Hello!
Here comes my review of the new version of Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig, love it!
Cheers
Al
Here comes my review of the new version of Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig, love it!
Cheers
Al
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Tech 21 NYC Bass Fly Rig V2
- Thread starter AlbertoRigoni
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- demo tech21 bass fly rig v2
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I am really loving this unit. I doubt I'd use the chorus much, but to my mind it's really the only time-shifting effect I would ever use on a bass. But dang. A comp, a two channel sans amp, fuzz, octaver and filter? Here's my big board. What would I miss besides the HPF in front?
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
Well, I put an offer in on one here in the classifieds. I'm looking at the Fly Rig is a new way to solve a problem I've been struggling with: what do you do when you can't bring the big board? I tried the Bass Battalion and a cheap tuner as a mini board. Then I tried the Zoom MS-60B. All cool and worthy answers to this question. And now I have a new answer: The Fly Rig. Or I will have if my offer is accepted.
scottfeldstein
Roots and fifths and a little extra.
I did get one. It's good. It's not perfect. I'd say it's a B execution of an A idea. The octaver isn't great, but can be made usable with fuzz and filter. The two channel SansAmp aren't quite as separate as they seem. You get to choose a different Drive and a different Level for each, but the Character, Bite and EQ are shared. Basically, you are just choosing how much grit: this much or this much. The Chorus, Comp and Tuner are all serviceable.
I haven't really had a chance to gig it. But when I do I plan to power it through a battery, the kind you charge your phone with when you're traveling. I'm going to velcro them both onto a very small board and voila! Instrument cables in both ends, and I've got a pretty full featured rig that doesn't even need to be plugged in.
Is it better or more convenient than just throwing a 9v into a Zoom MS-60B? Easier to use, probably. But not quite as convenient to carry as a single pedal solution.
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I got one. I generally agree with you. Mixed review.
- It's a very high-quality form factor. Logically laid out and nicely built.
- "Serviceable" is a great way to describe the Chorus, Compressor, and Tuner. Straightforward, simple, and functional. Happy camper here.
- I would say that the Octaver, Filter, and Fuzz are...to put it nicely, not serviceable. I watched the Octaver video, etc. After quite a bit of fiddling, I didn't find anything I'd ever use. Keep in mind, I found the MXR Octaver and Envelope filter to be totally plug-n-play, even though they had much more complicated controls.
- If you like the Sansamp and VT, then this component won't disappoint.
- Haven't tried the DI, but I'm guessing it's good.
- Very, very impressive unit for the money overall, but I'm super disappointed by the lackluster EFX. I was really hoping for the holy grail of an all-in-one.
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Mine arrived this morning. I'll be comparing it to my Ampeg SVP-Pro preamp and my Sansamp BDDI V1.
Considering that the original Fly Rig for guitar is now on its fifth version, it will be interesting to see what Tech 21 does for Bass Fly Rig V3, as good as V2 is!
I got one this summer and did what it says.
I played a couple gigs sans an amp.
Great rig.
I played a couple gigs sans an amp.
Great rig.
Ok, I plugged into mine last night for the first time. Initial impression is not good.
Comp: Anything but the lowest setting is very obvious. Too much squash when barely on.
Channel: Does what it says.
Octafilter: doesn't track well, it's something I wouldn't use anyway. Same with fuzz.
Chorus: Ok, but i've heard much better.
Char button: The VT sounds pretty good. The original Sansamp sounds scoops too much in the mids, and without a blend knob, I can't use it.
Bite button. Too much boost. Ear splitting.
Tuner: Works as it should.
I really wanted it to work for me. I've had the Sansamp BDDI V1 forever and I always managed to get useable tones out of it. I also have a Q-strip that I absolutely love.
I have been looking for something like this for a while that has compression, tuner and chorus in a simple non-menu format for a while.
This is only my humble opinion. YMMV. It's going back to Sweetwater.
Comp: Anything but the lowest setting is very obvious. Too much squash when barely on.
Channel: Does what it says.
Octafilter: doesn't track well, it's something I wouldn't use anyway. Same with fuzz.
Chorus: Ok, but i've heard much better.
Char button: The VT sounds pretty good. The original Sansamp sounds scoops too much in the mids, and without a blend knob, I can't use it.
Bite button. Too much boost. Ear splitting.
Tuner: Works as it should.
I really wanted it to work for me. I've had the Sansamp BDDI V1 forever and I always managed to get useable tones out of it. I also have a Q-strip that I absolutely love.
I have been looking for something like this for a while that has compression, tuner and chorus in a simple non-menu format for a while.
This is only my humble opinion. YMMV. It's going back to Sweetwater.
The unit works well for my needs. Not perfect as most say, but the trade off of not having 2 other pedal boards is liberating.
I wish for something similar --- simple, analog --- for double the price, but where everything is a solid "Yeah, cool....works"
Well, I didn't send mine back like I thought I would. I have used it for several gigs, and I think I'll keep it. Still thinking about getting a B6 too. The only features I use are the compressor and preamp in the VT setting. The compressor has an audible click on the first strike of the string in a series of notes no matter the setting. The VT setting is very good. Mids are good and prominent. I wonder how it compares to the VT standalone pedal. Tech 21 is on to something with these little units. A better compressor and chorus would be great. Ditch the octaver for a Foot switchable character button (with separate eq for each character).
I returned mine. It's a great concept, and the price point is impressive, but I'd much rather spend more and get great effects across the board.
It would be cool if Aguilar or MXR did a bass analog multi-board too. When pigs fly!
I have the G6, and my experience with it is enough to keep me away from the B6.
It would be cool if Aguilar or MXR did a bass analog multi-board too. When pigs fly!
I have the G6, and my experience with it is enough to keep me away from the B6.
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Tech 21 makes solid products. I believe that if they release a V3, they will address some of these issues.
But....they just released V2. And, e.g., they know we didn't/don't like the Octaver; they made a how-to video about it - was actually a bit condescending, really. "No our Octaver doesn't stink, you just don't know what you're doing" kinda vibe.
At any rate, it's already a solid product...for its price point. Maybe it's a very tall order to hit all the targets for $300. Bump up the $, I say!
