DigiTech 2120 VGS Artist

Overall, a fairly easy to use unit, once you get the idea of the signal flow and the way the DSP power is divided up (thanks to the pies in the manual, this is fairly easy). The parameters are all fairly well labelled, and a few things are a bit tricky to find at first (such as the volume pedal assignment), but after a short while it's really easy to use. I am a bit of a tech-head, though, and my band's singer wouldn't look twice at it, but if you're into rack units, it's as good as I've seen, and certainly a lot easier to program than any Lexicon unit I've used.

I'm using it mainly with a couple of Strats, and a Peavey 50/50 rack into stereo Marshall Cabs. The sound is wonderful - really high quality, rather than the lo-fi nonsense I had to put up with beforehand (Zoom 9150). Every sound is inspiring (apart from the Wah which is just workmanlike and a tad flat), although all the presets have stupid gate settings, they have some good programming in there to show you how to achieve things and inspire you to improve on them. My band sound is totally reliant on the 2120 - several songs are based around effects from the unit, and it seems capable of so much, especially given the two dynamic controllers and LFOs. That's all very well until it goes wrong . . .(see next section). The new software I have just received adds more effects (sampling and new 'reverse' mode - very trippy), and another 41 presets, which have reasonable gate settings, so Digitech must read some of our comments...

I have had a couple of odd goings on with the unit - firstly it sometimes resets itself (without loss of memory) when assigning a parameter to a footswitch. This seems to happen with no rhyme nor reason, and I couldn't duplicate it in the shop for them (looked v. silly). However, it never does it on a gig, as you're not programming then. I don't gig too often, but I have done every gig since getting the unit OK with no backup. However... The unit packed up totally once. I was just trying to select a program I had just done, and the C1 said '77777' and then I looked to see the display on the 2120 making no sense. I tried powering up and down, and resetting, all to no avail. So the unit had to be sent to Arbiter (UK distributor) to be repaired. It turned out it was the software (version 2.02, which is no longer current) had crashed terminally, and had to be replaced with the new version (2.10) To say that I was not best pleased about this would be an understatement of biblical proportions. This unit cost me the best part of a grand, and failed after using it for around 300 hours! That is terrible reliability - if it had happened at a gig I would have been really displeased. The new software adds a few new FX, but there is no information on what else it does - it would be good for us to know what other bugs have been fixed.

Rather mixed here - Digitech took over a week to reply to one e-mail I sent them about the occasional reset, and I didn't get a reply to my report of the unit's demise at all - in over a WEEK! I rely on this unit when I play with my band, and they seem not to care. However, Arbiter (UK distributor) despite their very poor reputation (I have had problems with them over other matters) did return the unit in a week, with the new EPROM installed (admittedly only a five-minute job, but it was done FOC). However, during the time I was without the unit I was told nothing, and when the unit was returned, there was no indication of what had been done, apart from 'New software fitted'. I have also found another bug in the new software (which crashes the unit when assigning controllers to FX parameters), but Digitech have not replied to that either! The Digitech site also has an outdated PDF manual for the unit, and this was a necessary download as the original manual (printed that came with the unit) had the same 'screenshot' for every programming example, so you couldn't really tell what was going on from the book - which proofreader (??) missed that one? In fact, overall I'd say their site's lack of precise info reflects how you get treated by the company.

Overall, if the unit stays reliable and crash-free, then it is fantastic. If the service was better, I would unreservedly recommend one - I may just be unlucky, but even if the unit does die, the support should be better than it is. That aside, it is a truly great unit - its sound only became apparent when I tried a make-do replacement of the front end of another famous make, and it sounded flat and terrible, compared just to the DigiTech preamp. If the unit was to fail totally and be unrepairable, I would probably buy another one, because the sounds on it are so fantastic, and it's a joy to program.

It is relatively easy to use. The more you play with it the more you can end up doing. Programming can be done easily. Doing more more advanced things such as linking LFO's to parameters can be a little more confusing.

I use a Marshall 8008 Power Amp in stereo with two marshall 4x12 cabinets. The sounds are incredible. The effects are great as well, and can be modified quite a bit. The solid state distortions and tube distortions sound great and the ability for them to used at the same time is a great feature to increase the different sounds you can use.

