The Tech 21 Marty Friedman Signature SansAmp is a programmable preamp pedal from Tech 21, developed in collaboration with the guitarist and shipped preset with his main clean, dirty and lead tones12. It is a signature stompbox built to put Friedman's core sounds in a compact, plug-and-play format, while leaving room to program your own presets23.
What sets it apart in the Tech 21 lineup is the circuit. It is a digital design, Tech 21's first after a history of analog-only products, and the company says it replicates the dynamics, responsiveness and fluidity of analog gear in a digital setting23. Operationally it is similar to the SansAmp PSA 2.01.
What it does
The pedal comes from the factory with Friedman's main clean, dirty and lead tones already stored, and Tech 21 describes it as offering "Marty's core sounds and the versatility for many different styles"123. The goal, according to the company, was to embody his tone in a neat, compact, plug-and-play footprint2.
The SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation technology inside covers the entire signal chain, from preamp to power amp to speaker simulation, so the pedal includes a built-in speaker and cab sim1. Live, it can serve as a preamp feeding a power amp and speaker cabinets, as a direct box to a PA system, or both at the same time. In the studio you can record direct with it, enhance existing tracks in mixdowns, and add touches to other instruments1.
The controls
The front panel controls the whole signal, from gain to ambience13. DRIVE sets gain and overdrive, and REVERB sets the spatial ambiance of a well-balanced recording room1. LOW, MID and HIGH are active tone controls that cut or boost from 12 o'clock, +/-12dB1. GATE dynamically & smoothly cleans up your signal, rather than abruptly cutting it off1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| DRIVE | Gain and overdrive1 |
| LOW, MID, HIGH | Active tone controls that cut or boost from 12 o'clock, +/-12dB1 |
| FILTER | Alters tonality by manipulating the mid-range, voiced specifically for Marty's sound1 |
| REVERB | The spatial ambiance of a well-balanced recording room1 |
| GATE | Dynamically and smoothly cleans up your signal rather than abruptly cutting it off1 |
| Level | Output level2 |
The Reverb and the built-in Noise Gate each get their own control, which Guitar World noted gives you autonomy over both3. The footswitches are silent-switching, custom metal actuators, and the housing, knobs and jacks are all metal12.
Performance and Studio modes
The pedal runs in two modes13:
- Performance mode: instant access to your 3 most often used presets, the ones you want at the ready on a gig1.
- Studio mode: storage for up to 128 custom presets1.
Editing and deeper control run over the MIDI interface, where you can adjust amplifiers, blendable IRs, effects and EQ1.
Power and connections
Power comes from the included 9V DC universal power supply, Model DC9, with interchangeable international prong assemblies for the EU, UK and Australia/New Zealand. It is auto-switching and self-adjusting across 100V to 240V at 200mA, so the same supply works anywhere in the world12.
For connections, the pedal takes a 1/4-inch 1 megOhm input and puts out a low impedance XLR with a Ground Lift switch for going direct to a PA desk or studio board1.
The pedal runs on the included DC9 supply rather than a standard 9V battery, and its 200mA draw is beyond what a typical battery or a small daisy chain can supply1.
What reviewers and players said
Guitar World reported the announcement as a signature stompbox for Friedman, with built-in clean, dirty and lead tones curated by the man himself3. Gearnews found a lot to like in a compact format:
"There is a lot to like here, and it covers a lot of ground in a compact format, so I can see it being handy."
Friedman himself described the pedal in the launch materials:
The pedal's feature set includes a stompbox with preset clean, dirty, and lead tones, a MIDI interface, and a rugged all-metal housing2, plus a built-in speaker/cab sim whose SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulation technology encompasses the entire signal chain, from pre-amp to power amp to speaker simulation1.
He added that only an exceptional design engineer like Andrew Barta could make something with these beautiful tones so incredibly simple to use, calling the results world class12. The pedal came out of Barta's move into digital technology coinciding with the chance to collaborate with Friedman5.
Videos
Tech21nyc
Tech21nyc and Jake Faun
Tech21nyc
Questions
Is the Marty Friedman SansAmp analog or digital?
It is digital. Tech 21 says it replicates the dynamics, responsiveness and fluidity of analog gear in a digital setting, and it is the company's first digital design after a history of analog-only products. It operates much like the SansAmp PSA 2.0.
Does the Marty Friedman SansAmp have an XLR output?
Yes. It has a low impedance XLR output with a Ground Lift switch, so you can go direct to a PA desk or studio board. It can also work as a preamp into a power amp and speaker cabinets, or do both at once.
Does the Marty Friedman SansAmp have reverb?
Yes. There is a Reverb control that Tech 21 describes as providing the spatial ambiance of a well-balanced recording room. The pedal also has a built-in noise gate with its own control.
Who designed the Marty Friedman Signature SansAmp?
It was designed by Andrew Barta, Tech 21's founder and the inventor of the SansAmp, in collaboration with Marty Friedman. Friedman said only an exceptional design engineer like Barta could make tones this good so simple to use.
Sources (5)
- Marty Friedman Signature SansAmp, Tech 21 NYC, 2026-03-13
- Tech 21 Marty Friedman SansAmp, Premier Guitar, 2025-02-24
- Tech 21 debuts Marty Friedman signature SansAmp pedal, Guitar World, 2025-02-21
- Tech 21 Marty Friedman Signature SansAmp Pedal, gearnews.com, 2025-02-19
- SansAmp Programmable Bass Driver ELITE, Tech 21 NYC, 2026-08-14
