Tech 21

Summary

Tech 21 is a New York based manufacturer of guitar and bass effect pedals, amps, and DI boxes which allow the user to emulate the tone of many popular guitar amps and record those sounds directly into a mixer.

Tech 21
Company typePrivate
Founded1989; 35 years ago (1989)
FounderAndrew Barta
Headquarters,
Area served
Worldwide
Productseffect pedals, amps, and DI boxes
WebsiteTech 21 website

Products edit

 
Tech 21 SansAmp GT2, a pedal emulating various guitar amplifiers and speakers.
 
Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Driver DI, for bass guitar.

Tech 21's core product, the SansAmp, was designed by Andrew Barta and introduced in 1989. The SansAmp (from French: sans ampli, "without an amp")[1] is an analog[2] effects pedal emulating a variety of different guitar amplifiers and speakers and enables recording direct to a mixing console.[1] The SansAmp got popular in the 1990s.[3] Later, SansAmp became an entire line of products for various instruments and applications.[4]

Tech 21 offerings include the Fly Rig Series, artist signature gear for Geddy Lee, Richie Kotzen, Paul Landers, dUg Pinnick, and Steve Harris. Other products have included distortion pedals as well as a range of amplifiers that use SansAmp technology built in.

While being the precursor to digital amp modeling technology, Tech 21 relies on analog technology, rather than digital signal processing.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Colbeck, Julian; Parsons, Alan (2014-09-01). Alan Parsons' Art & Science of Sound Recording: The Book. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 287. ISBN 978-1-4803-9723-1.
  2. ^ Bregitzer, Lorne (2009). Secrets of Recording: Professional Tips, Tools & Techniques. Taylor & Francis. p. 127. ISBN 978-0-240-81127-7.
  3. ^ World, Guitar (2014-06-01). Guitar World Presents 200 Stompbox Reviews. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-4803-9847-4.
  4. ^ a b Magazine, Bass (4 September 2019). "Tech 21 Celebrates 30th Anniversary". Bass Magazine - The Future of Bass. Retrieved 2022-10-19.

External links edit

  • Tech 21 website
  • SOS interview with Andrew Barta
  • Founder Andrew Barta Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (January 14, 2009)
  • V.P. Dale Krevens Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (January 25, 2015)