Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1 Preamp

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.

I have the old version. Very easy to use. There's definitely a ton of sounds available, I haven't had the time to really start tweaking it yet.

I have mainly used it for recording bass for our demo. It's real easy to reamp tracks with the Psa too. I just plug a cord from the main cr out to the input 2 of the psa.

I play metal, so I can comment on the high gain sounds. The distortion is extremely tight and has a nice amount of clarity and definition. I tried playing with it so that I used my Framus Cobra's power section. It sounded nice and tight.

The voicing of the preamp is definitely it's own. (Some may hate it, but I love it). Real crunchy and tight. Whenever I listen to bands like Hypocrisy or 1349 I can instantly tell if this unit was used. For direct recording I haven't yet been able to get a full sounding guitar tone. It seems that it always comes out too thin or scooped. (Propably a mix of those two would make a huge wall of sound).

No issues yet. I bought it used so propably it's pretty solid.

Haven't dealt with them.

As stated above, I really can't comment on anything else than high gain sounds. For black or death metal this preamp is great, propably not so good on a bit mellower stuff, like, say, Katatonia hence it's very aggressive voicing.

My main rig consists of a Framus Cobra head and cab, I bought this unit for direct recording and to record the bass guitars for our demo. I really like the bass tones we came up with, nice and organic sounding. (Not bad for a SS pre).

Overall, it's a real nice piece of gear and extremely versatile.

I've got the new version of the sansamp 1.1, before i get i read a lot of reviews. this preamp is really very easy to use, just read the manual, and the controls are very intuitive.

I wont give a 10 becouse imo i think there are better pre-amps like triaxis but it's to damm expensive.
My current setup is Marshall 1936 Cab (2x12), Mesa boogie Valve Power Amp 20/20, BBE Sonic Maximizer, G-Major, and Psa 1.1

What can i say this pre amp rocks, tech21 says it's better to have a non valve pre amp to play with this, i disagree but it's my taste, the sound comming from the mesa it's just suberb, real warm, and powerfull. Also the BBE makes wonders with sound eheheheh.
I bought this to replace my podxt, there is no comparison betwen this two products.

As for clean sounds i think that is where the psa is worse, but with a little tweaking of the facbric presets you can get almost every sound you want.
Distorcions, thats a complete diferent deal, the factory programs are very good, almost with no tweaking you can get powerfull distorcions, crunch sounds, anything.
The quality of the pre amp is very good.

This unit is well built and looks it wont break eheheheh.

Customer support is very good, i've emailed their support and they anwser back, very nice.

I play for 15 years, mainly rock, blues and i need a lot of sounds for my rig, i think this is one of the best deals i've made.

Guitar: Ibanez RGs, Epiphone Sheraton
Musical Styles: Progressive Metal, Hard Rock, Bebop, Fusion, Free
Form

This preamp can do just about anything I've asked from it. When playing my Ibanezs I can get booming, heavy rhythm, screaming leads, shimmering cleans and glassy jazz tones. This thing is the best reproduction of tube quality without actually being a tube amp.

The only problem I've had with this preamp is when I've used it with my Epiphone Sheraton to produce jazz sounds. The tone quality is decent, but I think that particular guitar would sound better through a vintage combo tube amp.

Solid state preamp that uses analogue modeling to reproduce just about any other amplifier realisticly. Has eight control knobs on the front, each with 256 incremental steps meaning a total of 1.845x10^19 possible configurations, but probably only ~10,000 user differentiable settings. The control knobs are lockable so that people don't mess with my settings. Up and down buttons to switch between presets are located on the front as well as an imbeded save button which prevents accidentally deleting presets. Save button can be pushed using a pick.

Front and Rear 1/4" input
Stereo 1/4" output
MIDI I/O
Effects Loop with 50/50 switch
Stereo XLR output (very handy)
LED display
Jack for momentary footswitch

I use it for all of my live performances and practicing when I get a chance to bring it home.

100 Presets: 1-49 : Factory Defaults
51-99 : User Defined
00 & 50 : Bypass

Never had any problems, failures or glitches with the system. No tubes to break in the middle of a show and I still get tube quality!!!

Haven't dealt with them, haven't heard anything about them.

Playing for 6 years.
If this preamp were stolen I would try to find another used one, or just pay the extra money and buy the new model; Sansamp PSA-1.1. It's the same as the original except they've added a master volume knob.

Guitars:
- Ibanez RG350DX w/ EMG 60 (Neck) & 81 (Bridge)
- Ibanez RG1570 w/ Dimarzio Air Norton (Neck), HS-2 (Mid) &
EVO 2 (Bridge)
- Epiphone Sheraton (ES335 style)

Rig: Guitar-> Morley Bad Horsie 2 Wah->Ernie Ball Volume Pedal->
PSA-1 Sansamp (TC Electronic G-Major in Effect Loop)-> Samson
Servo 260 Power Amp -> Modded Peavy 10" cabs
*PSA-1 and G-Major controlled by a Rocktron Midimate
Rack powered by a Furman Power Conditioner

Love: Amazing reproduction of tube quality tones
Hate: Nothing

There is only one thing I would add to this unit which would be a larger LED screen so that the preset names could be displayed. Seeing numbers on the front doesn't always tell you a lot about a preset.

