DigiTech RP-100

Very easy to use, I like the fact that at default the knobs adjust the gain and amp type. It's a lot easier than the older rp series (i have an rp3 and have played an rp7). The only thing that pisses my off is that the select button only goes forward so you have to keep going around in a circle to change paramiters.

I use the rp100 basically as a direct recording preamp and for this application it is incredible! My band does most of the recording at home with a digital 8-track and we always have trouble getting a guitar tone through my cab (various heads through a marshal cab), and I have owned a POD and a Mesa V-twin (both were okay but not great). But the rp100 is great. I play metal through a Washburn CS170 guitar with an EMG81 pickup. There are tons of combinations of amps, EQ, and cab/mic to choose from and with a little work you can get a really good sound for just about any type music. This thing is the best recording pedal and costs 1/3 of all the other brands.

I have been playing for about 3 years and have owned practically every piece of gear imaginable besides the really expensive pro stuff (like Mesa TriAxis preamp) and this is the best sounding pedal I have ever heard. I wouldn't use it live, but for recording nothing beats it.

Anyone can use this. This is a great little box.

This thing works with my fretless Yamaha, my active Ibanez, and my PBass, also does wonders for my SG. Its great sounding and the distortions kick ass.

As far as batteries go, this thing sucks them up pretty fast. Get the power supply. I'd depend on this thing without a back up any day.

Never delt with them

This is one shit kicking piece of work, I love this thing to death and I'm gonna use it until it busts and then I'm gonna buy another one.

Got this wonderful multi-effects stompbox about a week ago and I'm still exploring it's usefulness. It is a playground. It is easy to get good sound out of it? You can edit it very easily or in some cases just accept the factory presets to get a sound like, for example, CCR on preset number 21. The manual is small but I think it is complete enough to walk you thru. Once you learn the principle of editing the thing it is really just common sense. Take the time to read the manual. I know you want to try it out when you get it. Okay, if you want a quick lesson, put your batteries in or plug up optional power supply turn the volume on amp down and on master level on box down, plug guitar cord into input in back of box, plug other cord into output and then plug into your effect return on amp or imput if no effects return. You will see a number appear on the window of the box it goes 1-40 for edits. Turn in your manual to the last or near the last page and it tells you what each number represents as a preset at the factory. To goe up in number (ascend) tap the toeswitch on the bottom right to descend or go down tap the left one. Your up and running. Adjust volume slowly. The firmware is the latest available. My box was manufactured just last month.

My guitar is a Rogue acoustic/electric AE-300 and I'm using a Rogue CG-30R amp. This little 2 lbs mulit-effects box makes this little $320 setup (amp and guitar) sound like a professional stage guitar and amp. Some of the effects and amp models can be noisy. There is too much feedback in the rectifier on the preset and flange is noisy, but you can minimize it by matching the amount of flange with a certain amp model and mike placement setting. The effects are more than worth the price of the box by themselves, no joke. There are 12 effects including yah, tremlo, chorus, flange, rotary speaker, yammy, and others. Most of the effects are A or B grade quality in my view. I can get the sound of just about any artist. For example last night I was playing along with Dave Matthews on the acoustic guitar model amp and it was dead on! A friend I play music with was astonished at the sounds I got from my cheap amp and great little box! CCR, british, and BTO no problem--even a Beach Boy sounding guitar preset! And for country music fans and blues fans it's in there. Oh, Skynard can be achieved by editing in the Marshall amp model and setting the EQ on the box. Sweet Home...right on
Now, they asked me to be critical...wah is the worst effect on the box, but...I don't have the pedal to fully explore it; so, for what it does and from what I can tell as it is it would have been better had they left that effect off. Flanger is noisy but usable. Chorus is wonderful and everything else not mentioned before in the effects area. Overall, 90% of the effects are excellent and thus my 9 rating

It seems to be solid. Anything can break. I would keep it out of extreme cold and heat and of course moisture. If you don't abuse it it should hold up. I would not gig with it unless I had the optional power supply for it because it drains the 6 AA batteries it uses in about 7 or 8 hours. I've already had to replace new batteries and I plan to order to power supply today. Otherwise, I would use it without a backup.

