soon to tell, but my GT2 is still in good shape after 3 years of use.

The one time I had to talk to them on the phone about a different product was a very good experience. The are knowledgable and responsive. I've not tried email.

Wonderfull. Next I'm going to try it with my POD and then with my Yamaha DG-Stomp.

After reading umpteen reviews here attesting to the reliability and endurance of the Acoustic DI I purchased one. It died after a few months, 30 hours total time on stage. The next morning I asked the bassist if he had a spare DI. He was going to ask me the same thing as his DI... a Sans Amp Acoustic DI for his guitar... had gone defunct two days earlier.

The folks at Tech21 could not made setting up any easier. The manual is straight forward and there are some good samples included in the back if you want to skip right to the meat. The box is laid out as everyone else has said in prior reviews. One thing I would suggest is take some time to tweak your tones for each guitar you use. I would suggest going right to the samples and plugging acoustics in with the suggested acoustic settings. You can try the electric guitar settings and back off slightly on the mids to give you a good clean sound. For jazzier tones, just back the treble off. As the manual says, the controls are a bit interactive, so you need to try backing off treble for example, before boosting the bass. You also need to understand the midrange control because it is the strongest way to instantly effect your tone. Try the midrange settings with the acoustic and electric suggestions first and then try tweaking your tone controls. It also helps if you want to dial back in some of the natural string sound, by using a bit less "blend".

I have been spoiled by this DI for both my electric and acoustics guitars. I run direct into a Mackie 808 stereo head and Mackie C300 speaker cabs. I use a setting pretty close to what the "dirty electric" suggested settings are for PRS Archtop/Hollowbody and Ce22/Ce24's. I back off the midrange to take out the distortion. I use the included effects loop to add chorus/flange or some distortion. For electrics I think it is best to start with an articulated clean tone. For acoustics, a Taylor 814ce with the Fishman PRefix Pro Blend, I use the acousitc "country setting", but reduce the blend to about one half to dial back in some natural string sound. The Acoustic DI really does a good job of simulated tube compression to reduce the harshness of the piezo sound on stage. I also play a Taylor 74ce nylon string and use the "mic simulator" setting as well as the same setting for the 814ce, depending on the acoustics of the venue. Most of my venues are small club settings, with some outdoor festivals in better weather. I can use the Acoustic DI and always know that I will get a dependable stage tone that will project at any volume. The pickup in the Taylor 74ce is an LR Baggs Active Element system that gives a solid reproduction of the acoustic nylon sound.
I have tried just about every DI on the market, including the Fishman Platinum Pro EQ, LR BAggs Para acoustic DI, some preamps such as the Digitech Genesis series, the Pod version 2.0, etc. and the SansAmp Acoustic DI is, by far the best product I have used.

I have gigged with this on a regular basis, anywhere from 4-8 times per month for over four years and have never had a problem. I never take a back-up an have found it to be solid and reliable.

I have emailed the company and they responded within one day. I have never had to seek repair or return information.

I play everything from classic rock, jazz, flamenco, contemporary worship music. I have been playing for over thirty years. I use mostly Mesa Boogie for the electric side when not going direct with a SansAmp. My electrics are PRS's and a custom Brian Moore. My acoustics are Taylors as above and an Ovation 86 collectors.
I would buy another one as quickly as I could find one if it were stolen or lost. Then I would buy one more just to be sure.

I use this DI everytime I play and in every venue from our new large church to the local clubs and coffee bars. It is a major help in letting me forget about the gear and concentrate on my playing. Every once in a while I will stray and try something new. So far, I have always wandered back home to the SansAmp Acoustic DI. You can throw it in your case or gig bag and tell the house guy to set everything flat on your guitar channel. It really get the job done so you can do what you came there to do, just play guitar.

