Did people sleep on Tech21?!

[BioDriver]

I picked up a Tech21 VT Bass 200 combo a few weeks ago and it's been insanely good. Took it to a rehearsal before the storms hit and it kept up great with piano, drums, and horns, so much so that I was asked to turn it down! It sounds great, is light, and built like a brickhouse and it makes me want to look at their other stuff if/when I feel the need to upgrade.

I know they have suspended production due to cost, but I can't help but wonder why so many people sat out on their amps. The VT500 head seems like an incredibly viable alternative to the Portaflex heads Ampeg was pumping out at the time, and while I haven't ABed them to the newer Venture heads they seem like at this price point they'd be a contender.

So what happened? And is Tech21 thinking of opening their amp line back up?

 

[frankie5string]

I remember them being kind of expensive compared to other options at the time. They were never made in large volumes.
They ultimately canceled the amps not because of demand, but due to some issues obtaining parts.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

I have massive respect for their products and own multiples of them (VT Bass DI is my go-to DI), but I also think the issue was perceived value compared to other offerings.

The VT Bass series of pedals/preamps was/is incredibly popular, so a lot of bassists who would be interested already owned the pedals/boxes. Chances are they use them with the current amps they have, or just go direct to board/PA with the VT as a DI. They may be doing the later because amps at gigs or rehearsal isn't an option.

So if the amps were a bit on the high side of cost, it was kind of a hard sell to make unless you didn't own the VT gear already (and wanted to get into the ecosystem). Even then, you could grab a used VT pedal and play it through several amps to get a great tone. No doubt the quality of their combos and heads was probably way superior to budget and mid-tier stuff they were likely compared to, but it seemed like they were fighting themselves since the VT pedals were already reasonably priced and beloved.

If they came in around what a Hartke, Ashdown, or TE combo would cost I think they would have cleaned up. They go for ~$400-500 used (GC and Sam Ash) which is a little steep IMO. Again, I'm sure they are a well-crafted and quality piece of gear though.


I really wish we could see a VT Bass Deluxe (with the VT Bass DI tone shaping options) come back. Having 6 presets you can save on a single pedal would be absolutely awesome IMO. Could smack myself with a Gibson Thunderbird for selling mine back in the day

 

[JenderBazzFass]

Tech21's website says they have suspended production of all amplifiers, "Due to exorbitant price increases of materials combined with supply chain and transportation issues"

 

[carsonchilders]

Wild speculation here, but I think part of the way the brand presents itself as super casual/fun/big graphics can come at the expense of people "feeeeeeling" like something is premium and worth the extra money. I would not want to be a manufacturer that relies on lower cost (that is relative) high volume items at a time like this. I think boutique builders with waitlists have the upper hand at weathering the economic storm (but there are many other unrelated pitfalls they could fall in to).

 

[frankie5string]

Wild speculation here, but I think part of the way the brand presents itself as super casual/fun/big graphics can come at the expense of people "feeeeeeling" like something is premium and worth the extra money. I would not want to be a manufacturer that relies on lower cost (that is relative) high volume items at a time like this.

Not sure about that. The amps were pretty serious looking... They had Gene Simmons running them on stage for a long time - I think he still does.
I didn't think they looked "super casual" or anything like that.

The gear was made in small batches... and they found it was too expensive to keep it going.

 

[Mojo34]

Only slightly off-topic: I consider myself lucky to have gotten a Tech21 Deuce Deluxe 200 watt amp. Just played it last night at a small dinner/cocktail gig, with the Acoustic FlyRig for my bass. Sound is always perfect!

 

[MCS4]

I'm not sure I've ever actually played any of their amps, or really any non-Sansamp products. For me the Sansamp stuff was revolutionary when it came out and is still solid and dependable today, but I also find that there is now plenty of other stuff that serves a similar purpose but sounds a little better to my ear. So I guess in my head they are a company that puts out good products but there isn't anything that specifically motivates me to go out of my way to seek out their stuff anymore.

 

[JenderBazzFass]

Wild speculation here, but I think part of the way the brand presents itself as super casual/fun/big graphics can come at the expense of people "feeeeeeling" like something is premium and worth the extra money. I would not want to be a manufacturer that relies on lower cost (that is relative) high volume items at a time like this. I think boutique builders with waitlists have the upper hand at weathering the economic storm (but there are many other unrelated pitfalls they could fall in to).

I think anyone who's been holding a bass on a stage for very long knows that Tech21 is serious, but yeah. I think that although they have their own distinctive style that apparently works for them, they don't really go for a classic aesthetic that might be a turn off to some people who think a lot about how their gear looks.

For me, maybe an amp and a cab I would care about how it looks on the stage (like not having bright yellow cones and such...) but for pedals and what not, I can't imagine being bothered by it.

 

[Fuzzbass]

I am still kicking myself for not buying the DP1000 dUg Pinnick amp head. Silly me thought it would be a one-trick pony (or a limited range of tricks), but having owned the less-versatile pedal version for years now, I realize I made a terrible assumption.

 

[michael_t]

I have massive respect for their products and own multiples of them (VT Bass DI is my go-to DI), but I also think the issue was perceived value compared to other offerings.

The VT Bass series of pedals/preamps was/is incredibly popular, so a lot of bassists who would be interested already owned the pedals/boxes. Chances are they use them with the current amps they have, or just go direct to board/PA with the VT as a DI. They may be doing the later because amps at gigs or rehearsal isn't an option.

The VT Bass DI has been one of my main tone-shaping tools since 2014. So, when they introduced the VT Bass amps, I didn't see the need for them. I now own the Traynor SB500H so I can always run the VTB into the fx return on it.