No dealing before with this company. This company sell effects only. They were very quick to respond to my e-mail order. No problems so far.

I play rock with a good beat mainly but play some blues, disco and even country or heavy metal at time. Been playing for 24 years and still love it--like a good marriage. I've sold a lot of gear so I'll only mention what I own: Rogue A/E 30 watt Rogue amp with reverb (don't need the reverb now that I have this box) and a classical guitar and a few broken guitars in attic. I would buy it again because it has no competition in its price range. I agree with another person who post he didnt' see what the $400 DP 2000 had that makes it so much better than the RP 100 to make it worth $400. If you are just start out you can get start cheaply with a cheap amp, guitar and stompbox and soon be amazing your friends. If you are experienced , don't let the price of this box fool you, it is major useful and major tone. If you can dream it, you can create it from this box. I'll stand behind that statement like a handshake. It is hard to peg on favorite feature. Any catagory of the box such as amp model, effects, guitar pickup model, mic cabinet placement, any alone makes it worth the price. I guess I like the effects the most but man, the amp models sound so good and so much like the amps they model, it is like owning a roomful of different amps! I've been amp shopping and was going to buy one of those amps with the built-in effects but my plans have changed. I don't need another amp and I now have all the amp models and effects I need--except wah and I may get a pedal later. I read reviews from users and they made my mind up for me. Many had used the competitors models and explained how they liked this one better. This is the latest technology. Price and usefulness made up my mind. For anyone who doubts, this box is for real and is not just a toy. I wish the box had come with a pedal, a better wah, and the power cord. I would have paid the price. In fact, why don't they offer these options with the box and give one of those reduced price deals if you buy all three together? This would be major helpful and another move in the right direction to defeat their competitors. Does it help me make music? Man, I couldn't make music without this box now! With the built in drums I'm a one man band--almost. I've spent 3 hours with it just about every day since I got it. I've shared a lot of extra information already, but I'd like to encourage you, the reader, the doubtful, to buy it and try it or at least go to the music store and give it a listen. I've tried to be as honest as I can; afterall, this is what this review is all about to help someone else make a good buying decision. If you can truly find a better multi-effects box at this price buy it and let me know where it is...but buy this one and you won't be sorry! My e-mail is below with a click and I will gladly answer any question. (Webmaster, no need to nospam my e-mail I really want to help.)

really straight forward

excellent sound

can someone tell me what polarity the replacement power supply is.. 40 bucks is to much for this thing

Like most Digitech processors, this one comes with presets that show off the effects and models, but are pretty much unusable in the real world, You need to tweak them a little and some are fun but not at all practical. Fortunately, the RP-100 is an improvement in user interface over their earlier rack and floorboard processors. I know; I've owned a Twin Tube, RP-1, RP-10 and currently still own an RP-7. most individual effects are on a row and have three adjustable parameters. Use the Select button to go to that row and the three knobs adjust the paramaters -- easy, no? When not in edit mode, the knobs default to amp type, gain and master level. It's not as much fun as having all the knobs (or deep editing capability) of the POD, but it is relatively easy to get around. I'd change one thing, though. I'd add a Select button for each row so you can go directly to each effect. As it is, you can only go forward and if you miss an effect, you have to go through all the others again.

Manual is OK. The rhythm feature is easy to use and a nice touch.

FOR A COMPARISON (MP3 SOUNDS) OF THIS UNIT WITH THE POD AND OTHER PROCESSORS GO TO www.geocities.com\dachiqster FOR SOME HASTILY PRODUCED RECORDINGS.

