DigiTech RP-20 Tube Preamp/Processor

Editing effects (parameters) is generally easy, provided you know what all the parameters do for each effect. It is extremely flexible, allowing control over almost everything. The hard part is deciding on what effects module configuration to use, including the effect module layout (eg. stereo split, mono chain, etc.), module size (up to 4 digital effects can be used at one time, providing they each use 1/4 of the processing power, or 1 effect that uses all power, 2 using half each, 2 and 1 using quarters and half, etc.), and in which order/ routing scheme to place the effects (may be put in any order). Can get very complicated trying to find the best setup for the sound you're after. But all this flexibility means you'll never run out of things to try on the thing. The manual gives good general advice, but lacks in specifics with good examples. Lots of misprints. Many features, such as the Utilities menu where MIDI, cabinet emulation, etc. is accessed, require much more explanation. But again, it is pretty easy to figure out if you just get right into it. Mine has version 1.01 software in it (I am still waiting for Digitech to put 1.02 on their web page so I can download and install it, which they say I'll be able to do).

I run my Les Paul into the RP-20, then run its headphone output (stereo) into the input of my Marshall Valvestate VS100R combo amp. It sounds good, but not as good as running the RP-20 headphone output to headphones instead of the amp. All the subtleties really come out thru headphones, and it sounds incredible. Turning up the volume really gives added dimension and dynamic responsiveness to my playing. My Les Paul does tend to add a bit of hum and noise, but it's mostly just a grounding problem that goes away when I touch one of the humbuckers with my finger (one day I'll get that fixed). Back to the amp. I think it loses some of the sound quality since the signal is running through 2 preamps: the RP-20's and the amp's. Also, the headphone output supposedly uses auto cabinet emulation, which removes some frequencies (but even the direct outputs didn't sound as good through the amp). I think I need to run it through just a power amp to get best results, but until then I'm in heaven with my headphones. The RP-20 isn't very noisy, but the external transformer can cause some hum, which can usually be alleviated by positionioning it differently (a little lame). The effects are great, but the harmonizers (pitch shifting effects) do have a noticeable delay before sounding the notes, which can be minimized by playing with the effects level and mix to blend the effect better.

I ordered the thing mail order (not a good idea) and it didn't have a battery in it. As such I couldn't save any patches. It also locks up sometimes, and can do some strange things when editing parameters. Nothing major though. I'm hoping revision 1.02 will fix some of the minor things. In terms of playability, it performs very well. No problems playing through the patches. Squeaky expression pedal (optical sensor-based). Also, the tube will be a pain to replace, since there's no easy access to it (you have to unscrew a million screws to get into the thing).

Digitech has answered all my questions on numerous phone calls (wish they had a 1-800 number). They even answered all my emails (should use that more). Pretty helpful staff, but the technicians can get a little grumpy though (guess I grilled them too much). Since I ordered it mail order to Canada, I have no warrantee, although the Canadian dealer said he'd honour the warrantee as a good will gesture or something like that. Hope it never goes down on me or I'm in for some major hassles. They have been promising to put the upgrade on their web site for over a month now. Going to keep calling them til it shows up.

I think I've been extremely critical of the thing, but overall, I'm nice 'n satisfied with it. Does almost everything I think I'll ever need in an effects processor. I play a bit of everything, so I love the wide variety of effects and flexibility. Upon its theft, I would consider getting the 2112 instead for the extra tube and S-DISC (double the processing power - could have 8 digital effects at once). I would also consider another unit like an Eventide (shudder at the pricetag though), or even an RP-7 (lower price, similar features). If nothing else seemed better and really tickled my fancy, I would buy an RP-20 again, since it has great sound as it is. It's even flexible enough to be used for other instruments and sound sources such as bass guitar and vocals (makes my crappy voice sound somewhat palateable). I do have to admit that with all its flexibility and features, I've been bogged down with experimentation and haven't done much actual playing yet. I just keep running through each of the presets, playing and experimenting for a little while with each, then moving to the next, every time I use it. One day I'll sit down, get the sound I'm after, and just practice for the duration...one day. I hate the lack of a power button on it. Come on! Nothing a power bar can't fix though.

