Digitech Drop (tune) Pedal

[gregmon79]

With the HX, I can do a lot more with individual effects. By itself the Simple Pitch works okay, but add some EQ tweaking before and after, maybe some compression and then top it off with an IR and you get a very usable pitch shift patch. I may try blending the IR with dry to see if that works better. It's still mono, but you can get away with fifths and octaves and you won't want to use it for slapping.

If you have time, I would like to see what your patches look like in a PM? I don't slap ever so that works for me! haha I really would like to see if I could get something to work well though.

 

[wintremute]

In my band the songs are constantly switching from E to E flat. This pedal is a lifesaver. I love it and recommend it.

 

[mikeyjm2]

I used it in a cover band, but only for a couple songs. It is a tone sucker unfortunately, but for the small amount I used it I felt it was an ok alternative to hauling two basses.

 

[basscapes]

The purpose of the pedal is to come down a semitone for the ease of the vocalist, Eb is easier for him to sing in. I regularly gig and reherse in a second band and just don't fancy tuning up and tuning down all of the time.

Why not just drop your low E to a D?

I've done that, and it has helped immensely, especially for those gigs where you may end up going between E, Eb and D tunings. If you know your fretboard theory well enough, this shouldn't be a problem.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Why not just drop your low E to a D?

I've done that, and it has helped immensely, especially for those gigs where you may end up going between E, Eb and D tunings. If you know your fretboard theory well enough, this shouldn't be a problem.

The Drop pedal shines when you know a song, especially one with open string riffs, and the singer wants to drop it a half or whole step.

 

[non]

i have the drop pedal.
my experience is:
the pedal sounds good a half step down and whole step down but after that the sound starts to gently thicken and get muddy. once you get to two whole steps down there is a noticeable octaver effect which may not be bad but it starts to sound muddy. i would not use it for more than two whole steps down.

 

[ObsessiveArcher]

I picked up a used one, intended for our guitar player. I experimented with it for about a month before his b-day and gifting of the pedal. On my bass, I found it worked really well for dropping up to 3 half steps (E -> Db/C#). However, dropping 5 steps (E -> B) there is a noticeable, yet almost tolerable, change in tone/warble. Anything past that is not pleasant to listen to, period.

 

[Loring]

Seems like an unreliable compromise to commit to using a pedal to be in tune with the rest of band. I would just re-tune or, preferably, find a way to transpose and play the parts without having to re-tune my instrument.

Only works if you have high action. If I came down a tone or more I would get a lot of fret buzz.

For me I play the same songs in different bands - one singer goes up the other down and I don't fancy learning the song 3 ways...

 

[J Gold]

Worked great for me for 3 years . One cover band tuned down to Eb, one band tunes to D for the last set only. Alas, I recently broke mine and am seeking volunteers to repair the momentary switch.

 

[theduke1]

I use the Digitech Drop because the three bands I work with all use different tunings
My research told me four things
1) it must be first in the signal chain
You must drop the pitch before adding any effects
2) your bass must always be in tune
If your bass goes out of tune easily then this pedal will give you grief . I check me tuning at least between sets
3) as stated above below 3 1/2 steps for bass it does not work very well
4) you need a high quality tuner that is why I switched a Sonic Research Strobe Tuner
The Digitech drop has been a game changer for me
Duke

 

[wintremute]

I use the Digitech Drop because the three bands I work with all use different tunings
My research told me four things
1) it must be first in the signal chain
You must drop the pitch before adding any effects
2) your bass must always be in tune
If your bass goes out of tune easily then this pedal will give you grief . I check me tuning at least between sets
3) as stated above below 3 1/2 steps for bass it does not work very well
4) you need a high quality tuner that is why I switched a Sonic Research Strobe Tuner
The Digitech drop has been a game changer for me
Duke

I concur. That's pretty much my experience.

 

[2112]

Seems like an unreliable compromise to commit to using a pedal to be in tune with the rest of band. I would just re-tune or, preferably, find a way to transpose and play the parts without having to re-tune my instrument.

Bully for you. This doesn't answer the OP's question.

I've been using the Drop for awhile... it does quite a good job, but seems to add just a little compression with each successive step down. This and a detuner give me access to all the various tunings I need on-stage. This setup allows me to take just 2 basses with me to the gig: a primary and a backup. It also helps keep the sets moving---no wasting the audience's time between songs to re-tune or swap out basses.

 

[Jason Hollar]

I recently went back to 4 strings and have been messing around with the EHX Pitchfork. Seems to track & modulate very well, but some latency on faster passages. However, I guess I'm a curmudgeon so I just traded a 4 for a 5 again. That said ... I still need to try the Pitchfork on the 5 to do the Stevie Wonder / E flat thing.

 

[juancaminos]

Wow, what a time for this thread to come along. I just hooked up with a group who plays almost everything tuned to Eb. My old tuner has the flat and sharp light so I tuned to the b side. So I am looking for a tuner that can be set to various tunings like Eb or ever op G tuning on a 6 string. Suggestions? I hope that this isn't highjacking...

 

[Adamixoye]

Wow, what a time for this thread to come along. I just hooked up with a group who plays almost everything tuned to Eb. My old tuner has the flat and sharp light so I tuned to the b side. So I am looking for a tuner that can be set to various tunings like Eb or ever op G tuning on a 6 string. Suggestions? I hope that this isn't highjacking...

I don't understand the question - lots of tuners are chromatic. Just get one of those.

 

[Aidenn7]

If you play with a mute and a pick or compression.. Before it.. You'll get better results.. Same with most octavers.. Try the pitch fork or drop tune.. With this setup.. You'll like it better.. The octave will only be as clean as the sound you put thru it..

 

[alembicguy]

I work with a band where both guitarists use them and those knuckleheads are always in the wrong key. Just tune it manually.

 

[SamPerdisian]

I've been using one for a little while now and love it. I got it after watching Every Time I Die and knowing they played songs in Drop D and Drop C but during the set they never changed instruments which I found odd. The songs i knew were in Drop C were still definitely in that tuning despite not seeing them tune which confused me a little. I later saw a video of their pedalboards for that tour and they all used the drop and it sounded killer! I believe August Burns Red do the same thing live.
I love it. Sounds better with a bit of grit and drive IMO.

 

[beaglesandbass]

Works great on my low B. I don't go much further down than one whole step, but it tracks to A fine

 

[beaglesandbass]

Only works if you have high action. If I came down a tone or more I would get a lot of fret buzz.

This doesn't make sense at all. All it does is change the pitch that is being sent to it. If you're hearing anything, it's already coming your bass and the drop may just be altering it enough to a frequency that hits you more clearly. It can't create what isn't there.