Tech 21 SansAmp Classic

I think it probably has all ready been covered but you do have to fiddle the knobs and switches a bit to enable a good sound.
But when you find that sound - what a sound.
The dynamics and subtleties shine and you would be hard pressed to tell that is doesn't have glowing glass inside of it.

Here's my setup:
Tele - Strat - Les Paul to Classic and into Hughes & Kettner Edition Tube.
This is my second pedal as I foolishly saw dollar value in the sale of my previous and then spent a bloody long time trying to find another at a reasonable cost. The sounds live up to the expectation set by Tech 21 and from other reviews. Classic Marshall sounds....Mesa is fantastic and thick and the Fender setting is great with a bit of reverb in the mix.

It's as rugged as hell......especially cos you can't get the toe of your boot on the slider switches so you'll never be kicking it too hard to get other sounds. All finger operation really except for the on off switch.

These dudes are awesome. Questions - no matter how stupid, and they have been - all answered promptly.

I play all genres.

I found the Sansamp Classic to be pretty straightforward and easy to use. The manual explains all of the knobs and switches but really isn't needed. One of the reviews said the three preamp sounds (Fender, Mesa, Marshall) were hard to find but on mine they are clearly labeled bass, normal, lead - not hard to figure out. Also has four knobs - amplifier drive (power amp distortion), presence drive (upper mid-range frequencies), high (balanced final eq), and output. There are also 8 tiny dip switches that are also clearly labeled. Notice I said tiny - this is where points are taken off. I know this was made for recording, and the manual explains they were kept small so the price and size would be smaller, but these things are really a pain in the ass to change.

I have seen mixed reviews on the sound of the Sansamp Classic. In my opinion this is one of the best distortion sounds I have heard. 100% analog and handmade. Has eight dip switches to fine tune your sound - 2 mid boosts, low end, clean, bright, vintage tubes, speaker edge, and close miking. I learned about this reading about K. Cobains equipment as I really like the no B.S. raw power chord sound and this is perfect for it. I have a Fender Deluxe and this sounds really good with a Fender Strat and the great fender clean sound the deluxe has on the normal (mesa boogie preamp)setting. This has plenty of low end and a great crunchy/warm overdriven sound that I was quite impressed with. I also like Sublime and softer stuff like the Beatles and the blues and this can do that good as well. With the presence and high knobs used with clean and vintage tubes switches this can take all the muddiness out. I also have a POS Peavey 8 in" amp that was my first amp, and out of curiosity took it out of the closet and tested the Sansamp on it as well - the best it ever sounded hands down. If a solid state amp could ever sound anywhere near a tube amp this will get you there, although I still will never go back from tubes. If you are into eddie van halen high end heavy metal type stuff this may not be the one for you, but pretty much anything else I think this could pull off with the right amp/guitar. All in all very warm and crunchy - will never get rid of it.

Haven't had any problems yet, but I do not gig and as this was not technically made as a stompbox. I would set it out of the way. Seems solid enough but wouldn't stomp on it like a bug - it is pretty expensive. And every time I change the dip switches I feel like they are gonna pop right out. Can't rate this because I have only had it for a month but I think it will be around for a long time.

No experience with customer support.

I play mostly Sublime, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pearl Jam, blues. I think this can really can do all of those and more. Put a tube emulator in front of a tube amp and you get a really nice warm crunchy overdriven sound. I also have a boss ds-1 and a digitech 100a guitar modeling pedal. This is in another league. For the price it does far less than the digitech, but I think it was worth it just for the distortion sound I couldn't find with the other two. I wish it was less expensive and those damn dip swithces were bigger but you can't have everything.

Awsome easy and just killer sound

mesa 50/50 marshal 4/12 cab and mesa pre amp.
the sans amp makes this rig sing. I will never need another booster or
pre amp again.

sustain distortion crunch harmonics grit its all killer
and its all so real and earthy not that fake plastic sound u get from
amp modeling.
I have been rounf the houses with pedals amps and tone

this bit of kit is worth ever penny

nirvana to the foos to rage to hendrix to SRV its all here

my bass player now uses it to its the only dist on bass i ever heard that dosnt take away
any bass from the signal

I can depend on it 100% but dont have the cash for 2

no other pedal comes close and i tried them all

my bass playar would be lost without it too

N/A

Rage Nirvana Radiate Foos Korn Feeder
I would replace this kit if it were lost
I would recomend it before any other stomp box dist or overdrive
I love its sustain its grit and power
so many choices in one booster.
The dip switches are small but its no big deal

I would probably buy a second one just to make sure i had a spare and
to have a clean one and dirty

It's not too hard to use if you sit down with it and try to understand what's going on. Essentially the dip switches each represents an EQ preset. Different combinations create different sounds and all of the controls are very interactive. It's kind of like the difference between a Mini-Moog and a preset synth. The Mini-Moog isn't fast but it enables you to create truly unique, individual sounds you'd never find on the preset synth.

