My Multi-Effects Pedals

It's been another three months since my last post, so I decided to do a post about my multi-effects pedals. Since my last post, I bought another DigiTech multi-effects pedal. This newest one is an RP155.

My first DigiTech multi-effects pedal was an RP50. I bought it in 2008, when I was first getting into electric guitar. It's a good pedal to start out with. I like it because it's small and compact, but after a while, I started wondering about the models that come with an expression pedal built in.

My RP200 has an expression pedal. I bought it for next to nothing off of Craigslist last year. It is an older, American made version and is made very well. I like it not only because of the expression pedal, but because it has an auxiliary input and a dedicated headphone jack. I can hook up an mp3 player with backing tracks, or the audio from a computer based training video to it and play along. The headphone jack comes in handy late at night too.

My new RP155 has a 20 second looper on it. I had never used a looper before, so I decided to give one a try. So far, I really like it. The looper on this model is very basic and easy to use (which is a good thing). Even though it's very basic compared to a dedicated looper, I can add as many overdubs as I want. The initial loop length dictates the length of each additional overdub. In other words, if the initial loop is 10 seconds, for example, the overdub loops can't be over 10 seconds each. So it's better to make the first loop as close to 20 seconds as possible. That gives me more time for the additional overdubs. What I like about the RP155 having a looper built in is that I can create a loop, stop it, and then change presets and play the loop again and play over it or overdub it using the new preset.

The only drawback that people have commented about is the fact that you cannot use the drum machine while using the looper. If I ever get fancy enough to want to use a drum machine and the looper at the same time, all I have to do is add the RP200 after the RP155 and use the RP200 drum machine.

Since the RP200 also has an AUX input, I could also place it in front of the RP155 and add additional sounds to loop through the RP155 using the PR200's AUX input. I tried doing just that shortly after I got it. I have a keyboard that allows me to record a limited sequence of notes on it, so I played some notes and recorded them and then hooked the keyboard up to the RP200 AUX input, with the RP200 in front of the RP155, and I was able to loop my recorded keyboard notes.

The RP155 also works with software called X-Edit that you can download from the DigiTech website via a USB port on the unit. I was checking out the software, and it is pretty cool. I can change presets and store them in different locations on the RP155 pretty easily (plus I can name them). I even found a preset that is set up to emulate a bass, so I relocated it closer to the presets I like so far. That way, I have a whole three or four piece band I can use with the looper function - guitar, bass, and drums (from the RP200)!

Needless to say, I've been having fun experimenting with my DigiTech family. Now, I just need to practice some actual new stuff on the guitar to put all of my 'one-man-band' ideas into action! I've been studying up on some music theory as it applies to the guitar, so that will help me expand my playing also. Oh yeah, I also re-strung my acoustic with 10s. These new strings are a lot easier on the fingers than what was on it before, so it makes me want to play it more often. Speaking of 'more often', I hope I can start posting more often also. Stay tuned and see if I really do it this time!

Rediscovering My Acoustic!

Well, it's been over three months again, but I'm back! I still have not been playing on a regular basis, thus my lack of posts. The little that I have been playing has been with my Epiphone Dot. I love that guitar! It looks great, it sounds great, and it plays great! I've been messing around with it and with the RP200 I mentioned in my last post. I got a great "B.B. King-style" preset that I set up on the RP200 and it really goes well with my Dot! Since I haven't been playing regularly, everytime I pick up my guitar, it's back to the basics - polishing up my chords, practicing scales, and practicing my finger picking. I still have not played my Dot using my Vox DA5 settings or used it with my RAT and Tube Driver pedals, but I'll get to it - it's great fun when I do pick up any of my guitars!

Last night, I decided to take out my acoustic guitar. It's a 1975 Harmony Grand Concert H6390. It was my first 'serious' guitar. I got it when I was 11 or 12 years old, and it is in great condition. I took it out of it's case and strummed it a while and realized what a great guitar it was for the money. I had not used it in a long time (probably over a year). I checked it with my tuner today, and IT WAS STILL IN TUNE!!! This guitar was made during the last years of Harmony's U.S.A. production. It sounds great and it plays great also. Being an acoustic, it takes a little more effort to play than an electric, but I like the neck size and shape a little more. It also seems easier to finger pick on my acoustic than on my electrics. I think I'll keep it out to play 'spur of the moment' stuff, plus it give my hands more of a workout, which will end up helping me to play my electrics that much easier. Acoustics are great fun, and their sound just can't be duplicated on an electric. Try an acoustic in 2012-Oh, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm Back! (Version 2)

Well, so much for posting more often! The weather has been very hot around here. I don't like to play when it is so hot, so I have been avoiding playing my guitars. I had my custom Tele-style guitar out for most of this time. I put it through its paces, playing it through my Vox DA5 and all of the settings I have for it. I also played it using my Fender Champ 600 amp and my RAT II and Tube Driver pedals. I am very pleased with this latest guitar! I finally put it away and took out my Epiphone Dot. I haven't played the Epi that much yet, but I want to play it with all of the equipment I just listed also.

