Tech 21 SansAmp PSA-1 Preamp

This thing is just oozing with great tones!The manual is straight to the point and well done.The PSA-1 is very user-friendly!

I recently purchased the PSA-1 and am absolutely amazed with the sounds that this thing can produce.I've owned this thing for over a month and I still get a charge out of how bad my amp sounds when I bypass the PSA-1 and go direct to my amp.Without the PSA-1 my amp sounds boxy and flat with really bad midrange.For the longest time I was certain that I had a really good tone until I plugged the PSA-1 in.The PSA-1 adds sparkle,tone and character in spades!I don't know what kind of Voodoo these guys are using but whatever it is,it's working!It's far and away the best piece of gear that I've purchased in the last twenty years,it has radically improved my sound.I play a Gibson LesPaul Standard and a 70's Fender Strat thru a Fender Hot Rod DeVille 410 and a Fender Twin Reverb and the sound is amazing.What versatility too! Dollar for dollar,pound for pound this is the best sounding product going.I no longer have any use for my distortion stompboxes,which were multiplying and causing alot of clutter.Things are so much less complicated with the PSA-1. My favorite band is ZZ Top and though Billy Gibbons has used a vast array of distorted tones through out his career I can get really close to alot of his tones with the PSA-1.Very versatile and very impressive indeed!This unit is pretty quiet except when using an insane amount of distortion. It does a great job emulating tube distortion,very nice and warm sounding.And the clean sounds are to die for as well I might add.

I bought this as a demo in a music store.It seems well built,no problems so far and I don't expect any.At $1200.00 Canadian(new) I don't think you could buy another one just for a backup,I know I can't!

I've communicated with them thru email and they seem to be very nice to deal with.I've also heard alot of good comments from other people as well.

I play mostly 70's style rock(ZZ Top,Led Zeppelin,etc...)and also try my hand at blues.The PSA-1 gets great tones for any of these styles.I've been playing for over twenty years.I would replace it if it were stolen.This thing is all about TONE and combined with it being programmable,it just can't be beat!I love everything about it.It's very easy to use and it helps you make music with very little fuss,have mercy!

I use a PRS Swamp Ash Special and a PRS Custom 22 with this unit, as well as a Carvin DC127 from time to time. I play a lot of rootsy rock and blues, as well as some Pink Floyd-influenced 'airy' rock. The sounds available from the PSA-1 are wide ranging and solid. Not every single sound is tonal heaven, but a few are for me, especially with the Lexicon's reverb. Huge variety available, from crushing heavy metal to sparkling clean, from bass heavy to ice-pick-in-the-ear treble. It's also very quiet until the you get crazy with the gain. I think it shines on medium-distortion sounds, allowing you more variety in that realm than anything else I've tried. And it sounds great with my Fulldrive 2 in front of it, too, just like an amp would.

I got this in 1998, but it hasn't changed since, as far as I know. The is an extremely versatile unit, and my main 'amp.' All solid-state, and that's fine by me. I have a Lexicon MPX100 in the effects loop. I put it through a home PA/monitoring system, allowing me any sound I want at any volume. A great option for people who record *and* play and want the same sound in both situations. Lots of knobs to use to hone your sound, and presets to store the ones you like. I don't give it a 10 because while the offer a footswitch, they don't include it, and because while there's a 50/50 switch on the effects loop,it should be variable. Also, I would have prefered a power switch.

Rock solid, never had a problem. Sold casing, all analog. Not a lot that can go wrong or require maintenance. I love it.

I was very impressed with the people at Tech21 whom I emailed before making my purchasing decision. I also have a SansAmp Classic, and they were helpful (and dead on) about comparing the two unit's respective sound capabilities and strengths. They responded promptly, too.

I've been playing for 6 or 7 years (I lose track). I would definitely buy another if it were stolen. I love the versatility and the presets. I hate the lack of a power switch, but that's about it. I've compared it with preamps form Mesa, ADA, and Lexicon, and I'm still very happy with my choice. I consider myself set for an amp for quite a while.

The PSA-1 is very easy to use and the manual is very well explained. It is very easy to get a good sound out of it by turning the knobs. Most of the distortions presets are alright but I specifically like the clean presets. I use the clean presets but I made my own distortion patches because I like a lot of low end distortion.

