gig-fx Chopper

I am giving it a 8, because its hard to get in the begining, but then it becomes EASY to use. Actually, when you learn to use this you do not want to let this freaking thing go.

The features awards this category a solid 10. Yes, it is a 10, because there is no other pedal in its category (or any other) that can do what this does: maybe a hissy, ******, sterile sounding digital multifx.

You just have to use some sense. I know, we musicians are dumb as hell, but sometimes we have to use our heads a little. The manual is great and everything is clearly explained, but, then again, trial and error is the WAY TO GO with this thing, mostly if you do not understand what the hell an square oscillator is: do not worry, this pedal will teach you. And with "error" I mean delightful, toneful mistakes. Mine is version "1.5" It have features of both versions. The only significant difference there is between v. 1 and v. 2 is that the v. 2 have more output. Still sounds great.

How does the pedal work? Well, the pedal have, basically four settings: One is the chopper part that basically fades in and out your volume, other part is a tremolo/vibrato. The thing is that you can combine the two of those modes in two other modes while combining both of them, where the chopping will preclude the trem, or Stirring them, where the trem will preclude the chopping. The 4 settings sound VERY VERY different and have very different uses and approaches. But do not be scared, because this pedal can get as complicated or as simple as you want. (Aren't you tired of people having peal effects and wanting to know what everything does? Find a sound you like, and if it gets complicated, stick to what you like! Then, with more patience and time, get around your effects)

Whenever the trem is used or precluding the chopping part, it will not have any volume loss. The chopping part will turn on and off your guitar signal when it is precluding the trem or used by itself.

The expression pedal is great for tuning what you want or just go on crazy madness with it. Then there is a Preset. VERY VERY handy. My application of this pedal is simple: I USE THIS as a composing tool. I use the expression pedal (which only controls the rate of the effects) and then I tune it with the rate knob and note down the preset for whatever I was doing. Using presets you can gig with this pedal, hands down.

Honeymoon is OVER quite some time ago. I have this for almost three months of constant use. On to the review.

Setup: Single Rectifier, lots of Fender Amps (Blues Jr. Hot Rod Deluxe, Hot Rod Deville) and a trusty Telecaster.

I won't try to say things like awesome, or lush or best thing ever or whatever, I will try to keep this as objective as possible. Even tho i don't know the stupid crazy about rotary, leslies, chorus, rotovibes really differ, let me tell you I have had my shares of tremolo pedals: ranging from the Danelectro Tunamelt to Univibes, Rotovibe and some boutique trems. My favorites (until know) was the wiggler, from Electro Harmonix. One day someone just offered me a Chopper, I didn't even know it existed. I decided to give it a try because it was too good to be true. Oh, I am glad that I did.

This is, basically both a Volume panning pedal (the chopper part, the square oscilator) a tremolo and a vibrato thingy, in one pedal. The website says you can get "delay sounds" without the extra repeats. Well, actually you can in the first mode, BUT, in order for it to really work, fade your guitar with your guitar volume knob. Yes, it DOES sound like a delay decaying the repeats. (Not a real substitute for an awesome delay pedal, but a great trick to make nonetheless)

Sound Quality? Well, it will depend on your sound quality. Because this pedal DOES NOT alter your tone or volume in any way. To me this is a positive factor. Almost every other tremolo ALTERS your well deserved tone (some in a "warm, lush good way") But damn, I just want my guitar to trem.

I DON'T care about true bypass thingy. If the pedal makes you lose tone and color, trash it, if not, it's all good. This pedal, when turn off, feels like is not there. No clicks, no pops and its easy to turn on tnx for the optical device it use. It works great every time. Better than true bypass, GigFX says... Meh. It doesn't make any effect on the signal, I do'nt care how they do it, but as long as they keep doing it, I will be really, really HAPPY.

It is basically a REALLY great working Tremolo/Volume panning pedal. And by great, I mean it blows everything else out of the water. In stereo this will BLOW your head. But lets face it, almost no guitarist lug two amps around to use this, or any other stereo pedal in stereo mode for that matter. I use this mostly in mono, but hey, to impress my friends and bandmates I give this a whirl in Stereo mode. Still, Stereo mode is awesome for RECORDING or diverting your pedalboard into another signal chain.

