Tech-21 Red Ripper Review

sillyfabe · #1 07-30-2011, 01:13 AM

Hello there fellow TB'ers! I have up for review a Tech-21 Red Ripper. This little box is a fuzzbox with a powerful active 3-band EQ, buffered bypass with quiet switching and is the same size as the VT Bass and others like it....here is the official link:

TECH 21 - RED RIPPER

The thing that separates this fuzz from others (besides the awesome paintjob) is the RIP knob. Its not a synth, envelope filter or laser but can act like it if you set it right. The RIP and DRIVE act in tandem meaning the DRIVE tells the RIP how much to open as well as your playing dynamics. Also its all ANALOG so its gonna sound awesome

Another noteworthy mention: it has a button to activate a Low-Pass Filter to allow more bass if need be.

ALL CLIPS: Fender Geddy Lee Jazz with Rotosound Funkmaster Strings, fingerstyle > pedalboard > monster cable thingy to my PC > Audicity

ALL CLIPS START WITH LPF OFF THEN ON!

Clean:
MP3 Player SoundClick

RR: EQ at noon: RIP off, DRIVE noon:
MP3 Player SoundClick

RR: EQ at noon: RIP noon, DRIVE 1:30:
MP3 Player SoundClick

RR: EQ at noon: RIP 3 oclock, DRIVE MAX:
MP3 Player SoundClick

RR: EQ at noon: RIP MAX, DRIVE MAX:
MP3 Player SoundClick

Overall I really dig this pedal for some synthy-fuzz, fuzzy or crazy sounding tones. I have tried many fuzzes and like the uniqueness about it. It kinda of reminds me of a Prunes and Custard when the RIP is about 1o clock and can get crazier the the PnC can IMHO.

Score: 5/5

If anyone wants any clips/comparisons to what I have or clips of this with anything else I have I'll be more than happy to oblige.

MSUsousaphone · #2 09-06-2011, 02:37 PM

How is the bypass? Everything else I own has true bypass....and there's not many good music stores I can go to in this area to try it out. I guess what I'm really wondering is, how much will it effect tones while deactivated?

nismaniac · #3 09-06-2011, 08:58 PM

I really like what I hear with this pedal, thanks for the sound clips and review!

HolmeBass · #4 09-06-2011, 10:00 PM

Thanks for the demo SB, I like the top-end oscillations w/o low pass engaged. I imagine in the loop of your GR it probably really gets trippy on the top end. Yep, I'm going to have to get one of those bad boys.

BassBrass · #5 09-07-2011, 07:47 AM

I've had one since last Christmass (and it's red) and it competed with Prunes and Custard until things evolved on my board so I could fit both! Each has it's own envelope frequency, and often the ripper needs adjustments on the low end, volume, rip & drive depending on what's going into it, while P&C I can leave alone because it's early in chain as a mid-y overdrive and is always the same. Somehow the natural organic quality of P&C could never be topped by the Ripper, but Ripper is much fatter by itself than the P&C. P&C into Ripper is Excellent!

K2Graham · #6 09-07-2011, 09:09 AM

Awesome review... not that I think you would but I don't suppose you have some sort of envelope filter controlled by an expression pedal (like a xerograph or ehx enigma etc) as I'm looking for some sort of distortion/fuzz to go with something like that, cheers

tech21nyc · #7 09-08-2011, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSUsousaphone

How is the bypass? Everything else I own has true bypass....and there's not many good music stores I can go to in this area to try it out. I guess what I'm really wondering is, how much will it effect tones while deactivated?

We use a high quality buffer in our pedals. We do not use true bypass. Here is some info from our website:
TECH 21 - TECH NOTES

MSUsousaphone · #8 09-08-2011, 01:34 PM

Thanks...I was REALLY contemplating it while my Sansamp Bass Driver was being shipped to me....now I'm not sure how much I would need it. I'm loving the Bass Driver. I need to see if I can find a Red Ripper around here that I can try out to see if I can make enough new sounds on it to shell out the extra cash.

sillyfabe · #9 09-08-2011, 03:44 PM

It's not true bypass but the bypass system and switching system are second to none! After owning this for a while it really is an amazing toneshaper and overall aggressive bass fuzz. Love the Moogie sounds I get from it

Von Felgenhauer · #10 09-08-2011, 03:49 PM

I'm still upset I traded it away.

sillyfabe · #11 09-08-2011, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Von Felgenhauer

I'm still upset I traded it away.

sorry! get another one and RIP your tone to shreds!

burno70 · #12 09-09-2011, 05:46 AM

Mine crapped out twice - was repaired by Tech 21 UK then crapped out again. I lost patience and the shop offered a swap so I chose a Swollen Picke.

The pickle is ace - lots more power although for me needs to be blended. I still miss the articulation of the ripper and wish I had room for both.

May well get another one at some point in the future.