DigiTech GSP-21 Legend

I have owned my Legend since it was first released way back when and just bought another one on eBay as a backup. This review is for those die-hard Legend users that wanna know how to move patches from one unit to the other and how to back up their patch libraries... read on.

Although there are software packages for editing and backup, the easiest backup for a Legend is another one of the same version; the cost is easily equal to or even less than any software, and you have a whole 'nother unit to plug and play if things go wrong on the day of that important gig!

In the following instructions, the unit that sends midi data is the "source" and the unit that recieves midi data is the "destination."

To move patches from the source Legend to another destination Legend:
1) Before connecting midi cables, use the utility>midi setup>midi channel menu to set both legends to the same channel for midi xmit/receive. I used channel 1.

2) turn both units off.

3) use a midi cable to connect "midi out" of the source legend to "midi in" of the destination legend.

4) turn both units on

5) change patches on the source legend; the destination legend should change to whatever patch number you call up on the source legend. It doesn't matter whether you use the foot controller or the front panel controls to do this.

6) test your setup by moving a single patch from the source legend to the destination legend. To do so, use the utility>midi setup>"send patch x as x" menu item. Try this a few times using different patches. After I did it three times, i was convinced that things were working correctly.

7) to send everything (all your patches and foot controller mappings) from the source legend to the destination legend, use the utility>midisetup>"dump all data" menu item.

This worked like a charm. It took only a few seconds to back up all the patches I spent so many years tweaking...

At the time I bought the Legend, it was the first multi-efx unit that had a good-sounding distortion. All the predecessors sounded awful. I stopped shopping after I bought the legend, so can't really comment on successors, but I will say that when I've heard other players use the 2101 I thought that sounded good too.

Now... the Legend sounds great but its only about 90 percent of what I want on its own. When you combine it with a good tube amp, the sound is better than either on their own. I have used it with four different amps: 30W tweed Fender Blues Deluxe reissue, 60W tweed Fender Blues DeVille reissue, 60W simul Boogie MKIIC+, and a 90W Velocity. As other posters have noted, the Legend enhances the sound of the amp rather than removing it. I love the sound of this box through all of the tube amps mentioned, and when i don't want to lug an extra 60 or 80 lbs around, I use the Velocity, which packs a nice output into a single rack space. One nice feature of the Velocity is that it can be bridged to 400WRMS mono... which is good, because the 90WRMS rating is probably not for real: my 60W boogie kicks *** on most "100W" amps.

So... without a tube preamp/power amp, I'll still give the Legend a solid 8 or maybe even a 9... when used with a good tube amp, a solid 9 or even a 10.

In something like twenty years of use, my Legend has NEVER broken down!!! Nor have i ever changed the battery! I have always kept it racked and treated it carefully, but I've gigged on it a LOT and practiced daily for most of that time. This box has literally got thousands of hours of trouble-free operation under its belt. Way to go, Digitech! (Sure wish you had not used those cheezy plastic jacks tho. I think that's why I'm having problems now...)

But... recently I've noticed some fade in the signal path... probably my own fault for using too short of a cord and accidentally stressing the input jack on the back panel as a result when I would reach the end of my 'tether'

There's a German guy who sells those plastic jacks tho... he's at

http://www.tube-tester.com/sites/gsp21/GSP21-main.htm

I haven't bought anything from him yet. I'm going to try reheating the solder joints on the input jacks before actually replacing them.

As for the question "would you use it on a gig without a backup?" well, I have, a LOT, but that's not smart!

Oh, one night my guitar strap broke just as I was sipping from a beer between backup vocals... I caught the guitar just before it hit the floor, and my beer went all over the foot controller. I switched everything off immediately, unplugged the foot controller, and turned the Legend back on. Finished the gig and then washed out the foot controller with freon (thems was the days!!!) and let it dry out under a fan for a few days... when I plugged it back in, it powered right up!!!

never contacted support.

I play everything from jazz to hard rock. Over 40 years. I like the Legend enough to have bought a second one used when my original one began to fail, but I wouldn't say that I'd never buy a different efx unit. I would say that the Legend competes with other multi-fx units effectively even now, some 15 or 20 years since its original release. Now a very elaborate rack of lots of high-end gear will sound better, but it will also cost waaay more and be more of a nightmare to get even simple sounds from.

