The Tech 21 NYC Bass Fly Rig V2 is a multi-effects pedal and preamp for bass built around Tech 21's SansAmp analog tube amplifier emulation circuitry, with a built-in speaker and cab simulation1. Rather than a board of separate boxes, it puts a preamp, drive, octave, fuzz, chorus, compression and EQ into a single pedal, which Tech 21 describes as "much more than a pedalboard. In a single pedal"1. It is made in the USA2.
The V2 is an update of the original Bass Fly Rig, which was first manufactured in 2014 as part of the Fly Rig line23. Guitar World's reviewer, Joel McIver, sums up the unit's appeal in one word: "Portable."2
What it does
The Bass Fly Rig V2 is built around two separate channels, each with its own Drive and Level controls, so you can set up two different sounds and switch between them. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer Ty Campbell noted this layout as the first thing that grabbed his attention4. Both channels share a three-band EQ in the SansAmp section, plus the Drive and Level controls5.
Alongside the preamp channels, the unit includes:
- An Octafilter section with octave and fuzz, engaged by its own footswitch4
- A Mix control that blends combinations of clean, fuzz and octave with the direct signal1
- Compression using old-school FET-based technology4
- A chorus effect, whose footswitch doubles as the tuner switch4
- A Bite switch that activates a presence boost for extra clarity in the top end1
- An input pad for active basses1
The SansAmp circuitry runs in two modes of tube amp emulation, all analog rather than digital modeling2. Because the cab simulation is built in, the XLR output can feed a mixing desk or PA directly, and the unit can also augment an existing amplifier setup46. Guitar World's launch coverage said the updated unit "promises an array of rich, expressive combinations suitable for any gig"7.
For players who also play upright, Campbell's verdict was direct:
"Yes, the Bass Fly Rig V2 works great for both electric and upright bass!"
The controls
The control set splits between the two SansAmp channels and the shared effects. Each channel has its own Drive control for gain and overdrive and its own Level control, so one channel can sit clean while the other runs hot142.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Drive (x2) | Gain and overdrive, one per channel1 |
| Level (x2) | Output level, one per channel1 |
| 3-band EQ | Active EQ in the SansAmp section, shared by both channels15 |
| Mix | Blends clean, fuzz and octave combinations with the direct signal1 |
| Bite switch | Presence boost for extra top-end clarity1 |
| Post-EQ | On-board active EQ section, cut or boost 12dB1 |
| Pad switch | Matches the input to active or passive basses15 |
| Octafilter footswitch | Engages the octave and fuzz4 |
| Chorus footswitch | Engages chorus; hold it down to engage the tuner4 |
The Mix knob is where the dirt sounds get shaped: Campbell notes you can blend the octave and fuzz together with it, mixing them against your clean direct signal rather than replacing it4.
Power and connections
The unit runs on 9V DC from the included Tech 21 Model #DC9 power supply, rated at 250mA, 100-240V universal auto-switching, with interchangeable international plugs1. MusicRadar's review lists the same arrangement, an included 9V DC supply with interchangeable international plugs5. The original Bass Fly Rig shipped with a 200mA supply, so the V2's higher-rated supply is a change from the earlier version3.
The Bass Fly Rig V2 is powered by its included 9V DC supply rather than a battery, so it needs a mains outlet or a compatible pedalboard power supply on the gig.
The main output for going direct is the XLR output with ground connect, which feeds a PA or recording desk4. The original Bass Fly Rig already carried an XLR output, and the Fly Rig concept from the start was to run straight into a mixer, PA or audio interface and get a usable sound without an amp86.
Where it came from
The Fly Rig line began in 2014, when Tech 21 introduced the original Fly Rig, which the maker calls "a true game-changer for players in all categories, from touring pros to beginners"1. A bass version followed, built to handle the lower frequencies of bass guitar9. The V2 updates that design with the expanded SansAmp section and the feature set above5. The line also includes the Tech 21 Fly Rig 5 v2 for guitar, which follows the same form factor10.
What reviewers said
Bass Musician Magazine's Ty Campbell found the two-channel layout and the blendable effects the standout features, concluding that "the Bass Fly Rig V2 has everything you need for any genre"4. Guitar World's Joel McIver highlighted the analog SansAmp circuitry, the compressor and the unit's portability2. MusicRadar's review team noted the pad switch for active or passive basses and the shared three-band EQ as practical touches for working players5.
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Questions
Is the Bass Fly Rig V2 analog?
Yes. The SansAmp tube amplifier emulation circuitry is all-analog, with a built-in speaker and cab simulation. Reviewers at Guitar World and Bass Musician Magazine both describe the unit as analog rather than digital modeling.
Does the Bass Fly Rig V2 have a tuner?
Yes. The tuner is engaged by holding down the Chorus footswitch, so it needs no extra switch or control of its own. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer called it easy to engage this way.
Can the Bass Fly Rig V2 be used with upright bass?
Yes. Bass Musician Magazine's reviewer, Ty Campbell, states that the Bass Fly Rig V2 works great for both electric and upright bass, so it can serve double duty for players who gig both instruments.
Does the Bass Fly Rig V2 work with active basses?
Yes. It has an input pad switch for pairing the unit with active or passive basses. The pad drops the input level so high-output active electronics do not overdrive the front of the circuit.
Can the Bass Fly Rig V2 go straight to a PA?
Yes. It has an XLR output with a ground connect switch, and the SansAmp circuitry includes a built-in speaker and cab simulation, so you can plug directly into a mixer or PA without an amp.
Sources (10)
- Bass Fly Rig V2, Tech 21 NYC, 2024-11-21
- Tech 21 SansAmp Bass Fly Rig V2 review, Guitar World, 2021-12-02
- Bass Fly Rig, Tech 21 NYC, 2022-11-09
- TECH 21 NYC Bass Fly Rig V2 Review, Bass Musician Magazine, 2022-09-19
- Tech 21 Sans Amp Bass Fly Rig v2 review, MusicRadar, 2022-02-21
- Fly Rig 5 v2 by Tech 21, RockBoard PedalPedia, 2026
- Tech 21 launches the new-and-improved Bass Fly Rig V2, Guitar World, 2021-05-19
- Tech 21 Bass Fly Rig Review, Bass Musician Magazine, 2016-12-01
- Tech 21 Unveils Fly Rig Brit And Fly Rig Cali At LA Stompbox Exhibit, Delicious Audio, 2016-11-30
- Fly Rig 5, Tech 21 NYC, 2025-12-01
