| DigiTech RP500 - Long
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I just picked up a DigiTech RP500 which I am evaluating. I recently purchased a TurboRAT and a Fulltone Bass-Drive Mosfet. I will return the DigiTech or the individual pedals after I have done a thorough evaluation. The two individual pedals are great sounding and very well made. They also create some good tones when connected in serieds. This is going to be a tough decision. The main reason being that I have a mental stumbling block about using a “guitar” multi-effect with a bass.
I have owned a GT-6B in the past and wasn't that enamored with it. I've also owned BP200s, which I actually prefer to the GT-6B. I've tried to like the ME-20B and ME-50B, but I’ve thought they both sounded poor and that they were very limited. The Boss GT-10B is too expensive and large. I had an AX3000B on order but returned it after evaluating a used one at GC. The AX3000B seemed somewhat light weight in construction. I also cancelled an order for a Zoom B2.1u after getting a chance to evaluate a B2 in a store.
The DigiTech RP500 is built like a tank. It’s not your father’s DigiTech. I know the RP series is guitar oriented but its frequency range covers the bass spectrum. The new CPU in it is light years ahead of the one in the BP and the older RP series. It's got some serious modeling in it. It is also made in the USA. The construction is of cast aluminum like the other BP series versus the sheet metal used by Boss, Korg and Zoom. It has 100 presets and 100 available memory slots. You can label a preset with an 8 character alphanumeric. You can immediately switch between any of five presets directly or you can switch through them one-by-one. It has a USB connection that allows you to record to your computer and/or to download and upload presets. The knobs on the new RP series also have clicks at each increment versus the style of the BP and the older RP series. This makes it much easier to make precise settings. I’ve found many of the factory presets to sound outstanding with my bass. And of course, some sound useless. Interestingly enough, the RP500 is not called a “Modeling Guitar Processor” like all of the other RP series. It is called an “Integrated Effects Switching System.” I don’t know if this an intentional attempt to market this to bassists as well as guitarists, but I did contact DigiTech support and they said that it was designed to cover the bass frequencies well. But the cabinet models are all guitar type. Based upon DigiTech’s past, I doubt that they will release a “BP500.” Their current BP series never went as high as the older RP series.
Right now I am A/Bing its RAT model against a real TurboRAT. I am also comparing the RP500’s numerous overdrives/distortions against my Fulltone Bass-Drive Mosfet. So far it seems to sound really good with my Mustang bass. I haven't tried it yet with my Sterling.
Has anyone else tried one out with a bass? If so, what are your thoughts and impressions?
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MusicMan Sterling HS, MarkBass CMD 102P, MusicMan Silhouette HSH, Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb
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