Tech 21 NYC: Richie Kotzen RK5 SansAmp - To Amp

www.tech21nyc.c...
reverb.com/mar...
The SansAmp RK5 ("RK" stands for Richie Kotzen) is the perfect marriage of FlyRig SansAmp future-tech and mind blowing tone. It is only 11.5" long and weighs a mere 18oz (510 grams) meaning it can be carried in pretty much any guitar case. You could easily use the RK5 as one-stop amp solution, backup or multi effect because it does a stellar job in all of those situations. I would have zero qualms about using it instead of an amp or even my beloved Fractal Audio gear if I had to. The RK5 a LOT easier to lug and it delivers the tones, big time.
This video deals only with the RK5 as a multi-effect to front end of an amp; in this case a George Evans Sonique 30A 1x12 (V30) combo. If you wish to hear the RK5 in a direct-to-board application, please visit my accompanying video at • Tech 21 NYC: Richie Ko... .
Todays tools:
Guitar: PRS Studio 2010 10-Top. Stock.
Amp: George Evans Sonique 30A (see: www.georgeevans...)
Extra effects: N/A
Cables: Providence
Mic: Violet Design The Amethyst (amp) Samson Airline77 (me)
Camera : Canon 60D (me) and Sony HDR CX150 (pedal)
Soundcard: AVID Mbox Pro 3
Computer: Apple iMac 27" i7 3.4 GHz 16 GB RAM
Software: Pro Tools 11, Waves CLA (slight compression over input channel); Waves L3-16 Limiter (to keep levels in check at output), Apple Final Cut Pro X (video editing and KZbin video compression).

[@jasonkerr931]

I use this every day and I truly feel my overdrives and overall sound is better with the sansamp on all the time. Takes away any harshness the amp might throw. Plays very well with other pedals too!

[@tele0046]

Hands down the best demo of the RK5…. Thank you

[@samhainlimon]

I purchased the RK5 and the Valeton Dark Dapper thinking I'd run through the clean channel of my JCM 900 100W 1x12. I would use the RK5 for Rock and other mellower stuff and the dark dapper for metal. To my surprise the RK5 can get just as much gain as dapper and is brighter to my ears. If you run a boost after the RK5 but before the return on your effects loop you can boost anything individually on the RK5. I use a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive on clean boost for that. Rk5 hands down. I'm amazed

[@jeanpat8946]

Man i love your demo and the way you play the guitar !!!!

[@Denorian]

Great review! I bought one and i totally love it. You don't need anything else to gig , maybe a wah wah.

[@Arcturian1111]

3:47 nice OD tones. 4:50 Sans amp only. Similar to a Fender OD. OD stands for overdrive.

[@pdbordelon]

Sounds fantastic!

[@paulvsmith]

Just bought one of these and been playing it for two days. The gear at the other end: Victory V30 and various Fender guitars. A few observations: the sansamp section must stay on for good sounds, as others have noted. Also, the unit sounds far superior when plugged in to the effects loop return rather than into the front of the amp. This is a bit of a shame since it completely bypasses the excellent Victory amp distortion, but all the necessary sounds are in the box. Last, the indicated settings that Richie is purported to use in the manual are near perfect for me, except the OMG level needs to be taken down by something close to 50%!

[@jamesm5744]

Fantastic demo Brett, cheers 😊

[@DGTSJamora]

Best damn review of RK5 I've seen.

[@1972luap]

Sounds great to amp as well... I cant wait to hear a review of the new amp because you know a lot of us live our sad G.A.S lives through blessed people like your self. :p

[@gatorblue]

Great box----ALL ANALOG---he forgot to mention. Passthru analog. Sweet OD, Boost, and delay with tap on the fly. Even the Sans Amp sounds good through an amp. Running my Paul, Tele or 335 through it---they all like it. My fender, Supro and Peavey amps like it. No flys on this unit and "effects stomp boxes" can't even come close to this one. It's actually like having a good analog carbon delay, chorus, reverb and OD boxes but it's all in one slim steel box. Gator

[@mabecka]

Thank you!

[@coolpap777]

Hello Brett, how would you say this compares to the Carl Martin Quattro. A while back you reviewed one and liked it. In your opinion is the Martin worth the price difference? Thanks!

[@michaelgeeves3026]

Hi Brett, I have tried using the RK5 with a Hot Rod Deluxe iii and I cannot get a sound that is in the same ball park as this video...Any Tips??

[@andys6592]

Would you recommend this over the original sansamp para drivers for guitar? Can this be used almost as a DI to send to front of house at church etc?

[@Mrthreadedtime]

Brett....I'm trying to decide between an RK5 or Atomic Amplifire....it would be run to front of house only. Which would you prefer?