One nice feature the amp had that I wish the VT Bass DI had is the sweepable mid frequency control.

 

[carsonchilders]

I think anyone who's been holding a bass on a stage for very long knows that Tech21 is serious, but yeah. I think that although they have their own distinctive style that apparently works for them, they don't really go for a classic aesthetic that might be a turn off to some people who think a lot about how their gear looks.

For me, maybe an amp and a cab I would care about how it looks on the stage (like not having bright yellow cones and such...) but for pedals and what not, I can't imagine being bothered by it.

I think that's fair! Also just to be clear, I am not at all implying the stuff isn't quality.

Regarding that second line, you hit the nail on the head imo!

 

[Isaac_James]

The VT Bass DI has been one of my main tone-shaping tools since 2014. So, when they introduced the VT Bass amps, I didn't see the need for them. I now own the Traynor SB500H so I can always run the VTB into the fx return on it.

One nice feature the amp had that I wish the VT Bass DI had is the sweepable mid frequency control.

A VT-flavored ParaDriver would be fantastic, though I suppose that sort of defeats the purpose of the ParaDriver being a multi-instrument preamp.

 

[michael_t]

A VT-flavored ParaDriver would be fantastic, though I suppose that sort of defeats the purpose of the ParaDriver being a multi-instrument preamp.

One of the church campuses I play at regularly has the Para Driver as part of their stage set up for bass. I do like it. Sweepable mid on the VTB would be even better.

 

[mpdd]

ten years ago my friends and i were obsessed with vintage tube amps, now that we are older something like the VT500 with a light cab has a lot more appeal

 

[Low Down Brown]

Had a chance a few years back to play a VT-1000 through an 8x10 fridge at a music festival. I was using an LB-100 with flats and that combo put the boot heels to the gluteals. It actually got me to thinking about swapping up my rig at the time for a VT-500. Had a couple chances to pick one up a decent price on R'Verb but never did and I slap myself occasionally for not at least giving it a shot.

 

[JazznFunk]

I don't think people slept on Tech21 at all. Their stuff is and always has been well-built and dependable, and sounds great. I absolutely LOVED the VT Bass pedals (the original 2 small footprint designs) and think they are still amazing if you need that exact SVT or B-15 vibe without tubes. It's so close it's scary. As far as the amps go, I ( and I suspect many other people) never wanted that sound/vibe as an ALWAYS ON thing, baked into the amplifier itself. So, the amps were an odd duck unless you were absolutely married 100% to that sound all the time. Otherwise, the effect pedal in use with another kind of amp (especially just a power amp) made much more pragmatic sense.

 

[deepestend]

I have massive respect for their products and own multiples of them (VT Bass DI is my go-to DI), but I also think the issue was perceived value compared to other offerings.

The VT Bass series of pedals/preamps was/is incredibly popular, so a lot of bassists who would be interested already owned the pedals/boxes. Chances are they use them with the current amps they have, or just go direct to board/PA with the VT as a DI. They may be doing the later because amps at gigs or rehearsal isn't an option.

So if the amps were a bit on the high side of cost, it was kind of a hard sell to make unless you didn't own the VT gear already (and wanted to get into the ecosystem). Even then, you could grab a used VT pedal and play it through several amps to get a great tone. No doubt the quality of their combos and heads was probably way superior to budget and mid-tier stuff they were likely compared to, but it seemed like they were fighting themselves since the VT pedals were already reasonably priced and beloved.

If they came in around what a Hartke, Ashdown, or TE combo would cost I think they would have cleaned up. They go for ~$400-500 used (GC and Sam Ash) which is a little steep IMO. Again, I'm sure they are a well-crafted and quality piece of gear though.


I really wish we could see a VT Bass Deluxe (with the VT Bass DI tone shaping options) come back. Having 6 presets you can save on a single pedal would be absolutely awesome IMO. Could smack myself with a Gibson Thunderbird for selling mine back in the day

I always felt this way about the Tech 21 amps and just about pedal preamps in general: why would I get an amp with a deluxe set of tone options baked in when I already have a pedal that's doing that? I'd rather plug my sansamp pedal (which I can take with me for whatever amp I'm playing) into a power amp or into the effects return than buy a whole tech 21 amp.

 

[klokker]

I don't think people slept on Tech21 at all. Their stuff is and always has been well-built and dependable, and sounds great. I absolutely LOVED the VT Bass pedals (the original 2 small footprint designs) and think they are still amazing if you need that exact SVT or B-15 vibe without tubes. It's so close it's scary. As far as the amps go, I ( and I suspect many other people) never wanted that sound/vibe as an ALWAYS ON thing, baked into the amplifier itself. So, the amps were an odd duck unless you were absolutely married 100% to that sound all the time. Otherwise, the effect pedal in use with another kind of amp (especially just a power amp) made much more pragmatic sense.

+1. The baked in tone kept (keeps) me away as well.

 

[frankie5string]

I always felt this way about the Tech 21 amps and just about pedal preamps in general: why would I get an amp with a deluxe set of tone options baked in when I already have a pedal that's doing that? I'd rather plug my sansamp pedal (which I can take with me for whatever amp I'm playing) into a power amp or into the effects return than buy a whole tech 21 amp.

The amps were, unsurprisingly, an attempt to offer a product to those who didn't have or want the pedal, and just wanted an amp that was all integrated, or didn't care that a pedal existed. So if you had the pedal, and didn't care about having an amp that did it all as a unit, then those amps didn't matter to you. Different applications. The amps were really nice. Good tone, good power, but I was only using one at a rehearsal space - they were already off the market by the time I got to use one extensively, and I owned both the VT and the BDDI v2, so I wasn't going to hunt one down.

Most bass amps have "tone options baked in."