Digitech RP250

[FrankB]

well,
after scaring myself with all of the hum and intermittent switching that my old pedals have been giving me, I decided to pick up a multi effects unit, namely the digitech rp250.
My only review I can give thus far after programming 4 sounds in about an hour is, jeez I didn't know I could spend $150.00 and have literally every vintage pedal that is worth their weight in salt backed up by the amps I salivate over on a daily basis.
I decided to plug it into my champ and play with it. I programmed a mxr distortion + tone no amp no effects, just the box and the eq to sweeten aspects of it.. oh my wow......incredible.....
Then I decided to make a vox, so I select the vox amp preset, no other effects or stomp boxes and I built a cranked vox.....holy moly!! it sounds like a vox, how do I know this? I just used one in the studio about 3 weeks ago.....and this is pretty much the cranked vox tone......then I built up a champ tone.. you know the tone I'm talking about.. turn everthing up to ten and wallah.... its a cranked champ sounds just like mine when I turn it up... awesome....and I'm not even scratching the surface yet.....
go out, buy one, you will not regret it, I consider this one of my top 3 musical purchases ever.......

[popthree]

i was kinda thinking about getting the little $99 unit. do you think the expression pedal is worth the extra $$$ ?

[eddiewagner]

how are the drums? i hope pretty nice, because i just orderd a rp 250 a minute ago.

[eddiewagner]

Originally Posted by popthree

i was kinda thinking about getting the little $99 unit. do you think the expression pedal is worth the extra $$$ ?

the thomann gusy said, the 250 is the better pedal, better made and sounding better. plus a good pedal.

[emisilly]

I tend to dislike digital guitar effects in general, but like you I found the 250 to be a complete knock out. Came real, real close to pulling the trigger and your post reminded me.

I tried the Zoom G2, which is supposed to be the real deal. Sounded exactly like a Zoom 505 to me - cold and harsh. Supposedly tweaking does alot to improve it, but frankly I don' have the patience for goofing with an interface.

The Digitech, to me, sounded very warm and like you said the amp models are pretty darn close. The effects, including the stomp box emulations, were also the best I've seen on a multi FX.

[Guitar Louie]

I find this information hard to believe. I was given the old model RP 200A as a gift and it is a joke. It is distorted unusable cold & harsh digtal sounding guitar tone. And I'm trying to be nice. One thing is for certain, I would not buy anything from them.

[eddiewagner]

i tried the zoom too and did not like it at all. i will give the rp 250 a testride. and if that will not work, i try a boss dr. 3 rhythmcomputer and stay away from digital-effects for good. but still it is really tempting....

[FrankB]

Originally Posted by Guitar Louie

I find this information hard to believe. I was given the old model RP 200A as a gift and it is a joke. It is distorted unusable cold & harsh digtal sounding guitar tone. And I'm trying to be nice. One thing is for certain, I would not buy anything from them.

Hi louie,
I'd give it a second chance with a tube amp. The presets are merely there as either a starting point or if you dn;t want to build your own sound, they are good enough to use though very generic.
I am not very patient with fiddling with knobs, but I found the building of toone process unbelievable fun. And I must admot I am the most anti digital guy on the planet as far as I am concerned. When I got this home, I read the manual then started monkeying with it the next morning, and all I have to say is..... what have I been thinking.....this is probablly one of the most interesting peices if equipment I've ever plugged into...

[FrankB]

Originally Posted by popthree

i was kinda thinking about getting the little $99 unit. do you think the expression pedal is worth the extra $$$ ?

I probablly won't use the expression pedal, but I went for the 250 based on the other amps, they are worth it......

[Guitar Louie]

Originally Posted by FrankB

Hi louie,
I'd give it a second chance with a tube amp. The presets are merely there as either a starting point or if you dn;t want to build your own sound, they are good enough to use though very generic.
I am not very patient with fiddling with knobs, but I found the building of toone process unbelievable fun. And I must admot I am the most anti digital guy on the planet as far as I am concerned. When I got this home, I read the manual then started monkeying with it the next morning, and all I have to say is..... what have I been thinking.....this is probablly one of the most interesting peices if equipment I've ever plugged into...

