Hot-Rod Plexi

The Tech 21 Hot-Rod Plexi is a distortion pedal inspired by vintage amps of the same nickname. It incorporates portions of the all-analog SansAmp technology to generate organic tube amp distortion characteristics. The pedal is designed to transform the personality of a clean amp or serve as an instant mod to a dirty amp without requiring high volume levels. The Hot-Rod Plexi features the following technical specifications and functionality:

- Power Requirements: Utilizes a standard 9V alkaline battery (not included) or a 9V DC regulated or unregulated power supply with a minimum of 100mA and a 2.1mm female plug, center negative (-).
- Controls:
- Level: Adjusts the output level of the unit.
- Tone: A musical, specialized low pass filter that shifts the high cut from 10kHz to 1kHz.
- Thump: Controls the low end for the resonant frequency of a 4x12 cabinet.
- Drive: Adjusts the overall amount of gain and overdrive, similar to when the output section of a tube amp is being pushed.
- Hot: Engages an extra “12AX7” pre-amp gain stage with up to 28dB of pre-amp boost.

- Modes:
- Stock/Bypass: Engages and disengages the pedal to replicate the signal path of a stock ‘68 Plexi.
- Hot: Engages and disengages the Hot function for additional pre-amp boost.

- Inputs/Outputs:
- 1/4” Input: 1megOhm instrument level with sensitivity and loading characteristic similar to a tube amp.
- 1/4” Output: 1kOhm low impedance output for driving long cables without signal loss.

- Applications: Can be used with any amp, tube or solid-state, vintage or modern, and can also be used in conjunction with Tech 21's SansAmp Tube Amplifier Emulators.

The Hot-Rod Plexi pedal is designed to provide vintage tube amp tone at any volume, clean up convincingly, and offer very low self-noise for the amount of gain. It is also highly responsive to a wide range of guitar volume settings and offers silent footswitching between modes. The pedal's ability to make a small combo or DI processor sound like a much bigger speaker system contributes to its authentic amp-like sound.

The Hot-Rod Plexi pedal is available for purchase at a price of $215 and is designed and manufactured by Tech 21 in the USA.