[@Arcturian1111]

Just bought an RK5 used on Reverb $140 bucks. Mint Cond.

[@sur7st_gt]

0:31 good

[@IzzyPresley101]

How much does not having the girth control on the OMG on this RK5 effect the tone?

[@Arcturian1111]

How would this work with a clean Vox AC15 or AC30

[@hawg427]

Brett, Hope you have a Happy Father's Day! Hope Sudds takes you to lunch :-)

[@matthewgordon2655]

Really nice. This, or the Atomic Amps Amplifire?

[@legslewis783]

I was wondering the same thing...

[@paulchavez2828]

Quisiera saber como sonaría el RK5 en un roland jazz chorus jc 120, las limpias sonarían bien??? las distorsiones??

[@ed1978ed]

Thanks for that! And for the other Fly Rig demo! Both sound fab!!! Which one do you prefer, Brett?

[@BrettKingman]

Martin Edelmann This one, by far. The OMG is the best fun.

[@ed1978ed]

Thanks, ***** ! Definitely need to check this out. Your direct to ProTools Vid got me ;). Great sounds (well… you sound good in all of your demos I must say). Have a great day!

[@Dschungelsepp]

Does the OMG sound better than the Hot RodPlexi? I liked the sound in your Plexi demo. Cheers

[@PackinForSuperbowl]

I wonder how this would sound going into the effects loop of my 6505+... It seems like it could, in theory, give me a clean channel that the 6505+ is lacking plus more delay and OD options. I just happen to have the perfect amount of space on my board for this...thoughts?

[@Cantstandtherock]

Overdrive isnt a smart thing to push through a loop, dely, chorus, etc is all good but not overdrive or distortion

[@PackinForSuperbowl]

If you bypass the pre in the amp and put this in the loop, it'll sound fine because it works as the pre. Maybe I'm not sure what you're saying though. I wouldn't personally put a TS9 in the effects loop if the amp's pre was in the chain though I know plenty of people that do stack an amps overdriven pre with a TS9 in the effects loop to get the power section to distort a bit. I don't prefer that sound though.

[@PackinForSuperbowl]

I was talking about using the sansamp in place of my Peavey's Pre to get a nice clean sound. Because I have an ES-8, I could per patch pull it out of the loop and put it in front to stack gain.

[@Cantstandtherock]

+Joel Pheister cool

[@jdeenmusic5045]

05:28 - uh, that got me.

[@edelaguila4]

Can it go directly to a PA through a direct box??

[@Arcturian1111]

I plugged my guitar thru a pa Mixer in a channel and it sounded awesome.

[@batmandeltaforce]

ALWAYS use the OMG with the AMP

[@aryehwiznitzer9060]

Yeah combined they sound really good. OMG without the amp on is a bit too harsh.

[@kingkasama376]

So, AMP must be turned on all the time. Right?

[@MatthewDuncanSGS]

I've tried running my rk5 into a solid-state Fender and if I do not use the Sam's amp circuit on the OMG overdrive just sounds like bumblebees and I can't seem to get it to function so I was wondering if you did something on the amp to make it work better with it

[@samhainlimon]

Matthew Duncan in my opinion the OMG works great by itself but only through a tube power amp section. I prefer to run through the return input on effects loop on tube amp. I hope that helps. Maybe there are some solid state stuff that works good with OMG but I haven't heard it yet

[@railhammer]

The Boss Katana works really well with this pedal. It's what I use for my bar rig.

[@hardtobearit]

would this sound good at a gig where it would be plugged straight into a sound board or PA system?

[@JerkyTreat]

Yes it would, due to the sans amp. That is the whole idea behind the fly rig. Watch Brett's other demo where he goes direct to pro tools. Same concept as direct into a board or pa

[@HaydnMowbray]

cody thompson I've seen Kotzen use this in front of both Fenders and Marshalls in the last 18 months. Consistently fantastic sound. I'll buy one tomorrow if the music shop has one in stock (I really will)

[@matzer8846]

Great pedal, very good demo ... But .. to be honest: this PRS is just an awesome beauty ... steals the show (;-))

[@BrettKingman]

Matze R Haha! Fair call. Yeah, Paul nailed it with that one. The moment I opened the sealed box it spoke to me. It said, "I MUST BE YOURS. WORK IT OUT". So I did. No regrets.

[@dendipriatna9995]

I really wanna buy this thing... deadly...

[@Mrthreadedtime]

Also, I'm easily overwhelmed with my HD500....way too many options

[@lookmanostrings]

The GAS is killing me!

[@legslewis783]

You too can over commit and wallow in the joyous sonic quagmire of everlasting debt.lol.

[@livingabovethe12th]

This vs.Carl Martin Quattro (????)