DigiTech RP-300

Very easy to use if you read the manual all the way through (plus you might find features you didn't know existed). I highly suggest the RP300 because of the channel button - this makes the unit much more versatile than the other two models - I couldn't do everything I wanted without it. Once you have the sound you want (it takes a while), you can just copy the patch to a new spot and edit it from there. Based off of my original patch, I can duplicate any sound I want to, now.

This unit is so much simpler than my original set of a million pedals. With the proper foresight, the exact sound you want can be just a toe tap away, as opposed to dancing around on each individual pedal.

I am using a Marshall VS Amp along with a Squire Stagemaster and a BC Rich Warlock with Seymour Duncan pickup. It took a long while to get the sound right, but now it easily exceeds the sound from my individual pedals. The stock patches are crap, but as I said before, I took my time, and I am now able to recreate every sound I want to.

The only effect that I have issues with is the flanger, as it sounds too electronic. However, the excellent sound and options available from the other effects make this problem practically un-noticable.

The pitch shifting effects are fantastic. Previously, I had a Digitech Whammy/Wah, and was unhappy with the sound quality. This unit allows me to reproduce Morello effects 'til the cows come home.

The sounds I reproduce are mostly metal sounds, but I play a wide range of music. I have been able to cover everything from my favorite artists without a problem. Grouping patches together from specific artists lets me fly through their CDs without cramping my calves up.

No problems - although it looks like cheap plastic. I hate how it looks.

Not an issue, but I have heard good things about Digitech - their website is helpful and has patch libraries if you are having trouble narrowing in on your sound.

Other than my amp, this is the best piece of equipment I have bought. I fell in love with it at the store, and it has continued to surprise me. I never write reviews for products, but this one definitely deserved justice.

I play at a lot of different locations, so consolidating all of my pedals into two (I kept my wah pedal) has been a tremendous help. Plus, I have a much larger sound bank, and can reproduce everything.

I only wish that I had bought this before I purchased every single effect pedal out there. If you are one of those people that is constantly wondering what you can buy to tweak your sound just a little more, then stop worrying and buy this damn pedal.

And I can't forget about the drum loops. At a push of a button, you have a drummer bangin' it our through your amp. I love this feature, particularly when I'm playing with another guitarists or bassist - it just keeps us moving together in perfect harmony.

It's so cheap! It's less than two good Boss pedals!

Go buy it before it's too late!!!!!!!!!!!!

The short answer is: if you're spending $200 for some sophisticated digital electronic device--READ THE INSTRUCTIONS STUPID! If you do, this pedal is fantastic. You get some excellent patches from the factory and all can be easily adjusted with the great matrix system and 5 knobs. Take out the patches you won't ever use and put in some simple one or two effect patches and you can really round out this pedal.

Unit is very clean. The effects are great. You get lots of parameters on each effect so you can tailor them just like a quality stompbox would allow. I have a couple of Fender transitor amps that I run very clean and use the RP300 to control my sound. I use either an SG or a Strat. Both sound great and both sound different (which is good) thru the pedal. I've got patches for everything from Santana to Cream to Hendrix to the Police to AC/DC to Foo Fighters, you name it. They are all great.

Very reliable for me so far.

I think the support is great on the website. The Digitech web site is great. There is lots of good info and patch libraries that users submit their favorites to. This all makes a difference in your ability to use the device. Just take a look at Korg's for example -- it's worthless, no useful info and there are even mispelled words. I needed some info and emailed Digitech and they responded very quickly.

This kicks ass for $200. You can't duplicate the variety and quality of these sounds for 5 times that. I can even use it as a practice amp late at night and when I travel. I play all types of music, particularly classic rock and this is perfect for me. I've been playing for over 25 years. I would definitely replace it if it was stolen. Don't get the RP100 or RP200 unless you just can't afford the RP300. With the A/B amp switching, expanded display, 5 knob control matrix, rhythm trainer, learn a lick and expression pedal (and the included power supply) the RP300 is by far the best value.

