Digitech - Where's the love?

nortonrider · #1 01-01-2009, 11:45 AM

So,
I have had this BP-50 sitting around for a few years. I remember that I Paid $40 for it and used it as a tuner.
But, When I would plug it inline into this little single input practice combo that I had, it was really noisy (hiss). I ended up just putting it aside and forgetting about it.

After reading the recent Digitech threads here, I figured I would dig it out and play with it. I planned to just use it as a tuner and mute so I plugged it into the effects loop of my Genz combo and boy I was suprised!
It is stone silent and has a couple of really cool stock effect settings programmed into it. The chorus is really pretty badass. The tuner is dead on and it works like a charm as a mute.

The drum beats are as lame as I remember but I won't ever use those, however it does have a metronome.
I think I am going to give this thing a chance before I throw it back in the box.

Maybe I got a pearl of a BP and not all of them actually sound this good. If this is the case, I consider myself lucky.

Does anyone one else out there use a BP-50?
Is there No love for these things?

meaty · #2 01-01-2009, 11:49 AM

I have the one you has 'cept it has a built in expression pedal but I dropped it once and the pedal broke freezing it in one universally non useful setting

:C

bassteban · #3 01-01-2009, 11:54 AM

I've played w/the BP-50 & liked it. I like Digitech & DOD in general. I just got an old PDS-1002 2-second delay & can see spending some time w/this cutting-edge-for-the-80s box.

Edit: I also used to have '71 Norton Commando.

nortonrider · #4 01-01-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassteban

I've played w/the BP-50 & liked it. I like Digitech & DOD in general. I just got an old PDS-1002 2-second delay & can see spending some time w/this cutting-edge-for-the-80s box.

Edit: I also used to have '71 Norton Commando.

Obvoiusly, a man with Taste! :

Chronicle · #5 01-01-2009, 12:37 PM

Their Hardwire series is pretty nice, but pretty much everything else shouldn't be used outside your bedroom ;/

Jactap · #6 01-01-2009, 12:53 PM

I use my Bp50 mostly for synth stuff, recording, and as a phaser.
The modeling is pretty decent too.
I'm still trying to find a usable chorus on it though.

the best part is that I got mine for free

flakeh · #7 01-01-2009, 01:01 PM

I had a bp80 I used for the phaser and the whammy. I liked the phaser, since the rate was controllable using the pedal, something I really need right now. I kinda regret selling it, The whammy wasn't too bad and there were some good overdrive/distortions in it. If i see one pop up for cheap, I might nab it.

4StringsEnough · #8 01-01-2009, 04:34 PM

I've got some love for Digitech! IMHO, there are too many pedal snobs or people who follow the herd rather than using their ears. Pedals sound different through different setups yet, when a TB (or other forum) regular posts a negative view on a pedal they've tried, that seems to become the view of the entire TB community, regardless of whether they've tried the pedal themselves or not.

I'm not a massive fan of multi-effects, but I've tried the BP80 and the BP200 and both were entirely useable and fantastic value for money. Depending on what you're after, they've got certain advantages over the TB favourite, Zoom, and certain things they don't do as well. Horses for courses.

With regards to single pedals, there are some great pedals in the Digitech range. Look at the innovation of the Whammy - still unrivalled. Pick yourself up a Bad Monkey and you won't believe how good it sounds, how well it's built and how they manage to sell it for such a low price. The chorus and phaser are both great and there's loads more that guitarists love but that, as a bassist, are of no interest to me.

And that's before you consider the Hardwire brand they have just launched which, by all accounts, are the dogs danglies (that means very good, by the way, for those of you on the west side of the Atlantic!

). I've not yet had the pleasure of trying these.

Nyarlathotep · #9 01-01-2009, 05:02 PM

I wouldn't actually mind trying out more of digitech's stuff to be honest.

I like my grunge, seems sturdy enough with out being to expensive to worry bout it breaking or getting stoled or some crap like that

agedhorse · #10 01-01-2009, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nortonrider

I planned to just use it as a tuner and mute so I plugged it into the effects loop of my Genz combo and boy I was suprised!
It is stone silent and has a couple of really cool stock effect settings programmed into it. The chorus is really pretty badass. The tuner is dead on and it works like a charm as a mute.

