Better Guitar

player opinions

DigiTech RP3

Name: Stacy Sheridan
Band: Pointless
Model Year: 1999
Price Paid: £60
Performance
The Digitech RP3 will be 6 years old now, I believe. However, despite having bought the pedal second-hand, and furthermore regarding the age of the equipment, I was surprised at the performance. Yes, it is admittable, dual power sources (batteries as well as adaptor) would have been a major advantage, as would have a reduction in the size and possibly weight, but the performance of the pedal does, I believe, overshadow all of these doubts. The only major criticism I find concerns the fact that, at first, the pedal is a little hard to get used to using. However, a quick read at the (admittedly gobbledygook) manual and a while mucking around, and the Digitech RP3 really comes to life. I was surprised with the vast array of sounds and settings available, considering I had tried a Zoom 606 multi-effects pedal which was a) more expensive second hand and b)newer, I think than the RP3.
Performance Rating: 7
Sound Quality
The factory presets included are fabulous. Ranging from heavy metal sounds to jazz, special, rock and more, no guitar player will be left feeling left out. The real beauty of the PR3 is the ability for the user to create their own sounds, using a mix of EQ, Wah, Distortion, Reverb and many, many more functions, tailored to suit the players needs. The result is whatever you want it to be, and is a highly versatile function of the RP3. The effects themselves are, personally, varied and excellent quality. I would highly recommend this pedal, especially for the second hand price I paid for it, considering it has an expression pedal.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
The colour of the RP3 is almost instantaneously attracted to the eye. This is what first attracted me to the pedal, truthfully. However, looks can be deceiving, and behind the bright exterior lies a serious piece of equipment. The pedal itself is metal, which is, of course, a huge advantage for those heavy-stompers out there. The one down side to the pedal is the fact that the stomping buttons are a little tight, and although I am blessed with size four feet, this may be a little annoying for those of you with slightly larger flippers. Although some may find the RP3 a little “old” looking, I like this feel, and, as with many things in life, it’s a matter of individual taste. I have not, as yet, had any trouble with the RP3. If it had a battery compartment, smaller and lighter build, slightly better stomping arrangements and an on/off switch, yes, I would love the RP3 all the more, but this attraction will not end as a result of a few minor bad points. After all, no one’s perfect.
Construction Rating: 9