My application is probably different from most people's. I play a hollowbody Gibson through the SansAmp into a mixing board with reverb and straight out to the PA. The sound quality is fantastic, I can go from jazz to blues to rock and roll with just subtle changes on the pedal (I keep it next to the mixer, it's always on). The SansAmp doesn't cut the bottom off my guitar like practically everything else out there and since I play solo the PA gives me all the volume I need. I'm able to gig without hauling a tube amp around. Very convenient. My settings are pretty close to the Fender Bassman in the manual.

I just bought a new one last week, but owned one 10 years ago that was beat to hell. I bought it used and the guy before me really abused it. I got it cheap and had it serviced once and it worked like a charm for years. I sold it on eBay as a fixer-upper last year because it had sat in my closet for so long the pots had gone and needed to be replaced. I'm sure the guy who bought it from me did what I did -- had it serviced and is using it regularly. These things are built like tanks, I have no concerns about gigging with it without a backup.

Never needed to contact Tech21 for anything, can't rate.

After years of playing with digital modelling preamps (Pod, Yamaha, Vox, etc.) and rack gear I was looking to keep my setup simple but get good sound quality so I came back to the SansAmp pedal. At this point these things have been around so long they are no longer revolutionary or sexy, but damn they sound good! Really glad I came back to it. If this one were to disappear I would definitely replace it. I agree with the poster who said this pedal is as much a classic as a Marshall amp or a Fender Strat. Well, at least as much as a Tube Screamer anyway! :-)

I use it on a 1979 135 watt Fender Twin Reverb. These ultralinear beasts are not yet appreciated, but enough on the amp. The Sans Amp classic (original) paired with the super clean, big wide sound of the Fender Twin Reverb 135 is really stunning. It's a very thick overdrive tone that cleans up with the guitar volume well. It sounds and acts more like a vintage cranked tube amp than my Mesa MK3 head. The tone reminds me of an old 1950's Gibson GA30 I had with a single 15" and the tone and volume cranked all the way up. A dark heavy overdrive with lots of touch. The kind that while very heavy, smolders around the note in a thick clean sort of way. Not a fuzzy, crunchy or an 80's metal type of grind. More of a blues on steroids type, like Billy Gibbons in the mid 70's. With the guitar volume down, in the middle-bridge on a strat it cleans up to a hard Fender tweed growl, and a very convincing SRV in the neck. I have noticed that this does not come across on other amps like the Marshall DSL or Mesa MK3 because they don't have the clean headroom or flat frequency response of the ultralinear Twin Reverb. I have a Tech21 GT2 and it doesn't get the same tone that the classic does either. I have had good results using the classic with a Gallien Krueger 250 ML on the clean channel with a 2-12 but not as good as the Twin or nearly as loud.

It's one of the first Sans Amps sold. I got it for $89 new, shortly after it's introduction at the NAMM show in Chicago. I was impressed, the guy was a killer player plugged into a small PA head and speakers. No effects at all and it was cool. Needless to say, it's been used since then for lots of applications and it's still going strong.
Big Plus; BATTERIES LAST FOR MONTHS of steady use!

Never needed any with the two Tech21 products I use.

I don't read or give 1's or 10's. Anyone that gives these marks is destroying the purpose of this forum. Be more descriptive and don't give these exaggerated marks!

At first this pedal can seem a bit complicated. There are 4 knobs, 8 mini switches and a three way switch. However the manual explains each one of these very well and after a little bit of experimentation with the pedal it is easy to learn how each knob/switch affects the overall sound. The manual also includes some sample settings to get you started.
One thing I would point out is that it wouldn't be easy to change the mini switches quickly during a live set, only because they are quite small(hence the name)...but then its not designed to be as versatile as a multi effects pedal.
The sansamp is designed to be plugged straight into a PA system (and so eliminate the need for mics and guitar amps) as well as being used as a stompbox between the guitar and amp.

The sansmp classic makes my guitar sound like it is being played through a tube amp more than any other pedal/stompbox/solid state amp(including half valve half transistor amps) I have ever heard. I play a mexican fat strat with a marshall mg100dfx. Perhaps not a great setup but not everyone's made of money either. The sound quality from this pedal is excellent and will sound great live. Tube amp purists might complain that it doesnt sound exactly like a tube amp but it is close enough to still impress your audience. There is a huge range of sytles obtainable from it. The sample settings allow you to achieve van halen, acdc, bb king, clapton and others. I play blues, rock, indie and metal and i can achieve great sounds for any of these styles.

I bought is used from the US as it is hard to find anywhere else. It was in good condition when i received it and I have had no problems with is since.

N/A

I have been playing now for about 6 years and play a big range of styles. The sansamp classic accomodates them all. It is quite pricey compared to other similar pedals on the market but i would say this one is the best in its category. The range and quality of sounds obtainable is quite surprising. I would recomend this pedal to anyone.

Small twiddly dip switches for "character" makes changes to settings not so easy.

Otherwise ok for at home (where I use it) or studio work. Ease of use is not a must for me, I am a sound-twiddler :-)

Manual is short and clear with lots of settings.

