DigiTech RP-300

Easy to use

Very acceptable sound quality. The tube amp modeling is pretty close to the real thing.
I use a 72 thinline tele and a 72 strat with a Hot Rod Deluxe amp.
It is pretty quiet at lo volume.

Not sure. This is the first effect box I've bought in fifteen years.

No need yet.

I was looking for a tube sound I could play at home at lo volumes.
What I really like is the fact that you don't need an amp at all: just plug in your guitar and put on some headphones. I can practice any time- day or night- without freaking out the neighbors. My practice time has tripled.

I'm not too keen on the distorto effects but it is nice to know they are there if I want them.

I especially like the "tweedy" effect. It sounds like the old tweed Princeton I had as a kid.

I would reccommend this box to anyone who is cramped for playing time. It can help you make the most out the limited time you have.

I haven't spent any time modifying effects or making my own but I suspect that I'll start tinkering with it the longer I have it.

This is my second review. I still keep the 9 for ease of use. I feel it is EXTREMELY user friendly.

I've decided to return this unit. Although it has some very good sounds, etc. it just sounded muddy through my rig. I could not use the cabinet emulation at all! If I did, my tone was sucked dry. My tone sounded as if I was far away--not an "in your face" tone at all. To make my review brief, the more I attempted to tweak my tone or use all of the features, the less satisfied I was with the unit. All in all, only the distortions and the wahs were decent for me. I decided to go for the SansAmp GT2 and get a good wah.

I believe it will last as long as it is treated somewhat well.

I just wasn't happy overall with it. That's just my taste/opinion for this pedal. Although extremely useful overall and with many features, it just wans't for me.

First, the manual does not include data on the default settings. And I believe that without being able to ?view? how each patch is built, it becomes somewhat difficult and tedious to tweak settings. One has a tendency to turn knobs to extremes while trying to find their perfect tone setting. With default setting data, coupled with listening to the patch, you can ?see? and ?hear? what makes one setting sound good to you, and then use this as an aid in constructing your own unique patches. For instance, did you know that two effects are not turned-on for any of the default patches? (Pickup & Cabinet-Mic).

So, I have assembled two 10-page PDF files (one Black & White, the other Color) that lists all of the default settings for each individual patches (41 ? 80) for the RP300. I had sent these files to DigiTech for their manual download area, received a ?thank you? but doubt that they will post them. Therefore, send me an email if you are interested in receiving a free email copy.

Second, now on to my review.

The manual provided covers all the bases except for the default patch settings. Do you need to read it to make music? Nope! But eventually (when the tips of your fingers begin to bleed and your wife complains you haven?t eaten in days) you will gravitate towards this manual. It will explain the how?s and why?s, and the pieces of the puzzle we begin to fall into place.

TIP: Be aware that each patch has the ability for individual equalization settings on both Channel A and B. So if you think your unit will not ?hold? your EQ tweaking, double check which channel you tweaked and stored.

I originally had intended to purchase the RP100, then the RP200, but when the RP300 came out, I just could not pass it up. All 3 have virtually the same base sound quality, with the addition of a few extra features for a few extra dollars. Note: Had also considered the ZOOM 707 and the DOD VGS50. Although both were less expensive, the reviews here on Harmony-Central helped me decide on RP300. Thank you all!

Out of the box, it is an amazing sounding effects pedal, no doubt due in part to the 24 bit processing. I have used individual stomp-boxes in the past, and this has replaced them all. I don?t mind loosing the ability to have two ?modulation effects?. And for those who feel cheated that they can not use the Chorus + Flanger + Vibrato, well you need to buy individual ?stomp-boxes? then. In most instances, you shouldn?t use chained mod effects. I don?t see this as a limitation to this effects pedal, just a caveat to those who wish to purchase these types of devices, but are not fully aware of their capabilities. One special effect, + Delay, and/or Reverb, EQ, Amp Modeling, Noise Gate, and assigned expression pedal is enough signal processing for me. Remember this is only a $200 portable device, not an $800 rack mount back breaker. Considering my first effect pedal (MXR Phase 90) cost me $100 back in 1974, this device has a lot of bang-for-the-buck.