Name: John
Band: -----
Model Year: 1999
Price Paid: Free
Performance
What an effects pedal! It’s great. I love it. It has everything I need to do all kinds of effects. If you know how to use it well. It’s all about messing around and making it better later on. So about this product, the effects are great. Good Distortion, wah pedal (it really does work people), compressor, equalizer, gain/swell, mod/pitch, reverb, everything. It’s all good. And yes it does what it promises.
Performance Rating: 9
Sound Quality
One word... Great. Because I know how to use it well enough.
Sound Quality Rating: 9
Construction
Another one word... Great.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Dan Desnoyer
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $125
Performance
The Digitech RP-3 is very hard to understand. It’s hard to set effects and even harder to get that expression pedal to work. But once I got it all set up, I thought it was worth every bit of my $125. I think it actually made my Peavy Rage 158 sound a little better. Ha ha.
Performance Rating: 8
Sound Quality
Most of the effects are pretty useless and don’t really sound like anything. The flanger and phaser are pretty cool though. It does muddy up the sound of a nice crisp Fender amp though, and that disappointed me quite a bit.
Sound Quality Rating: 6
Construction
Very sturdy. I don’t know what the previous owner did to it. There are scratches all over on that thing and deep gouges, and even some tape holding it together. It still plays though.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Bryan Burch
Band: Grifters
Model Year: I don’t know, pretty new.
Price Paid: $249 and for what?
Performance
Well considering it has been sitting in my house collecting dust the past few months, I’ve come to hate it all the more. When I first got it, it sounded pretty good in a loud Guitar Center room with fifty other guitarists on ten. When i got it home I was disappointed with the wah setting. No biggy... Then I realized the levels were all off. I couldn’t go from a clean sound to an effect while maintaining the same volume. I don’t know, I guess I had my preset on “SUCK.” Another thing I noticed was that the signal goes in and out when you try and roll back the volume. Nothing cleans up at lower levels, it just dies. I mean some of the stuff on there is cool. The flanger, the expression pedal and the 53rd preset, but other than that it doesn’t tickle my fancy. In fact it shames my ‘66 Super and my Mesa Nomad. Another thing, when placed in a chain of effects, it takes away the clarity of the amp and bells and whistles of my other pedals. I mean come on, how often do you hear someone complain about his or her tube screamer. It’s very hard to figure out. I’d understand chinese before this thing. So... any buyers send me an e-mail... I’ll pay you fifty bucks to take it off my hands. Thanks for reading my moaning and complaining about this. I think that alone was worth my 249 bucks.
Performance Rating: 0
Sound Quality
As said above it does no justice to my tube amps. In fact it’s almost an embarrassment to play such a hunk of crap through such nice pieces of equipment. I don’t know if I’d call it mud that I was playing through, more like horse diaherria with a twist of vomit.
Sound Quality Rating: 0
Construction
I guess it’s pretty durable... I threw it across the room in frustration and for kicks. I actually wanted to take it back to Guitar Center saying it flew out of my car. Where’s my thirty day refund? But they didn’t buy that, they saw the white paint from my wall. It flies like a dream though!
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Mohammad Malik
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $100
Performance
For its class, this piece of equipment is top-notch. If you have more common sense than a piece of wooden plank, then you’ll be able to use it. If you can’t figure out how to use it, then you should seek medical assistance. Consult a psychologist ASAP. It more than pays its price with the Whammy and Wah capabilities, not to mention excellent, clear sounding effects such as echo and delay.
Performance Rating: 9
Sound Quality
This is my first effect pedal unit, and I have only been playing the guitar for about two months. In other words, I suck. However, I have heard many multi-effects units and individual pedals, and I think for the price that you would pay for this unit, you’ll be better off than anything else. Individual effects will run you up a heavy price, and pedals by Zoom or DOD don’t compare in the least. EVERY effect is distinct and has uses, I’m sure you wouldn’t be dissapointed unless you have some seriously over-sized expectations.
Sound Quality Rating: 9
Construction
Dude, it’s made of metal. It’s constructed out of steel, not plastic. If you even need to ask if it can last, then don’t buy it. Unless a grizzly bear comes along and bites off the expression pedal, it will do fine. Otherwise, don’t worry about the construction. I have purchased this unit used and it works perfect straight out of the box.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Rohn duPont
Band: Razz
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $229
Performance
This unit is extremely hard to use. I basically wanted a whammy pedal, but when I saw that this unit had that and 4 or 5 other effects for just a little more, I bought it. I use only tube amp distortion (Plexi.) I’m pretty much a guitar straight into an amp kind of player, maybe an analog pedal or two. I think of the distortion of distortion pedals just as another effect, not the real sound. I have had the RP3 for a couple of days and it has some interesting sounds but they are uncontrollable. Digitech should have included a video with this because it is very hard to get to know. I thought WOW! chorus, flanger, gate, etc. and Whammy! Well... I hate devices where you have to press two buttons at the same time and stand on your head at exactly magnetic north for 2 seconds... not 4, but 2 to engage a function of the device. I think of this has a lot like that. Not enough control. This product has a lot to offer but it is not player friendly.
Performance Rating: 1
Sound Quality
This device is kinda noisy with the effects... I think it compromises the sound of your rig. It colors it and takes away some of the sparkle.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
It’s made of metal. I would say it would be road worthy, if not road useful.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Jim Wargowski
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $199
Performance
Very easy to use. Slight learning curve on the programming. Factory pre sets vary from excellent to unusable. Works well in a live situation as well as studio use. Tuner accuracy is questionable.
Performance Rating: 8
Sound Quality
Effects are all excellent, with the exception of distortion/over drives. Not to rehash what’s already been said, but you will definately need an additional device for distorion/overdrive effects. These stink. All delay, chorus, flange, echo and wah effects are superb.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
Steel case makes this unit tough... throw it in your cable crate and go!
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Alberto Allard
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $130
Performance
First, let’s assume a fact: every decent guitar player knows that tube distortion is almost a paradise experience. And a second fact as well: tube and professional equipment is more than just quite expensive. RP3 does the best for your sound in its price range. Easy to use, if you are a little smart.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Let’s don’t talk about distortions, they are fine if you consider what you can expect from Korg, Zoom or others brands. The digital effects are really good, very versatile, which is the main characteristic of this unit. The EQ and the Cabinet EQ can bring a lot of atmospheres, for almost any kind of music.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Steel. If you don’t throw it from a plane, it will survive.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Jeffery Cooper
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: -----
Performance
The RP3 is everything that I wanted in at an effects processor and more. It comes with factory presets, but you can also set up personal settings that can be saved. Directions were vague in how to accomplish this, but with a little trial and error, I was able to dial in some killer sounds for my Les Paul. It is very versatile and is a lot of fun just trying all of the new sounds a guitar can make. I spent two hours playing through all of the presets, trying to find my favorites the first night I got it. It is well worth the money! A sound investment.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
The RP3 is a preamp that can make you sound like your Brian Setzer, Eddie Van Halen, or Garth Brooks. The sounds are incredible that it produces, no matter what kind of amp you have!
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Solid as a rock metal casing protects the electronics inside, and the pedals are heavy duty. The expression pedal is metal as well, so this machine is built to last.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Michael Trojanek
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: -----
Performance
I wanted to add a few statements to John Robinson’s review (below). In some points I agree with him. If you use the RP3 as stand-alone and a solid-state amp, you wont be happy with it for a long time. You know digital distortion can’t hold a candle to tube distortion (Line 6 is, of course, another story — it’s amazing). But if you use it only as effects unit with a tube preamp (e.g. The H&K tubeman) it sounds wonderful. My home and practicing eqiupment is guitar -> tubeman -> RP3 -> solid state amp and I think it sounds great. I like RP3’s Delay, Reverb and Modulation-Effects a lot. You can get nearly every sound if you always think of one main rule: Never use the RP3’s distortion, always use the Tubeman’s.
Performance Rating: 8
Sound Quality
See above.
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
I only use it at home and it’s got a steel case so I think it won’t break.
Construction Rating: 8

Name: John Robinson
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $249
Performance
This unit in my opinion produces a flimsy sound, especially the overdrive/Gain component. I also found that if you need to switch from gain to clean, it is difficult to match the levels. In fact, I could not get an acceptable clean level and maintain a suitable crunch level. I even tried to use just the effects components and not the overdrive in order to take advantage of the different effects. I was still not happy with it because it seemed to take from the clean signal while this unit was in place. Over all this unit is now useless to me and I am researching other equipment.
Performance Rating: 0
Sound Quality
Flimsy.
Sound Quality Rating: 0
Construction
Cheap feeling. Not much to it. Light weight.
Construction Rating: 4

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