I am using this with a '78 Les Paul Custom 3 Pickup Model, Ibanex RG570, and Ibanez S540. I use direct, into a solid state (Tech 21) amp's effects return (great way to turn any amp into a better rig), and also as a headphone amp when I'm away from home.

It's pretty quiet, and it's easier to get to the noise gate settings than with the POD. Preset volume levels are all over the place, but I usually just stick with a couple of patches and tweak from there anyway.

The amp models are different from the POD's; not necessarily worse, just different. And there are fewer of them, but there is a good representation and for the price, you get quite a bit. I've always liked Digitech's delay and modulation effects for guitar and the RP-100 continues that tradition. I think the compressor is nowhere near as funky and snappy as the POD's though. If there's one thing I hated about Digitech multi-units before, it was their cabinet simulation; nothing more than a glorified secondary EQ and adding no true speaker punchiness to the sound. The RP-100's cab sim is a tiny bit better, but that's because the speaker punch seems to be coming more from the amp models themselves than from the cab sim. The 4x12 cabs don't really seem to have that phase cancelling/comb filtering that a real 4-cab would have.

The pickup simulator doesn't quite get there. Neither does the Acoustic guitar simulation, but these can be used for effect anyway. Like the POD, the RP-100 has a digital quality and some latency, but not to the point of being objectionable. Also, it does color the sound a tiny bit more than the POD. The POD lets a little more of your guitar's individual character come through (more like a real tube amp). Onthe RP-100, 2 guitars which are somewhat similar in sound will come out sounding the same. Also, gain on some of the models (like the tweed)could be higher. But it can be quite expressive.

For the price, though, this one's a keeper. Forget the Zoom 505 and it's small sounding distortions, the RP100 has enough sonic flexibility to make it worth the price and be a serious tool in the studio and on stage.

The metal case is a nice touch and battery life kicks the ^&%*#$^& out of the Zoom 505. I don't generally jump up and down on my pedals, but for you animals out there, it should survive several wild gigs. I think if they really tried, they could make this thing smaller, too.

I've played jazz, rock and blues and this thing makes a great companion on the road and a cool tool to use when my POD isn't being inspiring. At its price, it is at least as good a value as the POD and for those that need more effects, possibly even better. I would definitely buy one again if stolen.

As you've guessed by now, I also own a POD and a Digitech RP-7 (I'll be ditching that soon) and have owned Digitech's Twin Tube, RP1 and RP10. I also use a Tech 21 Trademark 10 amp, but you could plug this thing into the power amp section (or FX return) of any amp and get a bevy of useful tones for practice, live or studio use.

When I play my POD or the Trademark, I find it hard to put the guitar down. The RP-100 is close to that in warmth and response. The real kicker is its price. At $100, ya gotta have one!

THE INTERFACE IS A GREAT DESIGN. ANYONE EXPERIENCED IN FX PROCCESSORS SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM MASTERING THE RP-100, EVEN WITHOUT THE MANUAL. ROOKIES SHOULD BE UP TO SPEED IN NO TIME. THE PRESETS ARE A GREAT PLACE TO START FOR SOUNDS. I HAD SOME INCREDIBLE SOUNDS WITHIN MINUTES OF MY INITIAL TWEAKING. DON'T BE AFRAID TO TWIST THOSE KNOBS!! THE SOUNDS ARE IN THERE.