Ok Frank. Maybe the redesign is just better than what I have. I'll check it out next time I'm at the shop.

[FrankB]

So Far, with what limited time I've dedicated to programming the RP250. My favrite sound is the Champ with some eq. Just turn the gain all the way select the 8" sleaker cabinet and whammo, great tight nasty tone. Just amazing......

[ibobunot]

Originally Posted by Guitar Louie

Ok Frank. Maybe the redesign is just better than what I have. I'll check it out next time I'm at the shop.

It has the new "AudioDNA Processor" and USB for computer recording.
I plug mine into the effects return of my solid state amp.

It sounds great.

[eddiewagner]

still nobody has nothing to say about the drums....

[FrankB]

Originally Posted by eddiewagner

still nobody has nothing to say about the drums....

Hi Eddie,
I haven't gotten to the drums as of yet, primarily because I have to set up the pedal to function for a gigging environment for next week. But I'll post something as soon as I get there.

[popthree]

i demo'd one of the rp250s at GC this week. while i only played it through headphones, i thought that it sounded pretty decent.

1 big plus for going with the 250 over the 150 is the extra large digital display you get with the 250. the 150 only has the 2 digit window, but the 250 has a large display and its alot easier to see what model you are on.

regarding the drums, i didn't figure out how to tweak them but i did mash down on the 'drums' button and played along with the classic rock 4/4 beat that came up by default. it sounded good and it was pretty fun.

not sure if i'll buy one or not, but it seems like it might be a pretty good deal.

[lostpick]

that why youre liking
these newer pedals
over the last generation....

Zoom G series and Digi RP series

[FrankB]

Originally Posted by popthree

i demo'd one of the rp250s at GC this week. while i only played it through headphones, i thought that it sounded pretty decent.

1 big plus for going with the 250 over the 150 is the extra large digital display you get with the 250. the 150 only has the 2 digit window, but the 250 has a large display and its alot easier to see what model you are on.

regarding the drums, i didn't figure out how to tweak them but i did mash down on the 'drums' button and played along with the classic rock 4/4 beat that came up by default. it sounded good and it was pretty fun.

not sure if i'll buy one or not, but it seems like it might be a pretty good deal.

Yeah... the drums...they actualy sound like drums, real drums. I was really surprised at how organic they sound. I set up a few beats to work on a song I am writing for a website and tv commercial and was realy happy with the acoustic quality of them, just really easy to listen to.

[eddiewagner]

we took it to the rehearsal this afternoon and hooked it up to the pa: i did not like it. a very lifeless and sterile sound. i was happy to go back to regullar amp and stompbox. thats too bad, because it sounded really good with earphones. and i had some cool stuff stored. the tuner buttons are dangerous to use. you end up in nirvana if you try and press the two buttons. the drums are nice, but they have no way to start or stop them with a pedal.
i think its a good pedal for home and practice, maybe recording, but not for a live-situation. i did the factory reset and will send it back.
sorry, because its such a cool pedal......

[FrankB]

Originally Posted by eddiewagner

we took it to the rehearsal this afternoon and hooked it up to the pa: i did not like it. a very lifeless and sterile sound. i was happy to go back to regullar amp and stompbox. thats too bad, because it sounded really good with earphones. and i had some cool stuff stored. the tuner buttons are dangerous to use. you end up in nirvana if you try and press the two buttons. the drums are nice, but they have no way to start or stop them with a pedal.
i think its a good pedal for home and practice, maybe recording, but not for a live-situation. i did the factory reset and will send it back.
sorry, because its such a cool pedal......

That's a shame, I like mine. It does sound different through different amps, but nothing alarming, just tweak the sounds you are using a little....

[eddiewagner]

Originally Posted by FrankB

It does sound different through different amps, but nothing alarming, just tweak the sounds you are using a little....

yeah frank, maybe i should give it a try through a clean amp. but with a p.a. i was really disappointed. specially since it sounds so good through headphones. i will try it with the clean channel of my cube 30. when i find time.