TIP: I will also suggest for each patch, you must try the expression pedal in both the down and up positions. Most patches have the pedal set for ?pre-volume?, but some patches have it set for a modulation (or other) effect parameter. Try it. A patch you disliked, my be one that now becomes a working tool for you.

The amp modeling is another real asset. Does it sound just like the real thang? Not really, but boy do they sound very close to the amp being modeled. If you got to have that real sound, then buy the 12 amps. Ain?t got the money you say? Or the room to store them? Then buy one of these? Most should be extremely satisfied.

Too early to tell? I would use it without a backup. Then again, I?m not afraid to move air with only a guitar + amp. Let me rephrase that, the right guitar + the right amp. I do like that is made out of metal and not plastic. But this could be only a psychological perception of reliability.

Have sent 3 emails to DigiTech and receive next day responses. Their web site is more than adequate and I highly recommend anyone intending to purchase one of the RPxxx pedals to go there. It will provide you with the basic similarities and differences of these devices.

The RP series has the ability to duplicate and/or create numerous sounds. While not all of them would be considered ?musical?, to say the least, the are certainly all ?fun?.

WISH LIST:
1) Amp switching feature: A light to indicate when you are in Channel A or Channel B. Better yet, add one more character to the display.
2) Learn-A-Lick feature activation. Move this to a dedicated button, it is too easily activated unintentionally.
3) Rhythm Trainer: Option for a separate output for a dedicated amp.


Overall, the RP300 is one exceptional device, a lot of value for the money. I can?t believe all of the possibilities that are at my finger (and toe) tips. Go buy one today. And my wife is handing me band-aids for my fingers, and wants me to eat something!

In this review I will break down the RP300, in great detail, as I see it and as I?ve experienced it. This thing is very new and has only been out a month or two so I myself haven?t had it but a couple weeks, but I have played with it constantly and read all through the manual. I?m guessing if you?re looking at this model then you?re probably looking at the RP100 and RP200 too to see if the extra money is worth it. I?m going to try to focus a lot on this to help those people. By the way, I do not work for Digitech. I?m just someone who owns this board and who has gigged with it a few times.

It was pretty easy to use when I first go it, I was programming as soon as I got home--I did have to refer to the manual though. The manual is small but good--explains everything step by step. The RP300 has 40 editable memory patches (1-40) and 40 preset patches that are NOT EDITABLE (41-80). That kind of pissed me off because when I bought it I thought ALL the patches were editable. The patches are arranged with a 6-character alpha-numerical name and then a number (examples: STACKD 64, 5THS 28). Both the editable presets and the un-editable are the same; this means ?SOLO 1? and ?SOLO 41? are the same, and so on. You can edit the first one but the other will be there forever. This sucks because all the presets aren?t perfect, and I?d rather have 80 editable patches anyway. The unit is a version 1.0 and as far as I know Digitech has not issued any upgrades.

Tweaking is easy when referring to the manual. Since it only has room for 6 letters the 300 uses a lot of abbreviations and if you don?t have the manual when editing it can get a little confusing as to what something means. The RP300?s LCD is large and glows brightly so it?s easy to see in the dark when gigging. One notable difference between the 100, 200, and 300 is that the 100 has only two numbers to identify each patch; the 200 has only 6 letters that tell you the name of the patch; but the 300 has BOTH making it more easier to navigate than the 200, and more user friendly than the 100. By the way someone said that you can?t change the effect order. This is not true, you use the blue UP/DOWN buttons to select where to save it. You have to save over another patch though; still, you can change the order.

One of the main reasons I chose this over the 200 and 100 was because of the ?AMP A-B? button. It?s the 3rd big blue button that?s not included on the others. What it does is it lets you switch to a different tones without changing sound patches. For instance, say you want to play a song that uses a clean Fender-type tone and then you want to throw on some heavy Marshall-style overdrive. Instead of placing a clean sound and a distorted sound next to each other (ex. CLEAN 14, DIRTY 15) you can do this by hitting the ?AMP A-B? button. This saves you from using up two patches and let?s you do it all in one patch.

