Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1 Preamp

It's not easy to use at all. It has parameters that are unlike anything else, so be prepared to crack open the manual and tweak away.

The presets are a good place to start. I usually just tweak the bass and treble. If you really make the effort, you can come up with some really good sounds. I like the Mesa Mark I setting and the Fender settings the best. My favorite setting is number 18; which is a Fender setting, with a distortion pedal. I use a crunchbox with this setting and it sounds insane! My amp is a crest power amp and the PSA-1 in a 3 space rack. So it's as if I'm playing the crunchbox through a real fender amp. I've been gigging with this setup for over a year now and have pretty much found my sound. I know I'm happy with my rig, when I stop looking for gear online and in stores. Preset 18 with a pedal gets a 10. The PSA-1 by itelf gets an 8. Let's keep in mind that certain presets will get a high score on their own and certain others will get a lower score (I don't care for the Marshall settings). Collectively, I'd give it an 8. I like most of the Fender settings, some of the Mesa settings and none of the Marshall settings. So, all together... 8.

Well, here's where I need to speak up. This unit goes crazy on me from time to time. I don't abuse my gear at all, so I don't know what else to say. Sometimes it'll start blinking uncontrollably. I'll reset it and usually it's ok. Sometimes it will blink and the volume drops. Lately it's been ok, but I don't trust it without a backup.

I've never dealt with them, but I hear they're top notch.

I like Preset 18 with a distortion pedal. It sounds massive and rivals other REAL tube amps, in person, as in side by side onstage. I've played next to Rectos, an Orange and a Deizel and my Crest with the PSA-1 has always sounded as good or in some cases; in my opinion, better. On its own, I only like certain presets and kind of hate other presets. Mine hasn't been terribly consistant, yet it hasn't completely broken down either. I gig with a backup rig and have yet to break it out. All in all, I'll give the PSA-1 a 7, because I need a seperate distortion pedal to get the distortion sound I like.

This preamp will take some time to figure out and get used to. Those who are used to basic controls (vol, bass, treble, mid, etc.)will be in for a challenge. The controls on this unit are things like: buzz, punch, etc. If you read the manual, you'll figure it out, but be warned, if you think you'll get it all figured out in one sitting, you're wrong. Start with the presets; some of which are quite good, and tweak them.

Once you have this hooked up to the right components, you can get a really great sound, both distortion and clean. If you hook it up to the wrong components, it can sound.... not horrible, but just not great. Tech21 says to hook it up to a solid state power amp and use full range speakers. Well, I don't have full range speakers, I have a 2x12 with celestions. In order to make it sound "better", I use a bbe sonic maximizer. As for the power amp, well I've used a few. The best results have been with a mosvale solid state power amp that uses mosfets to emulate a tube sound. The next best was a mesa simulclass 2:90 that also sounded good but maybe a bit too compressed. At the moment I'm using a carvin solid state power amp and it sounds the worst of the three. Not BAD, but not as good as the other two. I also use a parametric EQ to get rid of some mids and really scoop them out for an insane metal sound. I have played this unit through a PA cabinet and it sounded INSANE! But who has a PA cab just lying around? I once had a plan to build a 2x12 with full range speakers, but I abandoned it long ago. Who has time? Anyway, the carvin poweramp with the celestion 2x12 and the sonic maximizer gives me a good tone. It's not (for me anyway) a plug in and play unit. As you can see, it takes an effort and extra gear for me to get the sound I want. I will only give a 7 for sound quality, because this unit on it's own with average speakers and poweramp still lacks, in my opinion.

Ok, here's the bad news. I own a few tech21 products: psa1, gt2, trademark60, trademark 10 and with the exception of the trademark10, I've had problems with ALL of them. The latest drama with the psa1 is that one of the pots has recently gone insane. I've contacted tech21 and as usual, they were very helpful. They asked for a serial number in order to send me some form... Anyway, this sounds like a lot of work and I can't be bothered with it at the moment. Maybe someday, but I have a trademark60 that is my main amp at the moment and as long as it doesn't quit on me (it's acted up before), I can wait to send the psa1 in for repair. I really wanted to love this preamp too...

