Tech 21 SansAmp Original

This pedal is like other people trying to drive Fonzie's car. I actually bought it off of a kid several years ago because he just couldn't get the thing to sound right. Me, I'm a knob twiddler, so within a month I was getting some hot sounds. Years later, after settling into it, it's like an old friend, and it would take me a VERY long time to get this same sound out of any tube amp. By the way, the manual is basically useless. This is a pedal for people who like to fiddle.

People are STUNNED by the sound I can get from this. Even myself, to this day, when I practice with the clean fender sound, I melt a little. The distortion sound is plenty fat, and people are amazed at how little distortion I actually crank into it (you know what I mean, a lot of guys assume that you have to have everything maxed to get any distortion). The distortion feels at home both with riffs and leads. Once I set it to my distorted sound, all I have to do is EQ it a bit on my rack (the only two pieces of equipment I use), and I have just about any guitar sound on earth, from Rush to Deftones to Sevendust. There have been times I listened to recordings I've done and forgot that I used it, and thought I was hearing a full stack! But again, this is a box for people who like to experiment. Don't expect to get it, and have it sing the moment you plug it in.

It broke on me once, and I had to ship it back to Tech 21. They replaced the electronics for $20, and I got it back in 2 weeks. By the way, if you ever open up this pedal, you will wonder where the hell they hide the parts, because it's basically empty on the inside. Honestly, I don't know how these sounds come out of there. It's not the best thing to use live, because to switch from a clean to distorted channel requires me to flip about 5 tiny dip switches. Its stark advantage over a tube amp is that it isn't tempermental (as I've been on many gigs with guys with tube amps that have a mind of their own, if you know what I mean). With this thing, I plug it in, I know what I'll sound like.

They knew what the problem was, told me how much it would cost, how to ship it, and got it back to me good as new. The only problem was that it was a very long 2 weeks waiting to get it back!

It all depends on what kind of person you are. I'm a multi-instrumentalist, but when I want to play guitar, I know what sounds I want, and this pedal delivers. I can use it for any style of music from jazz to blues to newer sounds like Incubus and Rage Against the Machine, to even Metallica or Meshuggah, all with the aid of a little EQ. That is definitely the amazing part of the pedal. I use it with all sorts of guitars with active, passive, single-coil, and humbucking pickups, and it makes them all sound great. My rig is simply a guitar, this pedal, a Digitech Studio Quad, and a power amp, and it's phenomenal.

I found it tricky sometimes to get some souds I wanted right away. However Its better to have lots of options than be limited. You need to play with it for a while to get at the good stuff. Manual was 2 or 3 sheets I cant remember , it was 8 yers ago.. I dont read that crap anyways.

Using a Washburn Neck through Body with EMG active Humbuckers on the front in Normal mode with Switch 4 down and overdrive cranked through an ALesis Quadraverb Original and then to A BBE Maximizer. What a fantastic lead sound. This is my trademark lead singing tone (You can hear it on http://www.mp3.com/timanduppergi on the tune "La Villa". Through A Gibson 335 gives you tha Angus young sound. Even though its for direct recording, sonds good going through a Fender super Amp Miced with an SM58 through my other effects listed above. FXXXing monster David Gilmour sound when playing through a PA in live shows. Really hot. Makes yer hair stand up.

I have used it on Many live ocassions and treated like a dirty whore. I bought it when it first was available and have used it many times a week since. It has outlived all my guitar cables. The inputs are scratchy so I gott open it up soon and clean em up. All the knowbs work great and so do the DIP switches (I really thought they wouldnt last when I bought them though). Its one of my longets lasting pieces of gear. The wall wart transformer cable never broke either and I tripped over that many a time. I bought this when it came out 8 years? ago Really great reliability.

Never had to Nothing ever went wrong so i cannot rate this one.

Great for my stuff, Blues, ROck leads etc. I wont ever sell it. Its probably the best box I ever bought. I'm afraid if it gets stolen I will cry. Its got great sentimental value.

It really could not be easier as long as you understand the how each switch and knob affect the sound. There is a bank of DIP switches with a menu of what they do printed right on the unit. The manual is simple but covers all you need to know.

I use this with my Ibanez RG520QS in my home studio. I have several vintage Gibson tube amps which I was miking into a mixing console but too many factors affected the resulting tone (mic proximity, amp settings, etc.). Also you have ambient noise to deal with when miking amps and it wasn't really practical to crank it up all the way.
What this unit does is replace the amp and microphone. You plug it directly into the console. So instead of playing with headphones while monitoring your amp you can listen to the sound exactly as it is being recorded. It also eliminates the inconsistancies with miking the amp and totally eliminates ambient noise. You can also plug this unit right into a P.A. or even a home stereo and have the sound of a miked Marshall stack.
Many users forget that this unit emulates a tube amp including the speakers and miking environment. It may sound muddy when run though an amp because when you think about it it's like miking an amp and plugging the mike into an amp.

This is the big brother to the GT-2 model which would be better for gigging because it's simpler. This unit is really better for studio use but it's small size and portability would make it perfectly suitable for gigging.