Another cool thing about the RP300, that?s not on the 100 or 200, is the ?V-Switch?. The V-Switch let?s you change the usage of the pedal to a Wah Wah whenever you want. It turns on similar to how you turn on a CryBaby--by applying pressure to toe. To avoid accidentally turning it on you can adjust the V-Switch?s sensitivity to your liking whenever you plug it in (refer to manual). In an RP200 review I seen someone say the V-Switch is ?not very useful,? or something to that effect. I, on the other hand, find it very useful. I can use the pedal as a volume pedal, or to control the gain of the amp I?m modeling, then whenever I want I just turn on the wah if I decide to use it on a solo. Everyone I showed the V-switch to has been impressed. The RP300 has three different types of wahs that can be used with the V-Switch: CRY (Simulates a traditional sounding CryBaby Wah), BOUTIQ (A more modern sounding wah), and FULRNG (Sweeps ?the entire spectrum of audible frequencies?). The only wah that I like is the BOUTIQ. I have a CryBaby and it?s version sucks compared to my real on

I use a 1962 Reissue Standard Strat fitted with DiMarzio Virtual Vintage pickups. From there I go to the RP300 to my Limited Edition Jimi Hendrix wah (made by Dunlop, essentially a CryBaby) to an all-tube amp--a Fender Blues Junior, modified with a Celestion Vintage 30 speaker (which I mic through a P.A.).

I strongly agree with the people who?ve said that this unit has some pretty good distortions. On a personal note: I bought this at the same time I bought my amp. After spending many hours trying out different amps in my price range it finally came down to an all-tube Fender amp, and to a Marshall that was tube pre-amp. The Marshall had an excellent overdrive tone but muffled sounding cleans. The Fender was the opposite--awesome cleans but very shitty/muddy distortions. The thing was I also wanted an multi-effects pedal and since the RP series had great distortions I went with the Fender so I could have a more well-rounded setup. Anyway..

The patches are so quiet, other than the fuzz and a few of the overdrives there is no buzz or hiss. The pickup simulator also works good, I?ve never tried to simulate single coils, but I have used the humbucker simulator with my strat and I liked the way it sounded--gave it a much ?fatter? tone. I also think the amp modeling sounds good, but my ear isn?t too familiar with the real thing so I won?t go into any comparisons. Here are the twelve different Amp Modelings, and what they supposed to sound like (based on what the manual says). ?BLKFAC? is based on a ?65 Fender Twin Reverb, ?BOUTIQ? is based on a Matchless DC30, ?RECTIF? on a Mesa Dual Rectifier, ?HOTROD? on a Mesa Boogie Mark II C, ?TWEED? on a ?57 Fender Tweed Deluxe, ?CLEAN1? on a Vox AC30 top boost, ?CLEAN2? is based on ?a clean tube combo setting,? ?STACK? on a Marshall JCM900, ?CRUNCH? is based on ?a nice crunchy combo,? ?HIGAIN? on a Johnson JM150 High Gain, ?FUZZ? on ?a vintage fuzz distortion,? ?ACOUST? on ?a flat top acoustic guitar.? Someone said that almost all the presets have a delay on them. A lot of them do, but to turn it off all you have to do is push one button then turn a knob--I don?t see what the big deal was. Here?s my review of the Presets, I suggested tweaking any presets that you aren?t 100% satisfied with:

SOLO 1/41 - Has a delay (which is good for soloing), channel B is much heavier and louder than channel A. I really like the crunch of B. I added chorus and tweaked it into a setting called ?GILMOU 1?, which is my David Gilmour tone.

CLSCLN 2/42 - ?Classic Clean? is very nice. B has a chorus effect and sounds beautiful--one of my favs. A is similar but has a little more gain.

CHUNKY 3/43 - Has a good rock sound if the other patches are too heavy for you. Channel A sounds particularly good turned up.