I love the overall sound and bang for the buck that the Legend provides, and the built-in patches do a really nice job of showing off its capabilities. Of course all of them are over-effected for live playing... I really spent a LOT of time tweaking to make them useful for live gigs.

What I hate about the Legend -- and I do mean HATE --- is the sometimes wildly-differing volume levels that different patches provide. One dB increments on each patch's master volume are not sufficiently fine-grained enough to make all the volume levels even. The problem is exaggerated most when playing at low volume levels. I had all my patches tweaked for pretty loud stage volumes and then when I would have to do a quiet gig, my distortion patches would be insanely louder than my clean patches. Really annoying!!! I think I've just recently stumbled on the answer to this: set the master vol levels on each patch to be the same at stage volume, and run your amp at the same level for a quiet gig as for a loud one, but use a volume pedal between the output of the Legend and the input to the power amp as a "master volume" control. The short explanation is that when you play loud, the beefy input signal gets compressed somewhat by every patch and your overall volume stays relatively the same and can be controlled. When you use the same patches with a weaker input signal, now the clean patches are just quieter than the distorted one... those input signals get compressed little if at all. So, if you can keep all the levels the same in the preamp section of the signal chain and control your output at the power amp, you'll eliminate the differences in volume. Hope that isn't too confusing...

I have found it difficult to get a good doubling effect out of the Legend, because the delay amounts again don't seem to be adjustable to a fine enough degree. Today when i was programming my backup legend I discovered that the 4TapDelay allows for adjustments down to the millisecond... so I think i may be able to get a nice doubling effect that way.

I've also discovered upon my re-read of the Legend manual that you can use MIDI continuous controllers to vary things like distortion, etc. It never dawned on me as to how useful that could be in a live situation. I'm going to try getting an outboard MIDI CC pedal to see how well that works in a live situation...

Overall, I've really gotten a lot out of the Legend and still love it.

After you get through the learning curve (you have to work on the manual and tweaking to understand the unit's logic) it is pretty easy actually. Nonetheless, you have to bear in mind the tonal characteristics and dynamic ranges of your guitar(s) and amp(s). This unit's performance is very dependant on those. Editing patches is based upon on the different effects configuration chains and the manual provides a very good explanation to understand how they interact. I used to play with a GSP 21 a while ago, then I got an RP-14d, then a GNX2, went through a Vox AD60VT and a GNX3K (both I still own). Although they have gone through very interesting improvements and a plethora of effects, none could replace the formidable sound of the GSP 21 (maybe I am stuck in the 80's and early 90's). I just received my new (used) GSP-21 Legent this weekend, came with 2.0 firmware and immediately I felt back home.

I am plugging the GSP-21 to the effects return on the amp. However I am planning to use the Vox amp, gnx3k and the gsp-21 on a loop setup to take advantage of the plethora of the effects that the GNX3K offers(I will post an update as soon as I get it running or if it runs ok) it is cheaper and easier than to get many stompboxes. I play with an Ibanez S470 with Dimarzio Fred and Paff Pro pickups, an Burns Brian May and a Les Paul Classic depending on the song. It can be noisy if the gate is not properly set or if you do not adjust the input level to compensate for different guitar outputs or if you monkey around with the effects parameters. I read a lot of complaints about the distorsions...I just believe that if you understand how the parameters work and how they affect the distorsions in the Legend and how they interact with the guitar and amp dynamics and tonal color you can get really good distorsions. One important feature to keep in mind is the speaker cabinet emulator, if you do not set it up accordingly to your amps characteristics, then yes I agree, the distorsions sound like crap. You can get close to the sounds required in the songs you play and the artists patches are good starting points. The compressor is very good IMHO as the pitch shifting (chorus and flanger), delays and reverbs. They have a tonal depth and a degree of control that is amazing for a 15+ year old processor. I love the reverse reverb.

I can talk about the old GSP-21 I used to have, and it was extremely reliable. Of course, as with any electronic device you have to be careful, but if you are cautious it will last. Since my plan is to use it in conjunction with the GNX3K, if for some reason it dies I can always just use the GNX3K.

