The Tech 21 Cali Fly Rig 5 is a multi-effects pedal that puts a SansAmp tube amplifier emulator, a boost, a reverb and a delay in a single enclosure. Tech 21 describes the SansAmp section as pre-voiced for clean tones, and the pedal's whole signal path is analog, with the reverb and delay mixed in parallel1. MusicRadar, covering the Fly Rig line when the Cali version was announced, noted that "a SansAmp makes for convincing direct tones; built-in reverb and delay effects are also footswitchable"2, which is the practical appeal: one pedal that can go straight to a mixer or audio interface and still carry reverb and delay on separate footswitches.
What each section does
The pedal is built around five functions you can combine or use separately:
- SansAmp preamp: Tech 21's tube amplifier emulator, pre-voiced for clean tones, and usable for direct recording without an amp1.
- Boost: Kicks in up to 21dB of pre-amp boost via its own footswitch, useful for lifting a solo above the band1.
- Reverb: Tech 21 says it "emulates the rich ambiances of a vintage spring reverb without clattery pings, canyons of doom, or other annoying artifacts"1.
- Delay: Analog, with Level, Time, Repeats and Drift controls1.
- Footswitchable routing: The reverb and delay are each footswitchable, so you can bring them in and out while playing2.
The delay's Drift control is the one that needs explaining: Tech 21 describes it as adding "a random element to the modulation for authentic textures," nudging the repeats away from a perfectly regular digital echo1.
The circuit behind it
The Cali's distortion section is based on the CALI/US Metal SansAmp Character Series pedals, which Tech 21 says were inspired by amps from the mid '70s built by the then-boutique shop on the West Coast1. MusicRadar described the same lineage as "mid-'70s boutique amp tones, taken from the Cali/US Metal SansAmp Character Series pedals"2. Paolo De Gregorio of Delicious Audio, presenting the pedal at the LA Stompbox Exhibit, explained that the Fly Rig Cali and Brit "feature two circuits from the Tech 21's Character stompbox series in lieu of the Plexi in the overdrive section"3, meaning the Character-series circuit replaces the overdrive voicing found in the original Fly Rig5.
Cali and Brit: how they differ
The Cali Fly Rig 5 is one of two flavors Tech 21 added to the Fly Rig5 line in 20162. Both share the boost, SansAmp direct tone and footswitchable reverb and delay; the distortion voicing is what separates them12.
| Cali Fly Rig 5 | Fly Rig5 Brit | |
|---|---|---|
| Distortion source | Cali/US Metal SansAmp Character Series circuit1 | British SansAmp Character Series circuit2 |
| Voicing inspiration | Mid-'70s boutique West Coast amps12 | Vintage British amps2 |
| Shared features | Boost up to 21dB, SansAmp direct tone, footswitchable reverb and delay2 | Same2 |
The Cali Fly Rig 5 runs on 12V DC at 150mA, not the voltage most pedals use, and it ships with its own supply: Model #DC3-A in North America, or Model #DC3-D internationally, which auto-switches from 100V to 240V1. A standard daisy-chain output will not run it.
Where it sits in the Fly Rig family
When the Cali and Brit were announced in October 2016, MusicRadar reported both would be available in mid-November for $249 each, and that both were up for preorder at Tech 21 NYC at that time2. The Cali sits alongside the original Fly Rig 5 v2 in the family, sharing the same all-in-one format but swapping the amp voicing for the California-style channel.
Videos
Tech21nyc
Bryan Croad
Danilo Vicari
Questions
Is the Tech 21 Cali Fly Rig 5 analog?
Yes. Tech 21 specifies an all analog signal path, with the reverb and delay mixed in parallel rather than in series. That means the SansAmp preamp, boost, reverb and delay sections all run on analog circuitry, which the maker presents as the core of the pedal's design.
What power supply does the Cali Fly Rig 5 use?
It uses an included 12V DC power supply rated at 150mA with a center negative connector. In North America the supply is Model #DC3-A, and internationally it is Model #DC3-D, which auto-switches from 100V to 240V. Because it runs on 12V rather than the more common 9V, a standard pedalboard supply output may not suit it.
How much boost does the Cali Fly Rig 5 provide?
The boost section provides up to 21dB of pre-amp boost, and it is activated by its own footswitch, so you can kick it in for solos without changing the SansAmp or delay settings.
What is the polarity of the Cali Fly Rig 5 power jack?
The power connection is center negative, per Tech 21's specification for the included 12V DC supply. The pedal ships with its own power supply rather than running on a battery.
What is the difference between the Cali and Brit Fly Rig 5?
Both are variants of the Fly Rig5 with the same boost, SansAmp direct tone, and footswitchable reverb and delay. The difference is the distortion section: the Cali draws on the Cali/US Metal SansAmp Character Series pedal, inspired by mid-'70s boutique West Coast amps, while the Brit takes its voicing from Tech 21's British SansAmp Character Series pedal, based on vintage British amps.
What does the Drift control do?
Drift is a control on the delay section, alongside Level, Time and Repeats. Tech 21 describes it as adding a random element to the modulation for authentic textures, so the repeats move in a less regular, more tape-like way.
Sources (3)
- Cali Fly Rig 5, Tech 21 NYC, 2019-06-24
- Tech 21 gives Fly Rig5 multi-effects pedal Brit and Cali makeovers, MusicRadar, 2016-10-31
- Tech 21 Unveils Fly Rig Brit And Fly Rig Cali At LA Stompbox Exhibit, Delicious Audio, 2016-11-30