I became frustrated with the RP-12 interface. If you wanted to quickly switch between effects, you had to step thru all of the settings for each. I also found the arrow keys a problem. The RP-20 is much better. There are no fixed algorithm limitations and for each effect in the path, you just turn the knob to select between all available effects (ones which show up depend on how much memory you've aloted -- its easy). Thus by simply turning the knob, you immediately get to hear the effect in the program your editing. There are 12 or so path configurations to choose from (series, parallel). Once an effect is selected, you have a new option. Each effect has a family of presets associated with it to modify the sound of the effects. If you don't find one you like, you can simply page to the details and make your own. Once made, it can be named and made available any time you use the effect in another program. The interface is much better than the RP-12 -- its larger, more graphical and has an input dial. Second, the user banks are now one button away from the factory presets. Note - if your an expert with the various RP-12 effects parameters they have all changed on the RP-20 so you'll have to re-learn them.

I heard that the processor is faster than the RP-12 (which has outstanding sound quality). The RP-20 is noticably better in terms of clarity and depth. I don't recall much about the flange on the RP-12 but its not bad here. Its hard to compare apples to apples because the presets are all different between the two units but the sound is great. I still think the harmony effects need a faster processor yet but its better on this unit. Also new is the ability to split your signal and set up entirely different effects in each path (e.g. path 1 could have tube distortion and flange; path 2 could have grunge and reverb). I wasn't all that impressed with the presets but they are better generally than the RP-12. They tend towards heavy distortions (not issue). Do have two banks of signature settings -- SRV, Gilmore...

I wish they would add an on/off switch. Plugging/unplugging unit seems to me a poor solution (thus the rating of 8). In RP-20, they now have venting in area which gets hot -- good move. I don't really think its built any better than other RP units which means overall its very good quality.

On the manual, they finally decided to start writing one. Its better than before however I'm only a few pages into it. It does look like it was copied and bound at Kinko's. Digitech informed me that its not possible to take your favorite settings from the RP-12 and load them into the RP-20. Seems like an oversite on their part since I'm sure many people have spent alot of time on these. Even though the parameters between effects are not one-to-one, it would not have been that difficult to add a converter within the RP-20 to allow this. I tried to do this manually but its very time consuming. Also when I called to ask about using previous RP-12 data, the person was very nice and I didn't have to wait long. When I asked about other sources for sysex files on the RP-20 mentioning internet, he really wasn't very helpful. I think Digitech should promote the use of its product and provide links from their page.

The RP-20 overall is outstanding. The new interface and configurable effects including dual path capability allows one to really get at the power of this technology. The tube adds great sound and combined with whatever else they have done, it is improved over the RP-12 in terms of clarity and depth. I still think the RP-12 is a great unit and the RP-20's alot more $ but for me, it was worth the investment. Of course, I just changed over a few days ago so I'm still exploring. 9 rating because its not cheap.

The RP-20 is a VERY straightforward unit...there are literally trillions of billions of possibilities you can do with this thing. I owned a RP-6 about a week ago and when the RP-20 came out I immideatly returned it and got the 20...and i love it! the manual is WAY better than the previous RP models..but still it would have been nice if digitech inserted a "example of creating a patch" that would have been nice...other that than...very easy to use!!!

My setup is a Ibanez JS1000, going through the RP-20 into a Gallien Krueger amp...and it sounds AWESOME! the quality of the effects and patches are MUCH better than the RP-6 that i once owned. Some patches may need a little tweaking but other than that they all sound great!! and yes there is a "signature" section of the patches and is dedicated to some awesome well known guitar tones...some of which are eric johnson, AC/DC, SRV, Jimmi Hendrix, and Jimmi Hendrix wah (the wah sounds a LOT better on the RP-20 due because its analog), EVH, and much more and they all sound VERY close, if not exactly like the tones of the actual people!

I can defenitely depend on this thing at a gig! and yes i would use it as a backup because i have had NO problems with this thing at all and i love it!

the only thing that kinda made me a little mad was that i had to wait around a week to get it! the store said that digitech was so full of orders that it would be delayed, but im happy now!!