Consider my first review...
Well, it's easy to use until you dont find the troubles in it.. they must work on a second version

Well.. the sound is good, but there's a lot of "bugs" on the unit. First of all the delay between patches... you have to get used to change the patch before picking the strings. Then i noticed the Pickup simulator problem. Actually it doesnt simulate any humbucker.. it just tweak the EQ to give you a fat sound... but it doesnt give the sustain or anything.. (same for single coil sim) it's just a tweak in sound. Well dont use it.. cause if you Bypass or if you go for a patch where this simulator is turned off, all the ones that have the pickup simulator on WILL NOT sound like on anymore, although the led say it's on. I just turned all of them OFF and tweaked the sound by myself. Talking about bypass, this HAS NOT the same sound as if you plug the guitar directly to the amp.. it's smoother or it changes differently anyways... what's a really bad deal because i just lost the great characteristics of my Fender. Another thing of bypass... If they tell you to leave the Amp EQ flat (all on middle) whats the point of bypassing then?! of course i DO NOT use the bypass with the EQ flat on my amp.. and it already made me tweak ALL THE PATCHES again.
THEN... the volume problem... i was using it only in home... not laud... just preparaing the unit with the sounds i wanted for the band.. but when i made it laud, i got another problem.. the sound changes EXTREMELLY... and here i go tweaking the EQ of all the patches ONE MORE TIME in a laud way.. what's very disgusting to do in home.
I still have to think of a better strategy for editing the volume in patches, the master volume and the amp volume... cause my little 30W amp is working much more than it should... it's much gain for the amp.. and it's ruining the amp when it's laud...
I guess there might any other things, but i cant remember now

You can depend on it, but dont go use it laud on a gig in the first time of your life... you'll get ashamed hehe

Could have a better FAQ

Overall, i would really REALLY like to share some ideas and information about the unit, cause i'm a little disappointed with it for now. gelio_matheus@ig.com.br

I found the RP-300 to be very easy to use, especially after reading the manual. Manual is good, and necessary!

I have a '92 Fender Strat Plus, and a Peavey Studio Pro 112. I find it sounds better thru headphones than the amp, but haven't really messed with the amp seetings much yet.

People, this thing is not metal!! It's plastic - I know, because the expression pedal broke on mine ... had to take it apart to see what happened, and one of the plastic 'rockers' inside snapped. Anyway, it's plastic, and the construction of the expression pedal is pretty cheesy once you get in there. Based on all the other reviews here, though, I plan to take it back tomorrow and get it replaced (hopefully).

Haven't needed to deal with Logitech, I've only had the unit 3 days, so I expect the music store to deal with it.

During the brief time I've had it, I've grown to love it. I'm pretty pissed about that expression pedal, but willing to give it another shot. I was thinking about a pod, but I suspect they're over-rated based on everything I've read. Do wish it had an indicator light for the a-b amp switch though.

I was able to plug in and play to my hearts content within minutes! Fortunately, I read the reviews posted here and took the advice to read the manual thoroughly before plugging in. Once I'd read the manual, it was a snap to get things going. My wife bought me the RP-300 for Christmas and I felt like I was a kid again! I played for over 4 hours in my P.J.'s! I was almost late for Dinner at Mom's.

I have a Japanese Strat with a GK 250ML. I've never been much of an effects guy. Until the RP-300, all I ever used was a DOD FX40B Equalizer to boost the gain and give my sound a bit more depth. I've been playing nearly 20 years and know what I like and I like the RP-300. I mainly play Power-Pop kinda stuff (eg: Foo Fighters), Classic Rock (eg: KISS), Alt-Pop (eg: Radiohead) and some Rockabilly/Country to boot. The RP-300 offers so many different sounds it makes it easy to replicate the sounds of these groups as well as allowing you to further personalize them. I have yet to find any problem with how any of the presets sound either through headphones or through my amp. There isn't any extraneous noise or buzzing to annoy or distract either.

As stated earlier, I have only just recently recieved my RP-300, but I don't imagine having any problems in terms of durability. The case is metal and seems relatively heavy duty. I can't believe it'd survive a 20 foot drop without a hitch, but it's durable enough for my usage. It seems reliable enough to use without a backup.

I have yet to deal with Digitech.

I play a little bit of everything and I think the RP-300 is a good match for me. My gear collection isn't vast, but I like what I do have. If my RP-300 were lost or stolen, I would replace it immediately. I love the options it gives me and I look forward to recording with it. I love the amp modeling and the variety of effects. What I don't like, and this may be due to the fact that it is still new to me, is that I can't seem to be able to copy a preset to create another and customize it further with similar basic properties. Overall, however, I feel the RP-300 is an excellent bargain at $200 US.

