Tech 21 Character Series

Empty Pockets

Empty Pockets

BadHairDayologist
I am a complete and total tone snob ******bag because I have basically only ever used vintage tube amps and American guitars to play, but I want to set my lap-top up for rough recordings / demos...I am looking at software and whatnot so I don't have to mic a full stack every time I have an idea but I don't want to run a ton of amp sims on the laptop itself. Those Tech 21 pedals look like the answer, I just want to hear some other experiences.

Which ones have you guys heard / used? Are they really all they're cracked up to be? How do they respond to other pedals? I normally use a 68 Bassman so I was thinking of running the Blonde with some normal pedals for tone-shaping... but I also like the looks of the Oxford and the British :smokin:

Thanks guys.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

i have a Digitech floor modeler with a ton of amp and speaker sims
Line 6 Pod, Fender Mustang, Boss/Roland whatever the name is also have some fine sims

if it must be tech 21 and a single pedal for each amp flavor then, I guess that is one option
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

yeah i am not interested in big clumsy digital multi-FX stuff.

the main reason the Tech 21 stuff jumps out to me is because it's mostly analog and it controls like a basic amp with knobs.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

I went with the tech 21 oxford pedal, tech 21 vt bass pedal, and recabinet IR impulses, here are my recordings of them in action:

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11924718

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11496221

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=11543370

:approve:

I do not like using them with other pedals so far cause my ears hear little weird stuff going on saying too many pedals. I like the Kemper better than tech 21 pedals. Also, others have done great recordings with digital amp sims so I will not count them out, but my recordings using them always sound like digital cardboard static, but they sound great for the death metal stuff. Saving up for the Kemper, so I got the tech 21s a few months ago - I recommend not getting the vt bass and just use the oxford for bass guitar too, to save money. I do like my vt bass though for recording and as a dirt pedal to use with my solid state bass amps. oh yah, you really need the IR impulses which is a latency pain, the tech 21 pedals have a built in speaker sim so peeps can use it in a pinch live, but it is just an EQ curve and I do not like the sound of it, I recorded it in the second demo above "Dance with the Devil" using the built in speaker sim for the guitar solo (yucky guitar solo tone with the pedal speaker sim).

Bottom line: sound more organic than digital amp sims for medium gain, but no reamping ability and they do not jive with other pedals to my ears. But it is the best option along with my digital amp sims for me :)
 
Last edited:
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

A Power Engine 60 and a few Character Series pedals will make the season bright, any time of the year.

I've been looking at that set-up for a while.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

Tell me more about the Power Engine and the Recabinet IR Impulses... if I have to buy more than a pedal or two to get this working right then it's not really worth it to me... but if it's not a TON of stuff then maybe I can still be talked into it.... basically I am asking you guys to finally convince me there is an alternative to a good mic in front of my awesome vintage amps :smokin:
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

I use the Blonde pedal with a few pedals in front and a reverb after... Sounds great direct to the pa or recorded.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

Empty Pockets said:
Tell me more about the Power Engine and the Recabinet IR Impulses... if I have to buy more than a pedal or two to get this working right then it's not really worth it to me... but if it's not a TON of stuff then maybe I can still be talked into it.... basically I am asking you guys to finally convince me there is an alternative to a good mic in front of my awesome vintage amps :smokin:
Click to expand...

hmm... In my prior post, I was assuming you already tried the free stuff and were ready to make the jump and try something new. recording stuff and having it sound better than other stuff is a real money pit and takes a lot of time to get good at it to the point where it is mind blowingly great tone. it is pretty hard to get to the point of a good mic in front of vintage amps though to my ears.

There are lots of youtube videos on tech 21 stuff, and recabinet demo is free to try which is how I decided to buy it http://www.recabi.net/recabinet-3/download-demo/

there are lots of free impulses online, http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/backline/676371-free-mesa-os-4x12-v30-impulses-you.html


http://www.ultimatemetal.com/forum/backline/541010-list-guitar-ampsim-software.html

and free amp modeling too http://lepouplugins.blogspot.com/2010/03/legion.html ,

Mincer has been using tech 21 character pedals forever and he loves em! Legions have used em for bass guitar in live and recording situations for decades. :approve:

You should go with the free stuff first and see if it to your liking, before starting the money pit fueled by gas. I would not want to see you buy stuff you dont need or like, and there is no "alternative" to miking an awesome vintage amp. Also, Some say use a weber and then reamp with impulses but I have never heard good clips of that. I like the axe fxII and kemper but I have never heard a fuzz pedal through them in a recording that sounded good, so I am hoping that the next version of modeling does that better and I wont buy till I save for that.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

Cool thanks for the links, everdrone. I am not seeking perfection but i would like to get close if possible :smokin:
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

why not go digital?
I like tech 21 and i use a BBDI for recording bass direct, but if its flexibility you are are after and convenience then you can get plenty of sounds which can be tailored to the mic after recording with digital.
 
Last edited:
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

The simplest device with the best sound I ever used was the Boss Amp Factory which could also emulate a pretty decent SVT as well.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

Wattage said:
The simplest device with the best sound I ever used was the Boss Amp Factory which could also emulate a pretty decent SVT as well.
Click to expand...

A fellow GP-20 owner? How about that? I thought I was the only one. I've had a Boss amp factory for going on 20 years now.

What are some of your favorite settings?
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

sixstringsamurai333 said:
I wrote a piece for a local retailer earlier this year on the most popular of the Character Series, complete with tone clips. This might help you out a little: http://www.rockshop.co.nz/community...logs/tech-21-character-series-the-gig-savers/
Click to expand...

Fun read, I'll be looking further into these.

FWIW, a friend uses the bass pedal for his gigging in NYC. It has been a valuable addition to his arsenal, as he sometimes must make due with a house bass rig that may not be to his taste. I messed around a bit myself with one in a jam situation, and I can understand why he digs it.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

Whenever I record drums, I go direct with the guitars since my room isn't large enough to use baffles. I have the US Steel 21 pedal and a Johnson J Station. They both record well enough to get the drummer through the songs. But I sometimes end up keeping the J Station tracks because they sound so good. If you can find one on E bay, I think they record slightly better than the Tech21.
 
Re: Tech 21 Character Series

I appreciate the input from you guys who like digital multiFX processors, but I just can't get down with them.

I think the Oxford is going to do what I want...basically be a little amp to plug into my interface and give me usable guitar tones without resorting to tons of software modeling eating up the RAM on my crappy laptop (The Craptop).

Thanks for the help dudes.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top