PEDLYA 4/44 - ?Pedal Ya? isn?t as terrible as some people have said. Digitech claims it?s a combination of ?a wah and a flanger.? I never will use it live or on a recording but it?s fun to play with when you?re messing around.

SCOOP 5/45 - A good Hard Rock/Metal sound when the gain is up. The pedal is used to adjust the gain so you can morph from clean to crunch. The only bad thing is the crunch is way way way louder than the clean.

OCTSUB 6/46 - ?Octa Sub? plays the note that you?re playing, but plays it one octave lower so your guitar has a lot of boom. I don?t use this because I don?t like the way it sounds.

WAHSUP 7/47 - ?Wahs Up? is your basic RP-300 Wah; one channel is dirty, one is clean. I don?t use this patch because I can use the V-Switch at anytime. Note: The V-Switch turns the wah off.

LIMPY 8/48 - ?Limpy? uses a heavy and a crunch sound that?s supposed to resemble Limp Bizkit, I think. What this patch does is it tunes your guitar down a step automatically to DGACAD. (It does too, perfectly!) This is nice because when I?m in Dropped D I can use it to play Godsmack?s ?Whatever,? which is in ?Dropped C?!! Did I mention this thing is great for metal?

COWPIE 9/49 - Channel A sounds thin a

As many people have said, this thing is made out of METAL. Which means it is very sturdy and would only break if the moon crashed into the earth. The only problem I?ve had with it is the pedal can be harder to rock than it should be. Sometimes it squeaks and makes loud noises too, but not always. It started doing this the day I brought it home.. not good! >=( I?ve already tweaked it too much to take it back; I don?t want to start from scratch again. So the squeaking is not a huge problem, but it is annoying. Would I gig without a backup? Yes, it?s all I got... I have no choice!

I never had to deal with them...yet. If you loose your manual you can download a free copy from Digitech?s homepage (www.digitech.com). That?s nice, though you probably won?t need it.

The RP300 is my first effects processor. I play all types of stuff, mostly classic/hard rock/grunge and post-grunge/semi-metal like Creed. I?ve been playing for almost exactly 2 years now. If it were lost or stolen I?d probably cry because it cost $200. If I had the extra money, I?d probably replace it. The Wahs aren?t awesome but useable (particularly the BOUTIQ) besides that?s why I have a CryBaby too. The distortions and overdrives are great for Metal and Hard Rock and the effects are equally great, such as the chorus and phaser. If I could redesign the RP300 I?d make the big blue buttons a little further apart, I?d leave UP + DOWN as the bypass, but I?d make the UP + AMP A-B into the tuner mode and make a separate button for the Learn-A-Lick. (It?d be similar to the rhythm button--out of the way!) The tuner is decent, but unreliable.. so I?d also try to improve the tuner.

Generally speaking, the street value of a new RP300 costs about $200, while the RP200 is about $150, and the RP100 about $100 (depending on your area). Even though the RP300 has many idiosyncrasies the most important factors to remember are the strength of the effects, it?s versatility, and the price. This is why I bought the RP300 and why I rated it as high as I did. For me it was worth the money. Whether or not it is for yourself is up to you and only you--so go to the music store and try it out. I hope I helped. For more information read other reviews and visit Digitech's homepage. As a final note I?d like to wish you good luck in choosing a new multi-effects processor.

This augments my first review. I forgot to mention the
drum loops are very useful for jamming, improvising, and composing.
I have discovered though that the TUNER IS USELESS. THE WORST TUNER
I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. Utterly shameful!!!!

this augments my 1st review.

this augments 1st review

..........

Great distortions. Easy to program. Drum loops are fun.
BUT THE TUNER IS UTTERLY PUTRID. Shockingly poor tuner.

Wow. The models on this are wonderful. I just plugged in and went through all the patches. Sounds great. Then I tried to edit. Ok, but you can't change the effect order, or use more than one at a time. The manual is good, but the section on the rhythm trainer is a bit short.