I have only had few problems with it locking up, but only while editing programs that usually use a lot of processing, (such as linking LFO's to parameters while using both Distortion and Tube). I've never had any problems with it on the stage, and wouldn't worry about it while doing a gig. I would recommend backing up you own programs. I have played many shows with out a back up and have had no problems.

They were very helpful when I had a problem with a lock up. They told me how to fix it and also sent me an upgrade chip free of charge.

I use this processor for modern rock sounds. There are so many varieties that it is unbelieveable. If it were lost or stolen I would get another in an instant and not even think about getting another. It is defintely worth the money and a processor for life.

The sound of this thing is mind blowing..everything from crystal clear cleans to (my) Death rattle distortion. Editing patches is easy but as all processors go, it takes time to get what you want especially in the case of strange noises and more complicated sounds. The manuel is the first thing you shuld look at when you get this piece of gear, other wise it'll just look like a bunch of buttons and knobs. I never had any upgrades or mods to it, I am completely satisfied with it.

I am running like so= Custom Tele droped down to B with a single Muy Grande pickup in the bridge> Morley bad horsey Wah> Krog DTR-2 tuner> Artist 2120> Marshall JCM 2000/Mesa Boogie Formula and a mesa 2:90> (marshall) 1960 4x12 wiht green backs/ (mesa) Custom 4x12 with Eminence Ev style speakers set up to be in stereo to accomidate the mesa.....The Artist is not noisy at all. The effects are unimaginable, no weak sounds, but I did have to mess with the noise gate on my distoriton to keep it from clipping. I USE MY OWN SOUNDS AND DO NOT TRY TO COPY OTHERS SO I AM NOT IN ANY WAY AT THE POSITION TO SAY IF YOU CAN GET A VIA SOUND OR A BROWN SOUND OR WHAT EVER! Every effect on this thing is the complete thing.

IT is very dependable, no doubt it has never broke down and it has been through some abuse thanks to idiots who like to throw things. The only back up I have are my amps distortion so if this thing fails (which I doubt it ever will) all I have is some killer amp distortion. I ahve been using this piece for a year now and nothing has gone wrong,

I emailed the company and have always got responses to my emails. It has never had to be reapaired.

I play hard core, but i use all types of strange noises and this thing does the job, I owned a voo doo valve made by rocktron and it had good sounds but I couldn't get a pedal board for it thanks to the shitty rep. If it was stolen I would defaintly buy another one right away, its my main sound. I own other effects but I ojnly use them in a side project this thing is used with the main band I'm in but I am most likely gonna incorpirate it into the other project. It has everything and that is no bull.EMAIL ME IF YA NEED ANY HELP OR ADVICE ON THIS THING.

It is not always easy to get a good sound out of it directly, but after spending some time on it, the results are great. Editing is easy and (almost) everything is put out properly in the manual.

I am using it with a Gibson and a Ibanez together with an marshall valvestate amplifier. The noisyness of the sounds depends on the guitar, but you can change the settings if you want to, so that's no problem. One of the difficult things of teh 2120 is to get the volumes of the different effects are not always easy to get even with eachother. It's no problem to get a sound from a specific artist, at least if you know how to handle the processor. The chorusses and distortion but also the delay and whammy effects are very good.

Till now i haven't had any problem with it but a friend of mine had a spontanous reset at one time, so that really sucked. You can store the effects on your PC, but you'll need a softwarepackage to do that. the FC shows some problems to now and then, like a LED that doesn't work anymore or even a whole button. I don't have a backup for it so i use it at gigs without backup.

the company was helpfull with questions and with reparing the little things

I play a lot of musical styles and till now it has been a good match

Considering I had never used a digital multi-fx unit before, I thought
it was very user friendly. My only other experience with multi-fx was a Korg-A5. I know one thing for sure. As soon as I hooked it up I couldn't beleive some of the great sounds that were jumping out of my amp. Though I did download and read (many times) a copy of the manual, while the 2120 was on backorder, it really didn't help much. Editing patches didn't take long for me to get the hang. You just have to keep storing as you go along, or else one wrong push of a button and wham you are back to square one. The main thing to remember with a unit like the 2120 is to have patience! Patience! Patience!

