Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $187

High-end/Boutique

$50

$176+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

This unique pedal design captures the lush, muscular power amp distortions of both Class A and Class A/B tube amps. The tones can be used individually or you can feed one into the other for massive ‘cascading’ distortion and limitless tonal variation. The 100% analog Double Drive 3X is a 3-channel, fully programmable version of its single channel predecessor and features active 3-band EQ. The expanded tone section gives you even greater flexibility to create incredible and original tones. You can store three custom sounds, even on the fly, by simply tweaking the knobs and double-tapping on a footswitch. How easy is that? And, with both Drives at minimum, you can program a clean boost up to 10dB for blazing solos.

Sometimes more is more.

Product specs

Brand Tech 21
Model Comptortion
Finish Black
Year 2000s
Made In United States
Categories Compressor Pedals, Distortion Pedals

FAQs

What type of effects does the Tech 21 CompTortion pedal provide?

The Tech 21 CompTortion pedal combines compression and distortion effects, allowing you to achieve both smooth sustain and gritty overdrive tones in one unit.

Is the Tech 21 CompTortion suitable for both guitar and bass?

Yes, the Tech 21 CompTortion can be used with both guitar and bass, offering versatile tone shaping capabilities for different instruments.

How does the compression feature of the Tech 21 CompTortion affect my sound?

The compression feature of the Tech 21 CompTortion enhances sustain and evens out dynamic range, making it ideal for achieving a consistent tone with added clarity.

Does the Tech 21 CompTortion require a specific power supply?

The Tech 21 CompTortion typically requires a standard 9V DC power supply, which is common for most guitar pedals.

How does the distortion on the Tech 21 CompTortion compare to other pedals?

The distortion on the Tech 21 CompTortion is known for its rich, full-bodied tone that can range from subtle overdrive to aggressive distortion, providing versatility for various music styles.

Reviews

PROS

  • Easy to customize controls for personalized sound

  • Versatile tones, from heavy over-driven to classic country

  • Simple control layout for easy sound dialing

  • Preset compression settings ideal for lead guitar

  • Offers both compression and distortion in one pedal

  • Can achieve "edge of breakup" sounds with sustain

  • Useful for a wide range of genres including classic/Alt country and funk

CONS

  • Controls can easily be adjusted by accident

  • Initial setup may take some time to dial in desired tones

  • Distortion quality not as high as newer Tech 21 models

  • Master volume needs careful handling to avoid excessive loudness

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Tech 21 CompTortion.

Features and functionality

  • The knobs are extremely sensitive, requiring careful adjustments for precise tone control.

    Source
  • The Tech 21 CompTortion combines compression, distortion, and a noise gate, making it a versatile choice for those looking to streamline their pedalboard setup.

    Source
  • The pedal's combination of compression and distortion is appreciated, yet it seems to require additional pedals to fit specific tonal needs in a setup.

    Source

User experience

  • Owners frequently express surprise at the pedal's underrated sound quality despite its negative online reputation.

    Source
  • Some owners can't bring themselves to sell the CompTortion despite its limited board time, indicating an emotional attachment due to its unique features.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The pedal's sound is often praised for its versatility and suitability for diverse musical styles.

    Source
  • It's particularly suited for players seeking to enhance articulation in tapping or legato sections, especially in metal music contexts.

    Source
  • The Tech 21 CompTortion is described as a pedal that users find conceptually appealing and fun, yet it rarely earns a permanent spot on pedalboards.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The CompTortion offers a unique combination of features not commonly found in separate compressor or distortion pedals, providing a distinct alternative to typical single-function pedals.

    Source
  • The CompTortion is occasionally compared to more famous pedals, but it holds a unique niche that keeps some users from parting with it.

    Source

Critic Reviews

Tech 21 Comportion Guitar Effects Pedal Review

gear-vault.com

The Tech 21 CompTortion pedal delivers a compelling blend of distortion and compression, making it a versatile tool for diverse musical styles. Its ability to independently or jointly adjust effects, complemented by a built-in noise gate, offers musicians a clean and robust sound. Ideal for those seeking both vintage and modern tones, it caters to country rock enthusiasts and distortion lovers alike. While the pedal offers a broad range of compression settings, it may not suit purists who prefer manual noise gate controls. Overall, it's a Swiss Army knife for guitarists craving versatile soundscapes without sacrificing quality.

positive

5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 2 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how Daniel Kessler uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Daniel Kessler

Guitarist

Interpol

...
Verified via Photo

Daniel Kessler's Tech 21 CompTortion can be seen in the image above, as the 5th pedal from the left.

