Tech 21 XXL

After I sold the first unit (no real use for it since I expected fuzz), I bought one back as I'm in a cover band again as well and I remembered the good sustain it had.
I also like to have non-mainstream pedals ...

I use it for lead work in moderate rock songs (think Bryan Adams and such).
Gain at max (i.e. 3 o'clock, anything further just adds mud) pushing a Laney LC15 or LC50 MkII tube amp set on clean. Gives a nice Marshallish gain.
I use it exclusively with my Carvin Bolt (strat type) in that band.
I use other pedals for other types of gain.

The pedal is probably too much for blues players, there is some very noticeable gain even with gain on zero. I think there are better pedals for blues anyway.
On the other hand it's too mild for the heavier stuff (metal heads, even moderate ones, don't waste your money).
People who call this a fuzz pedal probably never have oned a real fuzz.
There is ZERO ! fuzz in this pedal compared to my ZVex factory, DOD FX52 and DHA fuzzes.

I don't like it that much for rythm. A bit undefined/mushy.
Sustain is good like I said already. I still need to use a delay FX for lead though.

At the gain levels I use it, the warp only has a very subtle effect. I prefer it turned completely to the left, 07:00
The effect is more noticeable at low gain settings, but it remains subtle.
And no way you could ever notice any difference in a band situation.

From what my ears tell me, the tone knob is a trebble cut in the range 12:00 to 05:00
Below it acts differently but I never use that range anyway ...

I like the smooth switching, without any hard point to pass.
The LED dimms when the battery gets empty but it's rather hard to tell since it isn't that bright to begin with.
The pedal looks (and is) very sturdy. Extremely lightweight just like all Tech21 products.
My pedal board (and my back) want to thank Tech21 for this.
Certainly dependable.

I think the pedal is quite transparent. It doesn't really have its own sound which is a good thing.
Depends a lot (and I mean it) on amp and guitar unlike other distortion boxes.
It doesn't work that well with my time FX (currently Ibanez DE-7 delay and Jacques chorus), seems they fight against each other a bit. I have pedals that work better with them.

There are certainly other ways to use this pedal which take better advantage of the different controls.
For instance I can see how it would suit some specific type of Jazz like a guy said below.

I can't rate it. IMO it's one of the better pedals on the (now used) market though.
It's a mixture of hype and real qualities.
(I'm quite surprised by all the raving reviews below)
Sustain and relative transparency are its best features.

I like Tech21 products even if I always end selling them. Weird.
Had a sansamp classic (pre reissue) which I sold a fortune. Thank you Kurt Cobain.
And the Tri-A.C. would have been the best pedal I EVER ran accross if it had had more gain.

I'm 40 playing 20 years. By no means a pro player but I play everything, really.
From folk to techno/electro to metal to boys bands ...
I also play synth.
Obviously, during this time I had (and still have) a ton of gear.
If you get past the Tech21 hype and use this pedal for what it seems to be (a decent medium gain distortion pedal), you'll probably find a use for it.
Any pedal that makes it on my pedal board is a good pedal.

Its fairly easy to get a good of it I'll go into more detail in the next section. The manual is pretty good ginving some good suggestions for sounds you might want to try and clear diagrams. Access to the battery is a bit of a pain, four screws to get in and I am not to impressed the way the battery it just wedged in under the PCB. Wouldn't have killed them to fit a plastic clip or something to hold it still at least

I use it with a Yamaha Pacifica 112 and sometimes a Fender Squire Jazz bass. Not a lot of people it is also designed to be used with bas guitars too which is one reason I bought it. Tech 21 do recommend you use it with their Bass Driver pedal though. As other people have said it does introduce a tiny bit of hum when being bipassed and I think it does take a little edge off the tone of the guitar, but I think that might be just as much to do with having extra ten feet of cable for the signal to pass through.