Nothing to report yet.

I play 70's, 80's and early 90's rock mainly with some variations depending on the gig. I believe this unit is a perfect match for my playing style and musical likings. It is a survivor of the times when Digitech made no appologies on their products. They just offered the best without compromising in order to catch a bigger consumer base. I have been playing over 20 years now, in the best of cases as a semi-pro guitar player. Most of the times for fun. I have already bought another one, my mind kept on searching for the GSP-21 on any other gear I've owned.

Its easy to navigate and edit parameters, however there can be ALOT of parameters to scroll through and it can get confusing. You use 2 buttons to scroll through parameters and 2 more buttons to edit them. Its not hard to use, but it can get a little bit annoying. On top of that, you need some additional equipment, mainly an equalizer and a BBE sonic maximizer. Without those 2 this rack wont be up to its full potential, and may sound very muddy.

stand alone, the quality is decent. Its probobally on par with a current year behringer unit. However, slap an EQ after this, CUT the higher frequencies to kill the hiss, and out the BBE sonic maximizer after the EQ. Use a dedicated Pre amp for your distortions. If you use it this way, this unit is GODLY. It has an analog tone that really surprises me, a tone that you wont find easily.

the breakdown

distortions suck, period
delays, reverb, chorus, flanger and other modulations are wonderful, transparent, top of the line.

Compression is lame, and only has two parameters - adds shimmering

The EQ is decent, the speaker simulation is decent

The noise gate works well if you keep your input signal low

Keep in mind, this unit is not very good with out the EQ and BBE. I will rate it with these extra items.

Havent had any problems, and its close to 20 years old

havent used them

I play metalcore type music. as well as some gloom type stuff
I have been playing for about 13 years
I own a few ibanez's with emg's, old ones - wizards. and a 7 string wizard with dimarzio X2n 7

I would definately get another one of these if i lost it

I wish it had better compression, but i am not complaining

I have found a bug in my GSP21 Legend and I wondering if you can confirm if your has this same bug.

I have the Legend MIDI out connected to another MIDI device's MIDI in.
I have all the all the MIDI send devices set to disable so that none of the patches are transmitting any MIDI data. So what the Legend does should not effect any MIDI devices connected its MIDI out.

Say I have the MIDI device set to channel 4, and the Legend on patch 4. If I then select from the pedal board patch 30 (or any number), the device on channel 4 will go to patch 30 (or what ever number was selected using the footpedal)! If I have the MIDI device set to 5 and the Legend on patch 5 it does the same, etc.

Could you check to see if your unit responds in the same way.

You can email your results to jkole AT juno DOT com

Thanks!

I have had no prolbem getting a good sound out it. As a matter of fact I am still trying to replacte a sound that tweaked 12 years ago.
Fortunatley, I hav eit recorded and am working on the process.

I am using a Fender American Standard Srtatocaster, (bought new in 1991.)

It makes some noise but nothing that I can not live with.

The effects are weak in my opinion.

A Roland JC 120

Yes, I bought mine new 14 years ago.
No, I would have another GSP 21 Legend to back that on up. As a matter of fact I am in the process on buying a used back up.

The company has been very helpful. A couple of years ago I bought some replacement din cables they wer very helpful.

I play funk, old school R&B, Soul, Gospel, Blues, Jazz and have done some work on Hip Hop and Rap.

I have been playing for 21 years.
Own a TC Electronic G Major but am Selling it
Own a Line 6 Filter Pro, selling it
Own Aphex Aural Exciter 204, selling it.
Korg Pedal Selling it.
Roland JC 120 keeping it.

Bought this in 1994 (had the Legend chip uprade installed immediately) and it has been in permanent use ever since.
As with many digitally based multi effects units, a grand ability to edit "on the fly", while not impossible, is not one of this unit's strong points. That having been said, that(in a round about way)is the very reason I purchased the GSP. I didn't want to have to "tweak" knobs every night, but instead, wanted something that I could set and be confident that the effects parameters would remain the same from gig to gig.
As previously stated, the digital distortion is a weak point. But, the GSP has a feature (effects loop) that makes it easy to place an analog distortion device (or any other effect for that matter)in the signal path. I've been replacing the GSP's distortion in this very manner TS-9 (Keeley modded) and a RAT for years.
The manual is helpful in understanding the signal path architecture of the pre-programmed patches, and gives you a starting point for "custom" building patches.

