- Short-cuts : Products
- Video & VJing >
- Hi-Fi >
- Resources >
- Misc. Products >
This is an odd little digital unit, it is a combination of two distortion channels, which can be used in tandem or by themselves. It also has a pitch shifter that gave you a range of sounds from deep chorus to single and double octave effects. It could not be edited via computer and being a floor pedal, it is not rackable. There is a single input and dual outputs for stereo applications.
The setup is fairly simple as soon as you figured out how to engage the unit in order to blend the two distortion channels as well as using them independently. Therefore the effects editing was fairly easy. The manual that came with this unit was clear, sufficient and helpful.
The effects on this unit are decent, if not great. I've played a Fender Stratocaster, a Squire Strat and my current Ibanez through this box, and they all sounded fine. The two distortions, while similar in sound, are both usable and sufficiently realistic. YOu can also engage them both and you got a nice thick sounding 70's type overdrive. If you adjusted the pitch shifter for a chorus effect,it sounded nice and smooth with the overdrive/s, perfect and non-invasive in a praise and worship setting. The pitch shifter, along with having some odd sound settings such as a 3rd or 5th above the original note, had some really cool single and double octave effects. These are the facets that I really miss about his unit. (I dropped the unit, and it's pretty much broken and retired.) I also liked the stereo output capability of this unit, which is great for bi-amping. If I had to say anything I don't like about this unit, it's that the input led would start to clip if I turned it up to high, but if I backed it down, sometimes the output volume would not be sufficient on stage.
I used this unit on and off since the early nineties when I bought it up until recently when I broke it. I love the versatility and the cool sounds, as I was able to get overdrive, chorus and octaver out of it. I guess it can be considered one of the first multi-effects pedals. The only thing I didn't like was the clipping of the input. This was a great deal at the time at a price of $99, so I didn't try anything else, especially with it's unique combination of available effects. With all the pros to this unit (variety of effects, stereo capability) I would buy it again, hopefully for half the price, with technology having advanced in the past two decades. Even my current multi-effects pedal does not have an octave effect that compares to the effect on this unit.
I used the guitar for almost two years. I bought it when I started back up playing the guitar. During this time of exploration and trying to get back my chops while trying to improve from where I left off, this guitar served me well. It had enough tonal range for me at that point in my development. The 22 frets and decent action were adequate at that point. It even had a tremolo unit, which was cool. Unfortunately, I got to the point where the 22 frets weren't enough. The action and playability wasn't as good anymore. I didn't see the need to get it set up as I felt it was time to move on and upgrade to my current Ibanez. I didn't try many other models, because this is precisely what I needed at the time, a beginner pack. For the price, it did just the trick for what I needed it for at the time. There are much better choices right now for this price range (about $200), but to be fair, this was pretty much the right choice at the time of purchase.
This is a solid state practice amp that puts out 10 watts. There are inputs for input and headphone. The amp has knobs for treble and bass. It also has a button to engage gain or drive. A volume knob controls the amp in both the clean and gain settings.
Being a simple practice amp, the general configuration is straightforward and self-explanatory. The controls are responsive for a practice amp and you can easily get a decent sound being a practice amp. This was bought new, but it did not come with a manual.
Because the power is not adequate and the speaker is not that big, it is hard to get a variety of useful tones out of this unit. I didn't even bother putting pedals through this amp, it probably couldn't handle it. (Oh, I did go through my DOD YJM 368 before plugging into this amp, and the feedback/noise was ridiculous!) I used to use the Squire Stratocaster that came with this amp in a package. I also used my current Ibanez rg-120 through it, and they both sounded decent. (Once again, remember that this is a practice amp.) ONce again, because it's only 10 watts with a tiny speaker, the clean sound is only passable. (Hard to say that about a Fender, but it's not fair to expect it out of this unit.) The distortion is actually pretty decent, especially at lower volumes. The only problem with that is you definitely can't jam with this amp, especially with a monster drummer
I used this amp for a couple years before I sold it recently. I really didn't need it anymore. ONce again, because it's a practice amp, you can't complain about the tone coming out of this little guy. The reason I had to sell it is because it just didn't have enough power to keep up at rehearsal. This came in a package with an electric guitar, so I dind't have to try any other models before getting this one. Seeing as it came with the package, I can't complain about the value, especially since it served its purpose. The guitar served its purpose as well, so I can't complain about the choice I made to get this amp.
I wanted to start putting together a small personal computer recording studio at home. So I thought this would be the centerpiece or at least the starting point of my system as it is a computer interface for your guitar to go right into the computer. I bought it with the expectation of being able to use the unit and the included software on both my laptop and my desktop computers. I only have an electric 6-string right now, but I can also put an electric bass guitar through it as well, among other things. Simple single input. Also has a output for either headphones or computer speakers/monitors.