I use a Boogie Strategy 500 with a PRS guitar and a Gibson Les Paul. I get some huge distortion tones out of PSA-1 with this setup. The low end is incredible! The cleans are very pristine and warm as well. The PSA-1 is about the most quiet preamp I have ever heard. I can get any sound with the PSA-1. I like to play heavy stuff but I like to mix it up with nice clean tones.

I have only had it for 6 months and I have had no problems.

N\A I have never had to deal with customer support.

I have been playing for about 10 years and this is the best preamp I have ever played through. I usually play stuff like Filter and stuff with lots of punch. I like everything about this preamp and just because it doesn't have an on\off switch, who cares. Turn off the power conditioner if you don't want it on. I aslo like the fact that there is a input jack on the rear. I would swear that this thing is all tubes but they say there aren't any but I think it is a down right lie. This preamp is very easy to program and is very easy to use with a midi pedal. I have tried the Pirhana and the JMP-1 and the PSA-1 out tones them with my setup. I do think the power amp has everything to do with it though. I would recommend getting an all tube power amp. I would buy the PSA-1 again in a heartbeat if it were stolen after I killed the F@#$% for stealing it.

It's knobs, so it couldn't be easier to use. You just twist 'em until you get the sound you want, then save it. There are 50 locations, so lots of room there. The manual is fine, and the presets are good. You can pretty much just plug in and go.

I traded in a Mesa V-Twin pedal for this thing. The V-Twin was nice, but a little too midrangey for my tastes. There's a lot more tonal control with the PSA-1.
I use the PSA-1 almost exclusively for direct recording of guitar and bass, no mics. It's very quiet with clean and semi-distorted patches, but a little noisy when you crank up the drive, though no noisier than other boxes I've heard. There are some pretty good presets. In fact, I've only programmed a few of my own sounds (admittedly due to laziness).
This is a full-range unit, so it sounds great on guitar and bass. The distorted bass tones you can get from this thing are amazing.
Of course, it is a cabinet *emulator*, so don't buy it expecting a completely realistic sound. You can use it as a preamp through a real cab, though, and it sounds damn good that way as well.

I've only had it for a few months, but it's given me no trouble. I must gripe about the fact that there's no on/off switch, though. As soon as you plug it in, it's on, and the only way to turn it off is to unplug it (unless you've got it connected to some kind of power strip).
And speaking of the plug, I'm also a little bothered by the fact that the plug is permanently connected to the unit instead of being one of the removable types. But hey, at least it's not a damned wall wart.

Don't know, never had to call. Their Web site is pretty straightforward.

I use the PSA-1 in a rack with a Quadraverb II (for chorus, verb, and delay) and a Behringer Composer (for compression and gate), and it's a sweet box. I play a strat-style Steinberger (not the box-shaped kind) with stock pickups, and I get great metal tones, Van Halen-ish to Dream Theater-esque. It emulates Marshall, Mesa, and Fender pretty convincingly for the price. Like I said earlier, it can get a bit noisy with high-gain settings, so a gate of some kind is highly recommended.
For bass, I play through the same rack setup with an "I-been-had" (Ibanez) SoundGear 5-string, also with stock (read: crap) pickups. Even with those lousy pickups, I can get a really nice rock/metal tone with as much distortion as I'd like. I can't get a great slap sound out of it, but that might be due to the pickups on the Ibanez.
I'd recommend this unit for just about any style of music, except maybe death metal. You can't get those really killer swept-mid tones (at least I haven't been able to).
I would definitely buy this unit again, but not for much more money. I don't think it's overpriced, but I wouldn't pay any more than $500 or so for it.

This unit is very easy to use. Unlike other programmable rack preamps which require using buttons and data wheels this unit only requires that you turn a few knobs to get the sound that you want.

Unbelieveable! This is the best pre-amp I've ever heard for the price. You can get anything from from nice clean tones to heavy ground shaking distortion (check out the Rectifier setting!). I use this pre-amp with an Alesis Quadraverb and run it through an ADA Microtube 100. It is very quiet even at high volumes. Using this really brings out the life in my pickups and helps give me sustain that will sing for days.

So far so good. I haven't had any problems with this unit and I've had it for about a year. It never leaves my rack so it really isn't put under any wear and tear.

This is the pre-amp I've been searching for. Very easy to use and does everything I want. I only created one additional setting because the presets have all the tonal range I need (yes it's that good!). The only complaint I have is that there is no on/off switch on it. That means I either have to unplug it or shut down the power conditioner that it's plugged into. If your not in the maket to spend about $1500 for something like a Mesa Boogie Tri-axis then I would highly recommend the PSA-1 for all your pre-amp needs.