The BP-50, from what I remember, was specifically intended as a line level device, so it's more ideally suited to living in a line level serial effects loop like you discovered.

[revision... while the owner's manual shows it as intended for in-line use, the chipset and architecture uses an operating level of about 1 volt or line level, so in this case I would opt to recommend using it with a line level loop... but if you choose to use it in-line, pay special attention to the compression and noise gate parameters. I would also expect more noise if used in line with a low output passive bass.]

While it may work "ok" in line with the input of an amp, it will most likely suffer from noise issues like you had.

nortonrider · #11 01-01-2009, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agedhorse

The BP-50, from what I remember, was specifically intended as a line level device, so it's more ideally suited to living in a line level serial effects loop like you discovered.

[revision... while the owner's manual shows it as intended for in-line use, the chipset and architecture uses an operating level of about 1 volt or line level, so in this case I would opt to recommend using it with a line level loop... but if you choose to use it in-line, pay special attention to the compression and noise gate parameters. I would also expect more noise if used in line with a low output passive bass.]

While it may work "ok" in line with the input of an amp, it will most likely suffer from noise issues like you had.

Once again, another excellent right on the money post from agedhorse!

You Genz Benz guys ROCK!

danomite64 · #12 01-01-2009, 05:59 PM

I like my Digitech Bass Synth Wah and Bass Driver, and have owned almost all the DOD bass pedals in the past; Bass Chorus, Bass Flanger, Bass Grunge, Bass EQ (both 6 and 7 band), and Bass Compressor. My only complaints on the older ones were the battery lids could fall off and get lost, and they required a different adapter than Boss pedals did. But the new ones don't suffer from that at all.

Nyarlathotep · #13 01-01-2009, 08:46 PM

Interesting that you mention EQs... does digitech make one?

Akeris · #14 01-01-2009, 08:59 PM

JamMan, BSW, and Bad Monkey here.

Tbirdbassist · #15 01-01-2009, 09:03 PM

I used to own a BP200, it's great for getting into effects. I'd never, ever use it live though. When you start using multiple presets in a song, it really shows it's weakness.

js1 · #16 01-01-2009, 09:18 PM

I quite like the new guitar RP series. Distortions/amp emulations are OK, effects are great. A/D and D/A conversion, usually a weak spot in these kids of pedals are great - they're not the tone suckers that I find with, say, the Line 6 stuff (which I have a fair bit of).

Traded in my RP350 for an RP500, and have used it on stage for bass, even though it's voiced for guitar.

When a pedal based on the new gen technology comes out, I'll try it.

js

cynikal1234 · #17 01-01-2009, 09:27 PM

I personally love the Digitech Bass Synth Wah. Though i haven't used it in 2 months but its definitely still my favorite pedal to use.

EADG mx · #18 01-01-2009, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chronicle

Their Hardwire series is pretty nice, but pretty much everything else shouldn't be used outside your bedroom ;/

Their twin pedals are actually very nice.

Sorefinger · #19 01-02-2009, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danomite64

I like my Digitech Bass Synth Wah and Bass Driver.

Me too!

I found the BSW to be very versatile once I figured out what the controls were capable of in the various settings. And the Bass Driver has a wide range of useable sounds from overdrive to fuzz. To my ears it´s not as noisy and overall warmer sounding than the ODB-3.

They eat batteries for breakfast though but I´m using a OneSpot anyway.

snowy_patrol · #20 01-02-2009, 04:22 AM

I love my Digi pedals! Currently own the Synth Wah; Multi-Chorus and the Bass Squeeze- theyre all awesome pedals and the chorus pedal is an absolutely amazing piece of kit, beats the s**t outta the Boss ones IMO. Give em a try, my only advice though, run them off a pedal board

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorefinger

They eat batteries for breakfast though but I´m using a OneSpot anyway.

This is soooo true!

Cheers.