I'm running a PRS Custom-22 into a Shure LX-14 wireless, through the 2120 in stereo into a Peavey Classic 50/50 stereo amp into a Peavey 4x12 stereo cab. I found most of the patches to be very, very quiet. Although someone needs to shoot whoever is setting up the noise gates in the patches. Awsome digital effects (those of you who would like an almost acoustic sound out an electric guitar, check out the pre-delay effect. You'll have to do some tweaking but it can really sound great. Kick ass EQ's available. I've been using the 31 band GEQ and although it takes a whole disc it's worth it.

Have had mine for 9 months hauling it back and forth to gigs and practice with no problems.

N/A

In 27 years of playing everything from Patsy Kline to AC/DC I think you can find any sound you want out of the 2120. It's in there you just have to dig it out (remember the 31 band GEQ). I would not hesitate to buy another.

Not reccomended for begeiners.Very flexible,but it takes some time to achive the sound you desire.The munuel only make you finish faster your cigarets.After you get the basic programing,you pretty much notice that it is not that bad.

My set up is fender strat delux plus with seymour duncan pickups in bridge and neck,to the 2120 to crate 160 wat with electro voice ellemet.The distortion sound is very hot,very dynamik,and because i can open like 4 e.q. system,my sound can have all the midds(the frequency from god by the way)and bass i need.reverb and delay are goos,also the compressor and noise gate.I made a sound like gerg howe "introspection" with not much diffucult.

nothing yet.

No need so far.

I work in a guitars shop and i get alots of equipment.This is the most awasome machine i tryed.

Very easy to use. Just installed version 2.10. The interface allows you to get deep within any parameter quickly and is set up similar to an amplifiers controls. I understand some people find it difficult to use but this may be because there are so many options, with multiple pages of parameters for each sound module at your disposal it could seem overwhelming, but i like the idea of all those choices when tweaking sounds. You can get good sounds right out of the box and editing patches is a breeze (Did i mention the really cool display with the little guitar symbol that has a chain of fx modules plainly laid out in front of you, Great Display and gives alot of info) As far as the manual it's not much, it points you in the right direction giving you just enough information to get you playing, which to me is cool because i was able to learn all the basics of usage quickly by going through the manual with the unit in front of me. Besides if you really wanna learn all about it then thats only gonna come from using it anyway, period. I give it a 10 because it is IMHO the most user friendly processor of its caliber that i have ever used.

Deluxe American Strat with an EMG DG-20 (3 SA single coils with active EQ) installed. Right now I'm headphoning it because I havent decided on an amp to use. All the effects sound wonderful even through the headphones!! I can't wait to hear what this sounds like driving a stereo power amp. This unit is very quiet too! My favorite guitar player is a fellow by the name of Jaime West-Oram and I can get something real close to his sounds from the 2120, which is saying alot if youve ever heard him playing, Remember The Fixx? - a great band which always painted awesome studio sounds, particularly with Rupert Hine as producer back in the 80's. The distortion is a cannon primed and ready and the digital sounds are like fine china and crystal, now that sounds like a right good song to me!! All in all creating awesome sounds with the 2120 is no problem, no problem at all. It gets a 9 only because there are better sounding, though more expensive!, racks out there.

Had it a couple of months. No problems and hasn't crashed or acted funny yet. Fingers Crossed. Don't know about a gig without backup, that doesnt seem like a good idea, if you can afford it, whatever you are using. I give it an 8 because it hasn't bugged me yet and i havn't really had it long enough to rate it better.

Good. i e-mailed twice, the first time to ask something and they had an answer to me in three days, the second was for the V2.10 upgrade and they got right back and i had the chip in about 10 days. So far so good and an 8 easily.

