"Most for the money out there."
Feature:
Came with the power supply, software, USB cable, (good long one), and a pretty comprehensive manual, but Windows Vista people will have some problems. XP or 2000 people, OK.
Most useful feature is five pedals and ability to jump around, albeit the little delay in effects mode - you'll find yourself putting in a rest note if you try to change while playing, but it dissapears in stompbox mode. For the really creative, there are 32 user programmable setups, and the hyper modes where you can mix two together is very, very cool. Read the manual.
Midi is deep, but some factors are lightly discussed. You will do a little trial and error in creations with midi. But it's there.
Wish the screen was a little more comprehensive in readouts, the digital display takes a little getting used to. Tuner seems to be a bit flat on mine compared to my Korg and my online Line 6 Spyder - I don't use it anymore.
It's METAL, almost all the way around. Sound, strong METAL. Weighs a little over 10 lbs. Strong and good.
Quality:
For B-stock, I would do it again in a minute. Came in a new box, properly packed, new manual, software, power supply and USB cable. Some tech signed off on each recheck position. It all works great. It is a ROCK, no plastic on the pedals or frame, only on little knobs that are mostly out of the way. Should run good for giggers, but it does add 10 lbs. to your load. Worst aspect of the quality I can find so far is the delay in effects mode, and sometimes you have to hit the two pedals for the tuner EXACTLY at the same time or you get other things. Not fond of the readout in the tuner.
Value:
Compared to other units, except maybe the Vox, this thing is a great unit for all phases of playing, recording, gigging, or just practicing. You will spend months exploring new capabilities with this unit. It is selling because it WORKS...
Desirability:
Ah, the, "I want it" factor. Let's put it this way. I already had a Line 6 Modeling amp with a lot of sounds and 24 minute recording availability. I took this because it had all the great old sounds plugged in, even if they are not dead on. I can ALMOST sound like a Fender Strat into a Marshall, using a Ibanez RG into this, into a $99 Line 6. OK, it's not right on, but unless you are a real purist, this is close enough, and some crowd is not gonna know, (most of them probably never heard a Strat into a real 70's tube Marshall), so why not?
For the cost, the value is WAY up there. It adds dimensions you can only dream about - until you own one and play with it.
And my modeling amp does not have Chimes or VoxTube, or the ability to stack two together, so there, I want it!
Sound:
Have a Line 6 Spyder Jam modeling amp with the FBV express pedal that gives off some great sounds, but running this thing through my other Line 6 Spyder III little 15 watter it can match, and offer much, much more versatility.
I am just a hobbyist. Playing at home, ironic I find myself turning on a $99 Line 6 and this rather than the $449 modeling amp.
It's digital, so no, the Fender Marshall sound does NOT sound like a $10,000 stack of Marshalls, but the thing is really meant for you to develop your own sound with the software, and in that, you can tweak, tweak, tweak to your heart's content. The thing is bottomless, and the Wah is outstanding.
Buy the B-stock, it comes through like new, certifications included that it is in A-1 shape. Saved a bunch.
Ease of Use:
Right out of the box, you will find it really easy to select on of the 130 or so pre-programmed sounds, turn on the wah, so on. To develop your own sound, you will need to read the manual and get used to a lot of buttons. Easier to put it on the software, but for those of us who do not keep our computers at our playing workstation, little more button pushing. Once you know how to modify, you'll have a blast creating your own sound like no other. If you have a modeling amp like a Line 6 or a Fender GEC-30, you can stack the sounds for some really freaky stuff. I make a sound from the GNX, feed it into the modeling amp, pick another sound, stack them up and just tweak. Just really fun to play around with.
But there is a learning curve...
One niggly - when you turn it on or off, make sure you have your amp turned down, it puts out a big capacitance discharge sound into your speakers that sounds like the speaker will fly apart. The manual even talks about turning down all the volume before turning off and on. Made the mistake once, no more!
Support:
Haven't used yet, but other posters on other forums say it is first rate. New software available, so on. Harmon seems like a great company.
Overall:
One thing that gets in the way of my hobby, is I like gear. But this added so much at once I think I can go a long time, (years), without adding any other gear. I read many reviews before settling on this, two years worth, give or take, about 100 posted reviews on multiple units. After it was all said and done, the majority of positive reviews seemed to fly this way for the value. Others always had some problem, like plastic, or a software or midi problem, or some tone was off, or the wah was not too good, so on. This one always came back with pretty good reviews.
It it got lost or stolen I would replace it with another B-stock when available. (They are not always available)
I least like the off-on sequence, and the display is not comprehensive enough.
I like the sounds most, the versitility of change, and the durability.
Submitted: 9/15/2008
Style of Music: Old rock and Blues
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"what a buy!!"
Feature:
Features are cool. Jam with internal drum machine. It has a tuner. What I like best are its modes. I found out about stompbox mode (RTM) and now I can use this thing without patch swaps. That mode has 3 amps to pick from. Red Yel Green. Use the other ped's as a boost, modulator, delay, but can't turn reverb off with the switches. Then theres a recorder mode. That makes its switches act like a tape transport for hands free recording. Cool!
Comes with power pack, manual, usb cable, some discs for recording program and real time editor on a pc.
Quality:
Sturdy 10-11lbs. Switches rugged. Had no problems with mine. Should last a good long time.
Value:
Won't find better for 299
Desirability:
It's practical and works well. Black paint, steel construction
Sound:
Great sound and affordable. I like how the dynamics react with my guitar. Other pedals did not do that for me so good. Some of the amp models can be harsh on some cabinets of you change them to somthing else. Found out that problem was me changeing to a wrong type cab model for a certain amp. Thanks support people! Live verse Recording sound is about the same. At first I wasn't sure than getting my best sound was using speaker compensation setting on. I had it off. That's what I get for not RTM. After owning it I discovered mfx3000 amps disc for it. That disc gave me an arsenal of new sounds. Very expanded and well worth it! New amp sounds with volumes levels closer this time! Video demonstration tutorials and I liked that very much. Really helpful!
Ease of Use:
At first I thought I'd just grab knobs and go. Not so fast. Do yourself a favor and read the manual. I found a lot of things I was doing wrong and getting frustrated early into it. Manual made sense of it for me. I could have kicked myself for the time wasting before rtm.
Support:
Digitech support was great. I call, I left a msg and they emailed me since they returned a call when I wasn't available to answer.
Overall:
This has many bells and whistles. Several modes to run. Great sounding models. Versatile connections, and all you need. Great bargain
Submitted: 10/21/2008
Style of Music: ALT, ROCK, MODERN, CLASSIC, SRV, U2
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