Used a Strat clone (Career) with (below-average) stock pickups and a PRS Tremonto SE (changed to Duncan Jazz and Duncan Jeff Back, both splittable) with it. Amp is a cheap noname 30W transistor with a tube preamp, only clean channel used. Amp sounds very good even at low volume with both guitars (on the clean channel).

Unit works very well with the Strat in nearly all settings. Gives a lot of tonal options.

With the SE its a different game. The Jazz pickup on the bridge offers nice tones immediately, too. The JB on the bridge in all combinations (even splitted) is so powerful that it overdrives even the "clean amp" with ease.

JB and drive settings over 50% lead to kind of "transistor"-like distortion unless the guitar volume is used. Especially the attack sounds are harsh. Have to use volume and tone pots on the SE to get good sound. The Strat is easier to combine with the Sansamp, works with more settings.

Maybe I do something wrong or my amp is at fault. I will continue to experiment with the box. A compressor could be a good idea to dampen the attack sounds for the high output humbuckers.

The unit is at least 15 years old, got beaten somewhat. I fixed all the loosend screns (especially at the pots) and it works 100% ok. Not even scratching noises from the pots and they were used a lot as I can tell from the marks on them.

Compare that to my PRS SE: both volume pots were scratchy from the beginning (but what did I expect from a 399$ guitar?) Otherwise the SE is rocksoldily built, everythings really fine except the pots and I changed them all.

Got no manual as I bought it on the fleamarket. Mailed tech21 and got a PDF with the extended manual in 1 day! Thumbs up.

I would say: the unit is extremely versatile and matches the guitars of its time (low to medium output pickups). By then they didnt have humbuckers with 16K or more output like the Jeff Beck. Very good choice with a single coil guitar.

With high power humbuckers you even get some metal-alike tones. But I compared it to my Marshall Shredmaster (not a real great box, but it does its job) and the Sansamp cant get that metal type mid-lacking sounds.

But it can get close to nearly every sound with its incredibly versatile settings. This is the main thing about the unit, it does what a modeling amp does - but in analog and with more presence and punch. It is somehow in-between tube amps and modeling-amps in terms of sound quality. Better than almost any modeled sound but not 100% the sound of a specialized tube amp. But for that price!

With "modern" rock style guitars either I need to learn how to use it properly or it is just not really matching for them.

For 50 EUR / 60 US$ this was a real bargain and I would by 10 for that price (if only I could find them). Look at the prices of the original CLASSIC units on Ebay!

Very easy to experiment sounds with it

I'm using the setup of a Fender Twin Reverb it can emulate it perfectly. Zero noise and zero signal lose, ofcourse if you turn up the amp drive this will generate noise. The effect is very strong and i am using it with a Marshall jcm 900.

Very robust, dont worry to have a backup.

You *could* spend ages reading the manual and getting to know what sort of thing each dip switch does and how they affect the sound, then design a sound from scratch; alternatively dial up the sample settings given in the manual and then you can get tweaking to get the precise sound you want. All pretty simple really! I have to admit that having all the parameters written on the casing helps immensely.

My guitar is a self-built / constructed eBay special - all the bits were bought off eBay and I then slung them together. It's a Strat shape (right handed) played left handed (but strung right-handed - it's a long story...) The single pickup is a Kent Armstrong-designed single coil sized humbucker hotrails thing, quite high output.
I've tried a whole bunch of amp simulators recently (including models from Digitech, Behringer and Zoom). This is by far the most outstanding sonically.
I mainly use quite heavy distortion sounds in my music with the odd clean chorused part thrown in. The distortion available from this box just sounds way more "organic" and real than any of the digital modellers I've used - certainly more like the ideal sound that I've been carrying round in my head for years!
Noise wise, it's not bad, but then a little bit of hiss can contribute to the realism, I reckon!

This thing is built like a tank. I cannot envisage it breaking down ever... I would certainly gig with it.

Tech 21's website is OK I guess - all the information is there.

If you are looking for tube amp modelling without the complication, with a real hands-on feel and with a whole lot of "feel", then check this pedal out. If it were stolen or lost I'd definitely buy one - the sounds I get out of it are nearer to my ideal sounds than any other pedal I've tried. I wish it had a gizmo to make my guitar playing better, but hey you can't have everything! If you can find one of these units second hand then give it a whirl - you can always sell it on afterwards if you don't like it - but I reckon that you'll keep hold of it and sell your other distortion units / amp modellers first!!

It's easy to use if you don't mind twiddling and tweaking and using your imagination and your ears.

I have tried many things, including POD, other Line 6 amps, and I'm a regular Roland VG-8 user, but for getting a personal, sculpted, unique sound, I have returned to tweaking this pedal and recording direct with a Radial D.I. It takes some work, but it's fun to build in subtle nuances... I have lost the manual so I have no idea what "amp" I'm simulating. I just know when it hits the sweet spot.

It's built like a tank and has survived for a decade.

Tech21nyc.com is OK, but lacks some documentation. But since I've never had a problem, I can only expect that they would be helpful.

I have just recently rediscovered the SansAmp Classic and am so happy I didn't sell it back when I had the chance. I will never let it go!