I used my Dad's amps since I started playing and this is the first amplifier that I've personally owned and it may be the last. I spent at least 5 years playing different amps and listening to see which was right for me. I played Mesa, Marshall, Line6, Digitech, Vox, Peavy, Seymour Duncan, Crate... the list goes on and on. When it came to the best combination of versatility, tone and reliability, the PSA-1 came out on top.

For anybody that has had trouble getting a good sound out of this amp, make sure you use a solid state power amp and FULLRANGE speakers. The PSA-1 is designed to be used for more than guitars, so it was meant to be put through PA speakers.

The manual is very helpful for this product. Editing patches is a breeze, but getting the sound you want out of the unit is tough. Someone said there is no midrange knob, there is! The PUNCH knob! Buzz, Punch, Crunch all determine low, mid, and high distortion breakup. The Drive button simulates Power tube distortion, while the Pre-Amp button simulates tube preamp distortion. The low and high knobs act as a clean frequnecy boost. I suggest wandering thru the presets to see what the unit can do when you first get it. The controls and the way the patches work are quite strange at first and requires some practice to work the unit correctly. Getting a good sound is easy on this unit, but getting the sound you want is tough. Each knob has 256 incremental steps, when you factor in 8 different knobs, that is way over 8 billion different sounds! There is a definite learning curve with this unit, but once you get it, you can get exactly what you want.

I use this unit with my 5 string bass and I feed the sound from the PSA-1 straight into my Aguilar DB680, then to my QSC Power Amp. You can get many distortions: overdrive, growl, crunch, fuzz, thick thin, insane, anything you want. The unit has an inherent tube sound even though there are no tubes in it. The tube emulated sound is NOT better than the real thing, I must add. But, the sound coming from this unit sounds great! There is some noise on this unit when certain knobs are too high, but what unit is SILENT with distortion? (I haven't found one...). Rex Brown of Pantera, Byron Stroud of Fear Factory, Oliver Riedel of Rammstein, Tony Campos of Static-X, Adam Duce of Machine Head, Paulo Pinto of Sepultura; all of them use this unit to get fantastic bass distortion. I loved all their sounds and I got a unit that can create what they have. This unit is best for distorted sounds (my opinion). The unit can do clean sounds, but I prefer my Aguilar DB 680 preamp over that idea though. The Distortion off this unit is excellent, and NOTHING on the market even comes close to this unit.

Very Reliable and easy to use while playing live. I gig without a backup because, hey, I don't have an $600 for a backup!

They have emailed me back on certain questions and have been very helpful.

I love Heavy Metal and Rock. The unit requires patience from the user. If you want something easier to work with, don't buy this! This unit is COMPLEX, but rewards you with awesome tone if you give it a chance. The Unit keeps the low end of my bass very well. The distortion on this thing is very responsive to my playing and that is by far the best part. The knobs sometimes act "wierd" on you; the knobs may not create a tone change until 3 seconds after you move it. The ability to have 50 presets makes up for that though. If you want a large selection of distortion sounds for bass that sound like your bass heroes, buy this unit. If you never want to use a STOMP BOX for distortion ever again, buy this unit. Stomp Boxes don't even come close to the sound quality of the PSA-1. I will never part with it. $600 is expensive, but worth it!

This is the best I have heard for al long time. I have had an POD XT Pro but that's nothing compared with the Sansamp. The XT "feels" digital where PSA "feels" and sounds analog with lots of gain but clean also very impressive. I'm playing a Blade RH-4 with EMG's wich is a perfect combination. The amp is capable of creating many different sound from very clean to brutal ditorsions. Also in high volumes the sound blows out of your speakers, in my case 2 Marshall 1912 through a Valvestate 8008 amp.

Great, no unnessary buttons and options. Just what you need and programable too. I use my PSA-1 together with de G- Major from TC Electronics and the X15 Ultra Foot from Art. Works perfect together.

No problems yet, seems very reliable.

No idea.

If it were stolen or lost, I would try to find another one.

It's just knobs,although,you do need to learn how they work together.

I always give sound quality a 9 'cause it can always be better.This unit kicks ass.It doesn't have a mid control knob,but,this is a different type of circuitry.By cutting the highs and lows you get a shit load of mids,I like mids.There is so much range in this unit that I have my highs less than half way and my lows a little more than half way.I get perfect mids this way.The distortions are clear and brutal,cleans are cleans.I use a Les Paul and ESP BARITONE w/EMG 81's through a Marshall Valvestate power amp and regular cabinets.This unit does sound better through full range speakers and a completely transparent solid state power amp,but,fuck it.My set up still kicks ass.

I've had it for three years with no problems.

The Lloyd dude is cool.No matter how stupid you might sound,he'll answer any question.

For the money,you can't get any better.I play death metal and it's perfect.It does sound like a tube head.I've been playing for 8 years and have tried all the Marshall's,Mesa's,and so on.Trust me,you don't need to slam down 13 hundred bucks,fuck the novelty and fuck the purists.