What else can i say, you can't find right now more bang for your buck. My only complaints would have to be... no option to place fx loop after the preamp, the wahs a bit weak, no rear input, and no power tube (Why is it that no company that i know of has got a real tube sound from a real power tube, a cabinet emulator that sounds like an overdriven speaker, and multi-effects like the 2120 into a rack yet? - The World May Never Know) This is the closest to it that this player knows of and i give it a 9.

Plug it in, hit the power switch, and Bam, Tone Monster baby! I tweaked the gate down to acceptable levels, twisted the gain, turned down the input to avoid a clip, (Very kool digital clip meter)run it into a pair of M/Mans w EL/34's cranked up clean, and get out of the way! This machine is the cats meow for anyone who knows the sound they want, have enough experience with three thousand foot pedals and know exactly what the pedals do,(and won't do,) Not for the faint at heart. Plan to spend some time with it or else buy a stomp box. At first you will be completely lost, but with some time you will learn that it works alot easier than it initially appears. Like a nice new car, but it doesn't take as much time to wax......

Les Paul-Deluxe-PAF's (3),...Paul Reed Smiths (2) (Custom built for me)with Lindy Fralins (Staggered Noiseless Pickups),Kustom K-200-w/Bill Lawrences, Standard Strats, and Tele's (9), Acoustics w/variety of pickups, Pickup sensitivity is/can be an issue, considering the nature of some pickups.....(Kool digital input clipping meter again) Just as filthy or clean as you want or ever need....Clapton, Hendrix, Vai, Satriani, Johnson, Billy Gibbons, Allen Holdsworth, John Petrucci, Zappa, Lou Reed, Jerry Garcia,(Ahem) Robert Fripp, Andy Summers, Brian May,(No Kidding) Lynch, Korn, On, and On, and On,. I have yet to be stumped. This rig is every bit Triaxis,(S/S) Echh!,(I really do love Mesa) and the new Marshall (Stomp Box) I hear is modeled after some of the sounds in this rig. (Even the big boys can be inspired)
Even the TC Electronics G-Force wasn't worth the extra Bux with this in the running. A few add ons, and your set.


Clean as the driven snow. Amazing--I can record direct to DAT, and my sound guy worships the ground I walk on. Can't be easier to sound good. (this is no small feat for a guitarist)
Effects are coupled with Yamaha FX/SPX processing, and Midi-Link the two so a preset on one, changes the other as well so I've doubled my presets in each bank. Presently adding a SGX -200 for the direct outs, for even more versatility. I couldn't be happier. Alesis/DBX would work good too. I like to take some of the processing tasks and route them to other rigs, It keeps each rig clean, and FAST! I like fast presets.(Frippertronics man!)

Broke down out of the box new. Sent it in, and four, yep (4) days later got it back after sending it in to be repaired.

Perfect.

Unbelievable.

Word to the wise,...Never, ever be without backup, if your serious about your craft. Power is a funny thing, and everywhere you play,(generally clubs have inherently bad power supply's) (Think of all those dorks there playing with the wiring before you) The owners don't have that high on the priorities list either.....Be safe.

Get power conditioning and forget about it becoming your problem.

And get a SKB Case PLEASE>>>>>>>>>! Don't be a turd, and set it on your amp........(Ahem) Are you there Mikey?

I've had it back a year now, and it works flawlessy.

Waiting for the latest (FREE) update of software...Can't get better than that...Free?????? Are they nuts or somethin'....

Did I mention that it broke down?

I've been playing Pro for 20 years, and started in '65, and I've never had so much fun.

Anybody want to sell theirs, I will gladly make them an offer.
I have a studio, and want one for the rack,...jus' cuz.

And It Looks Kool Too. Jimi would be proud.

As with any really high end gear.... Don't spend the dime, if you don't spend the time.

Plus the Digitech users group is there to help you get started. or, dial in a tone your looking for if you can't find it....

E-mail me, and I'll gladly help you out if you have any questions, or need help.

I'm tellin' ya, It's in there.............

I turned it on, and was amazed. I had already had an RP-12, so I was familiar with the type of programing needed to operate the unit. Editing took some getting used to because ther eare SOOO many pages. It totally confirms the rocket science factor in Digitech products.
I have firmware version 2.01. I will be getting 2.04 as soon as they release it.

