DigiTech DF-7 Distortion Factory

very easy to use.

this pedal works off the platform of the metal master with some pluses and minuses.first this pedal has a mid control ans mid frequnce control making the distortion factory very good for finr tuning the sound.as far as the distortion model knob and funtion they had chosen some strange models to imitate the boss metal zone and metal master is the best and only ones i use at all.the dod/overdrive is ok and the tube screamer is ok too but the big muff and the rat are a rare taste they could have done better.but over all this df-7 is pretty heavy and versitile but still digital/processed a bit but realy good and a second to the metal zone with a eq pedal.

totally unless you use a battery it will kill it fast

versitile,heavy,better eq control(mids)limited usefull distortion modeling but very still good tone.i feel few pedals deserve a 10 but i still will give this one a strong 9 very good with better distortion modeling and less processed tone this could be king?!!

Stacked knobs that change depending on what pedal model you've chosen. Definitely have to read the manual for a while to figure this thing out. The manual itself is pretty easy to understand, though. There are a lot of pedals out there that are much easier to use. I thought this one had a high learning curve for what you get out of the sound.

Setup: '72 Fender Tele Thinline reissue > Digitech Bad Monkey > DF-7 > Hardwire DL-8 > Ernie Ball VP Junior > Fender Princeton Chorus.

From the first moment, I was not very pleased with the sound. Almost all the settings sounded harsh and brittle to me. Way too much "scratch and scream." I had no use for the metal settings, as I don't play metal. The RAT model was the worst, very screechy. The TS-9 and big muff models were OK, but still sounded thin. The tone was just not very full or rich on any of these settings, and simply made my ears beg for me to turn it off. Super harsh tone. I thought the best setting was the Boss DS-1 model, but why pay 3 times as much as the real DS-1 for this pedal?

The pedal got noisy on all settings as you turn up the gain, but what pedal doesn't do that?

Built very durable, seemed pretty tough, but I only owned it about a week so I can't say too much about long-haul durability.

I've been playing for about 10 years now. I play rock, blues, and praise and worship stuff for my church. This pedal just didn't do it for what I play. It might work for someone that is more into metal or punk...but even then, there are probably better pedals out there. The models just can't nail the original tone of these pedals, in my opinion.

I took this thing back and bought a Tube Screamer (TS-9) and I'm so glad I did. In my opinion, don't buy this pedal, unless it's just for kicks and giggles in your basement. Don't gig with it unless you want people leaving the show covering their ears.

Easy to use. Just pick you're favorite distorition model and go from there.

This is an extremely versatile distortion pedal. In fact, I think it actually is literally the most versatile single distortion pedal ever made. The model duplications are near perfect. It can get noisy on some models but it shouldn't be a big deal if you have a small amp or a noise suppressor. The sound is not good for a live sound, but it's pretty good if you're trying to duplicate the sound directly off a particular album.

Very durable. Its as hard as a rock. You could literally throw it has hard as you can to a wall and it won't break. I've had this product for about 2 years now and its still in supreme condition. Also very reliable. I've never had any problems with it.

dont know

This is a good investment if you have a simple amp with not so many effects, but it would just be so much better to get an amp with good distortion already programmed into the amp. I only recommend this product to be used for practicing. I don't suggest using it for live performances.

Simple, easy. No issues with this. Dial in the tone, the level and drive, and select the distortion type. Manual is good - clear and easy to use.

Using with a PRS and Marshall JCM600. Sounds just like I want it to. The reason I bought it is because it has a "Big Muff" emulation and I wanted something that gets close to David Gilmour. Good enough for me ( a basement hacker). I also tried the "DS-1 emulation" against my actual Seeing Eye DS-1 and the DF-7 doesn't sound too shabby. My new favorite distortion pedal...

Seems solidly built. Only new, so dont know how well it will last.

Don't expect this will be an issue if it's ever needed...

Boffo, a good one! I like it ;-)

This pedal is rather easy to use. You can get a very wide range of tones from it. You can use it as a means of distortion alone or a boost for those lovely tubes. The mid is the hardest thing to dial in though. Gonna take some time to get used to it. I've had it for almost a year and a half and I'm still getting used to using some settings. Take some time with it.

The sound you can get is pretty spectacular to me. When I first got it I was using through a little cheap practice amp and I thought it was good. I used it for the Metal Zone and Metal Master settings almost exclusively. It gave me what I needed. Although both of those setting did have their down sides. Metal Zone was noisy at times and the Master didn't give the exact tone I wanted.

I now have a proper tube amp (Peavey XXX 60 Watt with reverb) and use it as a boost and low gain tone. For this I use the Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer setting and WOW!!! I'm loving it even more. It gives me the perfect kind of boost I'm looking for and low gain sound I want. I also use the DOD Overdrive and Boss DS-1 settings for this but in my opinion the TS-9 is the best setting.

Gave it a nine cause of the Metal Zone and Master. Could be better, but still really good.

