Sansamp Flu Rig V5 is the sh*t -It simplifies/solves so much perfectly

NegativeEase

NegativeEase

New member
Figured I'd move my comments to where others can see it easier in the pedal forum



So I finally tracked with the Sansamp Fly rig tonight.

Gotta say -it's bad*ss.

It sounds great -no surprise there though -as Tech21 doesn't make anything that's not great and they were the first to market with real amp modeling eq tools that professionals liked.

-Has Marshall (Plexi), Fender (Blonde), and Mesa style tone (Cali button on right side) stacks plus clean boost, Tap tempo Delay and Reverb are great and the Chromatic tuner is solid. Also a loop I/O to add you must have modulation and downstream F/Xs

The knobs are super sensitive (but tight so they don't accidentally move) -I was surprised how wide of a range can be dialed in.

One huge advantage is the noise floor is so damn quiet -if you had these functions in 5 or 6 pedals it would be way way noisier -but instead it's super silent.

Haven't tried the DI line level out yet -but Mincer says it sounds great.

This thing is 299.00 -it seems like an essential thing to have at the house or studio for guest players and either to gig with as the primary board or keep as a total backup if traveling.

Only draw backs are it's WAY smaller than I thought -so it's a little tight switching quickely if you have big feet -and it's easy to over step and bump a knob. The thing is 12.5 " wide and 2.5 " deep !!!


I have 4 gigs coming up, and am thinking about subbing out my main board for this on one of the smaller events to see how I do.


flyrig5_v2.png
 
Yep, Tech 21 is awesome! I had better luck with that one using the Brit/Cali or clean channels separately, I didn't think they stacked as well, but I didn't spend a ton of time with it since I was comparing it to a RK5 v2.

FWIW, if the RK5 had a fx loop, it would be da' bomb, I like it's OMG distortion better, it stacks with the clean channel better IMHO (of course, YMMV, etc...). I keep going back and forth between the RK5 and some AMT pedals in my pedalboard.
 
I LOVE mine. Agreed, it is a badass little unit. I run a 5150 Overdrive in front of it for my main drive and set the Plexi for littler drive, more crunch. I also have a compressor and analog delay out front with that delay set to a heavier echo. I love the tap tempo feature on the Fly Rig. Been using mine as my main rehearsal rig since I got it and will probably use it on stage as well with my amp being a guitar only monitor.
 
ErikH said:
I LOVE mine. Agreed, it is a badass little unit. I run a 5150 Overdrive in front of it for my main drive and set the Plexi for littler drive, more crunch. I also have a compressor and analog delay out front with that delay set to a heavier echo. I love the tap tempo feature on the Fly Rig. Been using mine as my main rehearsal rig since I got it and will probably use it on stage as well with my amp being a guitar only monitor.
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Yep, that may be what I should have tried with the FR5, a separate ds/od pedal, and the 5150 is a great choice, I wasn't thrilled with the cali/brit distortion as my only distortion, it seemed more amp-like if used by itself.
 
devastone said:
Yep, Tech 21 is awesome! I had better luck with that one using the Brit/Cali or clean channels separately, I didn't think they stacked as well, but I didn't spend a ton of time with it since I was comparing it to a RK5 v2.

FWIW, if the RK5 had a fx loop, it would be da' bomb, I like it's OMG distortion better, it stacks with the clean channel better IMHO (of course, YMMV, etc...). I keep going back and forth between the RK5 and some AMT pedals in my pedalboard.
Click to expand...

Yes, agreed -I had much better tones using Plexi and Boost and Blonde and Boost and not stacking all 3.

It did a nice job driving a JCM clean and dirty channel -I'll try it on my Deluxe today.
 
NegativeEase said:
Yes, agreed -I had much better tones using Plexi and Boost and Blonde and Boost and not stacking all 3.

It did a nice job driving a JCM clean and dirty channel -I'll try it on my Deluxe today.
Click to expand...

