Tech 21 SansAmp PSA 1.1

I don't know when this preamp was made but I'm guessing within the last couple of years. It is very versatile in that I use the same preamp for both bass and guitar and I can't think of many, if any devices out there that can do this. It only has the one channel but as you can save your presets you only need a MIDI foot pedal to access your sounds. This does make it significantly more expensive than a simple channel switcher. It has a mono send and stereo return FX loop which seems to work OK, plus a 50/50 button so you can have 50% wet effect or 100% wet effect. I did notice some distortion on my Boss ME50 through the loop but as yet can't identify the cause. This distortion does not occur inline through the front input jack. I would like to see a dedicated tuner output on the back.

There is a lot of emphasis on distortion-type sounds and as you step through the distortion presets I found it a little too much after a while. How many different types of distortion do you really need? It is, however quality distortion and better than many pedals I have tried, particularly my ME50 which is awful in the distortion department. I felt it was a missed opportunity to present this preamp's verstility. Having said that you can tweak it to your own tastes and store it in a preset. I have several guitars, mostly made by myself and use a wide range of pickups, single coil, humbuckers, Jazz bass, Precision bass (Seymour Duncan, GFS, Artec, Fender Noiseless, ,Kent Armstrong, Mighty Mite, Catswhisker)and have pretty much every sound you can get. I can't find anything this preamp doesn't like. There are one or two sounds I would like to be able to get which I haven't managed to get yet but I'm still working on it. I use it through a Yamaha P4500 power amp which seems to work well. I use two separate 12" cabinets (in stereo) for guitar and 1 x 15" EV speaker and a separate 12" speaker for bass. I play all types of music and the PSA 1.1 seems to be able to handle most things I have thrown at it.

Since new (4 months ago) I have had it replaced three times and the 3rd one has gone in for repair already. These are not cheap units and I am really disappointed in the build quality. Tech21 have been helpful but they don't seem to me to be overly bothered about the build quality, at least they haven't bothered to offer any explanation. The first one had an increment switch which stuck every time you pushed it in so was replaced. The second one had a software issue whereby the last sound was not retained when you switched the unit off. The third unit is now losing the lettering off the front panel which comes off when you out your finger on it. I can't believe this is an American built unit and wouldn't be surprised if it was made in China; we all know about Chinese quality control??

Tech21 have been helpful but at this price I would like to be one of those lucky people who say they have never needed any support. Unfortunately this is not the case. It is currently in with the UK distributors for a new front panel. By the time I get it back I will be looking at about a month with the unit away which is bad news. I think there is only a one year warranty on this unit (I may be mistaken)which again, for the money, is poor if this is the case. I would like to see a 2 or 3 year warranty for this unit, especially given the build issues. It begs the question how much faith they hold in their own product.

I have been playing for well over 35 years professionally and have a wide experience of different equipment and styles . If the build quality was up to scratch it would be hard to touch this. For what I do it is absolutely ideal and I don't think anyone else makes anything this versatile but I can't live with unreliability so if it was lost or stolen I would look around for something else grudgingly. Again it sounds great, looks good and covers a lot of musical areas for me but Tech21 need so sort the build problems out.
I would like to see a MIDI pedal controller included as they are an expensive addition and for live use (which is what it is mostly for) they are essential.