Tech 21 SANSAMP Classic User Guide

•Utilizes standard 9V alkaline battery (not included). NOTE: Input jack

POWER REQUIREMENTS

activates battery.To conserve energy, unplug when not in use

•USE DC POWER SUPPLY ONLY! Failure to do so may damage the

unit and void warranty. DC Power Supply Specifications:

-9V DC regulated or unregulated, 100mA minimum;

-2.1mm female plug, center negative (-).

Optional factory power supply is available: Tech 21 Model #DC9.

WARNINGS:

• 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: tech21nyc.com/support.

ONE YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY. 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.

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.

FOR PERSONAL ASSISTANCE & SERVICE:

Contact Tech 21 weekdays from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST.

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

T: 973-777-6996 • E: [e-mail]
W: tech21nyc.com
© 1989 Tech 21 USA, Inc.

(Rev 01.21)

INTRODUCTION

SansAmp was designed and engineered to satisfy your critical ear. It is not a dis­tortion pedal or fuzz box. Attempts have been made to recreate the unique,
full sound of various tube amplifiers in one convenient, compact unit you can
easily carry anywhere. But the technology has eluded designers and resulted in
products that continually disappoint musicians.

Uncompromising standards and ten years of research now bring this engineer­ing feat to reality. SansAmp not only duplicates the warm, rich tones of tube
amps, the sounds are actually improved to be cleaner and more flexible (“Hot
Wired”) with less noise. SansAmp preserves the original sound of your guitar
so that your individual personality and style remain unaltered.

With SansAmp, you can plug directly into any recording console, stage amplifi­cation, stereo, or even into a set of headphones alone. SansAmp virtually elimi­nates all existing considerations of tube amplifiers without sacrificing any sound
quality.

THE HISTORY

Since an early age, I have been awed by the irony of high technology. Why, in
this age of ultra sophistication, do we still have to assemble a seemingly endless
chain of mechanical and electronic devices to produce a guitar or bass sound
suitable for recording and live performances?

To me, the whole process was like using a turbo jet engine to blow out a can-

dle....you have to assemble hot-rodded amps, speaker cabinets, microphones,

equalization, etc., to achieve an end result equivalent to a couple of millivolts of
signal! The standard method of miking amps and speakers is time consuming,
frustrating, inefficient, and expensive. Due to the nature of tube amps and the
many steps involved, it’s virtually impossible to quickly obtain a consistent
sound every time you set up. For years I wondered why couldn’t the sound of
an amplifier be created on an electronic level in a compact unit?

Based on my own needs as a guitarist and my extensive experience as a modifi­er and customizer of amplifiers, I set out to answer my own questions. Spanning
a ten-year period of research and development, I have probed stages of design
addressing the full character of sounds particular to various amplifiers (i.e.,

®

Marshall
microphones.

The end result is SansAmp --”sans” meaning “without” in French. By design,
SansAmp has extremely low noise, is compact and portable, and is able to
quickly and consistently reproduce a wide range of sounds for a variety of uses.

It is important to understand the nature and interaction of the controls on
SansAmp. It is not a device simplified to a few presets that makes all guitars,
pickup combinations and players sound the same. Much like a Moog® synthesiz­er, its programmability lets the user explore fine and important nuances within
the tube amp sound spectrum to achieve a personal voice.

The switches and knobs are designed to be interactive in a way that makes
sense; they affect each other enough to build a wide range of sounds, but they
are tailored to remain within the tube amp “vernacular” in order to be as use­ful and easy to use as possible. SansAmp was designed to recreate the natural
sound of tube amplifiers without effects. Signal processing (including distortion,
compression, etc.) can be added creatively to complement the sound of
SansAmp.

Historically, nothing has been able to match the sound of a tube amplifier --until
now. SansAmp stands alone as a tool that gives you the freedom to explore,
define and refine sound right at your fingertips. It is with great pride that I bring
you SansAmp in the hopes it will complement and contribute to the evolution­ary process of your self expression.

, Fender®, Mesa Boogie®, etc.) in conjunction with speakers and

B. Andrew Barta

1989

Special thanks to Dale for all her help.

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GUIDE FOR INDIVIDUAL CONTROLS

INPUT SWITCH:

LEAD: Marshall®-style pre-amp sound, with mid-range and highs emphasized.
NORMAL: Mesa Boogie®-style pre-amp sound, with a basically flat EQ.
BASS: Fender®-style pre-amp sound (excellent for rhythm as well as bass).

CHARACTER CONTROLS:

#1.

Mid-Boost I

#2. Mid-Boost II

#3. Low Drive

#4. Clean Amp

#5. Bright Switch

#6. Vintage Tubes

#7. Speaker Edge

#8. Close Miking

Achieves various pre-amp EQ curves in the mid-range, for example:
#1 and #2 OFF = Brightest Sound
#1 ON = In-Between Sound
#2 ON = In-Between Sound
#1 and #2 ON = Fattest Sound

Achieves different pre-amp EQ curves on the low spectrum.
When ON, it has a flat frequency response.
When OFF, acts as High pass Filter. For fuller body, keep setting ON.

Cleans up overdrive. Excellent for achieving chunky rhythm sounds.

Adds brightness when Amp Drive is on lower settings. Best results
are when Amp Drive is half-way up, as there will be no effect when
Amp Drive is on full.

Final sound becomes a touch softer and mellower.

Adds extra presence to the final sound.

Duplicates the sound of a microphone being placed closely to the
speaker cabinet, and slightly boosts the bottom end.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Character Controls were not designed to be
adjusted during live performances. They were developed for extra versatility to
give you total freedom of expression of your individual tonal taste. Once
desired programming is achieved, settings should remain constant. If used during
live performances, amplification should be set WITHOUT distortion.

GUIDE TO KNOB CONTROLS

PRESENCE DRIVE

Shapes pre-amp contours in the upper mid-range. For maximum crunch, set on
full.

AMP DRIVE

Shapes power amp contours. For heaviest distortion, set on full.

OUTPUT

Controls overall volume. Balance with Bypass signal for best sound. For head­phones, insert jack half-way and boost Output.

HIGH

Balances final EQ. Compensates extra high-end of guitar amplifiers during live
use; suggest setting half-way or less. When recording direct in a studio, recom­mend setting be on full.

USING SANSAMP WITH EFFECTS

When using SansAmp with effects, remember that EQ can be placed before or
after SansAmp to achieve different results. Otherwise, place the following
effects:

BEFORE SansAmp: AFTER SansAmp:
Compression Chorus
Distortion Delay
Envelope Follower Harmonizer
Wah-wah Reverb

Special Note: SansAmp contains a F.E.T. buffer which improves the guitar signal
even in Bypass mode; your instrument will sound better through SansAmp even
when not using its sound-shaping capabilities.

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