A lot of people have slated this pedal for sounding flat and unresponsive to adjustments of the controls and I thought the same at first until I tried it with a friends Mexican Strat. With that guitar and the volume turned down to say 5 it was fantastic. Yes it does add an incredible amount of gain and if you turn it up too much its sounds like mush regardless of what you do with the Warp control. But with the right guitar I got some great singing heavy blues sounds out of it. It doesn't do that just breaking up crunchy valve amp sound unless you turn your guitar down to two or three but when you need a wall of sound on some power chords or a wailing guitar solo its got it. Whats more its got finesse. Its far more sensitive to different pick-up settings and how you strike the strings then a lot of pedals out there. If you want to sound like the Darkness, Led Zepplin or Queen then this is the pedal for you. Warning if you already have powerful pickups particularly humbuckers I would give it a miss. Using it with a bass it gives more of a fuzz sound, which isn't the best, it is a bit flat though my old bass amp but through a modern amp powerful with a horn tweeter its much better and the fact you get two pedal for the price of one is a bonus.

It has worked fine so far

If you want to sound like the Darkness, Led Zepplin or Queen then this is the pedal for you. Warning; if you already have powerful pickups particularly humbuckers I would give it a miss as. Using it with a bass it gives more of a fuzz sound, which isn't the best, it is a bit flat though my old bass amp but through a modern amp powerful with a horn tweeter its much better and the fact you get two pedal for the price of one is a bonus.

4 knobs, one switch. Just takes a bit of experimentation with the warp control to certain tones.

Tanglewood Tomkat > Morley Wah > Visual Sound Jekyll and Hyde OD > XXL > V-amp 2 > Laney Hardcore

This thing sounds awesome! It's a fairly unique pedal, in that it's high gain, but not necessarily as scratchy-sounding as many gainy pedals. I really do like the warp control, I wouldn't go so far as to say it makes it sound as though you're using valves, it doesn't totally nail the 'sag' but it IS close, warms the tone up quite nicely when open, or can give that transistor sound, should you want it, when closed. The best thing about it is that it's an extra layer of tonal sculpting, which you can use in conjunction with the tone and gain to get loads of different tones - I can find anything from drivey 70's blues, chunky rock rhythm, vintage fuzz to thrash. Which is nice.

It does have to be said it's very gainy, but it wouldn't have a name like XXL if it wasn't, would it?

Finally, no it's not true bypass, but there's no discernable hum with the pedal off at bedroom volume. At gig levels, there's nothing a bit of gating won't fix.

would be 10/10 if the warp did exactly as it said on the tin.

I've never heard of a problem with Tech 21, the chassis and case are made from feeling durable steel, all sockets and pots are high quality, and the soldering is immaculate.

Never needed to deal with them, doubt i'll ever have to.

I play anything from jazz and blues to thrash and industrial. This thing's too gainy for the former pair, but that's not what i bought it for. As far as rock and metal go, it's excellent at giving that thick-sounding disortion.

It wouldn't get stolen because i wouldn't let anybody get near enough to steal it.

You need to do some experimenting to set this up (like Mesa Boogie amps). Once you've got the right balance (primarily between the Tone on your amp and the Tone/Warp/Drive on the XXL) it's a doddle to use.

Mostly playing LPs. Dialled in for its party trick - the bloom+sustain Warp thing - it sounds amazing. If you like to use slow bends, adding emotional feel with vibrato, the extra change in tone you get on sustained notes is fantastic to play around with. I've never heard anything like it in a cheap stomper.

I run my XXL into a MB Studio preamp (with no other pedals) when the preamp is set on the Lead channel with a little drive (like a mild blues edgy overdrive) and this then adds the over-the-top legato-style solo tone. Awesome :)

There's something about the Mesa's Lead channel that works with it really well - to cut the highs. Because, if I switch to the Mesa's Clean channel with the XXL switched in, it sounds terrible. So basically I've got the two things set up for 3-channels: Clean, Edgy Overdrive, Sustainy Lead.

Like others have said - there's still a LOT of gain with the Drive at minimum (it's not a clean boost pedal). I mostly have it at about 12oclock. But the type of distortion is voiced wrong for HM, so I can see why some people won't like it.

