DigiTech quality: should I keep it or chuck it?

Gopherbassist · #1 07-05-2009, 09:58 PM

I bough a Bass Driver about two years ago. When I'd had it for about three months, the battery wire broke. I'd been pretty careful, but I figured it ate a lot of batteries, so with all the changing I'd done it was inevitable.

I took it back to the shop, they gave me another one and I bought a power supply. The whole experience turned me off of the thing, so I hadn't used it very much since I traded it. Now that the new one has gotten about as much use as the old one, it just crapped out. Didn't work with a battery, nor power supply, or any of the different combinations of cables I had to use.

It's been a few days, and I tried it again and it works now. I can't come up with any reason as to why it didn't work, I turned every know, flipped every switch and tried every outlet. So, I was wondering what experiences others had had with DigiTech products, and if this pedal will be worth any future headaches it might cause.

warwick.hoy · #2 07-05-2009, 10:32 PM

I had a Tone Driver. It sucked sound wise, but I never had an issue with it build wise. Same is true of the Synth Wah I owned.

Maybe you can trade the Bass Driver for a Bad Monkey. 'Round these parts the Bad Monkey is a somewhat well regarded Tube Screamer clone.

Pilgrim · #3 07-05-2009, 10:50 PM

A wire can break in anything - especially a wire to a 9V adapter. Those wires get tugged and pulled a lot. Don't worry about it. Digitech stuff seems very well built in my experience. Avoid using batteries and it doesn't matter...I always use an AC adapter for all pedals. Batteries CAN fail, and because of that, sooner or later one WILL fail.

AndyLES · #4 07-05-2009, 10:55 PM

I stopped using Digitech pedals because of their crap build quality, especially with the footswitch.

nortonrider · #5 07-05-2009, 11:06 PM

I have a BP-50 (about as cheap of a processor that you can get) and I dig the hell out of it!
Durability has never been and issue, and I have kicked it all over the place. Processing quality may not be the best, but it isn't bad either.
I always have it hooked up, even if it only for the tuner.

**TheMutt** · #6 07-05-2009, 11:22 PM

I have owned a Bass Multi-Chorus in the past and never had an issue with it working. I currently own a Hardwire RV-7 (yep, it's a DigiTech brand) and couldn't be happier with it.

whoatherechunk · #7 07-05-2009, 11:28 PM

i've never had a problem with a digitech product.

theory028 · #8 07-06-2009, 01:18 AM

I only have one Digitech pedal (Digitech Talker). I haven't used it much but since I have decided to keep it, I will put it in my rack. I can't vouch for the quality but it feels solid. I am not very worried about it breaking since I am not rough with it. It better not be an issue.

If it works right now then you could probably get by with it for a while. If it acts up again then you could maybe look for an alternative pedal. If you rely on it then I would suggest finding an alternative pedal as soon as you can afford it. If it isn't vital to your sound then you could likely get by on the Digitech. Hopefully you won't experience more problems in the future.

Getaway Driver · #9 07-06-2009, 03:53 PM

My digitech bass multi-chorus went insane during a gig once, giving me really bad feedback and cutting out randomly... Switched to running it off an AC adapter and I have no problem now. Haven't replaced it cause I like the sound.

Zappstorius · #10 07-06-2009, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndyLES

I stopped using Digitech pedals because of their crap build quality, especially with the footswitch.

I agree the Digitech footswitches need to be stomped, not touched as say the Boss pedals do, but they are much better than the DOD pedals in that regard. As far as them not working, I've never had an issue and I own two of them.

Now weather there are better sounding pedals, well, that's one's opinion right?

And outside of the studio, I cannot understand why anyone would ever run pedals with a battery...

ga_edwards · #11 07-06-2009, 05:17 PM

I have heard that the processors in the x-series have been know to fry. Perhaps you experienced a heat issue, similar to a computer cpu getting too hot and refusing to startup until it cooled down? Dunno.

The only issue I've had with my ones is the crappy battery connector. The metal 'lugs' on the clip itself tore out on both the bass driver and compressor. Good job I only ran them mains, as they are far too juicy for batteries anyway.

Tonewise, not as good as decent analogue pedals, but a lot better than the awful Boss ODB-3 I had before IMO. Actually better than the OD/dist in my old GT6B too. It could get a touch fizzy but I found using the cab emulated output helped to warm it up a lot.

Gopherbassist · #12 07-08-2009, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ga_edwards

I have heard that the processors in the x-series have been know to fry. Perhaps you experienced a heat issue, similar to a computer cpu getting too hot and refusing to startup until it cooled down? Dunno.

Well that's interesting. I'd never heard that before, but it can get hot here. I'll have to experiment...

Thanks everyone for your replies.