DigiTech 2101 L.E.

I traded my Digitech 2112 for the 2101, which of course has it's pluses and minuses. When it comes to using the 2101 it doesn't seem to be as easy as using the 2112 and other processors that I have used in the past, none the less it is not that difficult.

I am currently running it along with a Mesa Boogie Mark IV, a compressor, and a midi switching system. I have to say that sound wise this unit is amazing, at least for the price tag. The patches shift seamlessly, the distortion is awesome, the reverbs rock, and I even like the noise gate. (I thought the noise gate sucked on the 2112.) The A/D converters seem to be pretty darn good. It's really transparent too. I don't feel like the tone is getting sucked out of my Mesa.

I am gigging with out a back up. I don't worry too much. Though I haven't had it for more than a few days.

Digitech's customer support is so-so. I have called them before and wasn't very impressed.

I see why guitarists like Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle), James Iha (Pumpkins), the Edge, Mike Turner (Our Lady Peace) and a whole lot of others still use this piece of gear! It rocks! Hands down. It can do all the things a good preamp/processor should do. I think more people should demand that Digitech put the 2101 back on the market, because it kicks the crap out of the 2112/2120!

If you are use to using processors such as Eventide H3000 units you will have no problems. As a matter of fact I think this is a little easier to use. Just look at each page of programming as a piece of an effect pedal (a really nice effect pedal) and you will be set!!

Sound Quality is excellent. I own 2 of these units both have groove tubes, 2 S-Discs, and Artist 3.0 upgrades done to them. Once sits in my studio racks and the other in my guitar rack. My guitar rack has:
1) BBE 422a Sonic Maximizer
2) Marshall 9200 Ppower amp (LOTS OF TUBES) :-)
3) Digitech 2101 LE
4) Ensoniq DP4 (replaced my Eventide. It went to the studio)
5) Rocktron Hush Super C
6) Korg DTR-1 tuner
7) Ground Control GCX patchbay switcher

The unit is LOW noise and this particular unit has XLR outs (the 2101 series after the Artist series stopped using these which makes no sense aside from cutting costs).

I have had both units for over 6 years and played out with one unit a TON!! Heck the unit even got dropped in a SKB rack case from about 4 feet and no tubes broke and no damage was found!!! No back up needed here!!!

Customer support was good. They were not GREAT but they were not bad either. They can offer good support with minimal time in getting back to you.

I have been playing for about 13 years and I own allot of gear both studio wise and live rig. This unit has been a VALUABLE piece of gear for both situations. Although I have to say it sounds MUCH better through a TUBE power amp like the Marshall 9200 vs a regular head or digital power amp, it far surpasses the competition in all aspects and has stood the test of time against everything thing else that has come out in its price range. They tried to "make it better" with the 2120 and a couple other models but all they did were take some of the best things out of it like the balanced inputs which are essential for QUIET recordings and tones in your rig. Go with a 2101LE if you have the choice and if you can find one!!! I play rock, blues, jazz, fusion, New age, and pop and this thing works for all styles!! I have used it to record MANY albums as both a studio musician and a solo artist and have never disappointed anyone including myself!!

******* update from previous posts **********

WANNA KNOW WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE?

check out my website: www.vanhelden.demon.nl/gear
and go to the audio samples or the GSP2101 section.


I think the GSP-2101 is by far the best fx device DigiTech ever made and there are only a few other devices (such as the Eventides) around that can match the flexibility of this one. I've always been into making weird (jaw dropping) sounds with it and have now created a sound that is soo close to an analog synth that many people that I know could not believe it was done with a guitar and the GSP2101. And they know what they're talking about, they are the ones that use those synth!.

I know most of you are just looking for some chorus and delay, so the audio sample won't be much of a help. But it clearly shows how far and absurd this device can go. Don't think that any Rocktron, TC Electronics or Lexicon device can do this. So go on and check it out.


www.vanhelden.demon.nl/gear


I want to add another thing to my previous posts. I've got my 2101 now updated with the lastest software and with a 2nd S-DISC. I wish I would have done that sooner. I now got seamless patch changes and am able to make the most complex setup I could imagne!. JUST BEAUTIFULL.

It took awhile to get this to to sound real good, this is a very deep programming machine, and the factory presets volume aren't matched well from one to the next.

Running this through a tacscam 424 mk II into to a QSC power amp into JBL CONTROL 5'S, and also into a a MARSHALL artist into a 2-12 cab depending on the mood.Guitars are a LES PAUL CUSTOM and a STRAT. When you tweak the preamp and the effects this unit rocks,such as the wah and whammy that sound a bit lame from the the factory. Also once I found the global eq, buried 3 pages deep, the unit opens up with clean-clean crunch- and pure crunch on slaught, I don't use the sustain or overdrive settings much, just the 3 tube settings (clean ,distorted tube+ saturated tube) and the nasal grunge setting, everyone I know that has this machine didn't know the global eq was there and shaped overall the tone of this complete box-FIND IT PUNK!

No problems

No problem getting info,asked about tubes and upgrading to the artist chip, which was worth it.

I've been playing about 18 yrs. and play (or try to) all styles Jazz da blues rock and can be caught playing a funky disco riff on occasion. Page rules!