Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

Johtosotku

Johtosotku

New member
Any new experiences with the pedal? I've read the threads as they come and again now. There's not that many reviews but they seem mostly overwhelmingly positive. I have, though, read in a couple of places about some noise issues when using more gain.

I'm thinking that the Fly Rig would make home recording more convenient. It would also add some new tones that I do not have at the moment. It could also work well as a backup and when doing the occasional jam away from the rehearsal place.

What is the SansAmp section like? Is it purely for clean tones? I read somewhere that someone felt that it resembled the character series blonde pedal, and I assumed that it could get some tweed tones, but I'm not sure if it is the case with the Fly Rig. And on the whole, how much gain does the pedal have?

I have also seen the Ritchie Kotzen version for sale for a bit of extra. How does it differ from the regular one in practice?
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

I have the original Fly Rig and love it. The Kotzen version is made more to use with an amp, has more gain, and a more mid-rangey sound. My Fly Rig sounds great direct and for recording. The SansAmp section has a gain knob, but it sounds like a Deluxe on meltdown when turned up. When you switch the Plexi section on, you get a great Marshall hard rock sound. Gain-wise the pedal has a lot of gain, but doesn't sound metal. More hard rock. Like a hot-rodded Marshall, not a Recto.
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

It sounds like the original is more up my alley than the RK.

A deluxe on meltdown doesn't sound bad gain wise for the SansAmp. Is this without the boost or with it? I also suppose the mid control can help varying the fenderish tones.

I'm not typically after recto tones. They do sometimes sound good on some records, but I don't find them agreeing with me while I'm playing. A boosted Marshall should be fine. I suppose I can goose it with a dirt pedal if necessary, I saw some Tech21 videos where they used a fuzz and a DS1.
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

I really like mine, and I use it at a gig with in-ears on stage. This gives zero stage volume, and makes FOH mixing easy. The FlyRig is good enough, I left my Marshall stack at home.
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

I know I'm in the minority, but unfortunately, I'm one who had a bad experience with them. Noisey, and tone-wise meh. Too bad, because I wanted it to work out. In the end, I returned it. Such a great concept!
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

Oh, I should mention, I run it through a cab emulation DI to the house, and it is SO close to a mic'd amp, especially in a mix, it's unreal.
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

trevorus said:
Oh, I should mention, I run it through a cab emulation DI to the house, and it is SO close to a mic'd amp, especially in a mix, it's unreal.
Click to expand...

Do you run it through a separate DI box with cab emulation? If so, why and how big are the differences? Also can one have the SansAmp on and only disable the cab sim?
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

I don't use any additional cab emulation, nor a DI box (it outputs LowZ)...sometimes I push it with a TS direct to the board, and use IEMs...it sounds awesome.
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

I use mine every week at our open mic - it gives me everything I need direct into the board (no cab simulator). For that application, it's mainly just the sansamp section with the gain set to on the verge of break-up (as an aside, it really helps teach some of the players that there is utility in the guitar volume control [emoji1])

I do find its a little trebly (in our room) but the EQ controls dial that back easily enough. The Plexi is great, and the boost does just what it should. The delay is simple but effective. I still use my Rectoverb 25 for band, but the Flyrig5 is one of my favorite purchases of the last few years, and always in my gig-bag as a back-up.


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Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

I'm using long runs, so balanced cable is a MUST. I ran it with a regular DI, and it sounded just find as well. It's got a more mic'ed cab feel with the Cab Tone DI, and I really like what it does. It also gives me the option of closed back or open, phase control, and a couple other options. It's worth it to me, especially since I got the CabTone cheap locally.
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

It looks like the shop near work has one in stock. I'll stop by tomorrow and give it a go.

Thanks for all the feedback. Everything looks great so far based on features and recommendations, now what's left is hearing it in person.
 
Re: Considering a Tech21 Fly Rig

I've played with both and am most likely getting the Kotzen model to have just a little more gain on tap.
 
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