All user reviews of 4/5 for the DigiTech RP300

I got this effects unit at the local music store 'cause my individual effect pedals were giving me too much of a hassle. I normally prefer analog pedals over Digital/Modeling pedals, but as it was getting hard to maintain, I decided to go for a full effects digital unit. I went for this unit because of Digitech's fame for good products

I bought this unit for $200.
There's a lot to like about this unit, considering the price and the size. I have to say that I was positively surprised at the creative potential with this unit. First off, the distortion. It is my experience that digital distortions and overdrives are just not good at all, however the distortions on this unit are, to say the least, awesome. The Marshall and Fender models sound really good. I am quite sure that the original amps probably sound better, but let me tell ya, for all of us who don't have the money, Digitech sure is a lifesaver.
The digital effects, are also very good. Delay and chorus are very clear and have lots of configuration options for you to play with. The phaser, flanger, tremolo, wah and compression are all really good, in my opinion. The other effects I don't really use much. The yaya, the synthtalk I haven't much use for them, I'm more into blues rock and so I use them little, but they're an interesting creative tool. The pitch shift and whammy were not that good, but I definitely forgive that considering the quality of the other effects. Listen everybody, if you want a good and cheap guitar processor, this is it. I mean, it sounds great connected directly to the console!! The speaker simulations are very good.
You have to remember that you can't just use the presets, you have to make your own sound, and the unit is very easy to operate so that you can do just that. Also, you have to be aware of what each effect is capable of doing. If someone says that this unit stinks is because they haven't explored it or exploited it, and probably 'cause they know diddly squat about effects, it is not necessarily the unit's fault.
Anyway, going on, some other features that I really like are the A/B switch for switching amps, which is awesome for changing to distortion while retaining your effects, or to a louder sound, for solos and stuff. Also the V-switch which lets you turn the wah on or off on whatever preset you are on, just like if you had the individual pedal.

The only thing that I don't like, that I might mention about this unit, is the fact that it takes a small moment to switch from preset to preset, as if maybe, the unit processes a little slow. However, it is not noticeable on live presentations. In the studio (hehehe, my room, you could call it also) I record effect switches separately, so this is not a problem.

Now, the unit is encased in a metal chassis, and so it's pretty durable, pretty sturdy.

If you are an entry level player, looking for a good, cheap effects unit, this is it. Heck, if you middle level player, this a good unit.
Worth the $200 I paid for it, and more.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I liked the RP200 and decided to upgrade. I pruchased the RP300 retail at Guitar Center, Austin Texas.

This is a great heavy duty product with quality effects and flexible programming.

Please read the following emails:

To: support@digitech.com
From: (Mike)
Subject: Comment, Suggestion, etc.

I didn't see the product RP300 in your drop down above... THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT NOTIFICATION! I upgraded from the RP200 and purchased an RP300 from Guitar Center in Austin TX. I found that when I pressed the "STORE" button that the PC board below seemed to "give" a little. I took the unit back to Guitar Center and demonstrated this to Kyle in Accessories. We found that ALL the units he had in stock did this same thing. When I opened up the back, I found that there is a screw missing that holds the board down in that area! I also went to MARS Music in Austin and found that all their RP300's did the same thing! My engineering background tells me that any
time you allow movement in a PC board there will eventually be a stress failure. I have inserted a screw and it corrected the problem. My immediate concern is that I had to work on a brand new unit I paid for,
because there wasn't another in town that didn't have the same problem. I feel I am entitled to some recompense for my trouble with a defective product and for notifying you instead of hitting the user group and product review boards. Please respond.

_______

Dear Mr. Welch,

Thank you for your comments regarding the RP300 that you purchased. First off, we appreciate your purchase of DigiTech products. We also value the feedback that we receive from our customers. The screw that is missing in the area by the STORE button is not an oversight. The bos that holds that particular screw in is inconsistent in height from our casting supplier. Because of the high volume of
manufacture, the inconstant height was causing problems on the production floor. We considered removing the screw only after carefully reviewing the ramifications. When the PCB flex was considered, we looked at the flex with the screw inserted and without it inserted. The PCB flexes with or without the screw inserted and it actually has a gentler flex (the angle of flex is less) when the screw is not inserted. After thorough testing, it was
decided to leave that particular screw out of the assembly until we could redo the casting to solve the real problem From our extensive experience building these types of products, we don't feel that the amount of PCB flex will cause any problems (there are no fine pitch parts close to the switch,
which is where the majority of the problems happen).

