PRODUCT REVIEW
DIGITECH
RP500 INTEGRATED EFFECT
SWITCHING SYSTEM
BY CHRIS BURGESS
If you tend to think of inexpensive, floor-mounted multi-effects units as starter kits,
the RP500 from Digi Tech might just change
your mind. Even if you’ve been lured one
too many times by the Scheherazade promise of 1001 user presets only to end up
disillusioned by ersatz effects and complex
user controls that border on the insane, you
should still take a look at this.
allowing you to load a selection of effects
quickly and easily. Of course, if you’re old
school, you can use the unit in Preset mode,
which, as expected, assigns a different preset
to each switch, allowing for a greater variety
of nutty sounds existing side-by-side. Giving
users complete control is the aim here, with
the RP500 allowing for a variety of output
modes; the device can simulate amps and
cabs, or you can use only the effects if you
rely on your amp for tone. You can even go
sans amp – the left/right XLR outputs carry
all of the amp/cab modeling info, so you can
plug straight into a mixer or DAW. USB audio
streaming and included Cubase LE4 software
make recording with it a breeze, too.
The Final Mojo
Digi Tech has given guitarists stuck between
a few pedals and a pro-level switching system something to drool over. There are lots
of good sounds to be had here, and the
Pedalboard/Preset control system gives you
a new level of control that just might soothe
the pain of your past multi-effect experiences. In short, it’s a lot of sound for the buck.
It’s not just the sheer number of available
amp, cabinet and effects models that make
the RP500 worth a look, but that’s a good
place to start. Two dozen classic amp models
(Marshall, Fender, Mesa-Boogie, Matchless,
Soldano, etc.) and another two dozen of
Digi Tech’s own designs run the tonal gamut,
including a few fresh ones like “Mosh” and
“Stoner Rock”; there’s even a few new inventions, such as a blackface front-end matched
to a tweed power section. Never known as a
frugal company, Digi Tech adds to that another dozen cabinet options; easily five dozen
separate effects models, including 18 species of distortion/overdrive (a few new ones
here, too); three kinds of wah; and a handful
each of delays, reverbs, trems and choruses
– including the “glistening chorus,” which
only affects frequencies above 200Hz so it
doesn’t muddy up your low-end. An assignable expression pedal rounds things out,
allowing you to control just about any other
effect parameter you care to name.
Buy If...
you want first-class flexibility and
user control in a multi-effects unit
Two caveats: First, don’t start selling off your
top-end gear just yet, especially if you’re a
tone zealot. As good as the RP500 is, the
digital amp and effects modeling still seem
to come up short in a few key areas, such as
mimicking the sonic characteristics of power
tube breakup. The folks at Digi Tech definitely
deserve kudos for the ingenuity of some of
their “imaginary” designs, but in many cases
the reality isn’t quite there yet.
Skip If...
you still haven’t programmed
your VCR
Rating...
4.0
Digi Tech
MSRP $429.95
digitech.com
The RP500 introduces the concept of
“Pedalboard” control to the RP line, and
gives this unit an upscale feel. In Pedalboard
mode, every one of the 200 presets becomes
a unique pedalboard, featuring a selection
of effects that can be switched on/off and
Second, don’t plan on taking the RP500 out
of the box an hour before your next gig and
using it effectively. With a practically endless array of options, models and effects – as
well as parameters to tweak and potential
configurations to test – it’s going to take you
some time to discover all of its capabilities
and to set it up just the way you want it.
The good news is that it’s well designed and
logical, thus not exceptionally tricky to figure
out, as so many multi-effects pedals have
proven to be.
Our expert has stated his case,
now we want to hear yours. Log
on to premierguitar.com, click on
this digital article and share your
comments and ratings.
