Yamaha DG-1000 Digital Guitar Preamp

Plug and play, there is really nothing to it. I've been using this pre-amp for about 12 years in live-settings and it's easy to adjust to different acoustic environments. Just turn the knobs and press the store-button. However, in hectic conditions on stage, stroking the midi-button is enough to make you wonder where the modifications have gone. It presses too lightly. The adjustible input-knob on my dg-1000 doesn't seem to be working properly: with high-output guitars it just won't clip while you hear a lightly distorted sound coming up. But this is actually not really a problem.

Very clear tone. Keeps the sound-characteristics of different guitars intact. No problem to make sounds resembling a serious Marshall-stack, classic Twinreverbs (which I own aso) and it has enough versatility to make the other guitarist in my coverband cry when he tries to create sounds on his full MesaBoogie-set up.

I still wait for the moment one of the motordriven knobs don't work anymore. Never happened in all those years I've been playing this thing. And I switch presets all the time!

I bought it second hand. No problem to reload factory-presets via computer, when I bought it, mucho gracias to the retailer.

The Yamaha-people forgot to add an extra output on the rear, or an input to use the dg 1000 directly with a floorboard. Now'I have to use an effects-processor to switch channels (and to be able to play stereo). An extra signal input on the rear would have been nice too for estatical reasons. The manual is useless, happy to read here that somebody found out how to use it directly into a studiomixer, thanks!

This is a tip for you who own this product and want to take full advatage of it.Since it is nowhere to be read in the manual and since maybe all of you users doesnt know of it - it has a speakersimulator for directrecording.To turn this on , press the buttons Midi , Clean2 and Arrow-up simultanously and the Screen will read "on" for a short while.

Easy to use, no issue..You can even edit the settings and save via midi cable using PC..GREAT

Allan Holdsworth?? NO PROBLEM...Very sweet jazz clean sound,,my favourite.no noise, no problem!!!!!!!
I use it with Peavey 5050 power amp and Mesa 5050 befroe,,sounds amazing..

No tube breaking,,no worries at all,,very reliable,,giged man times,,never let me down..all datas were bakup in my PC

I play rock fusion,this is perfect for me,,IT IS THE MOST Versatile PREAMP I EVER USED!!!!!!!!!!

There are a lot of people who will tell you that since this isn't a tube preamp,it is garbage.Well,this is completely wrong(if you don't trust my opinion,just ask Greg Howe or the master of tone himself-Allan Holdsworth).It is one of the few preamps that can give you all the sounds you need,from bright clean tones to screamin' overdrive to lead tones with great sustain.And one thing that has to be cleared,is that the DG-1000 is not a modelling preamp(such as the Line 6 models),but a tone machine with its own character.Although this is a digital unit,the sound is extremely warm and tube-like(and not noisy at all).

I recommend using it together with a good quality tube power amp(that way you are going to take full advantage of this machine's benefits).I personally use it with a Parker MidiFly guitar,a Mesa/Boogie 20/20 power amp,a TC Electronic M-One XL dual effects processor,a Yamaha UD Stomp delay/modulation unit,and a pair of Carvin VE212 speaker cabinets(my setup also consists of a switcher,two line mixers,two volume pedals and a synth,but probably that isn't interesting to any of you).This rig allows me to get the tones I like.My style is jazz fusion(Allan Holdsworth,Tribal Tech), but my opinion is that this preamp is suitable for every style of music.

The versatility itself!The simplicity of this unit and the 8 preamp types(Clean 1 & 2,Crunch 1 & 2,Drive 1 & 2,Lead 1 & 2) can get you any sound you want.

I can certainly depend on this 2U rack preamp.

I've never dealt with the Yamaha Service Center in Greece,so,no opinion here.

As I already said before,I ... try to play jazz fusion and the DG-1000 is one of the few preamps that can help you in the eternal search for the ultimate tone.So,there is no reason to hesitate.Wherever you find it,buy it.You will be amazed at how this preamp sounds.I really can't find something negative to say about this unit.Comparing it to the other great preamps of the market,such as the Mesa/Boogie,VHT,CAE,Soldano,Bogner,and Egnater models,I can assure you that the DG-1000 is superior or ... of the same value to a lot of these awesome machines.

I think that anyone can get a great sound out of this preamp(suited to their style).Just select one of the 8 preamp types(Clean 1 & 2,Crunch 1 & 2,Drive 1 & 2,Lead 1 & 2)and start moving the knobs!Really easy to use.