The first thing you should know is that the factory presets are garbage! THEY SUCK! When I first plugged in the RP-300 my initial reactions was disappointment but if you play around with all the effects and settings you can get some really great sounds from it.

I am not using it through any amp. I have been saving up for a really good amp but until they I have my headphones plugged directly into the RP-300. Just make sure you turn up all your gains and levels as you program your patches.

I play alot of Deftones, Tool, System of a Down, etc... You can simulate alot of these sounds with this effects system. Just dont expect to take it out of the box and start jamming. There is a fair amount of setup work involved if you want some really good sounds. Also, if I had to do it over I might have gone for the RP-200 instead of the RP-300 and saved the $50. There is minimal differences. Amp A-B switch (which I rarely use) and Learn-A-Lick, which slows down licks from your CD player so they are easier to learn. (I rarely use this option too)

This is very easy to use. Right out of the box you can get some killer patches. If you take the time to read the manual or just experiment with adjusting the parameters, you can get some phenomenal sounds. You need to figure out which amp types and basic setting you want. Then you can easily modify the user customizable patches for lots of great stuff.

I can't believe how great this sounds for only $200. I have guitars with humbucking pick ups and a Strat. The tonalities are subtle enough that they sound differently for both types of pickups. The amp model are amazing. If you get a patch set up and dial in the different amp models, it's incredible how they differ and each have their own sound. The effects are very good as well. And as I said before, if you take the time to work with this, it gets better all the time. It's not like a two or three knob stomp box. You get much greater variation and modification -- so it takes some skill to get it to do what you want -- but any idiot can do it, if they take the couple of hours to figure it out. The detune, chorus and delays are great. The different reverbs really sound like what they are supposed to be.

Seems solid and I've had no issues yet.

No experience here. But the web site is very good. I sent a couple of questions in and got very quick responses. The patch library is excellent.

This is a killer multi effects pedal. You need to spend a little time with it to really extract its best features but even without much effort its great. You could put it on an amp top and use it like the table top models. With its 5 parameter controls that are quick level adjustments when not programming a patch, you can use it just like an amp. I'd rather have this than a POD because of its value and versatility. I play all styles of classic rock and stuff from the 90's and current tunes as well. It works great for everything from Cream, Zeppelin, Allman Bros., Foo Fighters, Police, Yes, The Cars, AC/DC -- you name it, this can model it.

First off, let me say that this is my SECOND review for this product. My first review is below by "JASON." It's my second because, like a moron, I wrote my first review approximately 48 hours after actually GETTING the unit, and there are things beyond first impressions that you learn over time with this pedal. Now I've had it for two weeks, and that's really all you need to learn everything you need to know about it. It's still easy as pie to edit and make sounds that actually come pretty close to what you're trying to achieve. I know people that try to pin down the Metallica sound and just can't do it. I feel that I have with this machine.

Now there were a few addendums I wanted to make with this pedal in reference to my first column. In the previous review, I mistakenly said that with AMP A/B switching, you could ONLY change the amp channel row. Well, I was wrong. You can also change the EQ. But if you think you can have one channel with WAH and the other without, you're sadly mistaken. My recommendation would be to put a WAH sound in the patch directly above or below what you're using and switch to it there.

Also, my understanding of the Learn-A-Lick feature was sorely lacking. It is a great feature which allows you to record ten seconds of a song from a CD, then play it back slowed down WITHOUT CHANGING THE PITCH!!! So if you want to learn the impossible solo, you can put it into the Learn-A-Lick and slow it down so you hear all the notes! Very cool. The problem arises when you you accidentally turn on the LAL features by hitting the DOWN and A/B switch simultaneously when you don't want to. The buttons on this thing are small, and you have to really get used to where they are and how to hit them. I haven't really found out what would happen when I'm going nuts in the middle of a performance...I don't think I want to. LAL will shut off whatever patch you're in and give you no sound.

First impressions of the effects were correct...for details read my first review.

Thing's made of metal. Buttons too small. Footswitch...dunno yet.
See below for details.

Great website.

www.digitech.com

Check out their patch library.

Please see my first review if there's anything that is unclear in this one.