I'd give it 10 for its party trick but I've got to take off 3 because it has a bug - it's not true bypass and when switched off there's a distinct fizz low in the mix. This f*cks up the clean tone if recording, but isn't noticeable live. I'll hack the pedal to add a true DPDT bypass switch soon.

Fine

Never dealt with them - no need to.

As a rule I don't like stompboxes for distortion. But I dug this out of the bits box and it was far better than I remembered it. I'd love to have an amp that could bloom/sustain like this at living room levels. It's not perfect, and it's not for everyone, but does deliver.

Pretty easy.

High gain tubey sound. Do not get this for "amp just breaking up" sounds.
The warp knob is great: full to the right you get an excellent thick sagging sound and thick compression. I run in into a sans amp bass driver for both guitar and bass.
This is the only only thing I know about that gets anywhere near that Neil young arc weld guitar-sag amps melting sound.
With warp on full, bass freqs are boosted and the slightly unusual tone control (past 12 oclock it cuts bass freqs) becomes useful for cutting the bottom if its too much.
With the warp set flat its a more normal heavey overdrive sound.

Doom/sludge metalists etc should check this out, downtuned its thunderous.

Into a sansamp its a really warm thick fuzzy sound. Naked into a solid state bass amp its brighter/tinnier.

Other reviews say its reative to different amps. so beware maybe?

so far very solid

Great heavy overdrive, with the excellent ability to simulate amplifier sag and compression.

Easy to use. No matter where the knobs are set. I don't like the sound.

Used with tech 21 trademark 10 amp and single coil guitar. I don't like the sound I get wit this pedal. Even with the gain all the way down it still has too much gain. Turning down the guitar's volume helps, but it does not clean up as well as a Blacktone Mosfet overdrive. The higher gain settings sound almost too full - not much room for notes to come through. The warp knob is all hype. it's supposed to switch between even and odd harmonics or amp "sag" - whatever! turned all the way to the right and the sound just loses the high end on the attack of the note. as the note sustains the high end comes back. with the knob all the way to the left the sound is thinner sounding. Half way in between and you're right in the middle of two not very good sounds.

Very reliable. I can always depend on it to give me a sound I don't like.

I haven't had to contact them.

I wanted either a natural sounding low gain overdrive or an over the top maxed-out fuzz. I recently replaced the XXL with a Blackstone Mosfet overdrive for low gain overdrive and a Frantone Creme Puff for fuzz. Both pedals are great and have the sounds I wanted. Tech 21 has other products I really like - trademark 10 amp, bass and acoustic guitar direct boxes. But this pedal is all PR hype and not the sound I want. I heard a couple of short mp3 sound files of the pedal on the tech 21 web site and they must have a guitar and amp that must work with this pedal better than mine does. this pedal does not fit with my set up. Test this pedal out before spending money on it. I bought it over the internet because I read tech 21's hype and their sound files sounded good. My set works great with the Blackstone and frantone. My set up sound just as good as Blackstone's sample sound files. That makes me not believe tech 21's demo files.

This is also my second review. I'd written this thing off. But I tried it in the clean channel of a Peavey Rockmaster, just to have a different distortion sound than the Rockmaster's Crunch and Ultra. But I'm kind of amazed at how I'm liking it BETTER than the Crunch and Ultra channels of the Rockmaster. I keep telling myself this can't be. I mean, IT'S A PEDAL. What i discovered is, the Tone knob on the XXL - at least in my set-up - has to be rolled way back to about 8:00 o' clock (Presence and High on the Clean channel are at 12:00 o' clock. Lows too. Mids about 1:00.) The presence on my power amp is full. The other key is setting the Warp to neutral, at the 2 arrows < >. I don't know, I'm dumbfounded by it but I like it.

I've had it for about 10 years. I notice when I leave the Drive knob in one position too long it develops a scratchiness in that spot. Soon eliminated by moving the knob back and forth.