FOR THE MONEY I AM BLOWN AWAY WITH THE SOUND AND FLEXABILITY OF THIS UNIT. I'M USING AN IBANEZ RG650 AND A STEINBERGER GU-DELUXE. WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS BOTH DIRECT AND THRU AN AMP. I'VE BEEN PLAYING FOR ALMOST 17 YEARS AND AM VERY PICKY ABOUT MY SOUND AND THIS UNIT REALLY IMPRESSED ME WITH THE IT'S HIGH QUALITY AND WELL THOUGHT OUT DESIGN. IT'S A VERY QUIET TOO! JUST FOR REFERENCE I OWN A POD AND A TECH-21 GT2. THE RP-100 HAS MUCH BETTER FX THAN THE POD AND THE AMP MODELS HAVE MORE LIFE AND PRESENCE. TO GET A TASTE OF MY IDEA OF GUITAR SOUNDS GO TO www.positivenrg.net AND CHECK OUT SOME CLIPS ON THE MUSIC PAGE( I'LL UPLOAD SOME CLIPS OF THE RP-100 IN ACTION TOO!). I THINK THE RP-100 IS AN EXCELLENT ADDITION TO MY GEAR AND ENVISION USING IT FOR RECORDING, PRACTICE AND SMALL GIGS. THERE ARE SOUNDS IN THE RP-100 THAT CAN'T BE CAPTURED WITH THE POD. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE AND NO ONE UNIT CAN DO IT ALL, SO WHY ALL THE FIGHTING OVER THIS PRODUCT AND THAT PRODUCT (POD VS. J-STATION VS. SANS AMP VS. ETC...).I FOUND ALL THE FX TO BE VERY GOOD QUALITY (WELL ABOVE AVERAGE IN THIS PRICE RANGE AND MUCH HIGHER PRICE RANGES). I'M VERY EXPERIENCED WITH DEEP EDITING SO GETTING GOOD RESULTS WAS NO SWEAT. BY THE WAY, THERE ARE 30 PRESET DRUM LOOPS THAT REALLY HAVE A VERY DECENT SOUND QUALITY FOR PRACTICE OR QUICK DEMOS.

I HAVE OWNED 4 OTHER PRODUCTS MADE BY DIGITECH AND HAVE NEVER HAD ONE PROBLEM WITH THEM. THIS UNIT SEEMS VERY WELL MADE AND I TRUST DIGITECH PRODUCTS. AT THIS PRICE I MIGHT BUY ANOTHER ONE AS A BACKUP. I HAVEN'T OWNED IT LONG ENOUGH TO JUDGE THE RP-100'S RELIABILITY ON ITS OWN MERITS.

NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH THEM.

I LOVE MANY STYLES OF MUSIC ROCK/HARDROCK/BLUES/CLASSICAL/POP AND FOUND OR CREATED SOUNDS USEFUL IN ALL THOSE STYLES. THIS IS ONE OF THE FEW PRODUCTS I HAVE PURCHASED THAT WAS MUCH MORE THAN I EXPECTED IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND PERFORMANCE. EVERYONE HAS DIFFERENT TASTES BUT IF YOU ARE WILLING TO EXPERIMENT AND PUT SOME TIME AND EFFORT INTO THIS PRODUCT I DON'T SEE HOW YOU COULD BE UNHAPPY WITH THE RESULTS.

i come from the digitech gsp-2101. this thing is a piece of cake to figure out. period. but, their manual is lacking. their definitions of effects and parameters are grossly inadequate. if you don't have prior experience with many of these concepts, i hope you have good ears to be the judge.

i used to use a gsp-2101 with a mosvalve power amp and a 4x12 celestion cab for my sound. after a few years of playing with the setup, it occurred to me that i spent too much time looking for the right effects, and not enough time focusing on my tone and skill. i sold the whole thing to get a mesa rectoverb 50w 1x12 combo amp. i learned that gain, bass, middle, treble, presence on a GOOD amp could make more of a difference than reverb, chorus, delay, flange, detune, etc. on a crappy amp.
i bought the rp100 because i want to use effects from time-to-time - specifically modulation and delays. in a perfect world i would buy a very good effects unit. i have no use for amp modeling. but now a days, everyone HAS to do amp modeling. in my opinion i have one of the best, most versatile amps in the world. i bought the rp-100 to give me some effects that my amp doesn't provide. in that regard it fails miserably. this unit was not designed for someone who just spent $1300 on a new 1x12 combo amp. the problem is simple (and i am NO guitar tech): my signal is being preamped twice. even if i turn off the amp modeling, the tone just doesn't sound right. all i want to do is save myself the trouble/expense of buying 10-12 battery-powered pedals. BUT with some work, i CAN make the unit do ALMOST what i want. and honestly, the reverb, delay, and modulation effects are VERY warm and VERY unlike the cold, digital, digitech that i used to know. now, for the truth. as an effects unit for my mesa amp, it just doesn't quite cut the mustard. BUT, for a $100 multi-effects unit - IT HONESTLY ROCKS! i'm still looking for something else for my gigging unit, but for rehearsal, practicing with a drumbeat, recording on a four-track recorder, or playing with a lesser amp, this thing is incredible. i will definitely be keeping it. if it got stolen, i would definitely buy another one, because it fills a void that i never realized i had: an almost perfect practice and demo recording unit.

