Tech 21 Trademark 10

For a practice amp, it has a lot. I don't like to lug the big equipment around to practice, so if it had an efx loop and foot switch, I could use my pedalboard with it. Also, I would seriously consider taking this to small gigs. But as it stands, features are fine.

Simply blown away that I was on a practice amp. I had the Peavey Envoy (nice practice amp actually), the mediocre Marshall 15 watter, and Roland's "similar" Cube amp. These arn't even in the same league folks!! The Tech 21 is a legitimate rocker, the others are considered true practice amps in my book, this one is more than just that. I liked the British/Drive/British setting the best (Marshall). EASY 10

I'm sure it's ok with it being solid state.

I've called and they simply are out to serve us, their customers!!!

Buy it and don't look back. It is simply the BEST practice amp available. The looks are very botiquish and cool. The on-board EQ is ultra sensitive to touch and opens up a lot of possibilities that other amps don't. It's a little pricey, but you won't sell it and loose money like you did on the other inferior practice amp. So pony up!! I don't work for them, I just love this amp and it deserves all the glory.

2003 Model. You know the features. 10 watts but enough to practice with a dynamic drummer who can play at volumes that don't require ear plugs. I wish it had 2 channels with independent controls and a footswitch so I could use it at clubs (seriously!).

Tried and tested with a 2003 Les Paul Standard and a Fender HMX, mostly using the bridge pickup. Pretty quiet amp, sweet warm distortion. I REALLY LIKED this amp. It has a plethora of nice tones and sounds. After testing it for a couple hours, however, I found ONE BUG. When I played single note melodies distorted up around the 12th fret on the B string, there was clanky-clanky sound that it generated with a pitch about an octave below what i was playing. Tried both guitars and the effect was the same. This was *very* disappointing because I was basically satisfied with everything else this amp had to offer. Sure the clean wasnt as bright and chimey as a Blackface, but I could potentially play this thing for days and days and have myself a good time.

I knew that it would bother me in the longer run, because every time id hear it I would notice it. SO, I called the manufacturer and talked with them. They were pretty helpful and said theyve never heard of the problem. They were willing to pay for shipping so i could ship it to them and they could check it out, but I bought it from musician's friend (MF) and i didnt want to nullify my warranty. Instead, I returned it to MF and they sent me another.

The second one had a lower serial number and I think it might have actually been a return but i dunno. Oddly, I found a box cutter in the amp's box, which was shipped stand-alone, as opposed to the first which came inside a larger box with popcorn package stuffing in it. I thought this was odd but was eager to check it out.

Of course, first thing I did was check out the distorted single note bug, and it was my pleasure to find that it didnt have this problem. Unfortunately, I found something else. This one had a different bug: when playing a 3rd interval on the B and G strings distorted (major or minor, but major was more pronounced) a rattling clickity-clickty slash grumbly sound was made (again both guitars, same phenomenon). This sound was much lower in pitch, maybe two octaves or so. I was *very* disappointed to say the least. This bug however was more minor than the other, since I more often play single note melodies distorted than I do 3rd intervals.

SO, I reluctantly gave up, returned the unit and haven't looked back. I'm writing the review 1 year later, because I've re-begun my search for THE amp, and I feel I owe it to the harmony-central reviewers to give my opinion/experience on this product.

Don't get me wrong, this amp is sweeeeeeet. All kinds of cool sounds and so many usable distortions. Because the 2 bugs I found were different and what not, I tend to think the problems were the result of mishandling during shipment. Based on this, my opinion is that the amp is a tad delicate. It's solid state and i bet that the PCB is relatively thin. Since this amp is basically a SansAmp pedal with a speaker and solid state amp, it might be better to just get the pedal. I haven't checked it out, but i sure will once I find THE amp. Already checked out a Bogner Shiva, THD UniValve, Mesa Boogie F30, BadCat 30R and a Fender VibroVerb Custom. Don't know what I'll be getting just yet, since price is not an issue and Im looking for the amp i will have for the next 20-30 years.

I spoke with customer support and as soon as I mentioned playing a 3rd interval, they transferred me to a technician. The guy was really cool and offered to pay for shipping and all that. I declined, but they were really very friendly. If i ever go to New York city, you better bet that I'm going over to Tech21 to take my pick from the lot!