This does vibrato, tremolo and panning so well, without ANY limitations. You can make the guitar lose the volume completely, or not, at ANY rate, even when combining TWO oscillators AT different rate. What else do you want?! You can combine both modes and oscillators to get things you would normally get with three pedals and then u can synchronize it nicely.

In reality, I think this is a tool made from a guitarist to another. A gift from a frustrated, tremolo loving guitarist to another. That's all. And yes, they advertise this as the better trem in its class, and it is. This is a No contest. The other one I loved and cherissed, the wiggler, got sold without second thoughts. (if you find a Wiggler for about $100, try it, but please do yourself a favor and try patiently a Chopper!)

Wow. I don't get the stupid people that says this is made of plastic and toy parts. WTH? Believe me, whoever said this have not touched a Gig-fx pedal.

Get THIS: This pedal is REALLY, REALLY STURDY, made from lightweight metal, not plastic. Not made like a tank, but made like a formula1 speedracing car. This pedal is REALLY lightweight, which is GOOD. Again, this was made by a guitarist FOR guitarists. If you expend time PLAYING, you know pedalbords can get really heavy with so many pedals. This wont add much weight. Some say it is big, but well, is not an MXR, but I find it's size adequate.

The optical bypass is GENIUS. There is NO other way to put it. The design is kind of awkward, but when you think about it, Wahs and expression pedals have been the same from decades. This design is looking to add stability and reduce weight. From a designers point of view, this IS a freaking plus.

I can depend on this to work every time.

I always gig without backups. You should too! Well, if you are not JP, that is. If a pedal craps out, I continue with whatever I have left. A tring break, I ask for another guitar, or try to mend the string ASAP. If the amp craps out, I ask to someone from other band to lend me his/her. If no one lends me an amp ATM, shows over. Best thing is a day after another. That simple. Why complicate yourself?

On another note: nothing lasts forever, not even a crappy built like tank Boss. Hell, not even a tank lasts forever. If someday this thing gets broken beyond repair, I will just get another.

I have asked a few things and they have always answered me in a timely manner. Heck, I think the guy that answered me was the owner of the company. Even tho they have a warranty of 3 years to fix the pedals (or something like that) I do think they stand %100 by their products and customer satisfaction is their north. The guy told me this himself. I am pretty sure he will work things out with you any day.

PLEASE, if you ask stupid **** and the company ignores you, is the same if you ask me stupid ****. I would ignore you too. So, I d not know what the flame is about. If he doesn't answer in a week, just write again. Is that easy.

I'm sure even if ur out of warranty, they would work something out. This guys are helpful and give you information. He is all over youtube with videos and reviews. He puts his personal appearance and talents in the line for his products. I do not know what else would you want in customer support. Think of it as ZVex, but without being eccentric.

I play rock, and classical. In the rock department I play alternative, Indy and even a bit of whatevercore music. (gringcore, metalcore, etc) I have some electronic music background; I play around with synths and chiptunes. I have been playing for 10 years.

I have a few reviews on gear. I do not like reviewing much gear, mostly because some forumites over here makes an excellent job reviewing things. But I had to review this seeing as there are lots of people complaining because they are just haters/flamers or don't understand technology. The people who actually like the pedals, some of them are not as deep as they should when reviewing it.

Do NOT believe any hype about this pedal. I do not think the pedal deserves any hype. Believe this as a fact: You cant get any pedal to do what this does. Period. No hype, no dissapointments.

This kill any other trem I have ever used, including the ones built in the VOX AC30. The only downside, if any, is because is kinda hard to use, but really, is not once you understand what oscillators are and what they do. Just find and dial your sound and use the stupid presets for Christ sake! Just because it have a expression pedal, doesnt mean you have to use it EVERYTIME you use this pedal. Get it? This pedal can sound the same twice because of the fixed rate presets. Which reminds me, I would LOVE for it to store PRESETS!!! Still, is almost perfect the way it is.

