The Tech 21 CompTORTION is a compression/distortion pedal that combines two effects in one box. Tech 21 describes it as a pedal that "logically, and uniquely, combines two effects: compression and distortion," voiced to work together but adjustable independently, so you can run either one alone or blend them1.
What it does
Tech 21 says the pedal covers a wide range in a single enclosure: "from totally clean to light distortion to smooth overdrive," with compression that goes "from zero compression to completely squashed." The company adds that no other single pedal offers this kind of control over such a range of sounds1. In practice that means one footswitch can take you from a clean boosted signal into a compressed, driven tone, without needing a separate compressor and distortion pedal on the board.
The controls
The CompTORTION has four knobs, listed by Tech 21 as "Comp", "Tortion", Tone and Level1:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Comp | Adjusts the compression |
| Tortion | Adjusts the distortion |
| Tone | Tone control |
| Level | Level control |
The two effects are independently adjustable, so you can control the ratio of compression to distortion and use them separately or mixed together1. An independent review at AMZ Guitar Effects (muzique.com) likewise lists the pedal as having level/tone/tortion/comp controls3.
Power and bypass
The pedal runs on a 9V alkaline battery, which is not included, or on Tech 21's optional Model #DC2 DC power supply1.
The CompTORTION's footswitch is not true bypass. Reviewer Cyrus Joaquin Heiduska at ovnilab.com found that "the bypass is pretty clean" nonetheless2.
What reviewers said
The ovnilab.com review, by Cyrus Joaquin Heiduska, raises one caution about the pedal's noise gate at high compression settings2:
"it stutters and spits. The higher you turn up the compression, the higher the noise level gets, and the more obnoxious"
In other words, if you lean hard on the Comp knob, expect the gate behavior and noise floor to become more noticeable, something worth hearing for yourself at high compression settings2.
Videos
lanesuzza
Sean Pierce Johnson
Ari Balzar
Questions
Is the Tech 21 CompTORTION true bypass?
No. The reviewer Cyrus Joaquin Heiduska at ovnilab.com notes that the footswitch is not true bypass, but adds that the bypass is pretty clean, so the pedal should not noticeably color your dry tone when it is switched off.
Does the CompTORTION take a 9V battery?
Yes, it runs on a 9V alkaline battery, though Tech 21 does not include one with the pedal. It can also be powered from an optional DC power supply, Tech 21 Model #DC2, so you can choose whichever suits your board.
What power supply does the CompTORTION use?
Tech 21 specifies its own optional Model #DC2 DC power supply for the CompTORTION. Alternatively, the pedal runs on a 9V alkaline battery, which is not included with the unit.
Can I use the compression without the distortion?
Yes. Tech 21 voices the two effects to complement each other, but they are independently adjustable, so you can use compression and distortion separately or mix the two together in whatever ratio you want.
How big is the CompTORTION?
Tech 21 lists the actual size as 4.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches, with a weight of 14 oz, so it is a compact single-width pedal that fits easily on a crowded board.
Sources (3)
- Comp Tortion, Tech 21 NYC, 2019-06-23
- Tech 21 CompTORTION, ovnilab.com
- Reviews of boost pedals, muzique.com (AMZ Guitar Effects)
