Tech 21 Trademark users?

[Roubster]

There have been several amp discussions recently, and everyone has their favourite and everyone has their opinion on what to buy. I have been looking into getting a good amp for a LONG time and have gone through plenty of ideas of what I want: ENGL Morse, Mesa Boogie Lonestar, Peavey JSX and always something else comes up or I hear a guitarist play something else and can never make up my mind.
The main problem I have now is that I dont have the space and time to play out much as I work full time and study full time. Basically I dont have the means to be playing a loud a$$ tube amp right now at 11PM . I just want to get a decent sounding amp that has a nice clean channel and a decent distortion channel that is NOT digital crap like the Line6 stuff. I had one for a long time, and absolutely HATE the sound of those things. I did try other ones and the higher end stuff sounds better, but still not into the whole modeling crap. I'd much rather have a nice 2 channel amp with a few good quality stomp boxes that will give me some versatility.

This is where I cam across the Tech21 Trademark amps. They get good reviews and I know some of you guys here use them with your Balls . I have not had a chance to try one our yet, but I intend to locate one of course. I'm just hoping this will be a good solution to a decent warm sounding analog amp that does not have that fizzy sound (I have a Peavey Bandit which is decent but fatigues my ears after half hour...sounds good at VERY LOW volume though hehe.).

So what can you guys tell me about this amp and what you like and dislike about it and how does it sound with OD pedals, effects different guitars, etc. And yes I read all the reviews out there and heard the samples and youtube videos already . Thanks!

 

[Abraxas]

I use a (now discontinued) Trademark 10 for several years now.

IMHO this is one gem of an amp: it is solid state, but using analog filters in a very clever way. The range of tones you can get from this little amp make it an absolute must for practice and even recordings in the project studio (and not only there!)

It has a true spring reverb and a cabinet voiced line out as well as being very intuitive to use. And it's a lightweight little thing. What else could one ask?

Oh, did I mention I also did gigs with it? Going directly to the PA of course.

It takes any pedal very well and also has a simple effects loop if you need that. My only gripe is that, there is a big difference in sound levels between the clean and dirty "channels", and it's quite difficult to switch from one to the other. But it is basically a recording amp.

 

[mbgreene]

I had the Trademark 10 as a practice amp for a while and liked the sounds I got from it with the AL. I eventually sold it to fund my Traynor YCV40.

If you've read the reviews and listened to the website and youtube clips, I don't know that there is anything else I can add. I believe they make good solid stuff.

There is one thing though, if your looking for a good clean channel. Les Paul used the Trademark 60 as his amp for his weekly gig at the Iridium. And I'm guessing that guy could have played anything.

 

[Roubster]

Yea, I do know Les Paul used to play one as well. I am really upset that I never got to go see him perform before he passed away. The clean channel I am sold on, but the OD channel is the one that I am interested in how it sounds and what people think of that. And I am shooting for the Trademark 60 myself.

 

[wolfbone07]

I have had the Trademark 10, sold and moved up to Trademark 30. Wonderful amps. Great at getting fully cranked sounds at non-deafening volumes. Love it.

 

[rickjohns]

I don't own the trademark 60,but I've had one in my studio for about 6months. I'm recording an album with a friend of mine and it is his. In that time I have used it not only in the studio, but also in a couple of gigs while my Marshall got repaired. I really like it, it is by far the closest to a tube amp that you can get with solidstate. The clean channel is spectactular, and if you push the gain channel with an overdrive it sounds and feels pretty good. I've played both my Axis guitars with it, one stock and the other with a paf pro in the bridge. Both sounded great, and my buddies fenders sounded good too. It is pretty much everything you are looking for in an amp.

 

[dwells]

Tech 21 are amazing amps and great pedals dude, always awesome tones!!! get one

 

[GWDavis28]

You can pick up a TradeMark 10 for short money. I got mine a few years ago with the gig bag for under $150US. They are great amps and will do exactly what you are looking for. I've had Line 6 Spider and a Little Lanilie, but the Trademark 10 is the one I kept. Greatg quality amps.

TECH 21 - Trademark 10

Glenn |B)

 

[Huskerbay]

Tech 21 Trademark 30 Comments

I own a Trademark 30 with the 10" speaker and love it's sound and portability. It's as close to a tube sound as I've heard from a solid-state amp. This is analog, so it has much more life than digital amps.

The switches, tone controls and Tech 21 cheat sheets help to dial in Fender, Marshall and Mesa sounds (dba Tweed/British/California).

The pure clean sound is good, but noticeably less loud than the overdriven ones. The direct output is great for bringing the sound through a PA. You can also daisy-chain two Trademark 30s together, or add a 60 watt "power engine" (slave amp with 12" speaker).

Spring reverb sounds good and is unusual in a smaller amp like this.

A footswitch is not available with the Trademark 30, so if you need to change sounds frequently at gigs, you'll prefer the bigger Trademark 60 with 12" speaker and footswitch.

