ISP Technologies Decimator G String Pedal

Compared to the original ISP Decimator the G-String version is a bit more complicated when hooking it up but if you follow the supplied one page diagram it works just as it's supposed too.

I use Fender Stratocasters, and Telecasters as well as Gibson Les Pauls. This all runs into my pedalboard and finally into a Green Eagle Amplifiers boutique 40 watt combo. I have Marshall's and several other amps that I use depending on the venue. The ISP Decimator G-String keeps everything nice and quiet and more importantly doesn't affect the tone coming from the guitars I use. My group plays blues, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, original rock and metal so being able to cover a lot of ground using overdrives and distortion pedals is crucial to my sound. It also can cause a lot of hum and noise issues and for that reason I employ the ISP Decimator G-String in my signal paths to keep everything quiet without sacrificing tone.

I don't believe it would ever not be dependable! It's well built and I keep my gear in top notch condition and in roadcases. I would use without a backup however I do have a Boss NS-2 which I'd hate to go back to using! I can't imagine not using the ISP Decimator G-String and wouldn't want to have to do it either!

I had a few questions concerning the ISP Decimator G-String before purchasing one. I emailed the company and the owner/designer was prompt in emailg me back with a response! So I'd have to say they are very proactive in keeping their customers happy contrary to some reports on here that I've read.

My group plays blues, blues rock, classic rock, hard rock, original rock and metal. I've been playing for more than 30 years. If it were stolen I'd immediately go and buy another one to replace it! I love the fact that my guitar rig is completely quiet regardless of the pedals I have turned on or the guitar I'm playing, It doesn't "tone suck" like other noise suppressors (Boss NS-2), when playing on clean amp settings it doesn't kill the sustain from the guitar, you never have to turn it off and it has only one knob to adjust. What more could you possibly want? It makes playing in any venue now a joy! I never worry about bad wiring in clubs or neon lights and stuff. It makes it easy for me to concetrate on the music and the performance!

Manual provides basic set up wiring diagram.

Checking ISP Technologies Resource page FAQ, the following tip is provided.

Q: Where is the best place in the FX chain to place the Decimator (Rack or Pedal)?

A: The best place is typically after any high gain signal source such as an Overdrive/Distortion Pedal or strait into the FX loop of the amplifier. In the FX loop, it should be the first thing in the FX chain to capture hiss from the pre-amp in the amplifier. It is not recommended to be placed after Delay or Reverb effects as the Decimator's downward expansion can dig into the delay or delay effects.

The G string eliminates noise/hum accurately, just adjust the dB threshold setting dial until the noise floor becomes inaudible. Feedback occurrence is reduced (near eliminated, except for extreme gain settings) too.

Trial and error test was conducted to determine most efficient placement of the ISP G-String pedal.
The ISP G-string users manual documents Dec-In (connected to AMP's Send) || Dec-Out (connected to AMP's Return) are designed to be placed within an AMP's FX Loop. Testing proved that when short instrument cables (3 foot) are used, no noise was injected onto the AMP's FX Loop signal path. However, extending the FX Loop Cables to 21 feet to place the ISP G-String pedal at the pedal board, unwanted noise was induced due to the length of FX cabling (Monster Rock cables utilized).

Final placement, the ISP G-string positioned on the pedal board managing the high gain pedal chain to remove any induced hum/hiss.
Working Configuration: Guitar > ISP Guitar In || ISP Guitar Out > Blackstar DX > Ibanez TS9DX > ISP Dec In || ISP Dec Out > Remaining Pedal board FX Effects Chain (Verbzilla/Echo Park/Volume pedal) > Amp.

Owned the pedal for 3 months no issue to report. Unit built very rugged and good quality hardware components used to manufacture (Boss type enclosure and stomp mechanism). Unit is powered by an external 9Vdc supply, can not report on battery life rating.

No experience. User Guide pamphlet provides clear and easy instructions on how to make a warranty claim.

Music played Christian Rock, Metal. The ISP G-string pedal works well to quite the high gain effects noise. Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR (active EMG's) played through Mesa Stiletto Deuce and Mesa 4x12 Cab, Pedals Blackstar DX, Ibanez TS9DX, Line 6 Echo Park and Verbzilla. Yes, the ISP G-String is worthy to be purchase again. Easy to use and effective noise reduction device. Have not physically compared to other products. One common issue mention regarding noise reduction products, threshold adjustments are necessary when gain levels change, this issue/concern is not experienced with the ISP G-string pedal. With the ISP G-string pedal managing noise induced by my high gain pedals, I enjoy a very quite idle Amp output and no audible feedback squeal.