Been playing for 15 years. Got a 2003 LP STD, Fender HMX, '63 Martin classical. I'm a minimalist, so I don't have lots of extra stuff. At the moment, the only amp i own is the first one I bought when I was 13, a 10W Boss piece of ass. Can't wait to find my dream amp.

I'd definitely buy this one again if I saw it in a store where I could test it out. If I didn't find any bugs with it, like the aforementioned ones, there'd be NO QUESTION!! It's a really cool amp, and I'd love to have one. Fantastic value! No doubt! Just can't stand to find a problem with it because it will eat at my everytime i play it. Like having a scab that you can't help pickin at. Oh well... Anyone experienced these probs?

If you have any recommendations, let me know! I'm in search of THE amp. Price is NOT AN ISSUE. Been looking at some boutique amps, but basically want a super bad ass amp for my LP: 1x12, tube, 2 channels, w/footswitch and independent reverb controls less than 30 watts. The best fit I've found is a Mesa Boogie F30 but I dunno if it's just right just yet.

Already mentioned bellow. No Question about it.

Best ever built Practice amp, and far more.
Iam a hardcore Rock Metalhead. Been playing guitar since.... dont ask maybe 1984. I have legions of gutars. Yeahh my intruments are old ones. Fenix, Yamaha, Washburn Wings series Squiers, I love Japanese guitars of 80's. And certainly have an EBMM Axis. All the Instruments are Dimarzio Equipped.
This little amp as good as it is. Mr Anonymus said, that there is no clean. Then I say buy a Guitar! With my neckthru swamp ash maple top guitar, with my Parallel Bluesbucker pu, and parallel Megadrive I able to reach nearly acousic sound. Dinamic is Incredible! Yes it is 10 watt only.
I use it as a practice amp, and as a preamp. In our studio I use it with Peavey 50/50 pewer, and a 412 Marshall stack. Sounds fantastic.
I used a Mesa single recto solohead before. I loved it as well, but this little thing with peavey poweramp is however the devil itself, and more versatile. Has a couple of useful sounds. If someone buy one has to tweek days to find the sounds.

Never broke down!

see above

I bought this via the UK eBay site about a year ago so not sure of the exact age. It's a 1x8" combo with reverb, drive, volume, and ACTIVE bass, mid, treble. There are switchable options for amp type, speaker response type and drive type eg:

Amp: Tweed, British, American
Drive: Clean, Drive, Hot
Speaker: Flat, British, American

Insert Tweed=Fender, British=Marshall, American=Boogie and you won't go far wrong.

The common observation is that the clean option is vastly reduced in volume compared to the other 2 and that it is never pristine sparlky clean. I don't feel this is a problem as it is not designed to be a live-use switchable sounds type of amp.

The amp comes with a booklet of suggested settings which are excellent - particularly the ACDC type settings and flip to American/Hot and it's pure Carlos. There is also a (non Tech 21) website where users list their favourite settings and these are a good starting point to see just how verstaile this amp is.

My amp recently developed a fault - the reverb packed in. apart from that it's a solid state device and is very robust

I e-mailed Tech 21 when the reverb gave up the ghost and they replied the next day with detailed instructions regarding how to diagnose where the fault is - (it turns out my reverb tank is dead)

The response was swift and detailed and it's my best experience of dealing with any manufacturer.

In detailing the above I have completely failed to express how much I love this little amp - the sound is transparent enough for the individual voice of each guitar to come trough yet the inherrent quality of all the tones is excellent. The recent problem with the reverb is a shame but I would recommend anyone to try one of these little fellas if they are in the market for a small amp.

I need to respond to "Jake," who took issue with my review. He says that I am probably not sure about anything. I agree. However, I "know my models." My review's purpose was to point out to those who are looking for real versatility in regard to ALL tones, one needs to look beyond the many reviews here. This amp, as I tried to say (though I might not have been successful at doing so) is packed with features, is great at emulating the entire gamut of overdriven to double-rectified tones, but if one is looking for that AND an abiity to play clean, it's NOT GOING TO HAPPEN with the Tech 21 TM10. There is no way to ever get one note out of this thing that doesn't have at least mildly overdriven harmonics added. That might be a good thing for many, but know that what the masses might think about sweet tones might not be what you consider sweet tones. They think they're right because of their number, but your idea about tone is distinctively yours.