Many people give the SansAmp Acoustic DI a pretty high score for ease-of-use. However this unit has a LOT of features and for some of them it just isn't obvious how they work and the manual isn't really clear on these points. For example you can't tell from looking at the controls where the nominally flat response should be or if the EQ controls boost and cut. Also the spec. says 4.7 M input inpedance but doesn't say if this applies to BOTH inputs.
For more details look at my review on www.acousticmasters.com and listen to a jazz track, Harbour Nights, recorded exclusively with the SansAmp Acoustic DI.

As others have said this unit can be used very successfully with other instruments than an acoustic guitar. You can get a fantastic jazz guitar sound from a magnetic pickup on an archtop. It's also one of the quietest DIs I have used.

Have had a problem with the phantom power switch on a brand new unit, but this seemed to go away. We have three of these units and apart from the switch prob they have been very reliable.

The guys at Tech21 are very helpful and friendly. This is also true of their UK rep.

For any style of music that doesn't involve obvious distortion this is a fantastic little box with many applications. It's not limited just to acoustic guitar. In the UK it isn't particularly cheap at the current price.

Just a few tweaks and you are able to get a great acoustic sound out of this unit. The manual is is easy to use and even supplies sample settings for specific types of desired sounds.

I am playing a Martin JC-16RGTE through the Acoustic DI to a Carvin AG100D Acoustic Amp. Before getting this unit, the brittle piezio quack was driving me crazy! The rich deep Martin tone can now be amplified! I use the Acoustic DI through the effects loop on my Carvin amp which still allows easy use of the on board effects. I am one happy camper.

I bought this used and have only had it for a few days. So far so good!

I bought this used and it didn't have the owners manual. One email and one day later a .pdf file was sent from their customer service. These folks know how to keep their customers happy.

I play acoustic fingerstyle jazz and have been playing guitar for over 42 years. I tried several other effects units attempting to achieve the same tone and have been keeping eBay busy re-selling them. If I lose this unit or it gets stolen I will immediately buy a new one or replace it with the higher end Tech21 rackmount system

This is great for techno-dums like me. Everything is recognizable

I use it with an Epiphone Chet Atkins SST. I can say it is very quiet, it boosts the sound a LOT, and can sound very natural. I never use the "blend" to a maximum, because it sounds too heavy for my taste. In fact, I like to keep some of the piezo sound, so I put the "blend" half-way. I leave the EQ as flat as possible, because the Atkins sounds just to my tastes that way. Right now I use it straight to the console; it's fine with me

ALWAYS RELIABLE. Mine is 4 years old, and I've NEVER had any problem with it.

Never needed them

An excellent product in any way,shape or form.

Very good manual with settings examples. This is quick and simple to get good sound consistently.

The SansAmp has phantom power and balanced output, and you can drop the balanced output by -20 dB if needed. The Blend control provides a great acoustic sound for the Martin guitar and the Alvarez banjo. I usually have the Blend control at full which removes the harshness of the strings. The sound is very natural and it is very quick and easy to get a good sound. This also has an effects loop which works well when using the balanced output which provides power). The unit is very quiet. The anti-feedback notch filter works very well.

Worked first time and consistently works every time.

I have several acoustic instruments that I need to amplify when I play in a band. A microphone would not give me the volume I need, and I was very unhappy with the un-natural sound when I plugged in using the piezo or magnetic pickups.

I have a Martin D-12 (12 string) with a factory installed Fishman Prefix (with onboard EQ), Taylor 310ce (6 string) with a factory installed Fishman Prefix Pro (with onboard EQ), an Alvarez Silverbelle 5 string banjo with an aftermarket Fishman Rare Earth Banjo pickup, and a recently acquired Colombian Zambrano tiple with an aftermarket Fishman Rare Earth magnetic sound-hole pickup (I got the tiple from rumillajta.com ? check it out if you are interested in South American instruments). I am not the biggest Fishman fan but that is what was available and the stuff is pretty reliable.

