Tech 21 Leeds

This pedal is a very cool and a very unique pedal. This pedal is Tech 12's take of the vintage early Brit sounds from the 70's. Basically emulating a Hiwatt amp which was a very important guitar amplifier that was coming out of England with many bands of that day such as Pink Floyd, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. All guitarist of each of those bands played through a Hiwatt amplifier either on stage or in the recording session.

This pedal has some interesting control knobs such as the character control knob which takes the voicing of the pedal on a ride through different styles. Also the Fane speaker simulation which would have been the speaker of choice for Hiwatt amplifiers cabinets at the time and still to this day.

UTILIZATION


Tech 21 SansAmp Character Series Leeds Amplifier-emulation Pedal Features at a Glance:

The definitive tone of '70s-era UK punk, rock, and pop bands
Super-aggressive Fane-style speaker emulation
Speaker emulation defeat switch for use with a real amplifier
Level and Drive controls act like those on a traditional, well-equipped amp
Active Low, Mid, and High EQ controls let you dial in your sound
Continuously variable Character knob moves seamlessly among different voicings

SOUND QUALITY

This to me is a real sublte pedal and it doens't take over your natural tone of your guitar of your amp. It mostly just enhance the sound of the rig you are playing through and highlights the tonal characteristics of your rig with a HIwatt voice added.

I have to say this pedal sounds nothing like a real Hiwatt DR103 or any other Hiwatt amp. If you have played a real Hiwatt then this pedal is going to be a little bit silly. This pedal in a live setting doesn't really sound anything like a Hiwatt. I have not heard it in a speaker simulated output into a recording session so that feature might be a where this pedal can come in handy.

OVERALL OPINION

This isn't a bad pedal for some nice British tones but it doesn't sound like a Hiwatt to me. It still can be used as nice subtle overdrive pedal or something hat drives the front of your amp a little more.

At new these pedals come in at around $169, Not a bad price for the use of this pedal. You get a wide range of possible operations. This is a about the same price as the AMT pedals that do the same emulation speakers.

This is a pedal preamp analog. It can also serve as an od / crunch / distortion. Solid and well built.

UTILIZATION

The settings are very sensitive, numerous, relevant. A great success because the palette of sounds that one can have is just enormous.

SOUND QUALITY

I can not be noted by comparing an amp HIWATT original because I have not had a chance to try. But mashed potatoes, what does it sound good! What I find with this pedal: fun. I had previously had other SansAmp (old), and I like more the new series even if it is less versatile because each focused on one type of sound.

OVERALL OPINION

I've had it 6 months, I had to sell all my belongings. Some are highly sought after by a lot of pedal-freaks on AF and elsewhere. But I kept my SansAmp

Regarding features, everything has already been said, see the previous notices.

UTILIZATION

I emphasize the sensitivity of knobs, which cover a range of sounds quite impressive. The possibilities are immense ... Note that if you touch the button character, you have to adjust the drive, then necessarily the volume or balance frequencies.
It is not necessarily easy to make a quick adjustment, it is necessary to tweak a little. Therefore requests that pedal a certain period of adaptation, but it is a real treasure. Nothing is useless here.

SOUND QUALITY

This is what I was looking for my Telecaster, so it's always beautiful

Actually, I was looking for the "compression" lights including my sounds clear / slight crunch in arpeggios. I have a tube amp (Fender Deville Loadbox Koch), but in this register it was missing a more brit, without necessarily going to shine Vox.

It is something gained, at least with the simulation Fane engaged, because I have not had a chance to test it again, without the simulator.

OVERALL OPINION

I bought 10 days ago, but I'm so glad that I made a small demo here:

Material I have some (reasonably, is Assistant Treasurer Mrs. permanent member of the supervisory board at home ...), and this is the first time I really want to give my opinion on AF.

I think that there is no hesitation to have this pedal, it will also perhaps not the only series to join my pedalboard.

And yes I put my 10 everywhere, the day I have a Custom Jimmy Reeves, perhaps I will stoop down notes

Like all the series of Character Series Tech21 and all Samsamp is pure analog.

It consumes current slab (ie stack).

This pedal is part of the second generation of the CS with a switch to disengage the simulation of HP when used with an amp.

UTILIZATION

This is my 4th Character Series and the buttons are always the same:

- Three knobs for EQ
- An input level
- A drive
- Character and magic knob that lets you choose the signature modeling. so we here in the history of Hiwatt amps (ie The Who, Pink Floyd, but also much of the current British rock including Franz Ferdinand and Arctic Monkeys).

The small form still provides examples of sounds to boot. But when it's used, we do not need fast.
The knobs on Character otute the series is chronological: before 12am, you are in a more vintage (and more usable clean), you are at home to 12 Gilmour and after the 70's with Pete Townsend (or Entwhistle)

SOUND QUALITY

Agree with my friend Walkeur.

When you can not afford to buy a Custom 50, this pedal is ideal.

Of course, like any model, is approached her and especially her "snapshots." There was no equivalent of the original in all its finesse.

Anyway: The clean is really great, the crunch too.
And it fits perfectly with my distos, big muff, overdrive and boost.

I wanted to clean the sound of this guy: ... with a Vox amp like him and even Duesenberg. Ben this is done. just for that, already I am completely satisfied. But I think config home studio, I will use as its crunch (on stage I leave it clean).

OK it distorts the original sound of the Vox completely but who cares. It's been a wider range of sound.

OVERALL OPINION

As mentioned earlier I had 3 before this: the British (excellent), the Blonde (because eventually sold the Fender sounds less interested) and VT Bass is always on when I play the bass.
But the disengagement of the simulation of HP makes all the difference (the premièes did not have that option, they have the latest models in V2).
It's always very successful. No complaints.

I had tried to show the music (and Walkeur) so I knew what to expect signature sound. So the choice was an informed choice.

For the sound I want is for me the best of the series. But it is a matter of taste.

And of course the day I have the budget to buy a real amp Hiwatt, we'll talk.

Definitely a fan of Tech 21.