Brand

Tech 21

Tech 21 is a well-respected company in the music industry, particularly known for its innovative guitar effects and amplification products. Founded in 1989 by musician and engineer Andrew Barta, Tech 21 gained prominence with its groundbreaking product, the SansAmp.

This analogue amp emulator was revolutionary because it allowed guitarists to achieve tube amplifier-like tones without using actual tube amplifiers. The SansAmp became a staple in studios and live performances, appreciated for its ability to provide versatile tones, from clean to high-gain, all in a portable, pedal-friendly format.

Over the years, Tech 21 has expanded its product line to include various other effects pedals, rack units, and amplifiers, maintaining a strong reputation for high-quality, analog-based products.

One of the key aspects of Tech 21’s success is its commitment to analogue technology, which many musicians prefer for its warmth and responsiveness. The company’s product line includes popular pedals such as the Fly Rig series, which combines multiple effects into a compact, travel-friendly unit, and the Bass Driver DI, a favourite among bassists for its ability to enhance tone and provide DI capabilities for live and studio applications.

Tech 21’s dedication to innovation and quality has made it a favourite among professional musicians across different genres, including notable artists like Geddy Lee of Rush, who has collaborated with the company to create signature models. With a focus on both practicality and exceptional sound quality, Tech 21 continues to be a leader in the world of guitar effects and amplification.

Category

Preamp & DI Pedals

Preamp and DI pedals condition an instrument signal before it reaches an amplifier, power amp, interface, mixer or PA. They may provide gain, EQ, compression, speaker or cabinet filtering, impedance matching, balanced output and ground isolation, with acoustic, bass and electric-guitar models making different assumptions about the source. The central question is where the pedal sits in the rig: a preamp into an amp input is not the same as a direct box into a console. Check headroom, phantom-power behaviour, cab simulation and output level before committing to the routing.