I reviewed a lot of information and ended up buying on 3 boxes - LRBaggs Para Acoustic DI, Tec21 Sansamp Acoustic DI, and a Boss AD-5. I compared the sound using each of my instruments with a Boss LS-2 to switch to the 3 different boxes while I was playing. I have used all these with acoustic amplifiers and directly into PA systems.

Although I liked what the Yamaha AG Stomp had to offer, it required removing the 9v battery in the on-board pickup and replacing with a 9V battery dummy. That was too much bother with multiple instruments.

See reviews of the other products under their section.

This unit works so good that I may buy another one just so I would not have to go without if mine breaks, or for ease of use with the multiple instruments.

I also have a Tec21 Tri-AC that I use to separate my guitar sound from other instruments (like when the keyboard switches to strings) or if I need to cut through the mix more. The Tri-AC works great.

As easy to use as your basic stomp box. It has a few more dials tan usual with the notch filter, phantom power and treble, bass, mid, blend and level. The notch ( parametric eq I believe ) works in conjuncttion with the mid to sculp your tone and get rid of unwanted acoustic feedback.

I really should wait a while to review this as I just picked it up a week ago and have only used it with a few electric ( tele and strat )guitars! I have not yet tried it with my acoustic's...what I bought it for in the first place! That said, upon perusing the manual, I came upon a sample setting for electric guitar entitled "semi-dirty". Per the instructuions, I plugged the output of the the sansamp into the effects return on my amp in order to by-pass the pre-amp tone controls and run off the sansamps controls. I dialed it in as close to the recommended setting as I could. Let me say, I was very pleased and excited with the tones that came out of my amp! I've always admired the cleanish/dirty tones Jimi, SRV, Robin Ford and other masters get. You know, that tone that's clean enough for beautiful rhythm work and then morphs into a bit edgier/dirtier tone when they strike the strings with some force? Kind of Riviera Paradise, Wind Cries Mary, Little Wing, Lenny, and Robins Blue Line tone. Well, with the acoustic DI, I came closer to that tone than I have ever have before. I have not yet had the time to explore the other tones
( electric or acoustic ) waiting inside this incredible little tone machine, but if it did nothing more than provide me with this wonderful tone, I would be very happy! I'm giving this a rating of 8 as I have not fully checked the tones it was designed for. However, I'm sure it will be up there in every catagory.

I've heard very good things about Tech 21's support. I bought this unit used, so I'm sure there is no warranty. I would not hesitate getting in touch with them if something did go wrong. No rating for this catagory as I have nothing but info from others to go on.

I think I'm going to have a long and happy relationship with this wonderful little box of tone! If it works half as good on my acoustic's ( for which it was designed )as it does on my electrics, I will be singing it's praises. Looking at the other reviews, I think excellent tones and ease of use will be the order of the day! I've been interested in Tech 21 products since they first came out. For some reason, I never had the opportunity to procure one. I usually try to find my effects and other equipment used, and there are not a lot of used Tech 21 producets out there. It seems ( to me at least ) that those who have them, hang on to them. After a few minutes with this, I can see why! I'm anxious to try their other products.

I actually use this on my upright bass. I play bluegrass and we play about 120 days a year. The Sansamp sounds great by itself but because the frequencies aren't quite low enough, I use a Behringer Tube-Ultra in the effects loop.I use the Acoustic D.I. for the simple reason that it is made for acoustics. All bass D.I.'s I have used are made for bass guitars and sound very twangy on an upright bass. This is the best I have found.

For bluegrass, I have to be on and off pretty quick. The Sansamp makes that a lot easier. I have been using mine for almost 2 years. I don't even use an amp. Just straight to the board and back through the ear monitors. As a matter of fact, since I started using the Sansamp, a couple of the sound crews on the circuit have replaced their original bass direct boxes with the Sansamp Acoustic DI. My only real problem with the whole thing is that it gets stepped on and that changes my settings. If this was rack mountable, I would get one ASAP.