Richie Kotzen RK5 V3 Fly Rig

The Tech 21 RK5 v3 is the third generation of Richie Kotzen's Signature Fly Rig — a complete, self-contained signal chain designed to deliver professional, stage-ready tone with nothing left to chance. Since the original RK5 debuted in 2014, Richie's evolving needs on and off the road have shaped every iteration. The v3 retains everything that made its predecessors essential while adding a switchable Pre/Post Boost and a full effects loop, making it the most versatile and road-ready RK5 to date. Slim enough to slide into a backpack and powerful enough to replace an entire pedalboard, it's the ultimate fly rig for the working guitarist.

<div class="youtube-video-container"><iframe width="560" height="315" src=" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> OMG Overdrive + Fuzz: From Clean to Chaos

At the core of the RK5 v3 is Richie's Signature OMG overdrive circuit, delivering a sweeping range of gain from warm, touch-sensitive clean boost all the way to aggressive, saturated drive. The Fuzz switch shifts the character of the overdrive entirely, thickening the attack into a woolier, more vintage-inspired fuzz texture. The Tone control is specially voiced to address the high-end and mid-range simultaneously, giving you real tonal shaping power rather than a simple treble cut. Combined with the new switchable Pre/Post Boost — up to 20dB — the OMG section covers everything from subtle color to face-melting lead tones in a single unit.

SansAmp: The Whole Amp in Your Hands

The SansAmp section of the RK5 v3 is built on Tech 21's iconic 100% analog tube amplifier emulation technology. With a 3-band active EQ plus Level and Drive controls, it delivers the full signal chain — preamp, power amp, and speaker cabinet simulation — in one cohesive circuit. Run directly into a PA, recording desk, or mixer without a cabinet. Run it in front of your amp to add depth and character. The speaker simulation is individually tailored for a smooth, even response across the full frequency range, without the peaks, valleys, and notches associated with single-mic placements or many IR loaders.

Reverb, Delay, Roto & Tap Tempo

The RK5 v3's time-based effects section is equally thoughtful. Reverb features a continuously variable sweep between small and large room sizes, with the footswitch doubling as a chromatic tuner with signal mute when held. The Delay is voiced to capture the warmth and flutter of vintage tape echo, with Time, Repeats, and a Drift control that introduces organic, unpredictable modulation to keep things from sounding sterile. Tap Tempo gives you real-time beat-locked control on stage. Engage Roto mode, and the Delay transforms into a rotating speaker simulation that ramps convincingly between slow and fast speeds — complete with tremolo-like volume modulation at maximum Drift.

Why We Love It

The RK5 v3 is the answer to a question every gigging guitarist has asked: what if I could sound exactly like myself without hauling a full rig? Richie Kotzen's fingerprints are all over the voicing, and players respond to how musical and intuitive it feels. From the OMG's gain sweep to the SansAmp's warm, amp-like authority, the RK5 v3 doesn't feel like a compromise — it feels like the real thing, every night, anywhere in the world.

Features:

• Richie Kotzen Signature OMG overdrive with Fuzz switch for wide gain range
• Switchable Pre/Post Boost up to 20dB for drive enhancement or solo volume lift
• 100% analog SansAmp tube amplifier emulation with built-in speaker/cab simulation
• 3-band active EQ with Level and Drive controls in the SansAmp section
• Vintage tape echo-style Delay with Time, Repeats, Drift, and Tap Tempo
• Roto mode transforms Delay into a rotating speaker effect with speed ramping
• Independent footswitchable Reverb with large/small room size selection
• Chromatic Tuner with signal mute accessible via the Reverb/Tuner footswitch
• Post SansAmp, pre-effects serial Effects Loop for external pedal integration
• Pre-configured phantom power output for the Tech 21 RK Killer Wail wah