I have had this for two years and It sounds great. I can get tones like Eric Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, Brian May and Eric Clapton. Even sounds like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani. It sounds great through tube and solid state amps.

When I first purchased the Sansamp, the pedal was defected, so I had it replaced by a brand new one a week later. The Sansamp Classic was not designed to be used as a distortion stomp-box, but rather a preamp that emulates the tube tones of the big names, Marshall, Mesa/Boogie and Fender. It has many good features, offering a variety of tones. I didn't mind the little dip switches, seeing as how the pedal was not designed for quick changes during a set. Recorded directly, the pedal sounded fantastic, especially for leads, however chords always sounded a bit muddy and messy, even with the gain and presence set very low. However, it nails the Van Halen and ACDC tone convincingly. Through an amp however, I found the Sansamp sound to be very thin and lacking in character in all settings, with both my strat and my PRS guitars. I found my clean tone much better when I wasn't using the pedal, and the overdrive, although nice, raw and crunchy, does get muddy. Feeling that it was not worth the price, I ended up returning the Sansamp Classic. It does not emulate the sound or character of tube amps as I had expected. If you are looking for a neat tool to use for direct recording, or get that grungy power-chord sound like Nirvana, this might be for you.

I've played through this for years. I've used it in a rock band in Iraq, with a jazz combo in Germany, as a recording device, as a distortion pedal, as a clean solo boost, preamp direct to board. It takes a while to find "the sound," but once you find what you're looking for it's far superior to Line 6. (I've had a Vetta and a Pod.) I play a PRS McCarty Archtop, an Ernie Ball Steve Morse, or a custom made Rahan guitar through Mesas or Twins. I no longer use the Vetta.

I got this in 1992. Seeing the stellar reviews I've always heard about the SansAmp Classic, I can only remark that there's got to be something wrong with mine. From day one I was blown away by the basic sound, EXCEPT for the fact that it has always been really THIN-SOUNDING. Once in awhile I'll dig this thing back up again and try to mess with it. If I try to goose the bass to compensate it doesn't work; it just sounds weird. Yes, I've tried every conceivable combination of slider settings. Yes, I've tried it direct and thru amps. Same basic result. It's really too bad 'cos it's got a realistic, raw amp sound to it, except it's too tinny. If the sound was fuller, it would be the best box ever made. Yes, I've tried EQ's before it AND after it. It's useful for making muddy-sounding guitars (such as Gibson SG's) sound like Squier Telecasters.

Despite its intimidating price… the tech 21 sans amp classic is by far one of the best pieces of equipment I have ever purchased… I play it through an American strat with my Marshall tube, and the sound is I get is purely phenomenal… I bought it about two years after I got my Boss Ds-1… now I use them both to create superb noise… it falls between a grungy punk to a warm classic dirty tone… or at least that’s what I’ve seen so far… this pedal has so many features that it can take you anywhere and everywhere while continuously surprising you… my only criticism is that whenever I plug it in, even if it is down low, it gives off quite a hiss and buzz… but don’t take my word for it… it could be my amp… anywho… this is my main distortion and it has fully satisfied my need for effects… I don’t think I’ll ever buy another distortion pedal… highly recommended for anyone who can’t really find that ideal sound…