Easy to hook up. The guitar IN and OUT are both on the same side (right side). The Decimator OUT is also on the right side. You can't use all angle plugs because there is no room with the 3 inputs all next to one another. Also, since the guitar in and out are on the same side, you have to wrap a longer connector around the other side to the next pedal. There is one knob, which controls the thrshold. Very easy to use.

It is comparable to the BOSS NS-2. The difference between the two is that BOSS makes the tone a bit heavier the further you turn the dial. The G String does so as well, but not quite as much. If you play metal rhythm through a tube amp, you may like the NS=2 better, because it makes the tone sound slightly more like a solid state metal tone. The NS-2 allows you to tweak the decay. The G String does not, but it seems to figure out the decay needed accurately by itself. I tried the two different recommended configurations using a very high gain Diezel Herbert amp and a Boss Metal Zone pedal modded by Keeley.

The GOOD: The pedal works well when used with guitar and pedals BEFORE the amp. Guitar In from guitar. Guitar Out to pedal chain. From the last pedal, go back into the Decimator In. Then from the Decimator Out, plug into the amp.

The BAD: When using the Decimator ports (in from amp "send" and out to the amp "return," my experience was very disappointing. The only reason I purchasedthe pedal was because they advertise you can use it both before the preamp and after the preamp in the effects loop, to eliminate preamp gain noise. I have been using a Boss NS-2 at the end of my effects loop. It does okay, but it still lets some noise through when not in play. Unfortunately, the G String made a terrible noise while connected to the effects loop, something like ground loop hum and buzz. It actually INCREASED the noise considerably. The noise was present even when I cranked the threshold all the way to the right. I used it with a battery to make sure the noise was not a problem with a power supply. I'm not sure what the deal is. I did not experience this problem by using the configuration in front of the preamp... only when in the effects loop. The Boss NS-2 in the same spot in the effects loop, using the same cables, does not do this at all, so I know it is not a problem with the amp or cables.

Conclusion: I ended up using the G String in front of the preamp and I continue to use the NS-2 in at the end of the effects loop. If I were rating only the G String sound with the configuration in front of the preamp, I would score it an 8. All things considered, with the horrible noise in the effects loop, I must rate overall sound quality at a 4.

I just received my pedal yesterday. The first thing I noticed is the weight...It weighs about twice as much as any other pedal I have seen of its size. Solid construction. Road ready. Polished stainless steel casing. Again, since it didn't do what it is advertised to do in the effects loop, I can not score this category well.

I haven't had a chance to call them about the problem yet.

Based upon my experience, I can only recommend that you consider buying 2 Boss NS-2 pedals if you have a high gain amp. Use one prior to the preamp input and one at the end of your chain in the amp's effects loop. You can buy 2 NS-2s for less than the price of 1 G String.

If I can resolve the loop noise problem, I will post an update.

It is very easy to use but alignment of signal path might not be very easy. Manual is not supported, however, guitarists with knowledge will have no problem using it, and setting it up.

you just turn it on, turn the knob until the noise dies. that is it.
but connection, you have to research a little.

In my case, First, i put my guitar through "guitar in", then from "guitar out", i put it to effects like wah wah's, compressors, drive pedals, and preamp (plus anything before preamp). Then, I put those thru "decimator IN", and from "Decimator OUT", i put it thru some volume pedal, chorus, delay, reverb stuff, and finally to the power amp.

well sounds complicated, but this is how i maximized the ability of this pedal.

To put it all in a serial manner, it is complicated as this

Guitar - BOSS TU-15 (tuner) - GSTRING GUITAR I/O - GT-8 IN / SEND - BOSS LS 2(Line selector A/B) containing mesa V-twin and Tri-AC in the loop - GT-8 Return / Out - BOSS RC-2 (Looper) - Amp's return

whew! this is how its done, and it sounds awesome. The G string pedal works in both positions : after guitar, and after effectchains. It's significance is that it supresses noise at both positions, and also, you DONT HAVE TO TURN IT OFF WHEN PLAYING ON CLEAN CHANNEL. It surprised me so much that even when it was on, the clean channel's sustain was not compromised (in boss NS2 or normal decimator, the sound dies in a second)!! It is amazing!
Also it is very responsive in that you can play staccatoes and still the noise supression will work so quick!
Plus, I figured that while playing in small guitar volume, this was way more natural than any other noise supressing pedals such as BOSS NS2.
However, we just can not expect perfection. Tone loss is inevitable, but still it is far less severe than other pedals.

Built like a rock!
looking at that chrome finished metal case, it is just built tough. And till this point, it never had any issues with reliability.
just dont throw this at any living creature.

Never dealt with them nor I ever will (that thing is not gonna break for next few decades).