I play mostly intrumental rock, eg. joe satriani, steve vai, and a lot of other kinds of rock, heavy metal, jazz, and blues. I am a 16 year old guitar player and have been playing for about 3 years. i have owned 2 BOSS pedals, one a super chorus and one a metal zone. and i have a morely PWS wah...and i have to say. good bye to all that!! i would DEFENITLEY buy this thing a million times over! the only thing i dont like is that there isnt a on/off button! no big deal. my favorite feature is...its the RP-20 and it can do everything! I compared it to MANY products, like some rackmount stuff like the 2112, and other floor processors, and also talked to my guitar teacher and reps at the store i bought it from, and they all said its the top-of-the-line product! well the first day i had it, it didnt help make me music because..i was playing with it for 4 hours! its that fun. overall, this is THE best processor for its price and i love it! i reccomend it to everyone!

This is really easy to use, although the manual really sucks, but if it didn't it would have been a 10 all the way. The manual has many mis-prints, and even a picture that is totally wrong! But by hitting a few keys you can figure everything out, i read about 3 pages of the manual and threw it aside and just started working with it and figured it out instantly.

The sound quality is really nice, but using the tube path can tend to be a bit noisy (especially around computers/dimmers/the usual EMI devices, but it's worse with the tube path then the solid by far!) I'm using it with a Fender UltraChrous, a Peavey SuperChorus and direct to the board and it sounds good in all of them. The noise reducer is great, although when it's on the higher settings the sound you play is quieter so it's kind of dulling and gating, but you don't really need it that high! I love the whammy just because i never had it before, and the chorus' and reverbs are nice too.

I think i'd be able to stomp on this quite a bit without worry, the expression pedal seems to be the weakest part, and i've heard of them going on the 5's, 6's, 12's... but it seems like it'll last, only main problem is the power cord isn't snug when you plug it in which bothers me, if i move it it just shuts off, but there is a clip on the back i suppose that you're suppose to use to keep it in, although it made no mention of it... I *wouldn't* trust to use it on a gig without a backup as there is no easy-access to the tube, so if it goes i don't want to spend any time reprogramming every patch to bypass if it goes... but i have nothing to compare with it as a backup, i guess the DOD FX-7 would always work...

Even before i had the pedal i was e-mailing them on questions/support and they got right back to me, extremely helpful and friendly.

I think this is a very good unit overal, other then the manual and power cord i have had no problems with it. I play mostly straight rock/alternative and sometimes heavier/industrial stuff, but this will work for any musical style you could think of. If i had the option to buy it again i probably would, or maybe go with the RP-7 and save the extra $$ for a new deluxe Strat! Or even sping a little more and get the 2112 which i may do anyways but at the moment i don't think it's worth that much more. I wish it had easier access to the tube, but other then that it's great. For the price range it doesn't seem like the product someone would buy for just playing in thier room or jamming with friends, but in my case i do a lot of originals that i record in my own self-built studio and play out quite often and it works great, but for just making some fun sounds and people who arn't doing a lot of gigging/recording i'd say wait for the RP-7 which i'm sure is much better suited to your budget.

Its very easy to get a good sound through it. The only thing I had to do sometimes was the factory presets had a little to much high end so I dished them down a little and it made it all the better. As for as editing goes this is the best one out there I think. Its so easy. A child could make patches and edit them. I have been working at a music store and I have seen many effects gears and racks go by and this is the kewlest one yet. The manual is pretty straight forward. I have not really looked at it yet because there is no need to. Its that easy.

Its really not that noisey through my Peavey Bandit 112. So effects were a little hisses but thats expected all you have to do is adjust the EQ on it. As fas as a little hiss which can be taked out if you work at it all 100 effects sound great. And the thing I like about it the most is the 12AX7 tube it has in it. You can select I think over like 12 distortion types. And they all sound geat.

Yes I could depend on it. Its built to last. I think its built a little better then the rp-12

Well Customer Support at Digitech is pretty good. Since I work at a music store I have to call them a few times to get parts ordered and stuff. There pretty fast sometimes a little slow but when you have a big company trying to get out effects around the world this can be expected.

Yes I would buy it again. I love the distortion types on it. the tube really makes it great. Yes I compared this to all other floor processors and several pieces of rack gear and this is the only one I found to be easy to edit and to basically do what ever you want it to. Another kewl thing is you can put your effects where ever you want them. Ex. you can put distortion first then eq and then you can put your reverbs and your flanges after the eq so your not eqing them and it makes it sound a lot better and you can do endless things with this.