I bought this unit used and I contacted Tech-21 via email and they immediately sent the manual free of charge. Now that is service!

I play mostly rock and this thing is like a Marshall stack in a pocket-sized package. I would definately replace it if it were lost or stolen. It is exactly what I wanted when I bought it! For home studios this thing is a must. I like the sound so much I hope I can get an acceptable sound though an amp but I have yet to try it.

If you just read the manual, the is real easy to use. Some have not given it a 9 but then most men just open up the box and chunk the box and directions in the corner(very smart)

I have a vintage super twin reverb, and I wish I had bought something cheaper and just used this pedal instead, I tried this pedal through a K (kustom) amp 6inch speaker and got the same damn sound only without the tremolo. Of course the little amp doesn't have the power the twin does but the sound is the same.

Don't know just got used and it works great, looks like it has been through hell though so I guess it must be dependable.

Never called them, cool web site though.

This pedal is the king of amp simulator pedals, a little expensive new though, when I looked on the inside I thought, "this is not fair there is nothing to it why the hell does it cost so much?" I would like to have a new one but still a little pricy for the poorer musicians. But you do get what you pay for as far as the sound goes. This pedal is a god among pedals. Just can't afford a new one. Maybe if they sold them for 140-170 I could get a new one :)

it can be easy once you get used to it. there are four knobs: Presence Drive, Amp Drive, Volume, and High; 8 little switches to change your sound; and a selector switch on the side to chose the amp sound you want to use: lead(marshall sound), normal(mesa/boogie sound), and bass(fender sound). it takes a while to really get the hang of it. i didnt have a manual so i dont know what its like.

I dont like its sound that much. it does what it says though, it definitely is a good tube emulator, but i still dont like it. it has a little to much treble in it. the distortion isnt that powerful either, not like a fuzz pedal or anything. it just basically sounds like a marshall, fender, or mesa/boogie tube amp overdriven. it kind of sounds like kiss to me and i noticed an ad for sansamp said they used one. so if you like kiss you might like this. i know kurt cobain had one of these. but those of you who are obsessed with getting his gear, i'd suggest you lay off of this pedal. just get the boss turbo distortion if you really want his sound. the sansamp doesnt have as much distortion as the turbo distortion. but over both of these i'd suggest getting a boss overdirve/distortion pedal. it comes close to sounding similar to the sansamp, but its better as a fuzz pedal. lots of drive on it. but i would tthink about one of those two over the sansamp, theyre better and a lot cheaper.

built very well. it'll take a while before it ever brakes. if you wanted to use it for a gig or something, you wouldnt need a backup.

never had to deal with sansamp

there are pedals better than this that are cheaper. i've seen these new for like $275. i got mine so cheap because i traded in something. if you want a loud fuzz sound, dont get this. but if you want a classic rock or any overdirve sound, you might like this if you want to pay so much.

This is not a "plug & play" stompbox. There are several small (and I mean small) dipswitches, 4 knobs, and a 3-way toggle switch. I didn't get a manual with mine (used). Nonetheless, you can find some exceptionally good tones with some experimentation, though this can be time-consuming.
The SansAmp does not come with an AC adaptor, which I can live with, since I have those bases covered. You can expect to drain batteries as you will spend hours tweaking "the perfect sound," and then... a completely different "perfect sound."

A wide variety of unbelievably good sounds. I borrowed one last year for a week- to directly (without an amp) record some guitar tracks at home for my band's soon-to-be-released CD. I fell in love with the SansAmp. At the time, I was living in an apartment, and was at the studio until 10 or 11pm every evening. Tinkering with tones thru an amp after 11:30pm in an apartment (with a pregnant wife) is not a recommended procedure, but I digress. I ran my Boss ME-5 (generic combinations of Boss pedal sounds) through it, using the SansAmp to emulate a mildly overdriven tube amp. It was fantastic.
The SansAmp was suggested to as an alternative to estranging everybody through loud amplification, and I simply fell in love with it. I used it on maybe half a dozen varying types tracks, and had to have one of my own. I got it 2 weeks ago, and have already incorporated it into my 'A' rig. Not only does it do exactly what I want (a fatter than TS-9 heavy overdrive), but it does all kinds of enjoyable departures, and has a fantastic amount of tonal controls.
I have never heard a better pedal, and I have owned many, and tried more. However, the footswitch makes a fair share of noise when engaging/disengaging the pedal. It sounds great with my strats & tele, then sounded great with my ~1940 archtop, which I decided to use at the last minute for a gig. This required minimal twaeking, though I expected it would require more.

Can't really say. It worked without a hitch at a recent gig. I can't really justify a redundant pedal at this point. It seems well-constructed. If it dies, I'll replace it if necessary.

After borrowing the SansAmp from my friend, I was so impressed, I called Tech21. They were courteous and helpful, and even acted genuinely interested in me.

