Tech 21 NYC: Richie Kotzen Signature RK5 FlyRig v2

www.tech21nyc....
The Fly Rig by Tech 21 is one of the many great and eminently useful inventions to come from the New York City workshop of Andrew Barta and the Tech 21 crew. I always carry one as a backup rig and often as a first call. The RK5 v2 has been with us since early 2019 but this is my first taste of it - and I love it! I'll be popping it in inside my Strat case so it goes where I go for the foreseeable future. Features, right to left: 12dB pre-Boost with or without a smooth compressor; OMG OD/Distortion that doubles as a very healthy fuzz (worth the price of admission alone IMO); SansAmp clean to mean amp/cab simulation (that can be bypassed); hi-res Tuner; 2-size Reverb; 1 sec Modulated Delay with Tap Tempo that can be switched over to do a very good Roto sim with slow/fast brake speed (Tap Tempo f/switch); Balanced XLR or unbalanced ¼" outputs that can be used together if desired - the ¼" can be switched to headphone output also; 9VDC power. Small. Light. Tight. Right.
Today's tools:
Guitar: MJT/Musikraft Partscaster with Seymour Duncan Five-Two Pickups
Amp: Richie Kotzen Signature RK5 FlyRig v2 direct to soundcard via ¼" output
Power Supply: Supplied
Mic: Samson Airline77 (me)
Camera: iPhone 11 Pro and Canon D60
Soundcard: PreSonus Quantum & Fractal Audio Systems Axe-FX III MKII (guitar, mixing and bouncing).
Desktop Monitors: PreSonus R80 R-Series Active AMT Studio Monitors (www.presonus.com)
Computer: 2017 Apple iMac Pro, 2.5 GHz 14-Core Intel Xeon W, 64 GB 2666 MHz DDR4, Radeon Pro Vega 64X 16 GB
Software: Logic Pro X, Apple Final Cut Pro X, Compressor.
This video dedicated to Dale. I believe your phone works; I do, I do! 😂

[@toddashley407]

Best pedal I ever bought by a mile. This thing is awesome!!

[@iandavidson4852]

Superb review of a fabulous bit of kit. The lovely playing doesn't hurt...Awesome.

[@MRxr400]

very cool sounding unit for those who freak out, like me, at menus etc of digital floor units. chuck a wah in front and that's all i'd need. cos everyone needs the wah.

[@scottstetzer]

All the FlyRigs are killer.

[@medor6635]

My wife watched the video with your garden and couldn’t sleep last night, she wanted to take some of your wife’s ideas and use them in her garden. What gorgeous landscape you guys created!

[@BrettKingman]

Thank you, I've passed that lovely comment on to Elisabeth and she is very flattered. Cheers to you both.

[@jeffhalen3030]

Great review, Thank You very much...

[@enricgmajoral5300]

The best review of this pedal! At last we can hear very clearly the SansAmp on its own,...and the added OMG on top. Just great and straight forward explanations. Just what the dcotor ordered!!

[@loupatch4896]

Your reviews are consistently excellent. Not lots of boring talk. Video setup is perfect for watching your demo. And you cover each effect nicely. Thank you again Sir!

[@BrettKingman]

Thanks, Lou! It's a constant learning curve for me. Good fun. Cheers.

[@danstringer7610]

Very cool fly rig….love the Raspberries “Go all the way” riff. So happy I grew up in that era. I really appreciate your skills Brett!

[@laurentldoldi840]

Amazing! I just ordered one used for 250 Euros only (new it costs 440 Euros), can't wait receiving it!

[@peterschaefer1665]

Wow that thang sounds great!

[@jasonktong1]

I got the first one of these based on your demo Burgs, and I’ve still got it! Nice upgrade, great clip.

[@BrettKingman]

Hey Jason! When are you visiting again?

[@jasonktong1]

@@BrettKingman Let's set it up, I've got a brand new amp design that absolutely needs your input!

[@BrettKingman]

@@jasonktong1 I'm gonna run out of Charvels! 😄 I'll give you a shout behind the scenes.

[@jasonktong1]

@@BrettKingman 😂 you’d still have more than anyone else I know. Chat soon mate.

[@bnzboy]

I've tried the first version a while ago and I was blown away. Now with the XLR output, I may need to get one again.

[@andy_william17]

Just bought this, and the tone is quite warm / dark. A perfect match with bright clear single coil pickups! You can also get that dark fusion lead sounds if you use a warm humbucker.

[@petaralargic]

Well sansmap is meant for Direct to FOh, itherwise it adds a blanket that mostly sounds band with the amp setup, although managable.. But optimal for the use with the amp is def without the Sansamp engaged.. Pardon if you knew all this, most probably.. But sharing just in case.. Seems kike an truly amazing oiece if gear.. Have fun

[@heavybrett-al4082]

Sweet, I've always wanted to try one of those,as I'm a big kotzen fan.

[@jasonkerr931]

Great review as always, mate. Try running the RK5 into the Strymon Big Sky with the cab filter on in the Strymon! My main rig now running direct in stereo out of the Big Sky. Amazing tone!

[@TabbyCallaghan]

Been a flyrigger for the last 4 years . Never use an amp now and it sounds great everywhere I go . Would love to see effects versions of the fly rig so instead of pedals you could have two fly rigs nice and tidy . Great video .

[@HermelJaworski]

you could add something like the TC Plethora and have all the effects you want

[@purplewound]

I just love it when Brett demonstrates some Tech 21 stuff! Man, could you please also take a look at Character Plus Series also?

[@bluessumlin...7067]

OMG feature worth the price on its own!🎸

[@ue4058]

Super great, Brett! As always.