There are a lot of people who will tell you that since this isn't a tube preamp,it is garbage.Well,this is completely wrong(if you don't trust my opinion,just ask Greg Howe or the master of tone himself-Allan Holdsworth).It is one of the few preamps that can give you all the sounds you need,from bright clean tones to screamin' overdrive to lead tones with great sustain.And one thing that has to be cleared,is that the DG-1000 is not a modelling preamp(such as the Line 6 models),but a tone machine with its own character.Although this is a digital unit,the sound is extremely warm and tube-like(and it is not noisy at all).

I recommend using it together with a good quality tube power amp(that way you are going to take full advantage of this machine's benefits).I personally use it with a Parker MidiFly guitar,a Mesa/Boogie 20/20 power amp,a TC Electronic M-One XL dual effects processor,a Yamaha UD Stomp delay/modulation unit,and a pair of Carvin VE212 speaker cabinets(my setup also consists of a switcher,two line mixers,two volume pedals and a synth,but probably that isn't interesting to any of you).This rig allows me to get the tones I like.My style is jazz fusion(Allan Holdsworth,Tribal Tech), but my opinion is that this preamp is suitable for every style of music.

I can certainly depend on this 2u rack preamp.

I've never dealt with the Yamaha Service Center in Greece,so,no opinion here.

As I already said,I ... try to play jazz fusion,and the DG-1000 is one of the few preamps that can really help you in the eternal search for the ultimate tone.So,there is no reason to hesitate.Wherever you find a Yamaha DG-1000 preamp,just buy it.You will be amazed at how this preamp sounds.Comparing to the other great preamps of the market,such as the Mesa/Boogie,VHT,CAE,Soldano,Bogner,and Egnater models,I can assure you that this preamp is superior or ...of the same value to a lot of these great preamps.

If you can't get a usable sound out of this within minutes then stick to playing banjos. Other than the midi configurations the amp is as easy to use as any other amp I've ever used, editing is a piece of cake, and with one in and one out its hard to go wrong.

I've got six guitars I use all the time with this gear from teles to Les Pauls and you can get them all to sound fantastic and, more to the point, natural. I've never had a piece of gear as good as this.

I've got a Boss OS2 in front of it just to boost the input a little (its set full vol and everything else is at zero, Its very rare I actually turn the effect on though) then into the DG-1000, out of that into an SPX900 and 90, then into an Alesis RA-100 amp and into an Ashdown Fallen Angel 4x12. Switching is handled by a Rolls Midibuddy pedal.

I've had a few different amps over the years, from Marshall JCM stacks, Laney valve stacks, Laney transistor combos, Hughes and Kettner hybrid combos and Peavey combos and what a waste of time buying them was. I only bought the DG-1000 because it was cheap off eBay and I have built the rest of the rig round it, definately the best bargain buy I've ever had. I love it. It has renewed my enthusiasm for playing every day because I love the tones.

Its been bomb proof so far, kids at home can't bust it and its handled gigs with no trouble.

I started in a punk band way back when and still love to play this music but as I enter middle age I have broadened my horizons and now play a variety of styles, but tending to the jazz and blues end of things. Not to say I still like banging out the odd Slayer and Metallica riff too and every sound I want is just a foot tap away.

If it was stolen I would definately have another as I think its the greatest influence towards my playing I've had in the last five years.

Only critisism, no input on the rear panel.

Can't believe that Yamaha don't make this anymore, it is the best pre amp I've heard, and I've been playing for nearly twenty years and worked as a guitar tech and sound enginner for 12 of those.

Incredibly easy to use! I mean, I have been a player for 20 years and have played all sorts of digital and tube stuff but this is so easy that I didn't need to read the manual. No hidded maze-like menus. If you know how to turn a nob then you're all set!

I am using a Peavey USA strat w/ Texas special pickups in to a Digitech RP-200 (for the Whammy) into a Cry Baby into a DOD Flange into a Boss Digital Delay into a Marshall Vibratrem into a DBX 266XL Compressor/Gate into the Yamaha DG-1000 into a Marshall 9005 all tube 50/50 poweramp into a Hughes & Kettner Vortex 4x12. It sounds amazing. I mean, I would never have bought this if I didn't hear someone playing it in the store. Quiet as hell. Tone is amazing! I drive the preamp to the fullest and use the knobs on the Marshall poweramp to control the volume because I drive the tubes and it gives me that amazing breaking up sound that I love. It sounds like something Jag Tanna (I Mother Earth) would use. If your reading before buying this... BUY IT!

I have had it for a week. 2 rehearsals and 3 shows. It looks sturdy. Feels sturdy. I guess it's sturdy....

Never dealt with them....

I play I Mother Earth and Nickleback and Our Lady Peace. Mainly hard rock, alt/rock, prog/rock,Heavy blues, Metal, and some jazzy stuff. It does all I need better than I would have ever thought. It kicks the crap outta Marshall JP-1 and Marshall 9001. If it was stolen I would buy another 4.