Anyone who loves the full gamut of distorted tones will love this amp (and so will the neighbors), but couldn't there have been one setting that would have been truly clean, to which all of the other wizardry could be added by degree?

2003 Trademark 10 combo. This is a versatle little monster for any style of music. It has enough features to cover any base you need. As a 20+ year player and teacher, I now teach at the college level, I instuct a R&B type college band and plugged into a 4x12 cab it cut through the mix just find with out the xlr output.

I play humbucker guitars playing rock, jazz, r&b, funk,and anything else that get my fancy for the week.It is very quiet even turned up in our rehearsal hall, and with my rhythm section you have to be cranked enough to get throught the mix,and dont forget the horns. this amp makes the perfect sound for me.Tones I have been looking for and only seem to find in large, loud amps this machine will do it for me.The clean channel is that good dirty clean when you roll back the guitar and chunk a funky rythm.

Hope it last forever.

Caled the company before i PUCHASED.Super nice. we talked about a hour.

I have been playing over 20 years and as happy as a little school girl with it.and a 14 lbs it will be easy to get from gig to gig, yes it is loud enough to gig with if you use an extentionspeaker.it ssounds great,I would buy another one if this one wasnt so easy to luge around.

Here's a quote below and then the reason I pointed this out:

"Here's the deal--and I know I am the odd man out, here, but I'll give it to you straight. I have bought and sold three of these."
"... but I keep selling these because this amp does not do clean--at all. But if you want to play clean--even on occasion--forget it."

Dude, if you bought/sold this 3 times you are obviously not sure of anything. You are probably A/Bing modern clean fender amps to the TWEED which has a raspy-biting sound and isn't 100% clean period! Learn your amp models and sounds before complaining about the sounds. This amp accurately mimics the amp models it has.

This amp has features galore. It could be considered a miracle, in a way. Certainly, I can see guitarists back in the 70s fantasizing about something like this, never thinking that it could ever really be. For features, it probaly deserves a "10," but the pull-down menu here has the "Versatile" next to it, and this amp is versatile to a great degree--but to a "10"? No. Features =10 Versatility = 8 or less

Here's the deal--and I know I am the odd man out, here, but I'll give it to you straight. I have bought and sold three of these. The concept and the promise is a tremendously alluring. And the aesthetics are incredible. There's something about the cane front, that piping, and the clean-line lettering of "T E C H 21" that makes me salivate, but I keep selling these because this amp does not do clean--at all. If you're into any variey of distorted tones, from the little-bit-more-than-just-mildly-overdriven to the massively distorted, you'll be more than happy. But if you want to play clean--even on occasion--forget it. The Tweed setting will get you closer, but it's anemic comapred to the other settings, and all one has to do is do a quick A/B with a real Fender amp to see that the clean one was getting with the TM10 wasn't really clean at all. For overdriven and distorted sounds, I would think this amp should get a 10. But if you have some idea that you would like to play clean sometime, you'd better look elsewhere.

Musicians Friend, from whom I bought one of the three of these that I have owned, has a nasty habit of shipping these--counter to the recommendations of Tech21NYC--in the display box. That the amp can survive that speaks to its durability, I believe.

I wrote them an e-mail that they never responded to, but I don'y know if that is an indication of what customer service is like. Others have had much better experiences than I have, so I will reserve judgment.

For complete features check their website or the other reviews. That said, this amp has everything you could possibly ask for in an amp of this class and pricerange.

Awesome. I mainly use the Fender and Marshall amp settings, and use the full gamut of "Mod" settings (affect the amp character, ie extra poweramp tube setting "hot" etc), and I myself always use the British speaker setting.

The EQ knobs are very sensitive like most Tech21 products, so you'll find a million sounds but will need to take the time to find the sound you want.

Like I said I don't use the Mesa setting. I find the British setting to be very accurate in sounding like various Marshalls, and combined with the MOD switch you can get most Marshall sounds over the last 20 years.

Same for the fender sound. Also, in-between the two you can coax out a pretty great Hiwatt tone too.