U NEED to know how to work the very unique controls on this, in order to get the tone u want, so READ THE MANUAL!!!

this thing sounds amazing!! At first, I was a bit dissapointed, because i matched it up with a SS power amp; like I was told to by someone at tech 21, and I just didnt get the sounds i thought i should (I was running it into a mesa boogie recto 4x12). Then i was told to use full range speakers..... well, I ran it through some cheapo home made P.A cabinet made with radio shack speakers, and BOOM!! there was my sound!! I couldnt believe how incredible it sounded! The mesa boogie's, the marshalls, the fenders(the fenders did lack a little, but still sounded great), all the sounds were there. i was told that guitar speakers added too much midrange and that what was needed was full range speakers. well these cheap radio shack speakers did the job. can u imagine what it would sound like through a top of the line P.A cab? Well, this cheapo P.A cab wasnt mine, so all I had was my mesa cab. i did find out that by running an EQ in the effects loop, u can cut out the mids that are added by guitar speakers and improve the sound greatly. Ultimately, I'd like to maybe build a 4x12 cab with full range speakers, but for now the EQ does the job. Once u see what this sounds like through full range speakers, you'll see what I mean.

S.S, so u cant go wrong

I called tech 21 and emailed them several times and I always got and intelligent, honest and professional responses from them

this is the best preamp for its price range. Hook it up to a P.A cab or any type of full range speakers (radio shack!!) and you'll see just how amazing this thing is. Also try cutting the mids with an eq if you use a guitar cab with it.

PRS CUSTOM 24 goes trough PSA-1- empirical lab Distressor ont the PSA FX LOOP- psa outputs then go to : PDA 9 PALMER SPKR EMULATION (right) GI 100 BERINGHER sPEAKER SIM and then to a mackie 1604 mixer to a Digidesign M BOX TO live (ableton)on a MAC G4 for DAW. I also own a modified JMP-1 preamp that sounds amazing (far better than the original. i've had tons of gear as a hi-tech fashion victim (V AMP PRO, pod XT)But i must admit that this box is, as already mentionned, far far far very far from is so called competitors. Attack is so precise, distorsions are..how to say... the sound you always have dreamt of for tube distorsion preamp (since it has tube). i won't get into details on the incredible sound of this preamp...whatever you think your sound is lacking of (pod, Vamp etc.) with your actual gear is in it. i'm serious. The only reproach i have is for direct recording purpose..i 've forgot miking long time ago. the PSA DIRECT SOUND still very 'trebly and harsh to be recorded direct TO MY OPINION. So i once add a PDI 09 PALMER SPKR SIM AND ON THE OTHER OUPTPUT A BERINGHER GI-100. I highly recommend this set up for direct recording with psa-1. the result is frankly superb. given the price of these box no risk. YOU GET THE TONE line 6, digitech or roland just can't approach and i also use theses box. clean sounds are also fantastic..never thought i could get a SRV sound with a PRS..BUT IT IS. I rate it to 9 just because i have to add spk sim to get that untouchable tone.

fantastic interface. Includes so much control to shape the sound.
low and hi eq settings. no mid but the way eq is designed make this useless. i wish it had a more specifically (intended) direct record output. the perfect gear just to name it.

i've been using it for 3 years now : never the beginning of a problem. It's a tank.

Playing for 18 years. almost 70's things and this is a must have. the digital craps users should have a try. would buy it again. nothing else.

It's an 8 because sometimes the value lights are not right...
And I have had flakey results with the mapping MIDI presets in the unit... But They really are Minor Issues... It has never failed and sounds the same every day I use it. Ones it's set up to how I like it. It's easy to tweek a setting (If I needs a little more volume) and to and save with a pick.

Sound is great on this unit. But I liked my old Peavey Rockmaster Better... But... After buying a QSC power amp that changed a lot... Do not use a TUBE amp.
Here is my set up.
Morley Wah -> Diditech Wammy ->
PSA-1 =>EFX LOOP -> EQ -> G-Force <= EFX return
PSA-1 Line OUT => BBE Sonic Maximiser -> QSC-850
PSA-1 XLR OUT => Mixer (for PA/Recording)

Everything is MIDI controled by a Ground Control and the CFX-Looper.
Yeah I am a control Freek!

I find the BBE in to the board is a little too Bassy, And not exactly what I am going for.

I love what the Sonic Maximiser can do to your sound... If your a guitar player, Get one.

Yeah. I have never had it not work... And it gets used a lot.
I was recording some stuff and I was hearing this pooping sound...
I thought it was from the PSA-1.. I Riped my Rig apart tring to find it... Well It was my 12 Year old Sonic Maximiser. Bought a new one. and my sound is so clean now...

Fine, I never had a manual it was the store demo unit and the manual was gone??? the sent me a new one. Nice to see that!

Distortion is killer and the Clean is a little plane, but with the rest of my EFX I can fix that right up... It is a dependable, MIDI, No Tube, Preamp.
One thing I would like to see here is what power Amp is everyone using...