It is quite a thing, one of my 100% no regretting purchases.
This was the first time that noise from the signal chain has
concerned me bc i used to use GT-8's own preamp(not satisfying tone, but dead quiet) before using Vtwin and TRI-AC with it.
It works fantastic, not too much tone loss, perfectly reliable, outstanding performance. Kinda expensive, but still worth every penny.

Turn a knob till noise stops, press pedal to turn on and off.

That bits easy, but hooking the pedal can be a little tricky. I play through a TSL100, and so can???t use the pedal how I???d really want to, through the effects loop. My set up goes guitar -> Decimator -> a bunch of pedals -> Decimator -> delay -> amp??? not ideal. But I'm not going near the TSL's effects loop. That's the amps fault, not this pedal.

I???ve got everything stuck down on a nice pedal board, but before that, when I first got the pedal it did take me a while to set up whenever using it.

It does take something away, not just noise. Even when it's off I'm loosing something somewhere in my chain, the Decimator G string is the main offender. DO NOT USE THIS WITH BATTERIES!!!! Once the sucks start to go flat your tone is going to get bum loved by this shiny box!

What this pedal does do well is stop nasty feedback from my overdrive or compressor. I can stand right in front of my amp cranked and not get feedback. It is a great gate as well, which is the other reason I got this pedal. I play a lot of punchy rhythm and this pedal makes everything sound crisp and separated.

The balance comes down to playing anything you want to sustain. I do a lot of fancy foot work during my band???s set to keep my playing from being unduly cut short. There are parts I want snappy, parts I want overdriven, parts I want to ring out.

You???ll also want this pedal turned off when using delay. You could dial back the knob, but that sets the threshold too low to eliminate feedback from my pedals.

I use a PRS custom 22 with Bare Knuckle holy diver pickups, a Gibson Angus Young Signature SG and an ESP Eclipse II. The EMGs on the ESP work best with the pedal due the high output.

Built like a brick, just make sure you've got plenty of power.

N/A

I could gig without this pedal and a lot of people would not notice. I know it???s there. It makes me confident in having a strongly driven signal; I know I???m getting a punchy clear sound. I can also take my hands of the strings and know it???s they???re not going to make a sound. That kind of quality is worth every penny I paid for this.

If it was a little bit more forgiving with sustain and didn???t degrade my tone as much it would be a perfect pedal.

Very easy to use, and much easier to set up than you might think if you read about it in some on-line discussion forums.

There are two basic set-ups. The first is to eliminate noise from your pedals you run in front of the amp. The second is to eliminate that noise PLUS the noise generated by your pre-amp. I am running the second set-up, and it works exactly as it should (you have to have an effects loop for this set-up).

Once you get around the point on the knob where all your noise disappears (mine is at around -40db), small movements make a noticeable difference in trade-off between noise reduction and tone/dynamics retention. My ideal setting is probably about -38 db (retain all tone/dynamics, very slight noise remaining). At and to the left of -40, too much noise. At and to the right of about -36 or so, playing is affected.

I play into a Boogie Express 5:25, known to be noisy on the Burn channel. Simply stated, this pedal eliminated the problem, with no negative impact on my tone, attack, touch-responsiveness, or sustain. Keep a couple of things in mind.

If you go read the reviews of the rack version from which this pedal was adapted, you'll be reading accurate descriptions of how this pedal performs.

If mass is positively correlated with durability, it'll live a lot longer than I will.

No experience, but many others have made it a point to make good comments, so you can probably expect good things.

If you like gain and are sick of putting up with noise, this pedal is an easy and effective solution.

You have to understand where to place it in your signal chain,and how to connect it to your amps FX loop, but once you have all the cords plugged in the right sockets, all what??s left to control is a single threshold knob, and that??s truly easy.

This review is based upon a week of intense use in both studio and live situations. Test setup was following: Fender JM strat (bridge SC - truly a gorgeous and powerfull hum generator :-)) into pedalboard: G-string - Keeley Compressor - ProCo RAT2 - Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive - VOX AC30CC Top boost channel. Then the FX loop send - G-string - Boss ME6 ancient multiFX unit which I still use for delays and reverbs - FX loop return. If you run multiple dirt pedals in front of your amp like I do, you have to set the threshold so that the noisiest possible setting becomes dead-silent. Then you are ready to go. Two things that, IMO, put this pedal apart from Boss NS2 and similar cheaper stuff are: 1) when you switch back to clean, your sustain is not so dramatically reduced (I think this is because of the clever signal tracking). I carefully listened to the end of a sustaining note, and I have to say that the way the gate closes is very smooth and musical, and in no case cuts your note unnaturally off. Don??t get me wrong, there is a slight sustain loss for sure, but unless you play alone on some introvert-oriented gig, it is no issue. (in that case you can always turn it off :-)). And 2) It does not change your tone at all. I played NS2 for awhile, and the tone loss was clearly audible. Not the case of ISP (or I am half-deaf). I know that noise gate is always a compromise, but this is one you can live with. I used to play EHX Hum debugger for a while as well - and believe me, there is no comparison. With the ISP, of course, you get all the noise when you are playing, but absolutely NO tone change. With the EHX the tone was literally destroyed (along with the hum, to be fair).