I am stunned at the tube realism (considering there aren't any tubes in the unit)! I had been using an ADA MP1 for the past few years and the PSA-1 blows it away tonally (from crystal clear to ultra-grunge). This unit is also 5 times quieter than my ADA ever was...I rarely have to use my noise gate anymore! There is an enormous amount of sonic flexibility available the user by tweaking the front panel. DON'T SETTLE FOR THE PRESETS!...THIS BOX IS CAPABLE OF MUCH MORE!

I use this preamp for recording only. The unit has XLR connectors and can run +4db. This unit can also accomodate a bass very nicely and I have started using it thusly in my studio. I never use the effects loop (stereo return) or the midi functions. The unit has impressive control of totnal character and drive/distortion.

No problems so far but I've only had it for a month or so.

**see reliability**

For the $$, I am really impressed with this unit. As I said above, the PSA-1 is capable of an amazing variety of sounds/tones and they all sound good...from clean to screaming. The box runs very quiet (this may not be fair since I am used to an MP-1...a noisy mess which didn't have XLR/balanced connectors/lines) and I am overjoyed with the tracks which has been showing up on my digital recorder. The PSA-1 has a purely analog signal path and this is the why it sounds so warm and punchy. Thus far, I would higly recommend this box for recording applications.

This thing is GREAT! Sounds like tubes all the way!! Flexible as hell, A million preamps in one (or something!) Easy to edit patches, 256 increment-knobs makes a lot of combinations. A very good, simple and easy manual.

I use this unit with an alesis midiverb 4 into a Marshall valvestate 8008. This is what I need. The preamp is sensitive and reacts to how you pick your strings. This works with blues, rock, pop, heavy, whatever, no problem. It's no problem to simulate Stevie Ray Vaughan or Steve Vai on this thing. The only thing that is a problem is that the eff. loop is nonprogrammable! You have the option of 50% direct/50% to eff.pros. or 100% into eff.pros. It wold be nice to be able to not have to use the bypass on the Alesis to have the PSA-1 stand on it's own.

No problems so far, it seems reliable!

No experience in this area!

I Play everything from heavy, and blues to pop and rock, and it does a VERY good job. I would buy this unit again, it's brilliant! I wish it had a programmable effect send/return loop, like i've previously commented: I control it with a BOSS FC-50, and it's really fast, it shifts instantaneously. Check it out Today!

This thing is GREAT! Sounds like tubes all the way!! Flexible as hell, A million preamps in one (or something!) Easy to edit patches, 256 increment-knobs makes a lot of combinations. A very good, simple and easy manual.

I use this unit with an alesis midiverb 4 into a Marshall valvestate 8008. This is what I need. The preamp is sensitive and reacts to how you pick your strings. This works with blues, rock, pop, heavy, whatever, no problem. It's no problem to simulate Stevie Ray Vaughan or Steve Vai on this thing. The only thing that is a problem is that the eff. loop is nonprogrammable! You have the option of 50% direct/50% to eff.pros. or 100% into eff.pros. It wold be nice to be able to not have to use the bypass on the Alesis to have the PSA-1 stand on it's own.

I use this preamp for recording only. The unit has XLR connectors and can run +4db. This unit can also accomodate a bass very nicely and I have started using it thusly in my studio. I never use the effects loop (stereo return) or the midi functions. The unit has impressive control of totnal character and drive/distortion.

No problems so far, it seems reliable!

No experience in this area!

I Play everything from heavy, and blues to pop and rock, and it does a VERY good job. I would buy this unit again, it's brilliant! I wish it had a programmable effect send/return loop, like i've previously commented: I control it with a BOSS FC-50, and it's really fast, it shifts instantaneously. Check it out Today!

There is no on/off switch. If the unit is plugged in, it is on. This is unacceptable!!! It doesn't cost that much to provide power switches and removable power cords. Get with the program manufaturers!
The knobs work in a truly bizarre fashion. If you work with patch #1, setting the pre-gain knob to the 3 o'clock position, then change to patch #2, which was saved with the pre-gain at the 9 o'clock position, the knob is still at the 3 o'clock position. Before you can adjust the knob for the current patch, you have to turn it until the indicator displays that you are in the correct position. (The sound changing while you do so). This means a quick adjustment is not possible, because the knobs all start in the wrong place. Bizarre? Yes.
Getting a sound is relatively easy. The manual makes it easy to understand why the Fender sounds are different from the Marshall sounds.
The manual is very useful, explaining the controls thoroughly.