I'm playing Godin LGX-SA which goes into a GR-30, and the guitar output runs into the 2120 and goes to a Twin Reverb reissue. It's only noisy when the gain is up high, and the Noise gate is before the tube/distortion preamp. the only weak effect I have found it the reverse gated reverb. But knowing Digitech, it'll just taje soem tweaking to get it right.

Never had a problem with it.

N/A. It hasn't broken yet, and my local music guy is excellent about taking care of this stuff.

This unit rocks! I would highly recommend it to any guitar player who likes to mess with his/her sound until it is truly "theirs". The thing I love most is the ability to set your own effects routing. You could have eight flangers going if you wanted! Or a flanger, phaser, two chruses, a reverb, two delays, and a pitch shifter. These all in addtion to the tube and/or solid state preamp and the EQ sections, and a effects loop! Infinite programming capability.

The interface is complicated but logical. It is broken down into sections, i.e. Preamp, EQ, Effects loop, ect. I could see it being difficult for someone to use at first, and especially difficult for someone who has'nt used a multi-effects unit before. But after reading the manual (A MUST) and playing around with the unit for a while, anyone with half a brain should be able to work the unit.
The depth of sound and parameter editing on this thing is almost boundless. I personally have gotten many, many high quality sounds and am still finding more all of the time.
The manual is OK, as it only explains the basics with any clarity, but it gets you introduced to the interface. After that, you're on your own.

Software Version 2.02

I use humbucker equipped guitars exclusively. I use a Paul Reed Smith EG, Hamer Archtop, Epiphone Les Paul, Epiphone G1275 doubleneck. My signal chain is guitar->Shure wireless unit->VSG2120->Mesa/Boogie 50/50 stero tube power amp->Mesa/Boogie 4x12 Recto cab.

I play all original heavy pop/rock in the vien of Foo Fighters/Smashing Pumpkins and this thing delivers the tone. There is some noise on the heavily distorted settings, but the noise gate is very versatile, and you can quiet up the unit nicely. On all other settings, this thing is as quiet as a mouse. No problems here.

The effects in this thing range from the not-too-bad category to totally awesome. For example, the wah on this this is fair at best. When I first got the unit I never used a wah, so it did'nt bother me too much. But I've gotten very wah friendly lateley and ended up getting a Morley Bad Horsie and running it through the effects loop. If you're a casual wah user, it should be fine. The digital effects are excellent! Chorii, reverbs, delays, pitch shifters, harmonizers, all very good to great sounding. If you can't get the sound you're looking for in here, you're not looking hard enough.

I personally have changed my sound a few times, (you know how us guitarists are, NEVER satisfied) and EVERY time I went digging in this box, I found EXACTLY what I was looking for. I like a lot of different artisis, from RUSH to Pink Floyd to Metallica, and I'm sure this thing would get the sounds. Currently my tone could be described as a cross between Hetfield and Lifeson. Heavy but textural.

The distortions are fine if you're not one of those Eric Johnson tone freaks. They are well defined, articulate and very versatile. I play many live shows in the Chicago area and many, many players have complimented me on how good my tone is.

One last point, there is a feature in this unit that no-one has talked about, and I feel that it is one of the most important. This unit has a little feature called "seamless effects morphing". In other words, when you change patches, the effects don't just cut off when the new program loads (like ALL of the other processors that I have tried) the patches "morph" or blend into each other, giving a very professional sounding program change. Your reverbs tail off, your delays finish decaying. Very cool.

I have had it for over a year now and not had a single problem with it. I keep my old Digitec RP-6 around for a backup, just in case. When you gig, the show must go on.

Never talked to them.

I play heavy pop/rock and this thing is a perfect match for my style. Great sounds, and always another trick up it's sleeve. I have been playing for 18 years. If this little guy were lost or stolen, I'd go check the market again (they come up with new shit every day) and do A/B comparisons to this thing. If I could find something better for the same price, I'd get it. But I don't think that new box exists yet.
I compared this thing to the Rolands, the Lexicons, the ARTs, and the ADA's. You can't beat it, in my opinion.

I just wish it had a better wah.