This pedal is the easiest thing to use since a ketchup squirt bottle. There are different assignments for each of the five knobs. Hitting "select" will change the row, and just follow the column to the parameter you want. When you get it, you'll understand. Just believe me when I say you'll be editing right out of the box.

EQUIPMENT: Gibson Les Paul Special (P100s); Fender Deluxe 90 amp

This'll be a long section, since the sound is everything, right?

Well, as with all digital effects pedals, there are many cheesy preset patches. Some of the names they give these things are questionable..."Angus," which is supposed to sound like AC/DC is pretty weak, among others. I'm a big AC/DC fan, so that stands out to me. But here's how the patches work. There are 80. The first forty and the last forty are exactly the same. The first 40 are editable. This is great because if you edit over a good preset, you can still go up the dial and find it again.

Now, the reason I got this pedal over the RP200 is the Amp channel switching. This is a lovely f**kin' feature! What it does is it allows you to have two sounds (e.g., a distorted and clean sound) in one patch. Now, bear in mind that the ONLY THING you can change in each patch is the AMP MODEL row. So if you want a clean tone with oodles of reverb, and a heavy distorted sound with none...oh, well! The effects, reverb, delay, EQ will all remain the same! So keep that in mind. But I play in a cover band and this A/B switch is a godsend! System of a Down! No problem! Want to play "The Unforgiven" by Metallica? Never leave a single patch! Simply beautiful.

Now for the effects themselves. Far and away the best is the reverb section, which offers many different types. Room, hall, spring, arena, CHURCH, among others! The reverb is awesome! The delay, which as an effect I have never found useful, is pretty good as well. Some of the other effects are pretty good, and can controlled by the footswitch. So the effects are usable and real, which is rare these days with these kinds of pedals. The noise gate really does stop the noise when you're not playing! But when you are, it doesn't! It's pretty intelligent as far as that goes.

Also, there's a rhythm trainer which plays a simulated drum beat to keep time. Tempo can be changed and there are several different beats to choose from. To tell you the truth, I haven't really tried the "Learn-A-Lick" feature.

If I had my way, I'd pay less for this exact unit without the pedal. I'm not an effects-head; I prefer to use some good distortion mixed with a clean tone. I like songs that use both to great effect. So the main feature that I love is the A/B switch.

This unit is made of metal, but the footswitch looks flimsy. Since I don't really use it that much, I don't know how it would hold up. But the rest of the unit seems solid.

I've never dealt with their support team, but their website is really good, featuring a section where people send in patches of their music and sounds.

Overall, this unit is really nice and versatile. I can't say enough of the Amp Channel Switching. The effects are usable and varied, and with a good clean channel on your amp, you can go places with this thing.

The RP-300 is extremelly easy to use.. you just have to plug it on power supply and use it! If you can't do that, you should look for help.. (with a psychologist..) hehe j/k!! It's so simple to edit patches too. And the manual is quite resumed (I've been looking for something on it and it didn't have it) but still very good. I'm just giving a 9 cause since I'm brazilian, I don't know some of the technic words in english, so... it would deserve a 10 if they have made it in several languages. My version is 1.0 and hopefully they won't upgrade cause I'll get bored.. hehehehe

I use a Fender American Standard, a Dunlop Cry Baby, a Meteoro - Thor 30W practicing amp (made in Brazil), and sometimes, a Boss OS-2 OverDrive/Distortion pedal, and... seems stupid, but I can't remember the last time I went buy cables for my guitar!!.. so.. i also use Santo Angelo cables, with a loooong warranty, which i know i wont have to use! It's a little bit noisy.. cause I like enough gain.. so i'm using noise gate in all distorted patches... But oh well.. Single Coils wouldnt be faithfull if they didnt make noise! hehehe The Effects are ok i guess... Although, i expected i little bit more before checking it on the store.. like: the Pitch Shifter... I thought i would be able to make cool duets like in iron maiden, but it's not what ppl call "intelligent".. it doesnt follow the scales and stuff... i dont use it... the whammy... I thought i would be able to make different tunes to my guitar, (like playing some Guns, SRV, all half step down tuned) but it doesnt sound good... the both tunes come out from the amp.. and it sounds i play worse than i already do.. haha! plus.. it doesnt even have half way (i guess, after 5 months looking for it heheh) so i have to use some patch like limpy and configure the whammy... the Yaya is great! i cant wait more a while before buying a talk box! It's great to play Sweet Emotion hehe... The wah is weak.. but i dont care, i have a Dunlop! hehehehe... Oh! yeah... they could make Acoustic lauder..... I got some patches that REMINDS the original bands.. (any Van Halen yet, but hopefully someday) Like Pink Floyd, Randy Rhoads, Iron Maiden, Zakk Wylde, Slash, SRV. And i would love to trade patches with ppl.. (since the library is so poor yet, but it's going okay) The point is, i always loved Mesa Boogie amps, andnow i can have something like this with Rectifier! the best in my opinion.. i can't argue about some effects, cause unfortunatelly i dont know how touse it often (like panner, rotary, tremolo, and even the whammy, that i fighted with heheh) I'm giving a 9 cause it completelly revolutioned my sound!

