psa: tech 21 character series $99 at sweetwater (reg $249)

[Jimbilly]

I ordered a Blonde, 'cause: I wanted an analogue amp simulator for the tail end of the pedalboard with xlr out.

I already use a RK5 for tuner and delay, this should allow for a volume adjustable B channel (stereo, output from the RK5 through a chorus etc into the Blonde). I don't intend to use the 'screamer' side at all. This might work for you too if you're looking for an amp simulator type xlr out from your board, and don't want to edit/save/edit on a screen

 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SansAmpSB--tech-21-sansamp-character-plus-screaming-blonde

[RobB]

Thanks for the heads up, Jim! I got the the Liverpool Sim. I figured for 100 bucks, it’s cheaper than getting the new Vox AC15 hand wired @$2k. The SansAmp through my VickyVerb will work just fine. 

Edited November 3, 2025 by RobB

[Tortious]

I ordered the Hiwatt one. Not something I'd go for at $250, but at $100, sure. Thanks for the notice.

[Jakeboy]

@RobB I have used the Liverpool for years as a silent recording option and even as a direct to board option when a quiet stage is demanded. Works just great.

[Jakeboy]

And I just ordered the Screaming Blonde for three reasons:

1. It’s called the Screaming Blonde.

2. This will be my last  attempt to get a Blackface Fender circuit to work for me.

3. For silent recording when needed.

Thanks for the heads up.

Edited November 3, 2025 by Jakeboy

[cmatthes]

These are all screaming deals - I'm a big fan of Tech21 stuff, and they've never let me down over the decades!

[Jakeboy]

Well, only one is a “screaming” deal, @cmatthes lol

[Pieman]

20 hours ago, Tortious said:

I ordered the Hiwatt one. Not something I'd go for at $250, but at $100, sure. Thanks for the notice.

Which one is the HiWatt? Or gone? Thank you

[Jakeboy]

HiWatt is the British Muffin, London Muffin…something like that. HiWatt with a Big Muff fuzz a la David Gilmour.

[Pieman]

Thanks

Josh Scott does a run through

Screaming Secy is paired with a TubeScreamer'

MopTop with a Range Master

English Muffy with a Big Muff'

Fuzzy Brit  with a Fuzz Face

thinking about the English Muffy  

 

 

 

[Jimbilly]

Correct me if I'm wrong: there doesn't seem to be many choices for a simple amp simulator di box with xlr & 1/4" outs (1/4" for send to your stage amp) and an output volume control.   Even with the Strymon Iridium you have to add a di box, not building that with an xlr out seems like a design oversight. I had a Nux Amp Academy for a while, but I worry about losing a preset, or not knowing which preset I'm actually on without having to link to a screen, while trying to setup my 'stage rig' (while typically in a rush).  

[RobB]

58 minutes ago, Pieman said:

 

 

Those first few minutes with the mop top… I’m sold.

[Jimbilly]

On 11/3/2025 at 2:26 PM, RobB said:

Those first few minutes with the mop top… I’m sold.

I want one of those now too (and just ordered one, I imagine I'd be able to sell a spare pretty easily when these are gone)

Edited November 5, 2025 by Jimbilly

[Jim85IROC]

They gotta do something to compete with the $50 Joyo copies.

[Jakeboy]

I use a Rangemaster clone in front of my Liverpool and in front of my TopHat Cluub Royale with great results…in fact, all my amps love a good treble booster!

[burningyen]

12 hours ago, Jimbilly said:

Correct me if I'm wrong: there doesn't seem to be many choices for a simple amp simulator di box with xlr & 1/4" outs (1/4" for send to your stage amp) and an output volume control.   Even with the Strymon Iridium you have to add a di box, not building that with an xlr out seems like a design oversight. I had a Nux Amp Academy for a while, but I worry about losing a preset, or not knowing which preset I'm actually on without having to link to a screen, while trying to setup my 'stage rig' (while typically in a rush).  

The HX Stomp has balanced 1/4” outs, so you can run a TRS-to-XLR cable to FOH and a TS cable to your amp.

[Jakeboy]

Screaming Blonde is a wild success into an API desk preamp  into my recording DAW. I even loved the Tube Screamer into a BF amp tone! BF amps jus5 dont work for me. But for recording, this one sure does. I need to try it into a power amp next for live applications. The Blonde setting is do die for with no TS and being pushed by a Tally.  I will use this a lot.

[Jimbilly]

mine is due at the doorstep at any moment, I have so much fun with guitar stuff, I'm glad I can still get excited waiting for a new piece of gear to arrive.

Here, smaller than expected, and sounds great through the mixer/headphones. 

Edited November 7, 2025 by Jimbilly

[LucSulla]

I bought the English Muffin. I already own a RK5 Fly Rig, but for $99, why not?

Sounds cool on it's own into a MOTU M2 through monitors. Gets really interesting running it into the RK5. Initially, I was just trying it with the SansAmp section off on the RK5 to have a tuner, reverb, and delay. The OMG section sounds like shit running like this, but SansAmp into SansAmp is just too much. -BUT- the Boost on the RK5 is very usable set up like this. I have the V2 of the RK5, so the boost has a comp setting. Using them both together, you can get some really cool slapback, comped country stuff going on when pairing the RK5 with Channel A on the Muffin. The Muff does a nice overdrive there for leads too. 