I'm playing rock, pop, hard rock. I have another amp, a Marshall Artist 3203, and the way I have this pedal set-up reminds me of the Artist's sound, which is kind of nice because I can now access that sound without having to haul an extra head.

Well lets see, distortion/overdrive pedal, and 4 knobs, hmm?? What is so hard about that? Okay, I admit the WARP knob is a little difficult to get used to, but a little fiddling and some patience is all it takes to find some killer tones.

Well this is my 2nd review for this product, but my last one was made like 3 years ago, so I thought I would update my review with some new facts. My set up currently consists of either a G&L S-500, a Godin LG, or a Godin SD then on to a Tech 21 Killer Wail (good aound, bad manufacturing) or Crybaby535Q then into a Boss OC-2 octave, a Boss TU-2 tuner, Boss CS-3 compression sustainer, Ibanez TS-10 tubescreamer, Ibanez MT-10 metal charger (i think)(Oingo Boingo sound), into a Boss HM-3 hyper metal, Tech 21 XXL (OH BABY), Boss DD-3 digital delay, Boss DM-2 analog delay, Ibanez CF-10 chorus/flanger, Boss CE-2 chorus, and Boss PH-1R phaser into a Marshall JCM 900 SLX 50 watt head and JCM 900 slant cab. Then in the effects loop i have a Boss RV-3 reverb/delay. The XXL is my main dist. box. The sound does change with every amp and guitar I use, it builds on the tone of the two not change them like Boss dist boxes do. Definitely sounds better with tube amps like my TS-10.
It has a very distinct one that sags like a tube, when playing rythms it can sometimes be a little muddy but over all great sound.

I have used this pedal for a little over 3 years now and have had no problems, anyways it was built in the USA so I doubt I will have any problems with it built like a tank. I gig without a backup.

never had to use them for this pedal but I have with my killer wail wah and they have been nothing but helpful.

I play a range of music from Jazz, fusion, blues, FUNK (most of my original music), rock, metal, and alternative (the remainder of my music) and the XXL has been my standby always one of the first pedals my foot goes for on my pedal board, my TS-10 being the second.
If lost I would search hi and low for another and would murder anyone who stole it from me. I love the smooth sound it gets, and even with the drive at 0 it still crunches like none else.
This pedal even with the gain cranked still has clarity of notes that hardly anyother pedals can even touch, especially Boss's distortion/overdrive pedals which all are extremely muddy. The warp is so engenious i is a classic rock/hendrix blues in the middle of its set 12 o'clock or so and cranked all the way up it sounds almost like a synth with my flanger and with tapping arppegious.
Definitly the best dist on my board.

This pedal is pretty hard to use. Even though i have been playing electric guitar for only 8yrs, i can tell when a pedal is easy or hard to use, and this one is a lil touchy one. The warp knob needs good ear training ;) and the manual included isnt very reliable, you have to play with the pedal alot to understand all its possibilities.

I am using a Ibanez Talman guitar(really crappy), plugged into the XXL, then in a BOSS HyperMetal, into a Peavy Classic CHorus 212 75W rms.

First of all, THE SOUND OF THE XXL DEPENDS ALOT ON YOUR GUITAR and AMP!! i have tried with my friends equipment and the sound wasnt the same at all. so ill just go with my setup. The pedal itself has a very warm fuzz, even more when the WARP knob is at 75-100%, giving a mellow and crispy meltdown on harmonics. You really need to hear this: ITS YUMMIE!! but i found out the only way to get the best of this feature is using it plugged BEFORE a distortion pedal. It sounds like a tube amp cranked to maximum drive. Gives warmth to a cold and crunchy distortion, like the hyper metal or any other boss distortion.if used without other effects, the pedal has too much a high-pitch sound and really hurts my ears. but that may be only because of my amp. so its hard to tell. i hate the tone knob; it either cuts too much high notes or sharpens it too much. the drive knob gives a nice distortion, but cant be used to play chords cause its too noisy. when i play using only the XXL fx pedal, i find the sound to be too flat. but REALLY, the pedal should be used to enhance the warmth of any distortion pedal, and should be plugged betwin the guitar and the dist pedal youre using, assuming you wont turn the xxl's drive knob too high. I LOVE IT

the pedal alone gives a good sound for blues, brit-rock, reminds me alot of SUBHUMANS sound, old school punk. but with the hyper metal(dist knob at 25%), i get a really nice Billie JOe ARmstrong or any new school punk sound easily, with the warmth of low distorttion/high gain tube amp sound.