Too short time to tell

So far not needed

Some people say that if you have to use a noise gate, then there is something wrong in your chain. Well, I do not agree with that. If you play single coils exclusively and often change venues, sooner or later you will find yourself onstage in some of those haunted clubs where electricity is so bad that the hum is unbearable even if you have the best multi-power supply, the best cables in the world and your guitar is whole packed into the copper foil. (Check out Scott Henderson interview at LaVe Lee, where he talks about Suhr BPSCS on Youtube - I am sure this guy uses the best equipment and without BPSCS he still hums like crazy). IMO as far as noise gates go, the ISP is a treasure - it allows you to concentrate on music instead of solving the angle you stay in in front of your amp. It is usable even when you are using the whole range of tones from clean to chainsaw. There is some compromise, of course, but so far it seems (at least to me) it does a great job.

Very easy to use. 1 knob, two inputs, two outputs.

It cuts the noise for sure, but at a price. It cuts your sustain too!

I found it very disappointing for the $224 price tag. I've got better performance out of the NS-2. I think it was pretty transparent, but if I kept the know too low the hiss remained, if I set it too high the sustain chopped

no issues

No issues

I play a PRS McCarty and an American Deluxe Strat through a Mesa Roadster 2x12. I use a Keeley Compressor, Fulltone OCD, Homebrew Chorus, and an MXR Analog Delay. That's it.


Didn't cut it for me. Glad I kept the NS-2 and did an A/B comparison. NS-2 did a better job for 1/2 the price.

This POS is made in China too.

This pedal is the latest thing in noise supression.

It is easy to use. You need four patches to set it up, two to install in front of the input of your amp and two to put it in the loop. You cannot skip the loop or the input, it just won't work for you. Then you just turn the dial until you can't hear any more mains hum or background noise. A diagram is included in the box and on the website.

This pedal is a must have for high gain situations. I've always hated noise gates because of a time separation between my articulation and the resulting sound. This pedal is not a gate and allows me to be perfectly in time. Notes do get cut off if they are allowed to decay long enough, but I never spend that much time on one note anyway.

I tried it out at the store on a H&K combo on high gain with boost using the cheapest fender with brutal single coil pickups. Without the G-string on, the mains hum was unbearable. As soon as I turned it on, it was like the amp was off.

The G-String seems tailor made for amps that can assign individual channels to the effects loop, such as the Marshall JVM series. The threshold to engage the noise supression can interfere with dynamic playing or low gain channels. Otherwise you have more foot stomping to do, sometimes in the middle of a song.

I haven't encountered a problem yet. As far as I can tell, It is built to stand up to lots of abuse. It features a 'Boss' style metal housing. The jacks are attached to the housing, not the board. Even the adapter connection is fastened securely to the shell.

No experience with them yet.

If you play with high gain and are plagued with hiss and mains hum from vintage or single coil pickups, this pedal is for you. If you experience microphonic feedback during breaks in your playing, check this out. If you have an assignable effects loop, you have no excuse not to try it out.

Very easy to use.
Manual is o sheet of paper but the pedal is "plug and play" so it doesn't matter

I use this with a Rivera Knuckle Head amp. My pedal board has Analogman compressor and Chorus, Boss DD-6, Keeley mod'd Boss tr2v trem, Analogman mod'd Ibenez TS-9 Tube screamer, Vox V848 wawa, Boss RC-20 looper, Peterson strobostomp tuner and a Ernie Ball volume pedal. All George L cable. Voodoolab power. My rack effects (in the amp effects loop) include Lexicon and Zoom effects. PRS custon, Rickenbacker, Fender and G&L guitars.
The ISP goes in front of all the pedal board stuff and after the effects in the amp effects loop.

With out the Decimator I was getting significant hum and noise. This pedal does exactly what it's advertised to do-- just gets rid of the noise. I paid a lot of money for good sounding guitars and amps. I can hear no change in sound quality caused by the Decimator G string

no opinion

No opinion

I started playing professionally (Union, full time employment) in the 1960's I've played lots of different gear. I'm playing classic hard rock-high gain guitars with this rig. I was going to go to a midi controlled rack system to get a quieter rig before I found this pedal. It totally solves the noise/hum problem and, to my ear, is transparent. It is also a lot cheaper than the rack unit. You do have to have an amp with an effects loop and cable this pedal to it. I just bundled the extra cable to the input and amp switching cables and color coded everything so set up is quick.