I love the fact that I can play with my band and, depending on the room, change the eq or volume to suit the room and save it with one click. I can tweak all night as we play and never piss anyone off like you do when you're trying to tweak your pedals.

Just try it and you'll agree...

I use an Ibanez Artist from the late seventies with tri-sound-PU's and because of its verry bright sound I use DR-blues strings on it. I play it directly into a studio compressor and a quadraverb plus. Then directly into my computer or the poweramp of an old Valvstate/12".
I mainly play anything but trashmetal with a focus on blues and jazzy songs.
This preamp realy sounds like it would have tubes in it, but it's modeling. It is verry quite, even if you turn the drive volume up an that's what I realy like. You can get a Marshal fullstak sound out of it without all the noise that comes with the hi-gain. It has a very good speaker simulation but you can not select any cabinet type. This isnt nessesary because every cabinet modeling I've heard didn't sound naturaly. So ther isn't so much to say, it's great and I will try it also live. Don't forget to activate the speaker simulation after turnig it on if you want to play over a fullrange system!

Preamp with 8 Amp models, motorised knobs a speaker simulation and enough memory and Midi in/out but no effects thrugh.

It's solid! And I dont think one can break it.

no problems

I am playing this unit now half a jear under studio like conditions and I will sell my Ibanez TK888 a real tube overdrive now 'cause I didn't use it since I've bought the DG-1000. I would buy It again if it get's lost. When I bought it I was thinking to get a real good tube amplifier like an old modified bassman top with at least a cabinet with two 15" JBL or a 65 blackface twin or a ruby riot. I think I've got everything I wanted and saved a lot. The only thing I wish it'd have is to place effects in,before or after the tone control.

Pretty easy to use - none of the never-ending digital interfaces (like on the GP-100). Its easy to fiddle about with the EQ and different amp-models. I thought the manual is rubbish though - only 4 pages which was far too short... kinda cheap. Finally mine came without the factory pre-sets... Would have been cool if they were included.

I'm into a wide-variety of styles - HM (Maiden, Megadeth) to Jazz through to Mojo. I need a versatile amp that can emulate loadsa sounds. I use the DG-1000 for studio work and pass it through a Behringer 9024 (for compression only), Behringer 8024 into a VS-880 (HD recorder) and played through Tannoy Speakers (a budget studio). I use both a Fender Strat and a Les Paul. Right getting to the point:
-Clean Tones - I likes these. They sound warmer and richer than those on the GP-100 (that I own also). Nothing to say.
-Crunch: Again I find them very superior to the Roland's but I prefer the AC-30 simulation on GP-100.
-Drive- I'm not totally satisfied here. Drive 2 is all right but they both sound 'artificial' unlike say the POD pro or Rocktron Pirana.
-Lead-Really let down here particularly on Lead 2. It sounds so fuzzy. The GP-100 does a better job (with the 5150 Lead).
I also find the lack of effects rather frustrating - no reverb, no chorus, nothing... So I'm not sure if I'd recommend it to somebody without compression/reverbs etc...

Just got it recently. Can't tell.

Again. Haven't used customer support (and hopefully wont!!).

I kinda feel I've been harsh on the unit (only 'cos I really like the distortion used by bands like Maiden/Megadeth/Metallica). But it can be used for anything apart from that - I'm currently using it on my blues stuff...
I think I'll still be using my GP-100 'cos of better distortion sounds and effects. I also think it has aged badly - not enough outputs (I mean one output is just plain ridiculous!). Again no digital outs which won't go down well.
But I got this model for a pretty good price ($220) so I cant complain. I'll recommend this if you've got other units 'cos it is restricted in its uses.
I'm waiting to see if Roland are comming up with a successor to the GP-100.

It is so easy that practically anyone thet desnt play a giutar can set up a good sound for you. It is just like a classic amp front panel with familiar knobs. Gain, Volume, Treble... set them and hit Store. No deep menues here, just sound at your fingertips. Later you just hit recall and any of 128 programs can be recalled.
There is four band EQ (Treble, High Mid, Low Mid, Bass) plus Presence knob. The EQ is quite powerfull with right speakers. I had Celestion G75T-12's and I could not color the sound much. Jus like she speaker's and preamps frequencise wouldnt match. But with Vintage 30's that I now have ,it is just on a contrary. The EQ is very powerfull now.
MIDI IN, MIDI OUT.
Eight preamp settings: Clean1 and 2, Crunch1 and 2, Drive1 and 2, Lead1 and 2.
Speaker Simulator.
Overall output and pregain sensitivity TRIM knob.