Oh yeh. the metal box is so strong i could throw it down a f***in cliff and it still would be in mint condition. the electronics are high quality. everythings tightly packed: its a real SAFE

Nope. i heard its discontinued though... thats sad.

I play old school punk rock, experimental rock, rock n roll. its the perfect match! ive been playin for 8yrs and used the XXL for 4yrs. its been a fundamental element of my equipment. My fav feature is the sound of the pedal itself. i use the warp knob to where the arrow is and the drive button to 0. its uncomparable to any other stomp pedal. but you gotta love light dist. and harmonic meltdown.

The only reason I give it a 7 instead of a 10 is that it takes a while to suss out the Warp control and its interplay with the Tone control. Otherwise, it's straightforward -- totally so if you leave the Warp in its marked "neutral" position, which is what I've come to prefer. I like the attack and the chord clarity of that position.

70s Japanese (Moridairi) equipped with Duncan mini-HB neck PU, unknown (DiMarzio? Mighty Mite? Early 80s manufacture, at any rate) PAF-style HB at bridge. Guitar > XXL > Korg G3 > 80s Randall RG80. I had bought the little Korg floor unit for a few reasons: got a deal (NOS that the store couldn't move -- obsolete in terms of features, but I just wanted a little chorus & delay anyway), easy programmability (all knobs), great clean sounds -- really enhances already great clean sound of the RG80, & the quality of distortions & overdrives -- smooth & clear, VERY natural-sounding, BUT .... The Korh doesn't quite have enough "oomph" to its ODs and distortions. The "crunch" settings in the banks go up to about a Keith Richards dimed Ampeg VT22 sound -- great, but not quite up to fat power chord territory. And the high-gain "lead" settings don't quite make it to violin-sustain/jump-to-feedback sounds. OK, I needed a pedal.

I used a Tube Screamer for quite a while -- good match for the Korg, but with the usual TS mid-hump. No that I don't like mids, I love'em -- that's where the electric guitar lives, and mids are essential for fat leads that cut through the mix. But the XXL *excells* at goosing already overdriven & distorted sounds while preserving basic tones. The string-to-string clarity for chording is also superior to the TS. The XXL does not mess with the richness or smoothness of the Korg's ODs and distortions. It complements them perfectly.

On its own, in front of the RG80 (a solid-state amp), there are a few things I discovered. This pedal likes VOLUME -- it sounds like crap at bedroom practice levels, but really takes off at gig levels. Sounds VERY tubey and bluesy in front of the RG80's blackface-like cleans. I imagine it would sound godly driving a tube amp. The Warp is subtle, but it does what it claims to do -- crank it counterclockwise for compressed, sustaining Brian May/Santana, clockwise for some pretty convincing vintage "sag & bloom." The Warp *will* affect EQ settings -- it interacts with the XXL's tone control in a way that requires some tweaking. Watch the tone control -- this unit is bright. It most definitely does not like very much presence-control snot from the already-bright RG80. It is also no good as a clean boost, as the absolute lowest gain setting already has a fair amount of dirt.

All in all, the XXL sounds great -- even driving an all-SS rig. In front of a full complement of tubes, I'd wager it would sound orgasmic.

Seems very rugged -- 1 point off for plastic jacks, although they work fine & should hold up nicely if you're not an ape on steroids with your gear.

Dunno, although Tech 21 seems like a cool company.

They don't make XXLs anymore, so I don't know if I'd take the trouble to hunt for another one if it was stolen. I'd certainly GET one if it were available, however, and I'd certainly check out Tech 21's current products. That programmable Tri-OD looks interesting ....