Yeah, kinda wish it had a button to switch channels between the 2 and had a full EQ for the "dirty" channel, would still need a TS or some kind of booster external, but do that anyway. If you get a chance try out the RK5, it's set up even better for that, that was one of Richie's desires with it that it work with amps well. And even though I'm not much of a fuzz guy, the fuzz is pretty cool, more of a Floyd style fuzz than say, Hendrix.
 
im gonna have to revisit one of these. i tried the normal one and the rk model and both sounded buzzy and thin into an amp. granted, im a fully admitted snob whos used to old fenders so maybe they just arent for me, but if everyone thinks they are great i guess i should give em another listen. would be nice to have something small and easy like this
 
One thing that works really well with these is that if you leave the cab sim on while running in to the front of an amp, it still sounds good. And depending on the amp, it may sound better.
 
NegativeEase said:
I have 4 gigs coming up, and am thinking about subbing out my main board for this on one of the smaller events to see how I do.
Click to expand...

Let us know how it works! I pulled my RK5 out last night (haven't used it in a while) and remembered why I keep going back to the AMT amp pedals. The clean seems very dark on mine, maybe it's my monitors or room or something? The clean channel is also more Deluxe sounding (from what I understand, I've never owned a Deluxe) in that it's very warm and is not clean clean, it's starts getting some grit in it at low drive levels (haven't tried it with single coils), so it's hard to get jangly, funky clean sounds.

Still, a great unit, I'm not knocking it at all and am a Tech 21 fan, just doesn't always work for me. Or, maybe I'm doing something wrong?
 
I know I can easily do any gig my band has with a FlyRig. I won't have the more esoteric effects, but I could get by just fine (and sound good, too). So it always comes with me in case there is a meltdown of my other stuff.
 
devastone said:
Let us know how it works! I pulled my RK5 out last night (haven't used it in a while) and remembered why I keep going back to the AMT amp pedals. The clean seems very dark on mine, maybe it's my monitors or room or something? The clean channel is also more Deluxe sounding (from what I understand, I've never owned a Deluxe) in that it's very warm and is not clean clean, it's starts getting some grit in it at low drive levels (haven't tried it with single coils), so it's hard to get jangly, funky clean sounds.

Still, a great unit, I'm not knocking it at all and am a Tech 21 fan, just doesn't always work for me. Or, maybe I'm doing something wrong?
Click to expand...

Nah, I don't think you're wrong -I'd agree it's does have a little darkness in it -but when I was tracking Marshall heaviness the other night -it worked well for that.
 
I think the RK5 clean channel is supposed to be more Deluxe-ish while the FR5 is supposed to be more Twin-ish, but that's just what I've read on the interwebs, haven't actually found anything to confirm that from T21. But yeah, a little too dark for a lot of the clean stuff I do. I actually want to pick up an old British or California pedal (the single pedals, not the FRs), I had a British I really liked, and it's purple, so it's cool... Might work better for the worship stuff too, the AMTs sound great, but the cleans are clean and the gain channels are high gain. I'll probably always have one around, but hard to dial them back to worship gain levels.
 
The FR5 Sansamp is essentially the Blonde pedal they have/had. Not sure if that is a Twin or not. It can get crunchy cranking up the gain so maybe it's more of a Deluxe like in the RK5.
 
ErikH said:
The FR5 Sansamp is essentially the Blonde pedal they have/had. Not sure if that is a Twin or not. It can get crunchy cranking up the gain so maybe it's more of a Deluxe like in the RK5.
Click to expand...

The difference is the missing character knob, so the difference could just be a resistor change to adjust that setting. I remember that knob added a lot of options to the British pedal. I kinda hate them discontinued the character series for the Fly Rigs, I liked the character pedals and liked being able to put them where I wanted in the signal chain. I'm sure it's much easier to manage the supply chain now although they seem to be making up for lack of quantity on the guitar side with a plethora of bass offerings now.

So, the FR5 stays clean for you and isn't what you consider "dark"? Again, may be my monitors or room that is making it sound that way. The grit in the channel isn't a bad thing, just have to back the gain way down to get a clean signal.
 
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