Thank you for taking the time to write to us and express your concern. I
hope that I have answered your concerns. Please contact me if you have any
further questions. We would like to send you a DigiTech shirt for the amount of effort that it has taken to alert us of your concerns.

Best Regards

John Hanson
VP of Engineering
Harman Music Group


Good materials, ergonomic.

I love the effects and easily programmong and storing capability. I have donre programming between songs in a live set!

I don't neccesarily appreciate the repsonse from Digitech when I pointed out a manufacturing defect.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

Following extensive research on related gear and being familiar w/ digitech quality, I aquired this product from Mt. Pleasent Music (Charleston, SC). $195

My objective was to obtain a processor that could blend my guitar sound to my techno station, affordably. Digitech is extremely heads-up on a guitar's needs. The creativity allowance gives sanction to high potential. I've created only five hybrids, (of 40 user). But the first two have met all of my needs from trippy clean to sonic distortion. Bright LCD, with parameter description is helpful.The expression pedal works well, but I never use it? With a Durable construct and a vast soundscape this product is very economical.

My dislikes are only in the creation process. It seems there are many rules I don't know about when bending sound in this domain. The depth of twelve effects at one time can be deep. But this is probably an aspect that will be much more appreciated upon more practice and experimentation. So if you call that a dislike...

Definitly a tough unit with steel casing and sound beyond the range of its retail price range($199 most sites).

My conclusion is, if you are interested in giving your guitar the capability to sound like, probably any guitar performance you've heard ( in terms of tone, not ability). And you don't really want to spend to much money in this department, With all the many other avenues of music to travel. This model will surely get you by with plenty of room to grow,that of course is limited by time.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I started playing guitar in our church's praise and worship team and was in the market for a new chorus pedal. I decided to look a little further at a multi effects box since they are not that much more expensive than a box. I researched on the internet and found that the digitech rp-300 looked to be the most versatile in my price range. I decided to try the unit at a local music store and decided to purchase it from them after they let me experiment with it for about 45 minutes. I paid 179 dollars for the unit.

I like the fact that it is pretty versatile and is also easy to use and program. It appears to be solidly made and has some decent presets which are good starting points. I never had an effect that had "amp modeling" and am satisfied with the the sounds that it can produce. I also like the multitude of on board effects.

The overall aethetic appeaance of the unit leaves a little to be desired, but the unit is functional. I wish that there were a little better control "while playing" of some of the effects like the delay and the flanger. I personally don't like to stand still while i am playing and have accidently "stomped" the unit to a sound that i didn't want (to my embarrassment.) Some of the presets are kind of gaff but they can be over written easily. I also find my self wishing i could easily turn on an effect without having to program the sound.

The unit appears to be well constructed and has held up to what I have been putting it through so far. I'm not so sure that i like where the power cord plugs into the unit as it appears to be a little flimsy if one were to step on it.

Overall I am happy with the unit as it serves my purpose and i think that it is a pretty good value, although i wouldn't mind paying a little more for more control and more sounds.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

MusiciansFriend.com (internet) for $199



Ease of use - The unit comes with 40 user-programmable, and 40 factory presets. Changing or adjusting the User (editable)settings to your liking is a snap. All the basic effects and modeling options are here, and easy to alter to your liking. A couple of additional effects (such as "Synthtalk") add some room for experimenting. I can't imagine a genre that this unit won't support, short of 'conservatory classical' applications.



The unit includes a noise gate. Good thing, as there is a fair amount of ambient noise generated, once this thing's in your guitar signal loop. Also, the quality of the pitch shift/detune function leaves much to be desired. I couldn't achieve an accurate 'octave-below' effect -- it always seemed to be several cents sharp, which means I'm not sure how much application these related effects have for me. The mode pedals are a little too close for me (I wear size 12 shoes). Several functions (such as Tuning mode) are initiated by stepping on two pedals at the same time. Thus, I have to be very careful not to hit two of them unintentionally.



Contruction is metal and very rugged -- That, plus the unit's compact size means it's a great tool for the 'road dog'.



Excellent value for the money. A lot in a rugged-built, compact package. Could be quieter, and a couple of the effects are, in my opinion, 'sub-adequate'.



This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com