Apart from all of this: this is a PERFECT studio, practicing and composing tool. You can make your guitar, your DMG1 or whatever you throw in it sound really good. Please be advised: you HAVE to adapt to some settings in order to make the tempos work or have patience and make the pedal adapt to you. But to me is really great just dialing in random settings and try t follow the pedal and use that to create and articulate riffs and chordings. This is NOT a JAMMING device; NOT a wah pedal, friends!

Some say this is Pricey... but well, if you want the best, you better pay for it (still, i don't find having like 5 pedals in a reliable package for $230 pricey). I think you can find them used at a great price, tho.

I couldn't care less for the Tool guitarist using this: I hate Tool. LOL. I AM using it: and this will became one of my signature sounds. I throw my guitar, and synths, even my PC with fruity loops. I use this with an eBow, an Ohh Wah II and a EHX microsynth.

Gig-Fx is guitarist oriented. PERIOD. And whenever you buy a great piece of gear for them, the idea is to economize room in your pedalboard, for them to sound great, be lightweight and multitask. Which is why I wonder: Where ARE the modulations and DELAYS from GigFX?!!! i would buy them without hesitating, as long as they keep their cost reasonable.

I'm not one to write reviews so I won't be writing much, just felt compelled to write about this pedal.

Ease of use? Yes I'll give it a 10. Nothing difficult about it. Easy to get great sounds.

I only really wanted this for the chop sound, and it does it well, just that I do notice a slight volume drop, which is a tad annoying. I'm using a Tech 21 Power Engine 60 and Sansamp PSA 1.1 preaamp.

This is the part I'm interest in. Perhaps there's much more to the pedal that I haven't discovered yet that may well atone for it's failures in this department, but for the money I paid for this I'm very disappointed. You can't avoid the fact that it's made like a cheap plastic Chinese toy (it is made in China). Every time I look at it I feel I've been had. The rubber grips on the top starting flapping off from the moment I got it, exposing some real cheap looking adhesive tape underneath. I don't gig but I'd be surprised if this thing lasted 2 shows. Poor, very poor.

***

This pedal needs a re-work. Yes it's capable of some great sounds, but that's not much use if it aint going to last, and I really can't see it lasting.

I've been playing for around 10 years and have had many pedals over the time, and they have all generally been built better than this. The few that weren't cost peanuts, unlike the overpriced Chopper.

Not recommended.

With a little practice you'll be amazed at the variety of sounds you'll come up with. It's very addictive. I try not to over-use it as its so much fun and obvious when it kicks in. Again, it does require some practice to really find the sounds you have in your head, but well worth it.

Just plain startling - like nothing I've been able to find in any pedal I've used before. This is quite amazing. It has a stereo out line so you can send the sound panning back and forth between 2 amps on either side of your stage setup... its really awesome, like the stereo panning you've loved in classic Hendrix tunes. And you can control the speed of the panning with the foot pedal.

Built like a tank but designed for easy access to knobs... and its lightweight too. I've had mine for about 4 months and I'm sure this pedal will put up with years of stomping.

Never had to contact them except to tell them about a broken link on their website - which they promptly thanked me on.

You will not be disappointed - this is one of those pedals that comes along that you know right away is "original" in concept, design, etc, etc... with a cool factor of "10" - seriously this is a pedal above and beyond and worth every penny.

Like the great tools of experimentation, this pedal gives you some great raw materials with which to paint your sound. The marketing blurbs make a few comparisons with 'delay', and I tend to agree, but maybe not for the same reasons. They purport that it gives a "delay-like" effect, but to me it goes much deeper. Like delays and loopers (and in cooperation with them!), this is a device that operates in time, introducing periodic changes to your sound.

Conventional players will probably like the panning, tremelo, and chopping effects as occasional "spices" to introduce sparingly into their sounds. Experimental players, on the other hand, might just find this pedal to become a foundation piece of their sound. I'm a player in the second category, and I simply love this pedal. Highly, highly recommended for impressionistic/abstract/experimental/art/noise/etc players.