I use a les paul copy from Austin into the rp 300 into a peavey 5150 combo. I still get the warm tube tone, but the pedal is awesome. I liked most of the patches from the factory, and the distortions are wonderful. Not quite as full as the 5150, but definitly usable. Only a 9 because the presets almost all have delay on them (I don't use delay) and because they have different volume levels. Switching can cause a spike in volume, and I have a small child at home. Not good. Also, there is still some hiss on the high gain settings, but a good noise gate in the effects loop of the amp solves that.

It is metal. Let me repeat, IT IS METAL! This thing feels like it could take a few and still belt it out. The jacks on the back could be better, as they are plastic and not secured very well to the METAL casing, but if you drop this, it will keep going. (I know this for a fact! Thanks cat for the experiment)

Have not called yet. Thing keeps going so I don't call.

Bang for the buck. That is what it is all about. I considered lots of different products before deciding on this (from a catalog no less!). I did not play it because there were none available before I ordered it, so I went based on other reviews, product similarities (rp 100, rp 200) and descriptions of what it could do. Price/performace just seemed to add up better than other products such as the Toneworks ax100g, ax1g, the digitech rp 3, rp 200, rp 100, the dod gs30, the boss me-30 or buying several stomp boxes and linking them. I wanted something I could use for many years to come as I am a poor (read: semi-pro musician) person with a wife and kid. This thing does all that I wanted and more, and I believe I can edit it until I turn grey (couple of months, tops!) and still have options I haven't tried. I have been playing for 7 years and I play everything. Mostly rhythm but I am learning (oh so slowly) leads. Heavy metal may give way to accustical ballad to fifties jangle to classical finger picking. This pedal gives me enough options to do it all, and pretty good sound too!

I JUST got this pedal delivered today from UPS. This will be 1-of-2 reviews. This first review is just from initial use and in a month or longer I'll review again to give a different perspective. I think this is the only fair way to truly review a product. I played through this unit about 3.5 hours before this review. I did not read the manual--I truly pulled from the box, plugged it in, and played. It is EXTREMELY EASY to use!!! Having owned a Line 6 AX2 may have helped me, since the set-up to achieve tones is similar. The LED display clearly indentified the effect name, etc. To create your own preset was easy. I give it a 9 due to the fact that with the wah I would accidently change channels by rocking back to hard on the wah pedal. I believe there is a way to shut this off, but again--I have not read the manual yet.

I'm running this through a 160 watt keyboard amp. I ran it both straight into the amp as well as through the effect return. From an emulation standpoint--this unit is incredible for the price!!! Some of the preset tones are far more superior than the Line 6 AX2. I just sold a Mesa DC-2 (Studio Caliber). The "Boogie" preset is almost IDENTICAL to my Mesa!!! Although not as responsive to picking attack, I found the RP300 to be very close. We must also realize that a digital effect unit will NEVER create the nuances of a real tube amp. That's why the words "emulation" and "simulation" are used. I'm sooooo tired of people complaining about the tones of digital units to not be "exact." They can't be--completely. But, overall, this pedal is tremendous and I think it will decrease the sales of the POD!! I feel it is that good!! It might even put the RP2000 in for a running too due to the $100 difference. I found the wahs to be a tad thin, but every wah I've owned has made my tone thin in one way or another. I would say about 80% of the presets are easily usable. I'm positive I'll be tweaking EVERYTHING, but from just plugging in an playing--most are good to very good. There were very few presets that made me go "ugh! that sucks!" Also, presets are to be used as a reference. It appears to be very quiet when recording. The tones do sound more "beasty" through headphones. I only recorded the guitar straight--no drums,etc. added. I found the RP300 very quickly to be a useful tool for me recording, etc. I don't play live anymore, but I MIGHT use this live if I still did. It was a bit prone to feedback when I got within 3 feet from the amp/pedal with my amp on 7.

I'm giving it a 8 just from looks. I'm betting it will get a higher rating the next time I review it. It appears to be all metal--very sleek, yet rugged looking. It must be due to its width, but it seems to be much more sturdy looking than the RP100 or RP200. They are identical looking, made the same, etc.--but I feel this unit to be more sturdy like the RP2000. I doubt there will be issuing with it. Mechanically, I've used/owned other digitech items---like the bunny, they just keep on going, and going, and going...