 

[Huskerbay]

Tech 21 Trademark 30 Comments

I own a Trademark 30 with the 10" speaker and love it's sound and portability. It's as close to a tube sound as I've heard from a solid-state amp. This is analog, so it has much more life than digital amps.

The switches, tone controls and Tech 21 cheat sheets help to dial in Fender, Marshall and Mesa sounds (dba Tweed/British/California).

The pure clean sound is good, but noticeably less loud than the overdriven ones. The direct output is great for bringing the sound through a PA. You can also daisy-chain two Trademark 30s together, or add a 60 watt "power engine" (slave amp with 12" speaker).

Spring reverb sounds good and is onusual in a smaller amp like this.

A footswitch is not available with the Trademark 30, so if you need to change sounds frequently at gigs, you'll prefer the bigger Trademark 60 with 12" speaker and footswitch.

 

[Dizzy]

IIRC the Trademarks use the same / similar circuitry to the PSA1 / 1.1, right ?

If so, it's good stuff - excellent VFM.

I retired my PSA1 since getting the Axe-FX, which is on a level of it's own.

EDIT - the direct out recording was pretty woeful though - fizzy as hell due to poor/no cab sim.

 

[cjl5150]

Actually, Dizzy, all 3 of the Trademarks use different circuitry. The Trademark 10 and 30 are essentially the Sansamp GT2 in combo format. It does say in the FAQ section on the Tech 21 website that the TM 60 is not a PSA-1 combo amp. They are great products. Just about everything they make sounds and works great.
The Trademark 60 is an awesome amp. It outperforms many tube amps costing much more. The overdrive channel sounds great. It won't do the heaviest of sounds on it's own but it takes pedals great.

 

[ef_in_fla]

I have a Trademark 10 sitting in the closet (don't use it right now but not gonna part with it). Found it on CL for only $100. I run a Sansamp GT2 into the clean channel of my Peavey Valveking for distortion, that's how much I like the Tech 21 sound. Great stuff.

 

[Roubster]

Cool stuff. Thanks for all the input guys! I think I will be getting the Trademark 60 once I return from my trip to Costa Rica in 2 weeks . I think it will be a versetile little rig with 2 delay pedals, BB Preamp, and probably a Suhr Riot for additional crunch sounds . And of course with my Silo Special and 20th Silo it should sound great! I also like the fact that it has headphone output!

 

[Dizzy]

Actually, Dizzy, all 3 of the Trademarks use different circuitry. The Trademark 10 and 30 are essentially the Sansamp GT2 in combo format. It does say in the FAQ section on the Tech 21 website that the TM 60 is not a PSA-1 combo amp. They are great products. Just about everything they make sounds and works great.
The Trademark 60 is an awesome amp. It outperforms many tube amps costing much more. The overdrive channel sounds great. It won't do the heaviest of sounds on it's own but it takes pedals great.

Ah, I stand corrected, thanks !

 

[Jeff R]

I gig with a Trademark 60, and I have a Power Engine 60 combo also. Great amps, best SS amp I've owned. Cool tones, lightweight, takes pedals great or behaves just fine by itself. Live, I DI from the on-board Sansamp, which sounds better than miking it to my ear.

And the Tech 21 stuff is bulletproof in construction. My TM60 has survived some stuff that would have killed a lotta other amps.

 

[Roubster]

Nice! You have any clips? If not would you care to make some fur us with that nice Axis you got there?

 

[Hendog]

Actually, Dizzy, all 3 of the Trademarks use different circuitry. The Trademark 10 and 30 are essentially the Sansamp GT2 in combo format. It does say in the FAQ section on the Tech 21 website that the TM 60 is not a PSA-1 combo amp. They are great products. Just about everything they make sounds and works great.
The Trademark 60 is an awesome amp. It outperforms many tube amps costing much more. The overdrive channel sounds great. It won't do the heaviest of sounds on it's own but it takes pedals great.

So is the 60 thought to have a better tone due to this? What does this equate to in the real world when comparing the 30 to the 60?

 

[cjl5150]

So is the 60 thought to have a better tone due to this? What does this equate to in the real world when comparing the 30 to the 60?

I don't know if it's a better tone, just a different set-up. The 30 might offer a little more versatility due to the switches, etc. But the 60 has channel switching and a 12" speaker which makes it a more practical tool. Really depends on the application I guess. They are all very cool.

 

[kimonostereo]

I had the now discontinued Trademark 10 for a long time. It was my favorite bedroom amp. I did have a problem with it but was able to fix it with CS at Tech21.

Right around this time I also got a Marshall Plexi Super Lead 100. I loved this amp but it was always way too loud to play at home. I had to use an attenuator all the time. One day just for fun, I recorded the Marshall vs the Tech 21 Trademark 10 on a Van Halen tune just to see how much better the Marshall was. After listening to it back, it turned out that the Tech 21 actually recorded and sounded better, at least to my ears. The Marshall "felt" better though.

I still have a SansAmp TriAC but haven't had to use it in a while.