Tech 21 Fly Rig 5 Owner`s Manual

POWER REQUIREMENTS

Utilizes included 9V DC, 100-240V universal auto-switching power
supply, 200mA minimum, center negative.

NOTE: See page 7 for instructions how to change the prong
assembly for countries other than the US.

Tech 21 Model #DC9.

For replacements, contact your local dealer/distributor, or Tech 21.
Maximum power consumption of the Fly Rig: approx 150mA.

ARNINGS:

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* There are no user-serviceable parts inside. Attempting to repair unit is

not recommended and may void warranty.

* Missing or altered serial numbers automatically void warranty. For

your own protection: be sure serial number labels on the unit’s back
plate and exterior box are intact, and return your warranty
registration card or register online.

Note: This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant
to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to

provide reasonable protection against harmful interference
in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radi­ate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance
with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio commu­nications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful
interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined
by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to
correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that
to which the receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

WARRANTY:

ONE YEAR LIMITED. PROOF OF PURCHASE REQUIRED.

Manufacturer warrants unit to be free from defects in materials and
workmanship for one (1) year from date of purchase to the original
purchaser and is not transferable. This warranty does not include dam­age resulting from accident, misuse, abuse, alteration, or incorrect cur­rent or voltage. If unit becomes defective within warranty period, Tech
21 will repair or replace it free of charge. After expiration, Tech 21 will
repair defective unit for a fee.

REPAIRS:

ALL REPAIRS for residents of U.S. and Canada: Call Tech 21 for
Return Authorization Number. Manufacturer will not accept

packages without prior authorization, pre-paid freight (UPS preferred)
and proper insurance. International residents should contact our local
distributor, which can be found on the Support page of our website.

FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE & SERVICE:

Contact Tech 21 weekdays 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST: 973-777-6996.

Hand-built in the U.S.A. using high-quality components
sourced domestically and around the globe.

T: 973-777-6996 • F: 973-777-9899
E: [e-mail] • W: tech21nyc.co m
©2019 Tech 21 USA, Inc. (rev 9 /19 )

TECH 21, THE COMPANY

Tech 21 was formed by a guitarist possessing the unusual combination
of a trained ear and electronics expertise. In 1989, B. Andrew Barta
made his invention commercially available to players and studios around
the world. His highly-acclaimed SansAmp™ pioneered Tube Amplifier

mulation in professional applications for recording direct and perform-

E
ing live, and created an entirely new category of signal processing. There
have since been many entries into this niche, yet SansAmp continues to
maintain its reputation as the industry standard.

With a full line of SansAmp models, Tech 21 also offers effect pedals
and MIDI products, as well as “traditional” style amplifiers for guitar and
bass. Each product is thoughtfully and respectfully designed by B. An­drew Barta himself with the player in mind. Our goal is to provide you
with flexible, versatile tools to cultivate, control, refine and redefine
your own individual sound. Tech 21 takes great pride in delivering con­sistent quality sound, studio to studio, club to club, arena to arena.

PRODUCT OVERVIEW

Each Tech 21 Fly Rig is much more than a pedalboard. In a single pedal.
And no board. Less than 13 inches long and weighing just over 20 oz.,
each sleek, compact unit embodies an entire rig. At the heart, is the all­analog SansAmp, which makes it possible to go direct to a PA or mixer.
For effects, you have the essentials and the ability to add some fun stuff,
too. What you don’t have are crackling patch cables, dying batteries or
ground loops. No stinkin’ van, heavy flight cases, cable spaghetti, and no
dead weight.

With a Tech 21 Fly Rig, you can relax. For fly gigs across the globe, jam­ming at the local hang, and last minute sessions, you’ll be the first one
ready to go. You can stop stressing over what to pack and agonizing over
what to leave behind. You can stop dreading cheesy backline loaners and
overheating at the mere thought of your touring rig going down. Just
pop your Fly Rig into your guitar case or backpack and head for the
door. (Be sure to wipe that smile off your face when the rest of the band
shows up sweating and out of breath.)

APPLICATIONS

As a PRE-AMP or STOMPBOX with a guitar amp.You can
connect the Fly Rig 5 in-line just as you would a standard distortion
pedal. If the pre-amp of your amplifier is imparting too much of its own
character on the pedal, plug into the low level input and set the pre­amp as clean and neutral as possible. As most amps tend to be on the
bright side, you may need to start with High in the Blonde SansAmp
section below 12 o’clock and adjust as necessary.

Also, be aware that most tube amps have a tone stack. When every­thing is on max, they tend to cut the mid-range. So don’t be surprised
to find that the flattest sound is achieved with bass and treble at mini­mum, and mid at max. Since most tube amp passive tone stacks work in
a similar fashion, we recommend this as a good starting point and ad­justing to taste.

You can also plug into the effects loop return of your amplifier (if the
amp has one). This will disable the entire pre-amp of the amp for a
truer representation of the pedal’s sound.

For DIRECT RECORDING or DIRECT to PA. All of the tone
shaping and cabinet emulation needed is already incorporated into the
SansAmp sections of the pedal. It can be plugged into mixers (live and
studio), workstation/recorders, and even directly into the sound card
on a computer.

GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU START

SIGNAL FLOWS RIGHT TO LEFT

FLY RIG 5 v2

The original Fly Rig, introduced in 2014, was a true game-changer for
players in all categories, from touring pros to bedroom hobbyists. At a
time when pedalboards were expanding and backs were breaking, the
innovative Fly Rig enabled players to slim down without sacrificing great
tone, and travel without fear of baggage surcharges and dreaded mys­tery backlines.

