Digitech RP-50 Hissing

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 13 Sep 2004 1:47 pm

A guitar playing friend of mine recently bought a Digitech RP-50. He likes the settings he has come up with for lead guitar. But, when he gets it out on a gig and gets his volume up to club speed, it hisses. Anyone else experience or use one of these units?
DD

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 13 Sep 2004 3:51 pm

They are noisy
One thing I would check is the gain structure through the box. Plug directly in and then compare with the box in the signal chain. If it's way louder turn the gain on the patch (like the amp model or any other setting that allows the gain or volume to be increased) down and use amp volume to make it louder.

Another possibility is that the patch has EQ that's too hot on the highs.

I've played steel through an RP100 and it worked fine at gig volume. I wouldn't use it in the studio but it's decent for gigs.

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

Dennis Detweiler · Post by **Dennis Detweiler** » 13 Sep 2004 5:08 pm

Thanks Larry, I'll forward this to him.
DD

John Daugherty · Post by **John Daugherty** » 14 Sep 2004 4:09 am

Dennis, this is the reason I now use a Lexicon effects unit. It is the quietest unit I have used. ........ JD

Larry Bell · Post by **Larry Bell** » 14 Sep 2004 6:23 am

Two points, John
1. I wouldn't denigrate the RP-50 too hastily. The RP series of effects are very cost effective and have a large array of effects in a small package. The 50, the bottom of the line, has 11 different amp models (some -- like the Blackface -- are very acceptable for steel); EQ that's pretty easy to set; 20 different Fx, including a pretty decent reverb and delay; 40 spaces to store your own settings (if you're using it for steel, you won't want any of the 40 factory presets, but you don't have to use them); 24 bit A/D D/A coversion; a built-in tuner (not the best but will do in a pinch); and stereo output / effects. There are several otherfeatures that some may find useful for practice -- like a drum machine that can be used like a glorified metronome, and a headphone jack.

That's A LOT OF STUFF FOR $60.

2. Even on Lexicon Fx (which I also use), it is possible to screw up the gain structure and get white noise. Being sure that what's coming out of the Lexicon (or ANY Fx unit or preamp for that matter) is NO LOUDER THAN WHAT YOU'RE PUTTING INTO IT is VERY IMPORTANT.

I used to play a Sunday Blues Jam -- small room -- low volume -- and the RP-100 (next model up -- same features, basically) through one of my 70W Standels or my NV112 sounded great. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for any 'quickie' gigs or whenever I 'travel light'.

Just my take on it . . .

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<small>Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 14 Sep 2004 9:30 am

I am presently playing pedal steel through a Digitech RP100, as a cheap substitute for a POD XT that was stolen. This unit plays very quiet on bypass, and also with just one of its reverb models and no amp model (or a clean amp model). But with a fuzz or overdrive amp model it is very noisy. However, this seems be generally true of most (all?) fuzz/overdrive units with the drive or gain way up. Of course the noise is not noticeable when playing with the group. So one solution is to just stomp it on bypass or an adjacent quiet channel between songs.

I have found the effects and amp models fairly good. But the fatal flaw of these units for me is that the drive and gain cannot be preset on the amp models. I like to switch back and forth between a clean channel (no amp model) with just reverb (for country and ballads) and the fuzz channel (for blues and rock). But the first verse is already gone by before I get the fuzz drive and gain knobs right. What's the point of a stom box if you can't just stomp it to switch between preset channels?!

Steve French · Post by **Steve French** » 14 Sep 2004 12:33 pm

David: I'm puzzled by your problem. I have used an RP100 extensively, and was able to set the gain and level for an amp model, then store it. When I go back to that patch, the levels are recalled, too. Maybe yours is not working correctly....