They are the best! Emails answered promtly, patient and helpful over the phone... I tell it like it is and they simply are wonderful with their customer service

What can I say? When it works, and in conjunction with the sonic maximizer and the Parametric EQ, I like it alot. But I don't know if I can count on tech21 products to not crap out on me? If lost or stolen, I would not buy this unit again. I would buy a combo amp, but no more rackmount preamps for me.

The controls are not your standard vol, bass, mid, gain, etc. You have to know how the controls work on the psa 1 to really have success with it. Read the manual and experiment with it. Start with the presets, some of which are very good.

Ok, here we go... I've had this preamp for a LONG time. I've deluded myself into thinking it was so great. Maybe it's just the gear I use it with, I don't know? I use a carvin solid state power amp, a bbe sonic maximizer a parametric eq and a home made 2x12 with 100 watt celestion speakers. I use the eq with some of the distorted tones to cut some of the mids (sort of like a speaker emulator I guess?)I love some of the clean sounds. Some of the fender sounds I like, but I never was able to like the distortion on this unit. Always sounded too compressed, to dark. They don't seem to sing. Once again, I know that it may be my gear. I'm told I should use full range speakers with the psa 1, but all I have is the bastard 2x12. Anyway, I renently bought a MI Audio Crunchbox distortion pedal. I used this on some of the clean channels and there was my sound! I use it a lot with presets 15,16 and 18 and it sounds phenomonal! Like a Marshall on steroids. If I mess around with it enough, I can even make it sound mesa boogieish. Not to mention all the possibilities with the parametric eq. So, the moral of the story is that I LOVE the clean channels alone AND with the crunchbox, and I am not a fan of the psa 1's distorted channels alone (only with the parametric eq on).

Mine is almost ten years old and I find that I do have to reset the unit more often than I'd like to, because it will freeze up, or the little indicator lights will start blinking and will not stop. Reseting the unit seems to bring it back to normal, but still, I shouldn't have to deal with it.

They are the best. Answered emails, answered calls, very helpful, nice, patient. Very impressed with them in that respect.

I give it a 7 because I need to use a distortion pedal to make it sound amazing, to me. But, I do love the clean sounds.

i've submitted a quite bad review on the psa-1 at 08/09/2007 09:38am and i would like to append my new experiences...

the ease of use is still 10.

first i got problems with the feedback even on low volumes and i had to minimize the gain and this caused a very thin sound. the setup was the following:
gibson LP melody maker with a dimarzio X2N > db-technologies wireless > korg rack tuner > psa-1 > mesa-boogie 50/50 > line6 flextone cab
the psa-1 was connected to the power amp via the 1/4 jack outputs. i think it was the problem. i took an xlr-jack cable and whoaaaaaa! no feedback, just a fuckin' huge sound.
i changed my wireless to akg and bought a rocktron intellifex ltd processor. i use a little delay between the right and left side. it depends where i play but we head two gigs where i almost pissed myself because of the fat, powerful sound.

there were some problems with the LEDs. i turned the knobs and the LEDs didn't want to show me the things really happened but i turned the psa-1 off and on. problem solved.

the always reply to mails... almost always.

i really recommend the psa-1 for guitarists and for bass players as well.
i had a peavey 5150 before. i sold it and bought the psa-1. first i was a little bit dissappointed because the feedback problems and the brunetti rockit power amp i used with, but now i'm totally satisfied with my sound, with my psa-1 and with my mesa 50/50.

This is by far the best pre amp under 400 euro's (used). The presets are verry verry good and dialing your own sound is as easy as drinking water. Editing is like changing the channels on your TV, it is as easy as that. The manual reads as easy as reading a school group 2 book. Realy, you should get one.