Going beyond being just a multi-effects unit, the all-analog SansAmp™
technology enables any Tech 21 Fly Rig to be an actual “rig.” You can run
directly into mixers of recording desks and PA systems, as well as aug­ment your existing amplifier set-up. Always seeking to improve our
offerings and listening to customer feedback, we’ve incorporated some
new features to follow the same form factor as later Fly Rigs, such as
the Bass, Acoustic, and Paul Landers Signature PL1.

The Fly Rig 5 v2 retains the same SansAmp heart, but adds a few twists
and turns. New features include an independent reverb with choice of
room size, switchable pre/post Boost, an effect loop, a tuner, and an
XLR Output.

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THE INS AND OUTS

1/4” INPUT: 1megOhm instrument level. For normal operation, sig-

al level to Input should be close to that of a standard electric guitar

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(approx -10dBm / 250mV). The input is designed with the same sensi­tivity and loading characteristic as a tube amp.

GUIDE TO FUNCTIONS and CONTROLS

SANSAMP Sections

he SansAmp technology enables the Fly Rig 5 to run directly into mixers

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f recording desks and PA systems, as well as augment your existing am-

o

lifier set-up. It can also be used to enhance previously recorded tracks.

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!! WARNING !! DO NOT RUN THE SPEAKER OUT-

PUT OF ANY AMP directly into a Fly Rig/SansAmp

input. Severe damage will result.

1/4” UNIVERSAL OUTPUT: Unbalanced 1kOhm Low Z instru-

ment level output. This output can be connected to High Z guitar ampli­fiers (or effects) as well as Low Z mixer and computer inputs. Output level
is unity gain when pedal is in bypass mode. It also drives long cables without
loss of signal integrity, even in bypass.

BALANCED XLR OUTPUT & GROUND
CONNECT SWITCH: Balanced low Z output. When the

Ground Connect switch is engaged, the ground connects.
Disengaged, the ground of your stage system and other inter­connected gear is lifted (isolated) from the ground of the
mixing console.

NOTE: Both outputs can be used simultaneously. For example, 1/4"
Out to your amp and XLR Out to PA mixer, which is one instance
where the Ground might need to be disengaged.

LEVEL CONTROLS

SET LEVEL CONTROLS FOR UNITY GAIN

Set the level controls so you have the same volume coming from your
speaker/monitor whether the pedal is active or in bypass. This ensures
the next device in the signal chain won't get slammed by a much hotter
signal than what would normally come from the instrument. Similarly,
you wouldn't want a drop in volume either, which would force the next
device to struggle for enough signal.

PLEXI/CALI SansAmp Section

rovides the dirtier side of the Fly Rig. You have a choice of a roaring

P

lexi tone with its muscular crunch, detailed mids and mule-kick low

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nd or you can engage the Cali switch (in position) for the chunk of a

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70s high gain amp tone inspired by the then-boutique shop over on the

‘

est Coast. Each mode can be dialed in to your liking with dedicated

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rive, Tone and Level controls.

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DRIVE: Adjusts the overall
amount of gain and overdrive,
similar to when the output sec­tion of a tube amp is being
pushed. Highly interactive with
the level of your guitar. For in­stance, you can clean up the
amount of distortion by decreas­ing the guitar’s volume (except in
very extreme settings) without
having to change the setting on
the pedal. Conversely, you can in­crease the amount of distortion
by simply increasing the guitar’s
volume.

TONE: Adjusts the hi-end content. At max, it’s flat. As you reduce
the setting, it will decrease the high end.

LEVEL: Adjusts the output level of the Plexi/Cali SansAmp section.
This control has an exceptionally wide range for maximum compatibil­ity with a variety of equipment.

BLONDE SansAmp Section

RELATIONSHIP OF THE LEVEL CONTROLS

Be aware that the “last” level in the signal path will determine the over­all output level:

Plexi/Cali and no Boost: Plexi/Cali Level
Plexi/Cali and/or Blonde and no Boost: Blonde Level
Plexi/Cali and Pre-Boost: Plexi/Cali Level
Plexi/Cali and/or Blonde and Pre-Boost: Blonde Level
Plexi/Cali and/or Blonde and Post-Boost: Post-Boost Level

The Delay Level control only affects the mix level of the delay, not the
overall output level.

REVERB LEVEL CONTROL SERVES AS A CLIP WARNING

The Reverb control has a built-in clip warning. Like a VU meter, it will
flash red to warn you if the Fly Rig is being overloaded.

You can then trim the corresponding control accordingly: Plexi/Cali
SansAmp Level, Boost Level or Blonde SansAmp Level. Bear in mind
that occasional blinks (peaks) are okay and can be expected when you
dig into your strings, but it should not be continuously lit.

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The Blonde SansAmp section of the Fly Rig 5 v2 has the tonality of the
Blonde Character Series pedal. It includes 3-band active EQ, Level and
Drive controls. To dirty things up, you have the flexibility of using the
Drive control, the Boost function, or you can add grit from the
Plexi/Cali section. Or all three. Each method achieves different tones.

DRIVE: Adjusts the overall amount of gain and overdrive, similar to
when the output section of a tube amp is being pushed. The first half of
the rotation will increase the volume as well as the overdrive.

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