Tech 21 Brand Origins
Tech 21 was founded in 1989 by B. Andrew Barta in New York, initially focusing on solid-state preamp technology that emulated tube response through proprietary SansAmp circuitry.
Development of the Double Drive
The original Double Drive pedal emerged in the mid-1990s as part of Tech 21's expanding line of compact effects, featuring two independent channels with shared tone controls and selectable British or American voicings.
Reissue and Evolution
The reissue version preserves the original analog signal path while updating the enclosure and power supply options for modern pedalboard use, maintaining the same FET-based gain stages that defined the 1990s model.