This amp is just absolutely phenominal sounding. I use it for practice and recording. I mic the amp using a large diaphragm condenser. It has become my main recording amp, and I've recorded everything from huge all-tube 100w heads driving marshall 4x12 cabinets to 1x12 boutique tube combos. This amp has the tone. Despite having a relatively small 8" speaker, the amp has wonderfull tight bottom end on palm mutes and the like. It translates across as a wonderfully resonant, chunky cabinet sound when miked properly. I can't say enough good things about this amp. My larger, tube amps will come and go, but this one will stay. Invaluable as a practice amp and recording amp.

(ps. i cannot comment on the direct recording, but I have heard people say it is somewhat inferior to POD's and the like. Most good producers will tell you, mic your amp. If you can afford to do so, you'll be very pleased with your results on this amp).

Also, this does sound much better than the digital modelling amps. I have a PodXT as well, and while it's great, the tone is somewhat cold and harsh. The trademark 10 does "model" but it's all analog and the distortion is warm and smooth.

I bought it new... no problems yet. Seems very well made though I don't ever mistreat my gear or move it around much, so it'll probably remain here in the studio for it's life.

I've emaield them a couple times for various things like manuals, etc. Always quick to reply and friendly.

Excellent value. More expensive than other "practice" amps, but this one is more than a "toy" practice amp; it's a full-blown boutique-level recording combo. Top notch, and this is from a guy with tube Marshalls, and now a Soldano.

The feautures are great. The 3 character switches allow you to dial in just about any type of sound you want. My only gripe is the inability to switch sounds with a footswitch.

I am using a Samick Wolfgang Style guitar with a Dimarzio Tone Zone bridge humbucker and this amp sounds amazing! I play a variety of music from 80's metal (AC/DC, Dokken) to modern rock (3 Doors Down, Collective Soul, King's X, Fuel, P.O.D.) and it works great for all of it. I mainly use this amp for direct recording and jamming in my home studio. I have owned all of the modeling amps and preamps including the POD Pro, J-Station, Genesis 3, Valve FX, AX2, and a ton of others and this has a more natural sound than any of them. Most modeling devices always seem to lack something in crispness or tonal quality, but the Sansamp sounds more like a real amp than any digital modeler I have tried.

The built in speaker is astonishingly good for being an 8" speaker, but this amp really came alive when I plugged it into my Fender HM-212 cabinet. I think the Marshall sound is the most authentic of the bunch. It has the right combination of chunky bass and sizzling highs to give you that heavy Marshall sound. The amp is not very loud on clean sounds, but I was amazed at how loud this amp could be plugged into a cabinet with the gain and volume cranked to about 8. Wow! The loudest 10 watts I have ever heard. It is loud enough to play with a drummer if you are playing heavy distortion and through a cabinet. This amp is versatile enough to record clean guitar, chunky rhythm, singing lead, and even thumping bass. If you are looking to get into home recording, this is the best money you could spend. Buy one of these and throw a chorus pedal and digital delay into the effects loop and you are set. I am giving this a 10 based on bang for the buck! I have played $1,000 amps that didn't get me as excited to plug in and play as this amp.

Haven't had it long, but it seems well built. The red jewel light doesn't always come on, but it doesn't effect the performance of the amp at all.

Haven't dealt with them yet.

I have been playing for about 16 years and have been through tons of gear in that time. I have bought and sold thousands of dollars in equipment in just the last year. I love to buy stuff on ebay, try it out for a while, and then resell it if I don't like it. This is one of the only things I have bought that I am not planning to sell. I will keep this amp no matter what else I come across. It works great for recording direct or just jamming and practicing. These sell on ebay for 150-180 bucks all the time. I got mine brand new for 169 on ebay! If you have around 200 bucks to spend on an amp, please don't waste your money on a Crate, Peavey, or even the smaller Marshall. In this price range nothing else even comes close. If you have more than 200 bucks then I would buy this amp and a cabinet before I would buy another amp. The channel switching is the only gripe. If you wanted to use it live that would be a major problem. The Trademark 60 and 120 have channel switching, but I don't think they sound the same as the 10. Go figure! For live use I am thinking about going with the PSA-1 preamp or maybe the Trademark 300 head. I also own the GT2 pedal, and it sounds great too.