[@huskvarsm]

I’ve got the version 1 and it’s awesome.

[@rejoician]

Finally made it perfect!

[@MarcCoteMusic]

Nice! Yeah, it's hard to beat this for a portable or backup rig... Not much need to fuss with programming like a fully digital rig. Plug and play.

[@BrettKingman]

Yep. Love that. No fuss.

[@medor6635]

It sound massive with a deluxe reverb.

[@PoppaChris]

Great demo, thank you! I have v1 and am amazed by how subtle it can be. Very versatile. V2 has a lot of the things I would wish for.

[@alexc2680]

Great video, as Always!! I just picked one of these up and it's great. I'm thinking of running it into a Groove Tubes The Brick (tube pre) for an added flavor of tube warmth without using an amp and going direct. I love your channel and the videos are helpful, fun and your playing is tasty!! THX

[@davelanciani-dimaensionx]

I still have the RK5 v1 and the Flyrig CALI model. Pretty versatile gear, but without a noise-gate, they get a bit noisy.

[@huskvarsm]

Brett you sounded like Eric Johnson with your tele how crazy.

[@andrewperrie4162]

Sounds great Brett Keep on Rocking !!!

[@sonnyguitareastjava501]

best guitar pedals

[@stroopwafel6141]

This smart mini rig got maximum smart.

[@fernandocj]

Very Nice Review!

[@CodenameCuervo]

Pure Rock Tones!!! 🤘

[@BrotherTimothyClark]

Brett, can you confirm where the level of the compressor was when you turned it on? Blind guy here. Really like that sound you got. ❤ ,

[@BrettKingman]

About noon on that one, Timothy.

[@BrotherTimothyClark]

@@BrettKingman So not even up all of the way. Very good to know. Sounds great.

[@theclanmorrison]

Hi Brett,nice video Thankyou.Was that you on lead Guitar with Barnsey’s band in Cairns in 2018-19? Thanks

[@BrettKingman]

Probably not, Craig. I've only played for Barnsey on cruise ships. Probably Danny Spencer.

[@theclanmorrison]

@@BrettKingman ok mate thanks 👍🏼👍🏼

[@davidchase-lopes8413]

Did you start with thé opening riff of let's go all the way by the Rasberries?

[@dreamscuba]

This looks and sounds great. Can you turn the cab simulator off if you want to run it into a power amp or into an audio interface with more cab/IR options? Thank you.

[@yudhaarau]

Use the cali V1 , for recording to DAW like to put low 0 ,mid 12, High 0 and using direct monitoring . FLYRIG feels more natural for me than using Ampsim

[@imanriekwel8705]

Hi Brett, when showing this pedal, what do you do with the volume and gain of your amp?

[@Vidmark1986]

Brett do you like more RK or regular Fly Rig?

[@BrettKingman]

RK for me!

[@johnfritzenjr.1240]

Killer 👏👏👏

[@R0BL68]

No preset storage ability ?

[@brianfoskett4410]

Bad Ass ! 🎯

[@SirPraiseSun]

good stuff wish it had stereo out though

[@tonylamosa3]

Raspberries!

[@henrykc3]

Please confirm that a real amp was not used in this demo and you go from the FlyRig directly to your computer audio interface. Thank you!

[@BrettKingman]

Confirmed. SansAmp RK5 via soundcard (Axe-FX III running blank preset) to Logic Pro X. No extra EQ, reverb or anything else. Just a limiter on the output bus to prevent clipping. That's it. All RK5.

[@henrykc3]

@@BrettKingman Thank you so much, it sounds really great!

[@Fender420]

👍👍

[@jasonstone1046]

KIller little rig.

[@maxtoomars]

What amp is it based on? Which one is closer?

[@ericwarrington6650]

I've always wondered if these units performed on a professional level or if they were run of the mill effects being stacked to create something you can get from a single standard sized stomp box..I guess the design doesn't matter much it just spreads it into a floor unit..

[@ericwarrington6650]

It sounds pretty badass 🤪 I must say

[@BrettKingman]

Yeah, I could use one, no probs. I will too, probably. Richie uses a couple of them apparently; one set up for fuzz and rotary and the other for OD and Delay - something like that. You can bypass the SansAmp bit and just run the effects straight to your 'real' amp too if you want. Cool thing, it is.

[@ericwarrington6650]

@@BrettKingman that's some serious capability and interesting units..glad to hear they're up to par..great work man

[@toneranger]

@@marcos_c_m Ha, Tech 21 should be paying you, that's class 👍🏻

[@gibsonguitarplayer]

How would this sound in front of a clean amp? Like a HRDLX?

[@geraudgeorges4203]

Where is the headphones input? 🤔

[@Tech21nyc]

It doesn't have a separate input. There's a headphone button that switches the 1/4-inch output into headphone mode (in order to drive both sides and provide higher output).

[@650thunderbird]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@brianmorrison4865]

Does the tuner do half step?

[@Madmax-rz5hz]

Almost sorry I have the V1 ... almost

[@davidkastin4240]

Do the directions say you must use only with a Telecaster? 😂

[@BrettKingman]

😂🙄

[@stratmagic6893]

Can u use it with headphones 🎧 only?

[@aladinhellchicken7994]

Yes! I do all the time

[@roww10]

Still no FX loop after amp? Frustration.

[@druwk]

I feel like a fool when I see some new tech, like this? Still fussing with a pedal board, amp and attenuator. I live in NYC, and the idea of just packing ONE gizmo, that is that small, and sounds that good…SMH 🧐

[@embreesmith7613]

Not impressed I do not need another noisemaker

[@CBGypsy03]

Yes you do !!! haha