See how Gem Archer uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Gem Archer

Guitarist

Oasis

...
Verified via Gem Archer Gear

According to Gem Archer Gear's pedal rundown, Archer uses the Tech 21 CompTORTION pedal.

See how Ian D'Sa uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Ian D'Sa

Guitarist, Music Producer

Billy Talent

...
Verified via YouTube

Ian says that he uses this pedal for solos live

See how Tim Skold uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Tim Skold

Singer, Guitarist

Marilyn Manson

...
Verified via Photo

Seen here in his pedal rack from the Marilyn Manson "Eat Me, Drink Me" tour.

See how Henry Kaiser uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Henry Kaiser

Guitarist

French, Frith, Kaiser and Thompson

...
Verified via Photo

"When 1998 rolled around, I encountered the now-discontinued (but new at the time) Tech 21 Comptortion pedal. As my pal Glenn Phillips recently pointed out, this pedal sounds like it was designed to sound like me. To this day the CompTortion is a must-have for me anytime and anyplace that I play. Frequently, I use it direct with nothing else in the studio. One thing I love about it is that it is gated, but with the gate detection before the distortion, thus a listener never hears the gating. (I first heard this idea of gating in the old ADA MP-1 rack preamp.) The CompTortion is also the only really fuzzy distortion pedal that I know of that seems to find unique sounds from whatever guitar I plug into it. I have way too many guitars, and this pedal makes me sound like I have twice the actual quantity…" says Henry Kaiser, in this article.

See how Mason Stoops uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Mason Stoops

Guitarist

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video for Fretboard Journal, Mason Stoops does a quick overview of his gear while touring with Mumford and Sons. There are a lot of custom and heavily modified guitars, but amp-wise Mason Stoops has an Austen Hooks Projector Amp and a Space Heater, a quarter box Leslie cabinet, a Shure PA Cabinet, a Kalamazoo Model 2 and a Peavey Studio Chorus. In his pedalboard, he has a Gamechanger Audio Plus, a Gamechanger Audio Bigsby, a Diamond Compressor, a Tech 21 Comptortion, a Sound Gas Grampian Mic Preamp, a Digitech Freqout, a Digitech Digiverb, a Line 6 DL4 Mk2, a Strymon Flint and a Strymon Deco.

See how Manny Charlton uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Manny Charlton

Guitarist

Nazareth

...
Verified via YouTube

In the YouTube video titled "Manny Charlton's Pedal Show: The Fluffy Jackets: 'Something from Nothing' Ep. 7," uploaded by The Fluffy Jackets on October 20, 2019, there is definitive proof that guitarist Manny Charlton uses the Tech 21 CompTortion pedal. At the 4:29 mark, the pedal is clearly visible on his pedalboard, identifiable by the text “CompTORTION” and “Tech 21.”

See how Fernando Kabusacki uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Fernando Kabusacki

Guitarist, Composer

Electric Gauchos

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post titled "martes a la mañana en villa urquiza," Fernando Kabusacki is shown using the Tech 21 CompTortion pedal.

See how Lenny Castro uses Tech 21 CompTortion

Lenny Castro

Drummer

Toto

...
Verified via Soundonsound

Used for the congas on Maroon 5's "Makes Me Wonder", as stated by mix engineer Mark Endert in this September 2007 Sound on Sound interview.

“For the second verse we wanted congas, and Lenny Castro’s overdubs in Los Angeles. He’s such a good musician that we did just a couple of takes and we only used one of them, without editing, as you can see on the screenshot! Because I had made the drums so big, I had problems getting the congas to sound the way I wanted them to. The only way I could get his congas to really cut through was by taking the output of the track into my Re–Amp and then into my Comptortion [compression, distortion and EQ] pedal, which is made by Tech 21. I find myself using quite a few guitar pedals during the mix stage; sometimes there is a sound in a pedal that is just not available any other way. I had tried everything I could with plug–ins, but for some reason going out of Pro Tools and into a pedal and adding some distortion and EQ and compression and then bouncing it back into Pro Tools did the trick. One the screen shot you can see the return from the Comptortion that got printed. It was just a mono recording, very ’70s! [laughs]"

Album Usage

The Tech 21 CompTortion has been featured on the following albums:

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Tech 21 CompTortion, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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    Gear IQ 44626