Alright, it's metal and stuff, but it scares me! The expression pedal... uuuhh..first time i used i almost got freak cause of the noise.. i thought it was breaking!! well... and i'm so bad lucky! once i took out the cable from my guitar and it fell over the matrix... scared me again, but nothing happened.. Oh sure.. the Dunlop wah (so much more METAL than this hehe) hit beside it once, and a very little piece of paint had to say bye... not a big deal! Alright! it is strong! I can and i will depend on it, and would use without a backup!!! i would buy strings instead!!

Just.. once i was walking around FAQ's for RP-300 and it seemed useless for me... i just asked for a "friend" of mine that works for Digitech and Fender imports and he'll e-mail me hopefully... I was just using the pedal and.. noticed.. what i could call a bug... Well, for example: When I'm using my main patch (MESA-01) which is programmed to simulate a humbucker, the simulator do its job! but then, i go to another patch (CLEAN1-05 for example...) which I do not use pickup simulation. Well, it works not simulating anything, so it's good 'till here.. BUT, when i go back to my main patch (MESA-01) the pickup simulator is not on the sound anymore, even if the light says it's on, it doesnt sound like being on! So i have to turn on the pedal again or store the main patch one more time... not hard job but sucks! Another thing is... I DON'T KNOW IF IT CAN DE DONE, but, i wish i could be able to change the pattern volume when i turn on my pedal, cause 34 is way way too much for me in home... i use 10!! and sometimes i wake ppl up with the noise! If anyone here knows about one of these things, please, e-mail me!!! (gelio_matheus@yahoo.com.br) So that we can talk about other things of the pedal too! the ones i'm forgetting now! heheh Ok, i'll give an 8 cause of the FAQ's... OH SURE!!! by the way!! the upgrade is included on the Custmer Support here... What does it mean?? If they upgrade i'll be able to get it with support or BUY A NEW VERSION??? Thanks for who will answer me hehe

I play rock'n'roll, heavy metal, blues, etc... and the pedal is great for me to play this! I play for three years only, but have made some little shows already. I have, plus, an special gear.. hehe A TUNER!!! by Cort... cause the one in Digitech... i just ignore it!!!!! Same as i still dont find what is it about the jam along... it cant even put both volumes (radio and guitar) the same by itself! I would buy it again... NO, i would buy it first time, cause this one i got from my girlfriend as i said.. (she's from canada, so it's cheap for her... in Brazil it's very expensive!!) she gave me the Dunlop too!! I'll marry her!! hehehehe I love and hate many things on it,asyou could notice on the whole review... but there's mostly things that i love... It could like.. clean the strings of my guitar and lub. it too but oh well... hehehe..! I chosen this one cause i as thinking about buying a new amp, but this pedal just plugged on PA really rocks!!!!! The amp simulation is very very good!! i didnt get RP-100 or 200 cause it sucks.. i would regret!! I wish i could edit the factory presets.... or if the A/B channelcould be completelly dependant, not only EQ and Amp. V-Switch is cool! i wish it could have the Talker, Intelligent Pitch, some detuning system for all the string and only some of them, and something to like.. record some lick, and then play over it... BUT THAT'S TOO MUCH HEHEHE... dream dream dream... It doesnt help me have ideas of music, but it makes my music sound so much better...! Well... i wish nice ppl could send me e-mails to trade ideas and information... and well... if someone can tell me how the hell this user group works, i would thank for the help... Thanks ya folks!