I play a custom built telecaster style guitar with a third pickup installed in the middle position and with a bridge pickup that can be switched either into single coil or humbucking mode.
The patches I've written are not noisy. But, different pre-written patches vary in volume quite abit, so I've made a conscious effort to adjust the those that I use, so there's no noticeable difference when switching from patch to patch.
I can't speak to all of the effects that the GSP offers, but I can comment on those I use at one time or another during the course of a show.
1) Compression....actually pretty good. I don't know that I'd use it to replace my Keeley, if it was the only effect I was using, but it complements the other GSP effects very well.
2) Chorus...alot better than in my previous processor. Lots of parameters from which to choose in order to build a good sounding one.
3)Distortion...This effect does what it says...distorts...but supplies no real character IMHO.
4)Delay is good. There isn't a parameter for emulating the high frequency roll-off you experience with an analog unit, but still very serviceable.
5) Reverb...many types (Room, Hall, Plate etc.) It's not going to "snap" like spring reverb, but it does add texture to the overall sound.
I play through a Matchless DC-30 combo which has no onboard effects of its own.
As for "copping" sounds, I don't think there's any one effect or effects unit that will magically turn "your" sound into that of your favorite artist.

Been gigging 250 nights a year with it for the past 11 years and the only "breakdown" I ever experienced was not the unit's fault. I was plugging the foot controller in (more about that later) and I carelessly attempted to plug it in wrong. There was a stratic electricity surge that didn't "fry" the unit, but locked it up so it was unusable for the night.
I always take backups (usually just a compressor, although I fdo own a Digitech RP-1 which is the GSP's non rack mounted "brother". Same effects choices and the parameters are almost the same in both units), but not because I'm afraid the unit will go down.

I've sent the unit in three times. Once because of that mistake I made that locked it up, once to have a new battery installed and once to have some pedals replaced on the foot controller. The folks there always got the unit back to me in very short order and were helpful.
If I ever had to replace it, I would. As someone else said, you can find these on eBay for around $100, which is a deal considering
Repairing it is becoming somewhat more difficult, as even Digitech doesn't have certain parts for it anymore (after all, it is 15 years old and in computer years that's an eternity!).

I play a variety. All the way from "Standards" to 50's/60's to Motown/Stax/Atlantic, to Classic Rock to Country. I can't say the GSP is the "best" for any one style, but it has enough adjustments that I'd rate it OVERALL to be very good.
I've been playing professionally since I was 16...I guess that means over 25 years. I do own a "raft" of effects pedals I've used at one time or another over the years. I have a couple of vintage Fender BF amps (Bassman and Bandmaster), a Les Paul Standard etc. etc.
If it were stolen, I'd get another one in a heartbeat.
I like the fact that the GSP is capable of being versatile and I particularly like the effect loop feature that allows me to "break out of the box" and use other effects in conjunction with the GSP 21.
The weakest two things about the unit are the aforementioned digital distortion and the fact that the cable connecting the unit to the floor controller is not a standard cable you can readily replace if broken. I *think* it's pretty much like a computer cable except that instead of the usual 8 pin configuration it only has seven.
I'm not an "effects junkie" but instead use effects in a textural way. This unit, while probably capable of many things I never need, has served me well over the years.

I had been using the same pedal board for 13 years now. Easy as can be. The distortion sound i am not really happy with it,But it doesn't matter to me i don't use it all. i will explain in a minute.oh yeah editing is a breeze.