If you don't have an ear problem, you should be able to find every tone out there. Why? Because the pre-amp distorts de low, mid and high frequencys seperatly!!!! There is no other pre amp that can do this. De distortions are the best out there. Remember: This is 100% analog (only the memory is digital). You cannot compare this to any other digital pre amp out there, like POD, V-amp and that sort of crap. This amp is based on a tube design layout.
My setup is PRS (custom and ce) 22 and 24,Ibanez S470->PSA1/VG8/Vooduu Valve->Klark Teknik gate->Ensoniq DP4->8 channel mixer->BBE 461->Rivera TBR1->marshall 4x10/marshall 2x12.

Build like a tank. Mine is more than 10 years old.

no opinion

Before I got the PSA1 I've playd on: ADA MP1, Mesa Quad, JMP1,JFX1, Soldano SP77, Rocktron Utopia, Marshall 8008, Marshall 9200, Mesa 50/50. In my price range, I've played only good stuff as you can see.
I know what a good tone is, and like I have it now, is good....realy good. I've found my tone, and now I can spend my money on my wife and children.
By the way, I play for 2 years now.

Very easy to use, turn the knobs press save once, select a patch, press save again and it's done. The magic with this preamp occur when you start to understand how these knob interact togheter. Being able to distord only the bass frequency range, or the mids or highs is by far the most genius inovation ever made. Nothing can't be done with this approach.

Ok, here it goes, the only thing with this preamp that can annoy or not is its tone personnality, what make it recognisable. It have a slight metallic bite that can't be removed, and that's what make its charm, that's EXACTLY why I choose it. But don't get me wrong, it can produce real nice warm crunch and fu**ng sparkling clean, but when it comes to distortion that's where it kills anything on its way.

Note that I'm a metal fan after all, playing form blues to rock when the mood ask for it. This preamp deliver all that. But for brutal loud and bassy midcut death to high speed biting trash metal aggression, THIS IS THE UNIT!!!

My setup is the following:
Gibson flying-V --> Audio-Technica rackmount wireless --> Korg DTR-1000 rackmount tuner --> Rocktron HUSH (to silence pickup noise)--> Sansamp PSA-1 --> Rocktron Xpression --> Rocktron Velocity 250 --> Triple XXX 4x12 cab in stereo --> Behringer FCB1010 midi controller

With this setup, I have played side by side with Triple XXX, Mesa Triple Rectifier, Peavey 5150, Tiaxis/90:2 setup, Jackson Lee Perfect connection/Peavey classic 50:50 setup, Ada MP-1/classic 50/50 setup (as the tube hottest ones)and shure they were all great but when you hear them all with a band, cranked up and you can't tell at all if it is the 4500$ all valves overrated amplifier or the psa-1, solid state poweramp and underrated cab that sound better. You start telling yourself that you could have bought a psa-1 kit and a good used car for that price and start remembering the last valves service while I'm accidentaly droping my 10 years old rig down the stairs cause I'm too drunk and not worrying about this knowing that it will still work next time since it was not the first time it happened!

As stated above (sorry for the little exageration! ;-) this pre is 10 years old, never been serviced, being in a smoker studio or on a bar stage all its life, have scratches, rips and I'm not shure if the fictionnal situation above did not really happend (!) and it still work like a new one. Could destroy a tank hitting it with this!

Never have to deal with them, so I don't know.

I own it for one year now. I understand that Mesa fans are unable to admit that the almighty, full valves, king of best preamp ever made, the Triaxis, which is OVERpriced and incredibly vast and complex, can be compared to an affordable solid state unit. But the fact is YES, it can be compered! No need for 2000$ 80 valves 500 lbs poweramp to get a tone that CAN BE COMPARED to a hot rodded valve kit. Damn frustrating I must admit... So it's an undestructible killing machine with it's own subtle tonal personnality that can produce tones that will put your baby to sleep or set a whole building on fire, without having to stop eating for a year.