seems pretty solid, but i take care of my equipment.

i've had to deal with digitech before with my gsp-2101, they weren't quick, but they were totally helpful

understand what you want this to do. i would have preferred this in many ways to my gsp-2101 through the rest of my old setup. i think what i should try professionally for my setup is the stompbox modelers from line6. they seem to be what i'm looking for, but i haven't tried them yet. this thing is perfect, however for the uses that i mentioned above. so i give it a 10 for the uses that i see fit for it.

I would like to start by saying I own a POD II, J-Station, Korg AX1000g, Zoom GFX8 and Boss GT5. As with all multi effects, deep editing is a chore. And the top prize here will havw to go to Boss. Talk about complicated. The Zoom and the Korg are fairly simple. I said fairly cos most of the editing need to be done via midi. I must say POD II has improved on the deep editing but Johnson have the simplest of the lot, provided you have the manual with you all the time. But kudos to the digitech for having the simplest user interface of all. One button to select the option from the matrix, one to store and three knobs to tune in your parameters. And the EQ on it is surprisingly good. You have a wide range of extreme to play around with and I must say, the mid control is terrific. Dial it a little bit more to cut thru your whole setup and perfect for clear solos. Effects have individual control and I don't use much anyway, apart from a little delay and reverb. And a touch of chorus here and there. But the best feature about the Rp100 is the mic placement. It is spot on. I work in a recording studio and I must say the dynamics is accurate.

Sound wise, I'll go in order of preference, in essence to direct recording. AX1000G, GT5, GFX8, RP100, Johnson, POD. I'm sorry guys, POD is still the best in terms of direct recording. The RP deserved top 3 simply because of the mic placement feature it has. Again I say, spot on. But the dirt on the Johnson is left to be desired. But again, POD stands out.

For amp use, this is where I have to be critical, especially POD. From bad to best, it'll be POD, Johnson, GT5, AX1000G, RP100, GFX8. RP couldn't compete with the GFX simply because of the versatility it has on the EQ and Zoom really have good EQ. Apart from that, the custom distortion feature it has (via Midi) is the best. You can basically customize your own sound right from your PC. And you know different amps have different dynamics and you can fine tune the Zoom to fit these dynamics. But the RP, small, light can handle any amps with ease. The EQ on it is good enough to handle every dynamics of the amps. I said good enough. It works best with solid state and valve amp but sucks on transistor based amp. But then again, there aren't many of those around these days.

But RP on its own is probably one of the best amp modeler to be used on an amp. Because I think it was designed to be used as the front amp of an amp. I've done some research on the pre-amp and it is definitely tune for a guitar amp. You might get good sounds from the POD or the Johnson if you use a bass amp but the sound really sucks on a guitar amp. And who would want to plug their guitar into a PA if you have stacks of cabinet backing you up in live situation. The RP handle the response and the bass very very well. You need some tweaking on the GFX but the RP definitely win hands down in terms of sound quality, ON AN AMP.