Installing was pretty easy. Just followed the prompts, and the install went well. I don't believe there were compatibility issues at SETUP. The general configuration of this unit is simple and the manual is clear and sufficient.
The drivers appear to be stable. I don't have any reason yet to think otherwise. I have never had the drivers updated, so I cannot address that. I use the included gt-express software, which provides virtual floor pedals and effects. The software also has a virtual rackmount function which has built in drum loops that you can design, put together and loop while you play the virtual guitar sounds. You can also load mp3's of your favorite songs, or sample drum loops from pro tools that are included, so you can play along. The latency is not completely horrible, but it's bad enough that this unit is not sufficient to fill my recording needs. There is no recording software included with this package. There is a recording feature on one of the rackmounts, but it's only one track at a time, and you can't record the drum loops or accompaniments with it.
I've only had this unit for a couple of weeks. The virtual effects have some pretty cool settings. Unfortunately, that is where the pros stop. As I said, the latency is bad enough that I would not keep this unit and it's going back to Musician's Friend fairly soon. To top it off, the software kills your sustain, so as soon as you pluck a string, the sound starts to cut out to non-existence almost immediately. When you go to record it on your own recording software, the output comes out completely dry, i.e. none of the effects transfer on to your recording software. And even if you don't mind a track being clean, you can't save the track in a format that you can export to anyone else unless they also have a jamlab interface unit ! Then, the feature that I like best about this unit, which is the drum loop capability, can't be recorded onto my recording software either ! I guess I got what I paid for, which was only $30. Because of the nature of the product, I was not able to test drive alternate models. So I bought a line 6 toneport, which I hope turns out better, and this unit is going back to the store.
This is a tube microphone preamp. It comes with a 12ax7 tube. Because it has tube technology, I bought this to add some warmth to my live rig. It has 1/4 inch inputs and output as well as a balanced XLR input and output. This means you pretty much have a stereo input and output capability with this unit. You can also go direct with an XLR input into a mixing board with this unit. I would call it rackable, as it is definitely not a floor unit. It is very small, so it can go on top of your rack, but also on top of your amp,preamp, power amp, or speakers.
The configuration is fairly simple. There is an input and output knob. There are also buttons for gain, p.power, phase reverse and OPL. Basically, you turn the input knob to adjust the volume of your input, and turn the input knob to adjust your output volume. The effect of both can be heard through your speakers. The manual is clear and sufficient. There is really nothing much to this unit to understand.
I bought this preamplifier to add more warmth to my rig, as my Fender Stage 185 tends to have a harsh treble. So I really did buy this unit to "color" my signal in that respect. Unfortunately, I have to realize that this is a microphone preamp, so running my guitar through my pedals, then through this unit before going to the board will not make my "house" tone sound good. As a matter of fact, it sounded very weak. So I broke down the next week and mic'd my amp then sent that signal through this unit, then to the mixing board, and I sounded much better through the house speakers. Don't know for sure if I sounded warmer than through my amp, but at least the sound through the house was decent. I think this unit will also make miking my acoustic guitar sound great.
I have had this unit for about 2 months. I like the fact that you can go direct to the house. Unfortunately, you have to go direct with a microphone, so technically, you're not going direct anyway. I do like having an xlr and 1/4 output, so I really have a stereo capability there, so I can add yet another amp to my rig. (Forget bi-amping or even tri-amping, I want to quad-amp!) Also having "stereo" inputs allows me to put my electric through the 1/4 inch input, and a microphone for my acoustic guitar through the xlr input, without having to switch around instruments, inputs, cables, etc. It's great for microphones, but this is NOT a guitar preamp. (Obviously!) This is the only model I tried because it was the specific model I needed for my needs. For $39, I don't regret my choice at all, because it has its uses
This is a pure delay pedal. You can also get chorus and slap back echo out of this unit, among other sounds. I believe it is digital and cannot be edited via computer. It is a floor pedal, so it is not rackable. It has two stereo inputs as well as two stereo outputs, great for bi-amping !
There are four knobs: E. level, feedback, delay time and mode. I do not have a manual, because it's used. So if you don't know much about delay, like me, you can play with the pedal for a time and figure out some really cool delay effects on this thing. Switch the mode around, and you get several different effects within one pedal. E. Level is like your volume. Feedback is the amount of delay you get, and delay time is the duration of the delay. Pretty straightforward.