Try this thing, you'll see by yourself...!

I've owned my PSA-1 now for 4 years and is absolutely my favorite piece of gear for my bass set up. Although this is more commonly found in guitar rigs, the bass driver sounds can also be achieved along with the 10 bass presets in the factory settings. At first I found the pots to be somewhat confusing. It takes much experimenting. Coupled with the PSA-1, I use an EBS Classic bass preamp for my clean sounds powered by a QSC 1202 power amp. and a 4x10 Ampeg Pro Cabinet. Between the EBS Quasimetric EQ and the PSA-1, EQing the two together took some time. Eventually I achieved some great overdriven tones. Using the Sans Amp Midi Mouse footswitch I'm able to bypass the PSA-1 and use my clean preamp only. And with the midi menues, it offers many choices of configurations. In the area of tones, I was able to achieve very TOOLish drive and other classic tones. However the high end does seems to break up on certain frequencies - of course proper EQing can correct this.

Very good.

Absolutely.

Never had to deal with support

it's really easy to set up and make the programmes.

i tried it with several power amps (solid state stuffs, brunetti rockit, mesa 50/50).
i've read that it sounds better with solid states - i don't think so.
it was far better with the mesa.

but there is a very big problem. it starts to feedback even at low volumes when i turn up the gain or the drive knob... maybe it's my guitars fault, maybe not but it's very bad.

there are bass presets in the device - some of them are really fuckin' great. maybe it's better for bass guitar than guitar.

it disturbs my db technoligies wireless - because of it it sucks but i think it's my wireless' fault.
but when i'm playing - no problem. only when the wireless is turned off. it's strange, i know...

great guys, almost always wrote me back.

This is a pretty easy preamp to get along with. the factory presets are pretty usefull, but I always tweak a lil from there. As far as editing I wish their was an inexpensive software program for editing the presets. They only give you a bliking light that starts slow as you deviate from the setting to rapid as you get further from the preset for which ever knob you are tweaking. With 256 differnt increments per knob I sure wished their was an easier way to find out, hey I am on 197 and 206 to my ear sounds better. I guess I am just one of those visual people. The manual is real straight forward and is not a problem to learn and forget about. I own two of the original PSA-1's and wouldn't get rid of either of them. I am giving this an 8 because their has to be an easier way to edit this one and back it up on a computer other than buying a $200 software program from MOTU. Untill then I will just use two of them and backup presets from one to the other.

The three main tones they claim to sound like are Fender, Marshall and Mesa Boogie. At least for guitar that is, their are more amps if you are a bassist. I think the unit does a respectable job at emulating those amps, but not at replacing those amps if that makes sense. The cleans are a bit muddy and lack that sparkle that fender can provide, but the overdriven fender tones are acceptable. The Marshall tones are close also and even give you picking dynamics while distorted to a point. When the gains are maxed out their is no longer the dynamic factor involved, but that is true with any high gain amp. The Boogie tones are my personal favorites. They do a really good job at emulating the specific amps they claim to sound like. Over all I lreally like the distorted tones allot, but lack a little respect on the clean tones. The possibilities of applications of this unit are endless. Their are pleanty of connections on the back of this one. Balanced and unbalanced hookups are readily available, as well as an effects loop with stereo returns. My setup is guitar--->input on Sansamp--->effects loop out to a T.C. G-Major--->Korg A2--->effects loop return. From there I run it straight to the board and it sounds massive!!! I use the G-Major for effects, and the Korg A2 for speaker simulation. I have tried to replace the Korg with at least 5 different speaker sims, but always come back to this unit. I know allot of people state, "You don't need a speaker sim, it's built into this one." Not in my opinion. When I turn my speaker sim off every one looks at me funny like, what happened? To me it's allot buzzy without it. Just my opinion. I have been out lots with this rig and always crush others with this setup. I have people asking all the time where my amps are and I just point to the rig and they don't believe me. I own a 5150, a Soldano SLO 100 and a old fender champ. I love all of them but to me this rig sounds better live. Plus I don't have to depend on a sound man for good up front tone, it always sounds great!!!!!!! P.S. I use a crown power amp and full range speakers for my stage volume, and run the other output right to the snake, voilla.