You can also bypass the English Muffin and just run into the RK5. Nothing works on the English Muffin when bypassed EXCEPT the Big Muff section. So you can turn the SansAmp on in the RK5, bypass the English Muffin, but still have a fuzz to pop into the front end of the RK5. 

I take these little boxes with me when I go to Europe because I am finding myself playing a lot locally around Florence these days for the month I'm over there. The RK5 was almost perfect for a one stop shop that is light and sounds good enough through a PA, but I never loved the higher gain side. If the English Muffin had a built in delay and/or reverb and a tuner, it would be perfect. But they kinda make up for each other, weigh 2lb combined, and easily both fit in a gig bag pocket. 

I think just for having a quick thing to patch into a computer, I prefer the English Muffin to the RK5 when you have some time-based effects available via logic. 

Really cool little box. Thanks for the heads up @Jimbilly!

[Jimbilly]

11 hours ago, LucSulla said:

I bought the English Muffin. I already own a RK5 Fly Rig, but for $99, why not?

Sounds cool on it's own into a MOTU M2 through monitors. Gets really interesting running it into the RK5. Initially, I was just trying it with the SansAmp section off on the RK5 to have a tuner, reverb, and delay. The OMG section sounds like shit running like this, but SansAmp into SansAmp is just too much. -BUT- the Boost on the RK5 is very usable set up like this. I have the V2 of the RK5, so the boost has a comp setting. Using them both together, you can get some really cool slapback, comped country stuff going on when pairing the RK5 with Channel A on the Muffin. The Muff does a nice overdrive there for leads too. 

You can also bypass the English Muffin and just run into the RK5. Nothing works on the English Muffin when bypassed EXCEPT the Big Muff section. So you can turn the SansAmp on in the RK5, bypass the English Muffin, but still have a fuzz to pop into the front end of the RK5. 

I take these little boxes with me when I go to Europe because I am finding myself playing a lot locally around Florence these days for the month I'm over there. The RK5 was almost perfect for a one stop shop that is light and sounds good enough through a PA, but I never loved the higher gain side. If the English Muffin had a built in delay and/or reverb and a tuner, it would be perfect. But they kinda make up for each other, weigh 2lb combined, and easily both fit in a gig bag pocket. 

I think just for having a quick thing to patch into a computer, I prefer the English Muffin to the RK5 when you have some time-based effects available via logic. 

Really cool little box. Thanks for the heads up @Jimbilly!

I have the same RK5, and I feel similarly about the built in 'omg' OD, I typically use some other lowish gain OD pedal into the input of the RK5 (I think the Flyrigs are unfairly judged based on the OD section as being not 'optional', but that's another rant).

I'll piece this together soon, my 'stereo' pedalboard: I also just yesterday got a TC Electronic Mimiq, I plan to use that after the RK5 into the Character pedal for a subtle left/right separation, more subtle than a chorus pedal. I'll report later on that

[Drew816]

Well there went another $200 I wasn't planning on spending! You guys are terrible for my budget!!  😉

Blonde and Mop Top for me.

[Hbom]

9 minutes ago, Drew816 said:

Well there went another $200 I wasn't planning on spending! You guys are terrible for my budget!!  😉

Blonde and Mop Top for me.

I think it works better when I think of it as 'I just saved $300'. 

[Jimbilly]

I wish they had done a blue Boston one to mimic the Rockman, - I'm sure they would have had to call it something else (Clam Chowdah?. I bet that would have been cool.  Pt 2 has arrived, the Mop Top. That's it, I'm not buying any more of these...

Edited November 9, 2025 by Jimbilly

[Drew816]

On 11/7/2025 at 11:57 AM, Hbom said:

I think it works better when I think of it as 'I just saved $300'. 

We call that "girl math" in my household; that said I will totally accept this logic in this case!!  😉

The Screaming Blonde is great, I had to completely rethink how and where to use both this and the MopTop but once I moved them I could start to get them dialed in. The effects of the controls are pretty dramatic pretty quick, and backwards sometimes but it didn't take long for me to get very Bassman Cranked vibes from the Blonde.

The Mop Top I am struggling with, just like my entire life of trying to "mimic" a Vox sound it seems! I'm still messing with it but it's a little more challenging to get dialed in. I probably would have been more happy with a Fuzzy or Muffy but since I already have Marshall's around it seems like pointless duplication. Then again, hummm...

[RobB]

5 hours ago, Drew816 said:

The Mop Top I am struggling with, just like my entire life of trying to "mimic" a Vox sound it seems! I'm still messing with it but it's a little more challenging to get dialed in. 

Drew, see my post on the main board. Today I went through the sample settings in the manual and they are a good place to start, actually. You're right about the controls, they are very sensitive and take a bit of getting used to. If you spend the time with it you'll be able to dial up some cool tones.