Tech 21 announces four SansAmp Character Plus pedals

May 19, 2022 · 3 sources

Tech 21 announced the SansAmp Character Plus Series, four analog pedals that each combine an amp emulator with a switchable effect, in May 2022¹². The four are the Screaming Blonde, English Muffy, Fuzzy Brit and Mop Top Liverpool¹³.

Each pedal pairs a historic amp style with a historic pedal style: the Screaming Blonde is Fender-style plus Tube Screamer-style, the English Muffy is HiWatt-style plus Big Muff-style, the Fuzzy Brit is Marshall-style plus Fuzz Face-style, and the Mop Top Liverpool is Vox-style plus Rangemaster Booster-style¹. Guitar World describes the Mop Top Liverpool as "distinctly Beatles-flavored," melding a Vox AC30-esque tone and Rangemaster-style boost².

The pedals share a two-channel design, with the SansAmp and effects sections independent¹³. MusicRadar lists dials for Channel A Volume, Channel B Volume, High, Mid, Low, Drive, Character A and Character B, plus Level, Tone and a single knob for the Scream, Boost, Fuzz or Muff depending on the unit³. Guitar World reports separate Volume, Drive and Character controls for each amp channel². The Mop Top Liverpool has no tone knob on its boost section; instead a button selects a treble boost or a midrange boost, with up to +12dB available via the Boost knob³.

Features include built-in speaker simulation tuned to each amp type, 3-band active EQ and an XLR output¹. Guitar World lists a 1/4-inch in and out and a balanced XLR output². The housing measures 7.75 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and 1.25 inches high and weighs 12 oz, and a 9V-DC power supply is included¹.

Guitar World reports the series is set to retail around $279². MusicRadar reports it will be available late June, priced $279³.