Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Anyone given one a shot yet? I am really curious how Rick friendly and authentic these things sound. Lots of love on the bass section of this forum for the VT one Tech 21 just came out with. They are a new series of 4 or 5 pedals that are supposed to be really good(I know, that's what they all say)and was wondering if anyone has the "Liverpool" one that is meant to be like an AC-30.

I don't know, I'd just buy an AC-30 (I did). I'm all for pedals, but amp modeling ones can never sound as good as the real thing.

I did buy one(see my Avatar). Great amp, great sound, happy and proud to own one.

I was looking for something that might sound good in front of my 1975 Hiwatt halfstack, and was wondering if anyone here had tried one specifically with a Rickenbacker guitar. I got one of those Cooltron Vox Brit Boost pedals that was a bitter dissapointment, and thought this might be cool to have, as the guys on the bass forum here are singing the bass pedals praises. It could also be usefull in reamping studio tracks, or situations that aren't practical to use my AC30 in.

I have 3 other Tech 21 pedals that I am happy with, so this pedal has really sparked my interest. I understand the power and glory of owning and using tube amps and the limitations of modeling. However, having owned an original Roland Space Echo, I much prefer the Boss COSM dual pedal version that I got when they first came out, so I try to keep an open mind, even though a lot of stuff sounds like **** to me.

I am in no way looking to replace my AC30, but looking at possibly having a good AC30 sound available through my Hiwatt when needed, or when I ROS my 360/12 into my JC120 and AC30. God forbid I'm at a gig an the AC30 breaks down, maybe this little pedal could save the day going straight into the PA with its built in cabinet simulation.

What's the Hiwatt sound like in relation to an AC-30? Never played one, but I've only heard good things of course.

Go to the "Plexi Palace" website/forum. They have forums in it dedicated to Marshall, Vox, Hiwatt, Orange,Fender etc, that have tons of info,sound clips, mods and repairs, and many who own and post in several different forums on there. It's a cool place to check out all kinds of cool things that relate to amps we either have, want, or will now want. You can literally find out everything you could ever want to know about tube amps on this site, or ask, and get responses you can take to the bank.

The best comparison I can give you is that the Hiwatt is the fastest gun in the west. The sound comes out as fast as you put it in with no sag or delay whatsoever. The sound is bright, clear, full range, and probably the highest headroom of any other tube amp. They do not over compress quickly and distort like Marshalls do, or get that boxy el84 breakup that Vox has built their reputation on. Hiwatts can also chime with the best of them, and are unforgiving to the sloppy player.

Hiwatts are a very clean amp. Even with the channels jumped and preamps cranked, your not going to get much distortion. You can open the master all the way up, turn the pre halfway up, and be incredibly clean and unbelievably loud, but totally different than master volume twins. I have a 50 watt 4 hole 1975 era head that can kill small animals at 200 yards with its sheer volume(ha ha). Standing in front of a cranked Hiwatt is an experience you will never forget. I never have a problem cutting through the mix or keeping up with 100 watt marshalls or even my old wicked bass player who ran an early 70s Ampeg SVT with the 8x10 refrigerator cabinet, and liked to play the volume game. It's no wonder Townshend has lost so much of his hearing. He has that Fender endorsment now, but still has a Hiwatt head backstage as a backup.

They have never been a big hit in the USA, as most people think they are another Marshall type amp, and get bummed when they find out it sounds nothing like one. Before the boutique vintage craze really took off, you could pick up a nice head for under 500 bucks no problem. Now these same amps are going for a lot more than that. If you by one, absolutely,positively, get a UK made model dated before 1982. Don't even think about getting one made in the USA, not even close in sound and built like ****. If you have one and it still works,you are a very lucky person and I don't mean to offend you. The originals were all handwired to milspec and used the highest quality components available, and still are better made than most amps costing 3000 bucks, including these new "reissues".

Anyways, it's been my main live rig for over 15 years and I never have to worry about it breaking down. I do, however,have to use a pedal to get distortion/fuzz or whatever out of. The amp is very pedal friendly, so lack of an effects loop doesn't really limit the use of modulation devices through the front end, (think David Gilmour).I thought it might be nice to have a good AC30 pedal in front of it when I want that sound,(or in front of my JC 120 when ROS my 360/12 with my AC30), and the Tech 21 looked like a winner.

They also sound great with my Ricks, both guitars and bass.