It is really reliable. Build like a tank. Although this is my second one. Thr first one fried cause I left it on accidently after jamming. Returned it to where I purchased it and haven't had any problems with the one I have now. I think it was because the pedal had only been out for like 2 months and still carried some glitches. Mine now is holding up very strong.

Haven't had to deal with them. so can't comment

This is by far one of the best pieces of gear I have purchased. It has been there practically since I started playing guitar. For a good metal tone, it can deliver. For a low gain scratchy type tone, it can deliver. To bust those tubes, it can deliver.

I've had it for nearly 2 years now, and it has excelled through it all. It has served me very well. If it were lost or stolen I would probably buy it again. I say that cause now in my 3rd year of playing I have a decent amp that gives me the high gain tone I want and I may look elsewhere for my boost. Regardless of that I would probably buy it again.

The only thing I can't comment about is how close each setting is to the originals. In my eyes it doesn't matter cause I get a good enough tone whether it is like the originals or not.

Once the initial learning curve is over, it is very easy to use. After a couple of years, I have learnt that using the controls as on the original versions of the modelled pedals (as detailed in the supplied manual) gives very good results. Changing mid on Pro Co Rat (for example) on the amp compared to changing it on the pedal gives a big difference in tone. My suggestion is to use each model as if you had an original at your feet. In the majority of models, all that is required is level, gain and high (two are different, Metal Zone uses all, DOD 250 uses only level and gain). In this way, accurate reproductions can be gained. I use the other controls if I just cannot get the sound I want. Just remember, small adjustment = big cahnge.

Well, to my ears, pretty damned good. Taking into consideration that 7 original pedals would require the loss of an arm and leg to pay for. The Metal Zone model seems to give a bit of weired overtones once the sustain starts running out. Don't know if the original does this, but it sounds like the pedal is trying to sample the signal and make something of it. It doesn't happen with Lace Sensor pickups, so I'm assumming that the pedal is trying to process the signal, even if it is noise (lace sensors are very quite). This problem does not happen on any other models. It i s overall a quite unit, execpt for MAJOR distortion, which is to be expected from any distortion pedal. Obviously, the more the gain setting, the more the pedal tries to wring out of every note. The pedal has some amazing tones if the gain knob is backed up a bit. Full on, "clean" sounding notes that ooze sustain, and no fluff (of coursr, this depends on the choice model).

Well, it ain't become busted in the couple o' years I've owned it :-)

Not good. I live in Australia. I had a basic problem with a Jimi Hendrix Experience Pedal (bought in Australia). Digitech Australia were USELESS. I got the run around. E-mail the mother company, E-mail the Australian distributor, you know, Blah Blah Blah. Well, Digitech can get F*@%!)$. As much as I like there Digital sounds, there's no way I'll buy another one of there product's. Even the bloke I bought my experience pedal from said they suck. I also had similar problems with a GNX4 I bought from the States. USELESS, the same bullshit runaround. No such thing as international warranty.

Love the tones, love the modelled distortions. HATE the product support.
I cannot catogrise my type of music, as I do all my own stuff. This is an excellant tool with regards to expanding tonal pallet. A bit of care is needed as the controls are so sensitive.
I hope I don't have to buy another one, as I would be happy if this lasted a life time. It is very suitable to me and has some pretty darned good tones. Some of the models are really bad with solid state amps. Don't think you have a bad pedal if it sounds crap on a solid state amp. Overall, the majority of the models sound better on a valve amp just before or as it reaches valve saturation. Suddenly, tonal heaven opens up. The TS9 and DS-1 models sound particularly bad with solid state, but really open up with tubes (the TS9 sounds more like TS808 to me, fatter and not as defined/sharp, but thats up to opinion). Bugger the product support, though.

The only negative thing is you dont know which model you are choosing unless you have the manual handy (or memorize the models but thats no fun)

Here is where I am going to say things that some of you may disagree with... I am using this pedal mainly to run infront of hi-gain amps. I have used it in front of my Carvin V3 for studio work (and it sounds excellent)there I use it to really smooth out the gain of the amp, by the way the Carvin V3 is a beast you WILL NOT find a better amp for a grand. I used this pedal most recently live infront of my Line 6 Vetta, with the Vetta it helps give me that fizz, sizzle and the bite I am used to w/my hi-gain tube amps (my Carvin Peavey 5150and Triple XXX as well as Mesa Rec...etc) I use mostly the tube screamer and the DoD 250 mods. on my L6 it does make the cleans dirty but not on the Carvin, it also sounds natural and doesnt add a whole lot of noise

so far so good, it eats batteries but if a pedal can survive one of my bands shows, then its quality

its DigiTech they been taking care of me for 15 years now

I think if you expect it to sound just like the originals you'll be disappointed to am extent, or if you intend to use it alone, the heavier dist mods sound trashy, lifeless, but if you use it like i am i think you'll dig it, when you set it right.

Very simple to use, it is just a distortion pedals with multiple modes.