General ease of use: Easy to get started, then the learning curve takes a steep turn as you dig deeper. More a measure of the conseridable capabilities of the device, and not a knock on the design.

Physical ease of use: the mode selection knob is a bit tricky, mine simply won't turn easily unless you grip it just right, which usually involves stopping, crouching down, moving the experssion pedal out of your way, etc. I've actually considered replacing the knob with a mini closed-end wrench or the like which i could nudge with my toe. Hopefully this will 'break-in' with more use.

The manual is typical for guitar pedals, just enough to get started. As always, be ready to delve into this on your own. One angloamerican advantage is that it was clearly written in, rather than translated into, english.

One side anecdote about the manual-- There are a couple of points where the conservatism of the designers/marketers/manual-writers shows through. Warnings to "Take it easy!", or that the pedal is good "when used appropriately" are found mixed in with the (all true) exaltations that the pedal will "challenge your imagination!". If you are an experimental player, follow your gut and do exactly the opposite of the conservative advice and you will be rewarded with some great sounds.

The sound of the device is excellent.
If you don't come to the table with an understanding or appreciation of stereo capabilities, this pedal might just blow those doors wide open. Put it near the beginning of the effects chain, and follow on each channel with different, then pan sweep between them. Outrageous. Again, I am interested in unconventional sound, so YMMV depending on what you're trying to do. I like using this pedal in the signal path prior to wahs and multiple delays and loopers set at different rates across the two channels. This implementation has expanded my sound and increased the value of my other pedals. Sounds great on my Fender DRRI.

The bypass and optical functionality of the expression pedal have worked fine for me and there has been no noise, crackle or signal degradation to speak of.

One design improvement IMO would be the following: When the 'rate' setting of an oscillator is NOT assigned to the expression pedal, let the expression pedal instead change the value of that oscillator's other caracteristic! e.g. When chop is set to "pre-set", then the expression pedal should change the chop Ratio. Similarly for pan depth. As it stands, when the oscillators are set to "pre-set", the expression pedal effectively becomes an on-off switch.

Utterly dependable so far. No problems or inklings thereof.

Had no need for customer support yet.

I'm a guitarist who plays ambient/experimental music, more minimalist/techno/art than rock and roll, but with the teeth still intact. I see the effects chain as an integral part of the "instrument" and compostion process, and not just add-ons.

To me and my sound, discovering this pedal was on par with discovering delay or ebow (i.e., huge), and it is as much a part of my composition process as the frets on my guitar. The stereo/autopanning capabilites of this pedal alone are the worth the price of admission.

I would absolutely replace this pedal if lost, and will add new pedals of this quality of imagination at every opporutnity. The only thing keeping me from rating this a 10 are some of the arbitrary constraints mentioned above. Again, if your "thing" is unconventional, and you are interested in time effects, this pedal is an absolute must.

It's easy to dial in a nice sound, but it's a bit difficult to remember exact settings to dial in a particular sound live. This is especially true if you are moving from one master sound (chop, stir etc.) to another that requires you to have completely different settings. A separate preset pedal would be a sweet addtion to a future model, or maybe even a larger more robust version. Something like the Electro-Harmonix HOG's separate preset pedal would be perfect. Also a Volume/Output/Gain potentiometer would be a great addition (see below).

It would also be nice if there was a slight notch, or bump at the point where it turns on/off. I find myself turning the unit off when I pull back for a slow tremolo or whatnot, and would find it most useful to be able to feel where the starting/stopping point is.

I currently run this will several guitars (tele, strats, les paul) into a Mesa Boogie Mark IIB and a Gibson Goldtone with an avatar 2x12 with Tonespotters. I use it then with a FullDrive Deja Vibe and several overdrives (Barber Tone Pump, FullDrive OCD,...).

In stereo, it comes alive.
The sound is beautiful! If not for anything at all, the pedal is worth it to me just for simply two effects. Leslie and the Delay/NotDelay sound. My only gripe is that there is a small (yet significant) volume suck when I kick it on. I have to run it in a bypass loop with a clean boost to get the sound I'm looking for (which is really only slightly louder to get the suckage back). It is a noticeable enough volume drop in my opinion, that I seriously think that the other reviewers have to be employed by Gig-Fx. I can't possibly be the only one to notice this, yet so far the only one to say something. There's no way this thing gets a 10 for that simple fact.