SansAmp into IntelliFex Into home stereo.
The unit is pretty quiet. With both the pre and post gain turned all the way up, the unit makes a good bit of noise, but the distortion is just raging at this point. (Like running two distortion pedals back-to-back.
The unit succeeds in making convincing amp sounds! The fender presets sound like fender amps to me. The marsall settings sound like a marshall. The direct sound is pretty good, especially the low end control, which just makes the sound seem a little warmer. Not muddier.

Overall, an outstanding unit. Its not a big enough improvement over my Piranha to warrant the extra 600.00, but it is causing me to rethink some of my settings. I'm considering running an overdrive pedal in the loop on my piranha for those times when I just need a pile of saturation (something the Piranha itself can't do).
For distortion, the dual gain controls are happening! The Fender clean presets are convincing as well.

I play it with a Alesis Quadraverb, Peavey Classic 50/50 power amp and a 2x10" Mesa cabinet. The disto is much more than heavy, no hum, it's great. But it doesn't seems to respect the character of the guitar. You can play everything but Rock... I can't find a sound very crunchy and powerfull.

Good midi preamp, with great clean and crunch sounds... No EQ's, but a great variety of sounds, just a little hard to program.

Never broked down, easy to used. Cool !

Sounds great on every amp, it is THE preamp for out of money men like me. But where are the tubes ? The sounds are not so punchy that with areally tubed preamp...

Since I was a former ADA MP-1 user, the front panel on this unit was very liberating. I had full control, in real-time, of all the tone- shaping parameters. You can edit existing patches on the fly...just turn the dials until you get THE tone. It took a little fooling around to get familiar with the dials...they've got interesting names: buzz, punch, and crunch. The manual was very well done.

If you take the time, you should be able to dial-in any tone you want. On top of the tone-shaping parameters, you've got Low and High eq controls. The unit isn't any noisier than other amps/ preamps that I've tried. It seems to be quieter than my ADA as far as I can tell. Unlike a lot of other preamps out there, there are no effects in the unit...but when you dial-in these tones, you won't need to effect them to sound better. This is an amp *simulator*, and isn't designed to compete with the multi-effects horde of pro- ducts. I was able to create some very nice clean-tones with a hint of overdrive if I hit hard with my pick...it's very sensitive to your pick/volume knob. Tons of distortion tones are available.

It doesn't seem like a whole lot can go wrong. I would use it on a gig without a backup. As long as the ac power cord doesn't go bad on you, you should be fine.

N/A

I would definitely buy this unit again. It is so easy to use, and you can duplicate any sound you want. I've already re-created all of my favourite patches from my ADA MP-1. I love the fact that I don't have to worry about preamp tubes going microphonic (I've got a Mosvalve power amp as well). I didn't want the hassles of a real tube amp. Patch switching is instantaneous. One thing I do miss is the ability to switch the effects loop out of a patch. If I don't want a particular patch to be effected, I have to hit the bypass switch on my BOSS SE-50 (bypass doesn't colour my tone so much as disabling the effects within an SE-50 patch). I haven't made use of the XLR outs for recording, but if any of you are familiar with the Sansamp Classic direct-to-tape, this unit does just as well. This unit makes it very easy to create music (if you get over the option-anxiety stage -- their are sooo many tones available). This is the perfect tool for recording and live performance. For live performance, I've even used it straight into a mixing board and it sounds incredible...no more mosquito-tone (unless you dial that sound in).

This unit is very easy to use providing you give the short yet specific manual a good going over.Patch editing was one of my great concerns in choosing a new preamp apart from sound.I also employ an RP-1 from digitech which holds all my clean tones yet is hard to change prams on the fly. The great thing with the sansamp is on the fly editing. Tonaly the init is endless.Your instrument still maintains it natural tone and is not totally masked by the preamp.T

The unit can be noisy on some settings but I am guessing it is due to the amount of gain involved in some applications.A vast array of tones are available and quality tones at that.

Yes and yes

I would recommend this unit to players like myself who throught studio and live gigs need a vast array of useable tones fast.I as yet have not found anything to hate .I tried all the major brand preamps tube and otherwise. Let me say one thing here.I cannot say i tried units in the multi thousand dollar range.

10