I've never dealt with them. I've heard they are easy to work with, but I won't comment since I personally do not have experience. The website is extremely nice looking and helpful.

For $200, I think this pedal is perfect for me and a real bargain. The tones are very workable and good sounding!! I was hoping this pedal would be like the RP2000, but only $100 cheaper. I would say this is the case. The whammy and wahs are better on the RP2000, but the amp models were identical to my ears. The amp models are the most important to me anyway. I found the effects (chorus, flange, phase) to be very good and useful. The phase is particularly good in my opinion.

Very easy as there are five knobs with all parameters written above them. Gain bass mid and treble and level are available in regular
play mode. Footswitches and too close together, you don't want to go into learn a lick mode in the middle of a gig so be careful!!

I like the distortions better than on my RP14D, but all the effects
and especially the pitch change and reverbs are weaker on the 300.
But for the price of $190. you've got a damn good distortion modeler
at your feet in a stomp box. The rp300 also has a parametric mid
so if you like to tweak your metal zone you will get similar tonal variations. The rectified and stack models are great in my opinion,
better than other rectified models which have too much of a squawk sound . Why the vox ac30 (clean 1)model will not distort is beyond me,don't they know Brian May used vox ac30's in Queen??!! The only good vox distortion I've heard modeled is in the Boss GT3 but that thing is too damn complex!

Seems sturdy for the price, but hardly the brick that my yamaha dg stomp is. Zoom really filled their pants with the ultra wimpy 505II!

I'm too lazy for that.

The best distortion in a stomp box and with the parametric eq I'm thinking it's going to outdo the forthcoming boss amp factory.

Simple user interface makes it simple to setup and save patches.
Model is v1.0
User manual has all the settings for all fx controls

Very clean sound on a Kustom X stereo poweramp on Acoustic speakers.
It sounds just as good on my Ovation K6200 bass amp.
I use a Gibson ES125T and a Danelectro Hodad,and a jap strat copy and they all kick ass.
This thing does it all!!
The big seller for me was the stereo outs, this thing rocks , if ya got surround sound it will flip you out!!
Have not hooked the bass yet a Ibanze pl-5050 with active eq.
No wimpy stuff here.

This box is metal....hummm why do I like that.
I will tell you, a metal box with a metal bottom will not pick up hum,
and if you are a grounding freek you can ground it...cool.
And I would gig with no backup, but I got Big Balls.
Its new so I will tell all of ya if it breaks.

NEW NEW NEW NEW
not yet.....nice website.

My music is metal-ish ,heavey at times,not so at others.
I am 44 years old and got my 1st git in 3rd grade, you do the math im to busy with my RB-300.
I could tell you about my other gear but then I would have to kill you,to much to list and thats not what we are here for.
If it were stolen or lost I fear for the taker. A replacement yes. rp-300.
I looked a others but I don't talk about it. I like all the stuff it does.
I will say "go to your fav.git. shop and ask to play with one, then you can see how easy they are to setup,the factoy sounds are good 40 of them and a copy od the 40 user can mod.
The pedal on mine was a little stiff and 2 small shots of Tri-flow fixes that.
The stereo headfone Jack is a rocker too.

pretty straight forward you are stuck with the order of fx but it seems ok

all the fx are convincing, the wammy has to have a good hard struck note to hold onto ---then do you dive bomb,i am a/b comparing with my silver face pro reverb and it seems to still suffer from the digital edge that you allways get from these units---but the 24 bit proccessing at least makes it useable
i am going to use on the end of my fx chain and then straight into my pro reverb, so i can bypass it ,and hopefully get a a nicer tone on some of the more bluesy stuff--i dont think the bypass is a TRUE one
so i may end up having to make a splitter box /switch i will just have to see how it goes

wait and see

wait and see

i think it will be of some use as i work in all styles
the acoustic gtr simulation is going to be good for live work
the wammy is fun and its good to have a usable phaser for once