Okay My set up,I have 6 guitar 2 Mexican Fender, 1 American Fender,
1 stratacoustic fender, 1 Ibanez, 1 Flying v Jackson. Amps Just one 220 watts Excalibur solid state head with a 200 watts celetion crate cab and a wah. Now READ very carefully..The distortion is not all that really so don't bother. If you have a head that accept effect loop in and out ,plug it in and kills the distortion of you sound proccessor and your compression and all the effect.Make sure that you plug your guitar straigh to the head then let the loop out to in on your proccessor and the out of your proccessor to in loop of your head , Then set your front of your head mix the way you want i got mine on treble 7, mid 3.5 and low 4, so do you mix the way you want. once you get your then go to the proccessor and play with your internal mixing and set the master volume all the way up and your head volume all the way up too. now watch your proccessor output and input volume knob on the fronts,Carefully set your input @ 1 or 2 just don't let the red light show alot, then use your output and rise it up slowly till your hear your guitar. Once you do then add a bit of reverb or delay or whatever, if you used compression you guitar may sound a bit louder so play with it but always keep volume down until youre sure that the sound you want and then crank it , oh yeah you can used your head distortion and clean this way.Also if your are familiar with the cab modeling in your proccessor set it on direct.

13 years and counting

Few times for battaries changes.

I play anything From Yngwie to death metal to rock to blues and classical, Flamenco, latin in other word i just play the guitar.I had been playing for around 15 years now, My favorite guitar player is of course Yngwie Malmsteen so I m a shered too, i don't exactly play and make music as the maestro himself but i have the capability to do so. My main type of music is rock the kind that make people dance or slam dance or shake the head just plain rock. If tisthing were stolen or broken i probably just buy another one like the rp 10 or rp 12 reason?? They are just one pieces the one that i have now is 2 pieces and is alot to carry around when you have 6 guitar the rest of the equipmenet.this does help in my style of music i think is because the way i set it up . i could used fews effect at the time giving me studio sounds.

Easy to use. Manual makes it moreso. I got the GSP 21 "Pro" and then the internal battery died. When Digitech replaced it under warranty, they also uprgraded it to the "Legend."

Sound quality is okay. Distortions are not the best. Chorus, flange, etc. are average. The only reason that I still have this is because of the Ultraverb. Sometimes when doing a weird mix you want to add a gigantic reverb to something. This thing has the biggest reverb ever made (99 seconds). It's worth keeping just for that.

Like I mentioned, this thing konked out on me right after I bought it new. I realize that duds are out there (why me?) but after Digitech replaced the internal battery I have never had another problem - and that was over 12 years ago! Also, some dude accidentally kicked the Anvil case that held this unit off of a stage, then he himself fell off the stage on to the Anvil. The Anvil and the GSP 21 were both perfectly fine, even though he probably weighed 350 lbs.

They're fine.

Of course this unit does not provide the best sounding effects. But, it was THE unit to get in 1991. If you want to add a flippin' huge reverb to your rack then pick one up on Ebay for $50. Otherwise, the effects aren't spectacular. Not bad, though.

as far as a good sound goes its easy for me to get a good sound but i wouldn't recomend it for a beginner. ooh editing patches thats a no brainer. although the manual for the legend is good i still dont recomend this product for a beginner. my unit is actually a gsp 21 pro that has been upgraded to legend specs.

i have a modified ibanez and i play through a dual sub peavey combo amp which has some cool sounds of its own yes you can get sounds of different artist i have joe walsh stevie ray and B.B. king and some others. well sure like any guitar signal processor there are some bad effects, but most of them are good

yes and yes i have never had any trouble with mine and my dad has had his since they came out and he has never had any trouble with his

no i have never dealt with the company but i must say they are foolish for discontinuing the digitech dhp 55 harmonizer. by the way if you can get your hands on a dhp 55 harmonizer the work killer in conjunction with any of the gsp 21 models.

i play anything thats got a groove. yes i would buy another one if mine were stolen or lost i dont hate anything about it. yes id like to say if anyone out there has a digitech dhp 55 harmonizer that they would like to get rid of please e mail me id like to have another one digitech is foolish for discontinuing the dhp 55 harmonizer my email is mvp8839@yahoo.com

it has really cool sounds, but its kind of hard doing a good one

i love the sound it h?is perfect i use it with a phil pro amp(the worst amp ever...) and any way it sounds great, thedimarzo pick ups help a lot

i use itin every "concert" my band performs, as a lead guitarrist i depend o it

never used it

metal/punk/blues/any
i own an ibanez sa160 with a dimarzio tone zone pickup and a seagull acustic, playing for a year, i hate digitech discontinued it... i?ll love to have a randy roads jackson, zakk wylde les paul, and ibanez jem, and a marchall amp, at least i use one in my live performances