Tech 21 SansAmp PSA 2.0 Programmable Instrument Preamp Pedal Reviews
When Tech 21 originally released the rackmount SansAmp PSA-1 in 1993, it quickly became an indispensable studio and stage staple — and a favorite here at Sweetwater. It was deployed on countless recordings, worldwide tours, and film soundtracks for multiple applications and instruments, including drums, horns, and even vocals. Unfortunately, as certain key components became unavailable, Tech 21 was forced to retire it. They quickly realized, however, that this sad occasion also presented an opportunity not only to redesign the SansAmp PSA — but to streamline its technology into a pedal. Meet the SansAmp PSA 2.0. It has the same all-analog circuitry (only the programming and memory sections are digital) to deliver punchy, responsive, organic sounds that make any source sound its best. The SansAmp PSA 2.0 provides the same functionality, ease of use, and amazing versatility as its esteemed predecessor.
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Highest Rated Reviews
tech 21 PSA 2.0
I just kind of stumbled on this. Was thinking of getting a sans amp. This thing sounds great. The presets are very usable. Also plenty of storage for new presets. Very simple to use. Great tones. I am completely rearranging my pedal board to get this sweet sounding piece in the mix. Very satisfied.
Awesome Analog Amp Pedal
If you're looking for an outstanding analog amp pedal, the SansAmp PSA 2.0 is for you!
I selected this over a digital modeling amp pedal as I wanted good solid tone and simplicity, and didn't need built in f/x and dozens or hundreds of presets.
SIMPLIFY and focus on tone and playing was my goal!!
My top reasons to buy this product:
1) Easy to use. Functions like a "real" amp by adjusting the knobs to find your tone rather than selecting an exact amp and building as done with digital modelers. It's a journey to find that tone that fits who you are and what you're playing.
2)Also has the playing feel like a tube amp. Responsive to subtleties in playing resulting in expressive playing experience.
3) Despite the simplicity, has plenty of variety both in amp types and adjustment for clean/overdrive and EQ. Right now I'm favoring more of a British amp sound, so I used the factory Marshall and Vox presets as a starting point and customized to presets to my liking.
4) Perhaps my favorite feature is the DRIVE knob. This adjusts the power amp saturation rather than the pre-amp section. Most of my presets are built around using the drive knob for various power amp saturation. I love the responsiveness of power amp tubes when pushed slightly for varying degrees of sweet breakup.
I also got the Tech21 MIDI Mongoose pedal to have more preset access. Currently, I'm using only the first 5 and that's all I need right now. Easy to add more if/when needed.
See my pedal board photo with everything in place. It's a mix of analog and digital pedals that augment the PSA 2.0 where needed. It all starts with the wonderful rich and authentic tones from the PSA 2.0.
Currently running direct into a PA.
It rocks!!
I bought mine
circa 2020. I use it in both live and studio applications. Their is NOT any amp tone you cant get from this monster!! I use it now with a new ZOOM G5n (for effects), and into the PSA 2.0.. Then, into a HEADRUSH
1x12 FRFR cabinet. Absolute tonal bliss no matter which of my guitars I use!!
This pedal ROCKS!!
I love it so much, I bought two!
You can buy a boatload of boutique dirt pedals, or just buy one of these. The midi control, and 120 spaces allow for just about any guitar or bass tone you can dream up. The cab sim is awesome, and you can use it with a power amp and speaker cab with the sim on and it doesn't make your cabinet sound like it has a blanket over it. Just awesome. So now my two pedal boards (one is a backup) have a Mr Crybaby, a boss MS3, a TC electronic cab sim pedal for the internal boss distortions, and a DI for going direct into a board. It's all I need. I play guitar, bass and keys, and all I need is a small mixer and a my full range monitors and I can do any job or session that comes up.
Swiss Army Knife Of Tone Shaping
True to the description, The PSA 2.0 is indeed a tone-shaping beast. I am much happier using it to dial in the tones that I want than to load IR's or constructing virtual rigs with software. The PSA 2.0 responds much more naturally to volume roll-off than software and once I got familiar with the effect of the CRUNCH PUNCH BUZZ knobs, I was achieving the tones that I was after in far less time than by other means. Yes it's a beast but it is also very efficient. It's built very well, has premium footswitches and jacks. The shafts in the pots are not metal. They are a clear plastic that pipes the light from what appears to be an LED from within the pot. I might prefer it without the glowing knobs in exchange for more resilient pots but in use, my foot has yet to make contact with the knobs so it may never be an issue. I do kinda like the look of the glowing knobs and thankfully they are not overly bright.
The cons to this pedal are the dimensions and location of the jacks which make the PSA 2.0 a little challenging to conserve real estate on the pedalboard. The back of the pedal has an angle to it which makes it kinda difficult to get the most out of low-profile patch cables and 1 piece connectors but I was able to get an offset connector to work fine with it by using 3M Dual-Lock to mount the adjacent pedal. All things considered, the PSA 2.0 can replace many distortion/overdrive and cab emulator pedals so it can save quite a bit of space. You would be hard-pressed to find this much power per square inch with any other pedal.
Overall I am very happy and impressed with the sound of the PSA 2.0. It's ability to store patches and recall them through MIDI is an awesome feature. Many other pedal's patch storage and recall are cryptic by comparison to the PSA 2.0's LED display and scroll buttons. Plus there is a ton of room in the memory to save user presets. I can't imagine that I would ever find reason to purchase another distortion/overdrive, preamp, cab emulator or EQ type pedal. The PSA 2.0 really can cover most of that territory on it's own and be quick and easy to get you there. Strongly recommend it.
Tech 21 PSA 2.0
I love this Sansamp. It has fattened up my sound and lets me get everything I want from that solid Motown thump to the growl of Yes when I plug in my Rickenbacker. I could not be happier. I am finally getting that mature vintage sound that I have been looking for. Now I need to add chorus, Compression and maybe an Octaver to add some flavor!
Just like my original rack mounted PSA, but smaller
tastes GREAT... Less filling
Not bad, but a bit harsh
I was on the fence about this box. Admittedly, the online video guys kind of sold me on trying it. It's pretty live and I think sort of responds like an amp. And you really can get a lot of tones out of it. And you can configure three default (footswitch) tones. And it's small. That's the good news. I preferred the 'Marshall Clean' to the 'Fender Clean' which was surprising to me. I really didn't like any of the Fender or Mesa tones. I find the sound to be generally trebly and kind of harsh. (I am running through a Yamaha mixer and into either Sennheiser heaphones or an EV powered 12). I can roll that trebly off a little but then something's missing. Also, the gain and drive functions seem to have a break point near the higher end of rotation where they increase the function gradually and smoothly, then immediately jump to a much higher level of gain or drive. That is, there is a spot on the rotation where it just jumps up. If it were cheaper, I might consider keeping it as a tool to use for some applications or something to work at and figure out. But for $, I just can't justify it. Full disclosure, I am not an amp expert; I have spent most of my time on bass and acoustic guitar, but I know what sounds good to me. Thanks as always to TJ and Sweetwater.