My Boss Blues Driver, Ibanez TS-9, Danelectro Daddy-O, and Marshall BluesBreaker all do mostly the same general things to my guitar sound; You know, that fat strat overdrive that so many of us aspire towards. The SansAmp does that too, although honestly, I won't waste my time trying to get it to emulate 4 pedals that already do their jobs admirably.
I don't think it can be beaten for its ability to emulate various amplifiers. As an overdrive pedal, you can dial in any imaginable tone you want, but it takes some working with the pedal and your amp to dial in an appropriate balance. I'm enjoying the fact that I can switch from my Fender-sounding world to something more Marshall flavored. I would definitely replace it, but the price is prohibitive. I looked long & hard to find one used for a reasonable price.
I can't think of any reasonable improvements. Whatever your playing style, you can use this pedal, but it takes some time to tweak.

Takes a bit of getting used to. It's definitely its own animal, and all the controls are interactive. But once you have the hang of it, very easy. I hate to read manuals, but I have to admit their suggested settings are extrememly helpful.

Amazing amp simulation, and I've never used anything but great modded tube amps over the past 10 years - up till now. A bit hissy on some really high-gain settings, but dead quiet when it does the clean Fender thing.

This unit was given to me by a friend who does session work in L.A. and has one of every piece of gear ever created. But within a few days of my receiving it, it crapped out completely. It had been sitting in his closet for several years unused, maybe the salt air got to it. I dunno. I wouldn't gig with this thing without a backup, mostly because I still use a real amp for live work.

I called Tech 21 when my unit died, and they gave me a return authorization with no hassle, no receipt needed, etc. They have a flat price for fixing these things, $40 I think. In my case, that covered a whole new main module and new battery clip. They turned it around fast, too. With this in mind, I would think a used one that didn't work would represent a killer deal.

If you had tried to tell me I'd ever fall in love with a box like this, I would have laughed. But...if this one were struck by lightning or whatever, I would definitely seek out another, although it would be painful to pay what they charge for a new one - retail is around $350. For home studio use, though, it simply can't be beat. I have the freedom to crank an amp in my bedroom studio, but with a wailing amp in the same room it's really hard to tell what sound your microphone is actually capturing. Now, I can get the sound I need for a particular track and figure out the part with everything in place in the mix. This might sound pretty basic, but it can make a big difference in the creative process, at least for me. And it is kind of nice being able to get cool tones without making your ears bleed from the volume.

Eight DIP switches (Mid-Boost I, Mid-Boost II, Low Drive, Clean Amp, Bright Switch, Vintage Tubes, Speaker Edge, Close Miking) that are either on or off. Duh.
Four knobs. Presence Drive (which is very accurate), Amplifier Drive, Output and High (EQ).
One switch to choose an amp (Bassman/MesaBoogie/Marshall).
Easy, easy, easy. And crammed onto one pedal.

My favorite is its clean settings (Bassman). The tube sheen and sparkle is their, and the warmth is around 90% of the real tube amps. Which isn't bad considering this pedal costs 5-10 times less.
Can't get a good reading of its dirtier settings (overdriven), but I think this would sound great with humbuckers. (Fans of Angus Young should have a field day with this).
Playing with the bright switch and speaker miking positions (speaker edge/close miking) is a lot of fun. Vintage Tubes is a must for warmth (shredheads can ignore).

Very reliable, though knobs are getting a bit dirty (haven't opened it up, but I hope the pots are sealed). No problems with DIP switches.

Never needed 'em.

An *absolute* must if you have a home studio in an apt. Lots of room to experiment with different settings and "amps"- in fact, I would recommend playing with one before plunking down the cash on a full-sized amp. Records wonderfully.
Haven't tried it yet, but its use goes far beyond guitars. If you want *anything* to sound like it's 20-30 years old, run it through this. Keyboards, vocals, drum machines, sound effects- you can warm it up and fuzz it out. I remember an interview w/ Butch Vig saying he uses its big brother (the SansAmp PSA-1 rackmount) for everything *but* guitars. The Swiss Army knife of producers. I think the Dust Brothers use it too (Beck, Beastie Boys, etc).

It has a DIP switch of all things to enable or disable parameters for which there is no other linear control (just enable or disabled) However the switch contains: Mid Boost 1, Mid Boost 2, Low Drive, Clean Amp, Bright Switch, Vintage Tubes, Speaker edge, and Close Miking. The maual has 4 suggested settings for AC/DC sound, Van Halen, Mesa Boogie and Fender. and the simply NAILED them all. In addition to the funky dip switch there are knobs for amp drive, presence drive, high, and output and runs on a 9V adapter. - I get some wicked tone out of this just set it up n' go!

A Little Hiss at way high gain. This does NOT sound like a stomp box it's an amp emulator so it is used for direct recording and what not. A word here... I have had a JCM800 (Marshall for you polytoners) and a 4 12 cab. I could NEVER get it to sound as warm, expensive, and spungy as this little box. - The JCM sits in my closet. Oh and yes the lecicon ALEX and Reflex do sound great with this thing. (See Alex review)

Plug n' Play

N/A

Everybody should have one
******* I open it up in disbelief, and was further shocked by ******** the lack of components. 1 blasted FET, some coupling caps a few resistors and too may small diodes. I think these wizards are manipulating the transfer curve of the FET!

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