A volume/output/gain pot would make this thing more blendable with my other pedals/rig.

For boutique prices, this thing should be better made. The quality of metal used for the expression pedal seems ok (although really light), while the body feels like flimsy plastic. Within seconds of plugging it in for the first time, I got loud squeaky noises coming from the expression pedal while I was rocking it back and forth. That's not a huge deal, but a tad annoying. The verdict is still out whether or not this is truly reliable.

I haven't had to deal with them.

I will rate this a 7 based on the cost vs. craftsmanship/sound quality. It's a 9 for originality, and a 8 as a beta. As a full-production unit though, I can only really give it a 7 but will round up to an 8 based on all of these variables. I do in fact like it (and use it live).

Easy to use once you understand what stir, shake, and blend mean.

Unbelievable! The Chopper makes everything sound huge. The sounds alone are inspiring but it gets really good when you combine the Chopper with a flanger or phase. By far the best tremolo effect I have ever heard.

Very heavy duty.

Susan called me several times from her cell phone and sent me samples because my Mac would not load the sounds from Gig fx's web site. First rate all the way.

Best pedal I have purchased in years.

there's lots of different settings, almost all of them usable and good sounding.
easy to get cool sounds out of it.
the knobs are a bit to tiny for my taste. gotta have small fingers to change something quickly.
since you can change the speed with the pedal i would prefer if the pedal would have a little more resistance.

excellent! great sounds come out of this little gadget.
gotta use it stereo to have all the fun.
the sounds are always cutting through which is a nice feature.

looks sturdy, the knobs are reset so hard to damage. the rocking pedal itself looks sturdy. only had it for 2 months or so so can't relly tell.

i bought it directly over the website. very helpful. even shipped it from their office in europe to help me save money.

we play noise and stoner rock and found ourselves standing between the 2 amps totally taken away by the rhythmic patterns this thing produces.
one thing: if you want to turn the thing on and speed it up to the desired tempo, it would be great if you could set a maximum tempo for the effect to kick in in time immediately upon pressing the pedal all the way down.

This is not a hard unit to get a good sound from. There are however, a lot of different parameters that need to be addressed for a stomp box format. This can make it a little difficult to go after a specific sound between songs when used live. Fine tuning knobs to get a specific tempo is not something I want to do live. I'll probably make some marks on the chasis so I can set the thing right where I want it on the fly.

I'm using this in the FX loop of a Jackson JX-3 preamp, to a Mesa 50/50 power amp, to a pair of home-made 2x12 celestion cabs. This unit is not noisy and the fx sound great. The thing I really love about it is that I don't notice any change of my volume level with the unit on or off. Many tremolo effects I've worked with in the past cut the volume level drastically. This unit is seemless.

So far so good, but I've only had it for a couple of weeks.

I have dealt with customer support during the ordering process and to ask questions before I ordered. They were very responsive.

I play mostly blues and rock and will definitely put this to good use. The unit covers a pretty wide array of sounds from rotary speakers to tremolo to panning and some pretty wild combinations.

cool item purchased at IRT guitar in Livermore, CA, Jeff showed me the basic controls, has a bank of chop controls for ratio & rate, and another on the other side blen and rate, with a gener effect knob for different modes for chop. blend shake, stir.

easy to use but there are so many sounds you will play with this for a while, it crazy like nothing else before

Stereo, that's where this performs best, just take any other amp you have for a fill. using a VHT Pitbull as main amp and a Gibson goldtone 15 for the other side. it very hard to explain all of the sounds you can get here, just have to try one out for yourself.

It does a deep tremelo, delay, leslie sound, and more, you might visit the web site for details www.gig-fx.com

it's pretty new so we'll see

no need yet

been playing on and off you 30 plus years, had all kinds of effects, but this is completely different, I would buy another in a heartbeat if stolen, or lost.

i think the hendrix type of swirl effects and leslie sounds and fantastic