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Tech-21 Red Ripper Review

sillyfabe

sillyfabe

keeping the low-end silly since '06
Mar 13, 2009
3,877
2,748
San Bernardino,CA
#1
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:

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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:
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RR: EQ at noon: RIP off, DRIVE noon:
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RR: EQ at noon: RIP noon, DRIVE 1:30:
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RR: EQ at noon: RIP 3 oclock, DRIVE MAX:
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RR: EQ at noon: RIP MAX, DRIVE MAX:
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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.
 
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#5
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!
 
#6
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
 
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#7
MSUsousaphone said:
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?
Click to expand...

We use a high quality buffer in our pedals. We do not use true bypass. Here is some info from our website:
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#8
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.
 
#9
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
 
#12
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.
 
#13
I play fingerstyle and I love my Red Ripper. Muting is done with the outside of my right pinky as required. This pedal is great for dynamics, and it fits me perfectly. I go easy on the 'Level' control; the three tone controls are self-explanatory. The R.I.P. knob controls the amount of effect based on how hard the strings are played. The 'drive' control is self-explanatory. The 'LPF' button does a fair approximation of a clean low frequency channel along with all the zing up higher.

With the 'R.I.P.' control down around nine o'clock, and the 'drive' control goosed up around ten or eleven o'clock, this pedal can give a very good approximation of a slightly-fuzzy envelope filter. Gonna try it with the Mutron. When not hit too hard, the Red Ripper is a good plain boost.
 
#14
someone asked if the red ripper is true buypass, well its not, I cant for some reason reply derectly back to that person but hear we go.
its buffered buypass, its all analog its not like digital buypass, its buffered buypass so its quiet switching and no clicks and popps, ive got the bass driver DI and its the same kind of buypass and its quiet. to give you an idea my brother has the pasliy drive from wampler pedals, and wen he stomps on his compared to mine, his sounds like a trainreck derailed at about 500 miles per hour compared to my foot switch you cant even hear it click on. why? because mines buffered buypass and his is true buypass, buy the red ripper man and don't look back. im gonna pick that and the bass boost fuzz up next.
 
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