DigiTech GSP-21

Use a good preamp and put the digitech in the effects loop and you instantly find 50 good sounds (switch off all distortions). You need to read the manual to edit but, it's pretty straight forward. I have the original GSP-21 bought in 1991. Rotary encoders didn't exist in '91 but, if they did installed in this unit I would change my rating to a 9.
The footcontroller was designed by the gods.

PRS, Carvin, & Heartfield guitars; Carvin Quad-X tube preamp; Carvin FET 450 power amp. There are two ways to use the GSP: as a preamp or as an effects processor. Don't use it as a preamp. It's 1999 now there is way better stuff for the same $620 (1991) price tag. As an effects processor ($150-250 used) it's pretty good still. I mean look I still use it. There's no harmonizer and no wah everything else is included and all at the same time if you want.

Yes it is RELIABLE!! 8 years and not a problem yet.

I've never had to deal with them so I don't know. All I see is that they keep on producing more innovative stuff at the right prices.

I play all styles and it matches fine, I just bought a Zoom GFX707 that has everything the GSP21 has plus wah and a pitchshifter. I run the Zoom straight into the power amp in of my Fender Deluxe 85 and BOOM mini terror rig. I've been playing 10 yrs. If my GSP-21 were lost or stolen I'd get a...I still don't know otherwise I would have bought it already. Something with a foot controller and is versatile. Hey if you can find one for less than $200 bucks get it, I mean you'd need compressor, delay, chorus/flanger, distortion, and EQ pedals to do the same things.

It is pretty straight forward and not too hard to get sounding good, but it isn't fast to program. The methods of stepping through each setting are not particuarly quick and easy. Things like Ultra Reverb are quite complicated to get a good sound from, but the simple reverbs are easy to use.

I started using this by itself plugged into a home made amp using a Samick Strat. The distortions weren't too bad, but I'd say they aren't the best features. I currently use a Custom made guitar in a Jackson/Ibanez style with DiMarzio Evolution pickups, and a JMP-1 for all the distortion. So I don't use the compressor or distortion. The delay is pretty good, so is the reverb. They are the main things. I haven't a lot to compare the chorus and flanger with but they seem sound okay to me. The seven-band EQ is pretty good, better than some of the similar age ones that only had 3-band. There is a little noise produced and the noise gate can cut this out, but tends to kill the attack on the sound and even without the noise gate on the unit can often leave a low volume cut-off on the sound, instead of letting your sound fade away nicely. That is my major complaint. Apart from that, it doesn't have many of the effects of the newer units, but if all you need is EQ, Flange, Chorus, Delay and Reverb, along with the noise gate, distortion and compressor, it will do the job.

I've owned it for about 4 years and never had a problem with it.

Never dealt with them.

As I said, as the sound fades out it won't fade the whole way, when it reaches a certain point it often just cuts out which is an annoyance. Apart from that it sounds fine for everything from blues/jazz through to heavy metal. I personally don't get into solid state distortions, but the ones one this aren't that bad, especially when you consider the age. Doesn't have many of the effects of the newer effects units

I find it straightforward to use, although the panel layout can be a little confusing with two identical sets of cursors side by side- occasionally I'll spend ages programming a patch, then accidentally change patches when I mean to change a value, and have to start again (I know, I'm unco). The manual is a little skimpy regarding some issues, particularly MIDI functionality.

I do techno, and my GSP is effectively a studio-only instrument. Guitar amps are fairly noisy anyway, which is probably why Digitech figured they could get away with the shocking signal-to-noise. There are really too many gain stages (VCAs) in the signal path, but if you fiddle around enough the problem can be minimized. Generally the effects are good- they are quirky, and unpredictable at times, which I like. I find that the VCAs overload easily, which makes getting sufficient dynamic range more difficult.

Mine came with a remote footswitch pedalboard and a long cable (is this standard?) which I have no use for. I'm not a guitarist, but I imagine the GSP-21 would be a nightmare live- it is noisy, unpredictabe, and sends out earsplitting peak signals whenever you switch on or off certain effect stages or change patches. Moreover, mine is old- god knows what sort of life it had before I acquired it- and it's screen module forgets how to spell and starts generating random characters on-screen unless you give it a few hours to get up to operating temperature after turning it on.

As an electronic musician who doesn't use a computer, I find the machine valuable for "rinsing", or sound-design. It is quirky, and capable of turning the most bland arpeggiator riff into a total Tangerine-Dream ambient halcyon wig-out- Future Sound Of London eat your heart out. However, I do a lot of stereo track-bouncing using a digital MTR, and the unit's signal to noise problem restricts how many separate wet overdubs I can do using the GSP-21 before the background noise piles up too high. Overall- its good shit, but I have to say that when it craps out on me for the last time- and that may be soon, given its dodginess- I won't be hunting for a direct replacement.