Several years ago I would give it a 10 for Features, but today I miss XLR balanced outs, Digital Out and maybe some FX, although I have them in the rack.
What I dont like is that I payed more for this unit than the new DG STOMP costs. DG STOMP has 10 FX and the hardware is practically the same. DG-1000 has none. There were upgrades for all other DG amps but not for DG-1000.
So this is an 8.

OK, I now have DG for over a year. I wanted to submit such rewiew that would tell what no other has told yet.
My setup: DG1000,Marshall EL34 50/50 poweramp, Celestion Vintage 30 Speakers. The guitar is Ibanez Steve Vai JEM555
DG is supposed to recreate tube amps sound, and it does. But there are differences betwen simulated and real amps.

DG 1000 advanteges over real tubes:
DG almost does not feedback, unless you want it.
It is very very quiet even without noise gate.
You can get a big number of different sounds from one little box.
It is reliable.
Some simulations are clearer sounding than real amps (due to noise).
128 Channel MIDI switching.

DG1000 disadvantages:
At the peak level attack notes coming out of DG have not so different character or texture as when you attack hard trough tube preamp.
The character and the color of the sound changes alot from light picked to hard picked strings on DG, and it also cleans up almost completely when you turn down the guitar wolume, but still it has it's limit.
I call this as a color dynamic response. It is about 90% of a real amp's one.
The dynamic response also is a few db lower than with tubes. I havent measured this but I estimate it is around 112 to 115db. The best tube preamps have over 120 db dinamic response.

Maybe the DG1000s sound is not so full ad not so deep as tube preamps. You can EQ it alot but it is still not so complex.
However tube amps are not so versitale. That means that you can always find a preamp that falls short against the DG on a ceirtan setting:
DG1000 blows away Rocktron Piranha on Blues, Country and warm rock lead sounds. Piranha takes charge on Metal sounds.
DG1000 is better than Mesa Boogie Triaxis on laid back, while Triaxis is better cutting trough full blast. Triaxis is too noisy and sometime too edgy, DG is rounder sounding
Marshall JMP-1 is rockier but is cold on clean sounds.
And so on and so on. You get the idea. No preamp is perfect.

Clean1:
It is bright and has better dynamic than Clean2. It is clear sounding (each string is well pronounced) and has tight although not so much bass.
Clean2:
Very warm sounding (I have heard nothing like this before). Alot of bass. Fuller and more woody than Clean2. Apropriate for soloing. The sound can be more acustic like. The strings attacks are more melted together in the chord, though still clear.
Not so tight on the low end and troughout.

Crunch1:
Warm and liquid sounding. Less gain than Crunch2. Jazzy, well defined notes on the highest gain settings with neck humbucker pickups. If TRIM knog is full open and have a highest gain setting you get really really nice, close to the Mesa Boogie traditional warm lead sound troughout the frequency range. (MY FAVORITE with neck DiMarzio Evolution pickup)
It is a shame that the Trim knob is not programable. The character of the sound changes when you turn it up that it is more liquid and has more gain (great for solos) but the chords are then mudier and lose dyynamic when you switch to the rithm sound program. So you have to change the trim knob position betwen some sounds. This is not so often and in the studio this is no problem but live playing...
Crunch2:
More dynamic than Crunch2 and more tight. Rockier sounding. Not so warm and Liquid. More for rithm sectios.

Drive1:
Has a special character at the edge of note attack. I was telling you about this topic. I really like it because of that distinctive sound at the peak of each note. Great for blues. It kind of brakes up when you dig hard into strings. Great.
Drive2: Les bass, not so warm, but alot tighter than Drive1, so it breaks up even more evidentely. I like it even more. Not so apropriate for chords as the chord is too broken apart.

Lead1: Apropriate for soloing. Very warm, although in comparison with Triaxis it doesnt cut trough sometimes, and sometimes isnt dynamical enough as I would like. Not so tight, maybe for some tastes too saturated and not so naturally

No problemo Man.

As I said. No downloads for upgrading DG1000. Every other DG model with the same preamp can be upgradet with FX. Where is the justice?
1 for this
10 for Q&A
So that is 5

I play rock and blues. Have been playing for 8 years. Have tried every real and modeling gear. GP100 simulation sucks, FX are great though. Johnson is lifeless. Line6 has recognisable amps, but tend to be muddy, great for recording though.
If it was stolen I would wait that Yamaha puts out the next improved version, that has better studio conectivity (XLR, digital out,...) , has more great speaker simulators, and it can be upgraded. Much of that is now in a DG STOMP now but it isnt rack mountable, and is cheaper (weird). Overal Line6 POD PRO comes close.
In 10 years time... Hmmmmm..... Frightening.