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Post subject: A question about multi effects pedals...
Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:41 am
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Hey Folks,
I have a rather dumb, somewhat rhetorical question here. I've been perusing my local Guitar Center quite a bit lately...had some extra money burning a hole in my pocket and all. Anyways, I've been playing for over 25 years now and have a rather sizable arsenal of various effects pedals and such from my many years of playing but as I'm getting older, call me lazy but I'm finding that I'm really starting to lean towards these multi effects units such as the Digitech RP series. Instead of having to worry about all the little patch cables which seem to continually go bad and have the virtual spider's web of power adapters (and/or dead batteries), having -1- pedal that does it all has really been quite practical for me.

I've had one of the Digi RP-50's for a while now...just a really basic multi-effects processor and for what it is, it really has some amazing sounds (not to mention the built in tuner and drum machine!). In fact last night I just picked up an RP-90...same basic thing as my 50 but with an expression pedal and a few more effects (and better control over those effects). Now the thing that caught my attention here is that along with the many other effects on this new RP-90, it also include the "Digitech Whammy" which if you were to buy as a separate pedal would cost $199 retail...$100 more than this RP-90. Of course this got me to thinking and looking at other pedals as well...some of the more traditional stomp boxes are really getting up there in price now a days as well with many being between $80 and $200 or more!

Now obviously the more traditional stomp boxes usually have a steel box and certainly hardier construction. That said, I'm way past my days of "dancing" on my pedals and I (try to) take very good care of all my gear anyways. So my question is, how can these new multi-effect pedals be sooooooo much cheaper than more traditional stomp boxes? I mean if these things just sounded like complete crap it would make sense, but both of my RP's sound really decent and obviously they are just so much easier to use...and usually you have to pay -more- for such a convenience, not less! I also find it very hard to believe that the steel box that traditional stomp boxes come in warrants -that- much of a price difference...any thoughts on this? Is it simply that "digital effects" are more cost effective to build than analog?

BTW...I'm not specifically referring to the Digitech pedals only here...there are obviously many other companies making these multi-effects units (and/or amp/cab simulators with effects and such)...Zoom, Line 6, Korg, etc., etc.. I just happen to be personally partial to Digitech as a number of my older effects are from the likes of Digi and DOD and they've always served me very well.

I'm curious to see what folks have to say on this one!
Peace,
Jim


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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 10:48 am
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Besides the advantages you mentioned, there is also the other huge advantages of (a) being much quieter than a row of boxes, and (b) having presets. After I went to a multi-effects unit, I was done with stomp boxes.

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