Let us talk about high gain. RP100 has one of the best Rectified sound ever. Very smooth, and very clean but at the same time very aggressive. And it cuts thru like the zoom and has some dirt from the Johnson. And the cleanliness of the POD without the gimmicks from the Ax1000 and the complication of the GT5. Very very good. Clean setting are acceptable. But I think, POD is still the best in terms of clean sound. The AX1000 is surprisingly good too. And the GT5 comes in a close third. Zoom has lousy clean setting because it is after all a distortion pedal. Pay attention to the tweed sound on the RP. Almost spot on, almost but POD nails it in perfectly.

Aluminium body, very light, dual power operation but flimsy battery cover. Lousy knob. But you can change it easily. But the pain work on it suck. Just like POD, seem to be flaking off everytime I use it. I guess it is the aluminium body. But the UK models are better because they are treated with a polymer before painting. Lucky bastards and not to mention that it include a power adaptor with the package. In the US you have to get one for $40 big ones. Is that fair?

Digitech??? Never heard of them. Haa, I don't think they have a customer support dept.

Go for it for amp use. You get good amp models for a very low price. And still have all the versatility of a floorboard (remember the EQ) and compact enough to fit in your gig bag. Good for high gain sounds, although I miss the Soldano on the POD. But very very good pedal. If the real time control is not a problem, then you should really go for this pedal. Zoom came up with the 505 MK 2. El Cheapo but add it a couple of bucks for this. It is worth it.

Unit is very easy to use. The manual explains how to edit and use the presets very well.

Holy Rectifier!! If you play metal, you gotta have one. Settings are easy to change. The display tells you what settings are being used. Obviously its not like a real Rectifier or Vox or Fender, but close enough for most people.

Its always been reliable, but I treat my equipment good.

Never dealt with them.

For the average player on a budget, this one is for you. Good amp modeling for most. Good effects, and if you don't like them, just shut up and don't use them! Good for mega-gain and bottom end raunch. Probably best suited for high gain players.

Ease of use? Well this baby is so easy to use, you don't even need the god damn manual. Editing is easy as baking a pumpkin pie and you have no idea how easy I make one.

Ok, this is where the RP100 stands out from the rest. Ever wanted to go to a studio but don't want to lug a huge piece of equipment around? I owned a POD once with the Floorboard (big mutha) and everytime I go for a jam session with my mates, I have to practically bring a suitcase along. Not cool, not cool at all. You see, this thing is ver small and very light. And it sound as good as POD. And believe you me when I say the Rectified setting on this baby really rocks. Plus you get an added feature of mic placement which will give a good dynamics to the overall sound. String dynamics is very audible too and to think that this thing is based on digital modelling. Harmonics are a breeze, lead so sweet and rhythm as aggressive as a bull with its arse on fire. Trust me man, this shit rocks. Clean setting is ok (I don't play any clean sound on my setup, have no clue on what to look for) but the distortion really rocks. Beat the shit out of the J-Station because as far as clarity is concerned, RP100 really stands out. You don't get the buzzing at the extreme end of the sound. POD is cleaner in that sense (some say lack of gain) but the RP100 give you the best of both worlds. Dial in the dirt if you want of roll off to a sweet mellow tone. Another fav of mine is the stack setting on this mutha. Warm, aggressive and plenty more gain that what POD or J-Station can offer. Now this is as close as you can get to the real thing. So pricks, get this shit man. At $99, it is sure a steal. Lay off the booze and the coke.

I'm proud to say that I've thrown this unit against the wall. What? Are you kidding me? It's made of alu man. Tough as hell. Though the paint work could me better. The shit is flaking on me. Oh hell.

Duh, is there a need for one?

Ok, dig this. Power and clarity of POD. Gain and dirt from J-Station. Put the RP100 right smack in between and there you have one of the most versatile pedal ever built. Kudos Digi. Need I say more. Though I would like it if they can put the Insane distortion from POD2 in. Man that sound rocks.