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WHOA...Digitech The Drop

#183
You can also message them with that pop-up messenger window that they've got now (at least on the mobile version, IME) and they'll get back to you pretty quickly with a custom-made 15%-off code.
 
#184
LSMFT6 said:
You can also message them with that pop-up messenger window that they've got now (at least on the mobile version, IME) and they'll get back to you pretty quickly with a custom-made 15%-off code.
Click to expand...

That's what I was referring to earlier---and also, that's the way to get them to beat a price if that's an option.
 
#185
I got mine yesterday and did not get to play it until tonight---as much as I've wanted this pedal, it had the unfortunate coincidence of arriving on the same day as my Beat Buddy. The Beat Buddy took precedence. Tonight I got them both going, but I did turn the Beat Buddy off long enough to listen solely to the Drop. I did extensive A/B-ing with my Morpheus Droptune. Here is my quick review:

ON BASS:
Utterly slays my Morpheus on bass. The tone/latency/tracking---basically everything. I don't need to say anymore about this, so I'll focus on the Drop itself. The tone was good, not great. Tracking was perfect (though I didn't throw anything too tricky at it). Latency was perceptible, but only barely so. On higher notes I heard just a touch of the warbly, chorus-y sound that some people have reported, but like the latency, it was only barely perceptible and only noticeable on higher notes. In brief use, I loved the octave + dry setting. I'm not picky about the tone of my octaver, I care far more about tracking, and I think this sounded great.

ON GUITAR:
Unlike some people, I've been pretty satisfied with my Morpheus on guitar. I found the two much closer on guitar than on bass. I didn't try every setting. When dirty, any differences between the two were minimal. When clean, I found the Drop has more of a full, mid-range tone while the Morpheus sounds a little scooped. I would say the Drop is a little more faithful to the clean tone, but maybe rolls off the high end a little bit, while the Morpheus doesn't sound all that great clean. Again, running dirt after both pitchshifters really helps.

OVERALL:
I need a couple of more days with it and I want to challenge it some more. However, on the initial testing it seems to have passed what I needed to be---an equivalent replacement for my Droptune on guitar, in a smaller package with better power requirements that is also more useable on bass.

Also, I haven't been playing as much as I would like. But now I have a blister on my index finger.
 
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#186
Updated mini-review: I want to record with this sucker and have people do a "blind ear" test vs. the Morpheus. The Morpheus is a rare piece of gear that I've been super happy with and I don't want to let go unless I am 100% sure this replaces it. However, I continue to feel like the two are essentially comparable on guitar with the Drop winning on bass, all while the Drop is in a smaller package with more sensible power requirements. That's really what I was looking for. The criticisms that some people have had about this unit I am not quite getting; they are barely detectable, but largely acceptable for my purposes.
 
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#187
Previously I said that I didn't like the Drop and preferred the Line 6 M5. Well, my M5 decided to start doing its random power on / off thing again so I pulled out my Drop and gave it another test. My initial testing was done through headphones, but this time I played through an amp since nobody was home. Yeah, I should have done that from the start. The Drop is definitely a great pedal, at least for what I want - Eb tuning. D is also good. I will have one on my board along with my guitarists who also have Drop pedals on their boards. My opinion is highly recommended.

15226727667_cb5c98517a_c.jpg
Mini board. by rich_snyder, on Flickr
 
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#189
I finally got an opportunity to A/B the Drop and M5 at closer to stage volume. I will say that the Drop sounded a little better but they were incredibly close to my ears. The biggest difference was the Drop was a little more forgiving when I played sloppy. When I played completely tight (the song I'm using this for is a full band riff in B) they weren't distinguishable but if I wasn't so tight the digital artifacts in the M5 won out. If pedalboard space wasn't at a premium, I probably would've returned the Drop for the M5 due to the fact that it can do so much else, but space is always at a premium - so Drop it is - for now! I also tried to see if they Dry + Oct could replace my OC2 - not even a little bit :) Forgot that pedal is all about that synthy syrupy goodness. Nice to have the option on the Drop though. Still sounds good, just not comparable.
 
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#191
Ok, so, I'm in a cover band. We cover a lot of material. Most songs we do are in standard. Out of the 260+ songs in our list, only about 25-ish are a half step down. Would you all who have used this pedal prefer if over bringing another bass tuned a half step down? I don't mind bringing 2 basses, but switching back and forth in the middle of a set is quite annoying sometimes. Thoughts?
 
#192
After playing the Drop for a couple of weeks, solely through a cabinet in a loud practice room as well as a small outdoor stage, I would say go with the convenience of the pedal. At a half or one step down, at larger volume, I can barely tell the difference between the pedal and retuning. In my opinion, there are no artifacts that are going to impact a stage environment.
Yes, there is some digital warble on sliding higher notes. Leave is alone and in all likelihood, you'll be the only one that can hear it. Add an octave pedal to that signal for some thick "almost chorus" enhancement to your fills.
 
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#193
MoeTown1986 said:
Ok, so, I'm in a cover band. We cover a lot of material. Most songs we do are in standard. Out of the 260+ songs in our list, only about 25-ish are a half step down. Would you all who have used this pedal prefer if over bringing another bass tuned a half step down? I don't mind bringing 2 basses, but switching back and forth in the middle of a set is quite annoying sometimes. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

I would definitely go with a Drop pedal.
 
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#196
I tried to record some ultimate Drop samples last night---Drop vs. DropTune vs. Pitchfactor vs. M5. However, I had serious noise recording issues that thwarted me.
 

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