Since Tech 21’s 1989 introduction
of the SansAmp—the world’s first
true amp “modeler,” although based on
analog circuitry—the New York-headquartered
company has created an impressive
range of amplifiers and effects. Two
recent introductions, the Roto Choir and
Boost Chorus, follow a path that Tech 21
has been on for quite some time now by
incorporating digital technology as needed
for the time-based aspects, while keeping
the rest of the functions in the analog
domain. The result of this hybrid pairing
provides uncanny sonic realism and
flexibility, with the warm response you’d
expect from old-school pedals.
Roto Choir
“Badge,” “Angel,” and “Cold Shot” are
among the tunes known for using a rotary
speaker effect on guitar. Tech 21’s Roto Choir ($295 retail/$219 street) offered
impressive simulations of these tones and
many others through manipulation of its
six interactive knobs, two footswitches, and
twin pushbuttons. In addition to a buffered
Bypass footswitch, a Fast/Slow switch
ramps the speed up and down much like
a real Leslie. The Top Speed knob allowed
me to stop the rotation completely and still
sculpt interesting sounds using the High,
Low, Drive, and Position knobs.
This last knob is purportedly a virtual
mic positioning control, but it acted
more as a de facto depth modifier, increasing
and decreasing the intensity of the
effect. Cranking it clockwise and adding
a hefty helping of Drive delivered modern
chop-trem sounds. Starting the chop in
fast mode and ramping down the speed
with the footswitch while dropping my
Strat’s trem arm was a cool effect on a
recent gig.
The Biamped button yielded lush Uni-
Vibe sounds when engaged, and Leslie-like
effects when off. In fact, the amazing number
of usable sounds produced by this pedal
made me wish it was programmable. You
can’t have everything, but the wealth of
terrific musical tones available from the
Roto Choir make it worthy of an Editors’
Pick Award.
KUDOS Wide variety of rotary and Uni-Vibe
effects. Quiet operation. Compact.
CONCERNS None.
CONTACT Tech 21, (973) 777-6996; tech-
21nyc.com
Boost Chorus
Remember the distinctive chime of Ry
Cooder in the ’70s and Kurt Cobain in the
’90s? Tech 21 certainly does. In addition to
a number of other classic chorus sounds,
the Boost Chorus ($245 retail/$189 street)
does a great job of replicating the nirvana
of the E-H Clone Theory pedal, and, in
its Multivoice mode, it let me dial in the
lush but clear chorus that graced Bop Til
You Drop-era Cooder records.
Rolling the Speed and Depth knobs
completely down, with Multivoice off,
allowed me to use the Pre-Delay knob for
doubling and slap effects. Here the Mix
control became essential, but I find a mix
option on chorus always preferable, as it
lets me dial the modulation back to maintain
sonic focus during distorted solos. Lowering
the delay amount in regular chorus
mode added a lush flanging swoosh to the
list of this pedal’s effects.
The Level control is another plus, helping
to compensate for volume loss that can
accompany modulation and delay effects.
With its myriad modes of warm modulation,
this Tech 21 pedal could easily make
chorus cool again.
KUDOS Lush, warm chorus with added
flange and delay possibilities.
CONCERNS None.
CONTACT Tech 21, (973) 777-6996; tech-
21nyc.com