I found this pedal to be very sterile sounding. There is next to no compression or organic tone to it. You can get some good sounds from it, but I found it just to flat sounding. It sounds like what it is.... a modeling pedal. It went into the "pedals I don't use anymore" box after about 3 weeks.

Don't see why you couldn't depend on it to work for a long time.

I've been playing a long time and have more gear than sense I guess. I am a distortion pedal junky and have about 6 right now. The one I always go back to is the Line 6 MM4. It is also a modeling pedal, but is very fluid and organic sounding. Plus, it has a built in noise gate which rules for live playing and recording. This pedal though, will go into the blackhole of spare gear in my garage until I sell it or maybe use it in my practice rig.

Well, since this thing has so many emulated pedals contained in it, it can be tricky to EQ everything perfectly. There are 7 knobs, and each pedal model has it's own unique characteristics, so the learning curve is kinda high. The manual is helpful, so just spend some time with it (and also- pick a few sounds that you like and master them, 'cause you're not really going to use all 7 pedal sounds anyway.)

This pedal has versatility in spades. Almost any distorted/overdriven signal is possible, if using it with a quality amp. I use a Mexican Strat (single-coils) and Korean PRS SE (covered humbuckers), through a 70's Fender Bassman 10 ABY'd with a Crate Powerblock w/4x12 to beef up the sound.

-The TS-9 Tubescreamer sounds great if you EQ it correctly- just a good, warm overdrive that's really nice through a Fender tube amp. I've not A/B'd it with the real deal, but it sounds pretty good to me.

-The DOD Overdrive 250 setting is quite nice. I was unfamiliar with this pedal before now, but it's got a great, full-bodied sound, with a nice fuzzy bite at full distortion. Handy.

-The Boss DS-1 model is frighteningly close to the original. I use the real DS-1 (my favorite distortion), and if I mix this one correctly, the sound is identical. Pretty impressive.

-ProCo Rat- Another pedal I've directly compared with this one, and it's really convincing. The sweep of the "filter" knob isn't quite as dramatic on the DF-7, but the quality of the distortion is spot-on. A good, dirty sound (if EQ'd correctly.)

-The Boss Metal Zone model is a fun novelty for me, since I don't play metal. I have in the past though, and this thing has some hellish "chug" and lead capabilities. With humbuckers, it gets a good "low-mid" metal tone, reminding me of Dime, easily.

-The Digitech Metal Master setting is a mystery to me. As most of the other reviewers have said, this thing is shrill and way too mid-heavy. I've never played the original, but the sound that comes outta this model is a "turd in the punchbowl" compared to the rest of the models.

-The EH Big Muff copy is great. It's not quite as "extreme" in the fuzz dept. as the original, but man, it's close. With both "mid" knobs cranked to maximum, "low" and "high" a little over half, this thing is amazing with a neck single-coil. A really nice, gutsy lead tone.

All of that being said, this pedal doesn't sound "digital" to me, played through a good, warm tube amp. Heck, it sounds pretty clear and bitey through a Crate Powerblock by itself.

Built like a brick. Feels at least as durable as a Boss pedal, with a good sturdy switch and all-metal construction. Gig-worthy and tough. I've had it for about 7 months now, and it shows no signs of going out soon.

Never dealt with 'em, so I dunno.

Overall, I'm very happy with the DF-7. Obviously, I have my favorite settings, (DOD 250, DS-1, Big Muff,) but those just suit my style. My band is sorta "post-punk" or "art-rock" or whatever, so the weirder, fuzzier stuff is more to my liking. That being said, almost anyone, from blues to black metal, could find something nice with this pedal. If I were to lose it, I'd pick up another in a heartbeat, just because of the options. I've tried Line 6 modelers out in the past, as well as some Digitech "multi" units, but the intensity and clarity of the distortions here are of a higher grade. A smart investment, worth the money.

This is by far the best Distortion pedal I have ever tried. Loads of options. Of course it take some time to find the right sound. But hey, as long as it's there, that's okay. I find the mid-range to be the hardest part to find it's sweet spot

As a full blooded metalhead, I find the distortion model number 5 to be the best. That's based on the Boss Metal Zone pedal. I haven't tried the orginal, but since the Distortion Factory comes with a very well sounding speaker simulator, I doubt that the orginal is the best.
It sound very "un-muddy" even when I crank the gain to the max. And the flexible output mode is a touch of genious.
I have recorded with it, and believe me, It sounds a lot better than the guitar sound on a lot of CDs i own. And that's the pedal straight in the mix!
And with some chorus and delay/reverb it's sound perfect for leads.

I doubt that this panzer constructing will fail me...
Though I haven't had this pedal long enough to answer that question properly.

Haven't been in contact with Digitech.

As I said, this is by far the best distortion pedal I have ever plugged into.

Would I by a new one if it got stolen? Yes. Most likely I'll by myself another one even if it doesn't get stolen...

So if you play Heavy Metal, and you what a really big sound for a small amount of money: don't look any futher. A