I have owned this one for 4 years and used it to replace a ADA MP-1 and a JMP-1. When I first plugged it in it blew both those units out of the water. I all of a sudden had picking dynamics and gain dynamics and a hell of a sweet spot tone that couldn't be denied. It truly is a sturdy unit, but I wouldn't bump into the knobs a whole lot. I have a backup in case something fails, but it never has in 4 years.

I have written emails to the company and they have responded every time, with clear precise answers that helped me out allot!!! I have also spoken to them on the phone and never felt like they wanted to get me off the line as soon as possible, kudos Tech-21!

I use this rig for playing metal and wouldn't get rid of it for anything. I have yet to try a tri axis, would love to, but can't afford one. It covers my tasts to the T and I have no complaints about the tone at all. If I was using this one for sparkling cleans I would have a complaint there. I have been playing for over 25 years and have owned allot of equipment, the only preamp I still own is the PSA-1. If it were to get stolen or damaged I would absolutely replace it! The thing I love the most about this one is just the quality of tone it produces. I have my OWN sound with the combination of the G-Major and The Korg A2 for speaker sims. I have had no complaints yet, and have played many a gig with this rig. This unit doesn't compare to any other preamp I have tried out. The Fender, Marshall, and Mesa Boogie tones this one provides would cost an arm and a leg to get the actual amps it replicates. I just sold my pod XT Pro last month and don't miss it at all. That unit was lifeless to me. This unit provides a real life tone and I just love that! If anyone wants to hear my rig contact me and I will provide a link. If anyone has any questions for me please feel free to contact me!

Easy to use ?
Yes, there are only 8 knobs ;-)
Manual is fine.
The unit has 127 programs 0-128 (0 and 50) can't be changed and have no sound (= bypass).
All other programs can be changed.
The first 49 are presets (and can't be changed by default) but this can be changed.
I will leave the first 49 untouched and use the other 78 free slots.

This one is the new version - there is a Version 1.1 available since some month - the former 1.0 version will not be produced anymore.
Both units sound the same - but the newer one has some more feature like:
- more user programs
- 3 Digit LED (instead of 2)
- Output level knob (will not be stored)
- On/Off switch
- Headphone jack

The knobs work different as the knobs on a normal tube amp. But after some time is's easy to find the right sounds.

Pre-Amp (Input Level and booster, called 'After Burner')

Buzz (amount of bass for clean sounds - amount of deep distortion for distored ones)
Punch (same but for mids)
Crunch (same but for hight)

All this knobs controll the general preamp sound - allmost every kind of tube preamp can be simulated (Fender, Marshall, Boogie... styles)

The next knob (Drive) controlled the power amp distortion !

The two knobs will follow (Low and High) - this adjusts the bass (Low) and very high frequencies (High).

The (High) knob can be used to adjust the output for direct use or before an amp. It's more a part of the inbuild speaker simulator than a normal 'treble' control in an amp.

All this and the final output level can be stored into on of the 127 slots.

.. that's it

There is no character display - so we have to remember the amps stored on the 127 slots.
Some empty sheets are included to help for this.

This one sounds very nice.
Clean, Cruch, Vintage and HighGain all possible and fine sounding.
I prever this over the direct out sound of all current DSP floarboards / 19" racks.

Why not a 10 - while a lot of sounds are noise free or with little noise - there are some sounds with noise - like with most high gain amps you will need a noise gate for this kind of sounds (it's not inbuild).

It's light and sounds great !
I tried it with my band tonight - the other gitar guy was using a tube amp and I used the 1.1 direct into the mixer (added some reverb) and it was fine - even cuts though very good.