This is one of the best pedal delays in the business. Don't mess around with other delay stomp-boxes, this is the one to get. I put this pedal at the end of my pedal chain. I use the stereo output to bi-amp and the "ping-pong" effect that occurs at certain delay settings is really cool. Reminiscent of Pat Metheny on clean settings, Van Halen on distortion settings. I use 80 millisecond mode to add a little light delay to my solos. Gives it some nice "sustain", but not so much delay that notes start bleeding into each other. AT 300ms, you have a chorus type effect. Pair it with another chorus, and it sounds very lush and full! AT 800 ms, you've got a slap-back delay or echo, perfect for country or bluegrass music. At 2600 ms, you've got some wicked tape delay ! There's even a setting that makes your electric sound like a violin !
I've been using this pedal for a couple months more than a year. Once I figured how to get some cool sounds out of this unit, there really isn't anything I don't like about it. I especially like the stereo outputs for bi-amping. This was lent to me, so I didn't try anything else besides it. I would hazard to guess that unless I get an expensive rack-mountable delay unit, nothing compares to this amazing pedal. I wouldn't spend as much money as it costs to get this thing new. I would have to get it used. And if my friend didn't lend it to me, I probably would buy it, because I don't know what I'd do without it. The stereo capability alone makes it worth having and keeping.
This is an equalizer. It can also function as a volume booster, which is great. I believe it is a digital effect. It cannot be edited via computer. It is a floor pedal,so it's not rackable. It has input and output as well as connector for 9v/dc power supply.
The general configuration is your standard 7-band equalizer. I don't know anything about equalizers and setting them for specific applications. This is where the manual/instructions came in. I made it easy to tweak the slider controls and get various tones from the unit. There are 3 sample presets: barb-eq for blues or 70's rock, scooped for metal, and curly Q for God knows what?
This unit provides top notch equalization for under $35. When you stomp on it and engage it's effect, it is almost like you just engaged a sonic maximizer. It makes your tone jump to life and just improves its presence that much more. It also works great as a volume booster for solos. Just slide the level to over 1/2 all the way to full, then stomp on it when you're solo begins! There's nothing I really don't like about the tones from this thing. (Aside from perhaps the "Curly Q" setting, which I'm still not sure what it's for.)
I have been using this unit since the beginning of this year. I think it is an essential part of your pedal chain, and even though I could survive without it, I'd rather not go without it. It just improves your tone and presence so much more. I've looked at so many distortion pedals as a volume boost, when all I had to do was look at this and I've got not only a volume booster, but a clean volume booster as well. I looked at the boss eq, but it was too expensive for me. I looked at dod and digitech, and they were too cheap looking. With this unit, I get the perfect blend of quality sound and construction as well as great monetary value. Until I can afford a good rack unit equalizer, this will do the trick just fine.
This is a pure distortion pedal. You can get overdrive out of it, there are even presets for it. However, I believe this pedal is specifically tailored for hard, heavy, driving distortion. The heavier, the better. It is a digital unit and cannot be edited via computer. It is a floor pedal, so it is not rackable. The unit has one input and two outputs. One output is for going to an amp. The other is a cabinet modeler that allows you to go straight into the mixing board.
Configuration is simple. It has four knobs : level, low, mid and high. As digitech says, they've set the gain on 11 and ripped off the knob ! Thus the lack of a gain knob on this unit. Sounds/effects editing is very easy and the clear, colorful manual makes it even easier. There are not only presets for just this unit, but the manual also shows how you can combine it with other effects to get a solo tone.
This pedal really only serves one purpose....it's a death metal pedal, just like the name says! As such, it sound greats for death, trash, nu-metal, and even heavy metal! I put this thing through a Fender Twin and it was palm muting hell (or heaven depending on your opinion.) It is great for heavy rhythm grind. Unfortunately, because the treble is so harsh, I don't feel this is a great pedal for soloing. The manual has a sample setup that has this pedal chained to a delay and a chorus for a smoother soloing sound. When I mimic this set up, it sounds a little better, but the treble is still too harsh in my opinion, even with the delay and chorus.
I've had this pedal for about 3 and a half years. I love playing Metallica style, Evanescence, basically any kind of power chord riffs with this thing. Unfortunately, it is not good for soloing, even though it has a soloing preset. And using this thing at praise and worship? Forget about it! The only time I've used it on stage at church is when we played Bring me to Life by Evanescence. I figure that will be the extent of my use of this pedal in a church setting. I tried many DOD and digitech models before buying this one, but this one won at the time because I was specifically looking for something that could play the heavy riffs of a song I wrote. Unfortunately, I apparently did not take into consideration the soloing capabilities of this unit. If I did, I very well might have ended up with something different. It's not too bad of a $50 spent, and at least the 2nd mixer output gives me the option of adding another amp to my rig in stereo.