I did manage to make a couple of Craigslist purchases since my last post. I ended up buying an older, U.S.A. made DigiTech RP200 effects pedal with the built-in expression pedal. I already have my DigiTech RP50, but I wanted something with a built-in expression pedal. Plus, I got the RP200 at a great price! I was also thinking of trading the RP50 towards another CL purchase, but that did not happen (see below). The RP200 is a great pedal! I have not played around with it very much, but I like it so far. One thing I had never played with is an expression pedal, so I have to get used to it. It's harder than it seems (at least for me)!

My other purchase was an early birthday present for my son: a five piece drum kit! I found a great starter kit at a great price on Craigslist around the same time I found the RP200. I had planned on buying the RP200 and then trying to trade my RP50 towards the purchase of the drum kit. It turned out that the drum kit had been in storage for a few years, and the sellers were not into guitars, so I ended up keeping the RP50. I got a very lightly used drum kit, complete with cymbals, for a great price, though! And the most important part is that my son LOVES it (he's rather good at it, too)!

Well, that's what I've been up to these past four months! I really do hope that I can start posting more often from now on, but we will see. Stay tuned and stay well!

I'm Back!

Hello everyone! I've been busy with other stuff and I just have not taken the time to write in my blog. Truth be told, I have not been playing very much this year. Guitar has been near the bottom of the priority list so far this year. Maybe writing in my blog will get the ball rolling for me again!

I did manage to do something that I mentioned in my last post: I bought my first USA-made electric guitar! It's a custom made Tele-style guitar that was made last year by the gentleman I bought it from. It has a swamp ash body and a great 12" radius neck. The pickup configuration is not the typical Tele configuration. It has a 'lipstick' Tele neck pickup, a middle Strat pickup, and a humbucker pickup at the bridge. The pickups are all wired to a 5-way switch, just like on a Strat. The guitar sounds amazing! I really like having all of those pickup options on one instrument! I finally put my Ibanez Jet King away and I have my new guitar out on my guitar stand now. I am testing it out with all of my settings on my Vox DA5. I tested it out with my Fender Champ 600 and have come to the conclusion that the Champ and this guitar were made for each other! What a fantastic combination! I still haven't tested it out using my pedals - that's next on my list! Needless to say, I am very happy with my new guitar, even though I haven't had the time to play it as much as I would like!

In my last post, I mentioned I was going to try to devote more time to my playing (which I have not done), so let's see how I do from now on. Wish me luck, and hopefully I'll have more posts pretty soon logging my accomplishments from here on out! As I always say: Stay tuned!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! As I started to write this, my neighbors finished shooting off fireworks to celebrate the new year. I could also see some great fireworks displays off in the distance. Despite the time stamp on this post, it is actually past midnight where I am, so it is 2011! Well, December was pretty uneventful as far as learning new stuff on the guitar goes. I did work out some Blues turnarounds in different keys, but that was it. I still have my Ibanez Jet King out. I've had it out since November - yikes! The Ibanez is one of my favorite guitars, and I want to try it out with all of the new 'toys' I have picked up since the last time I had it out.

Speaking of new 'toys', I did pick up a couple of new, older guitars for Christmas. I found them on Craigslist just before Christmas, and they were a bargain! I decided to get them for my son as part of his Christmas presents. One is an older Squier Strat, and the other is a no-name acoustic that was thrown in with the Strat. The Strat's trem. was too high off of the body, so I adjusted it and put on some new strings. It sounds pretty sweet! The acoustic sounds sweet too, except that it had some fret buzz at the second fret on the A string. Some tiny pieces of cardboard placed between the bridge and the A string solved the problem. My son is very happy with his 'new' guitars! He loves using the whammy bar to make the strings sound different (he is only six)! Hopefully, in a couple of years, I will have someone to jam with!

Aside from hoping to have a jam partner in a few years, this year I hope to get my first USA-made electric! I also want to devote more time to actually playing. I've gotten into the bad habit of reading more about guitars than actually playing them! I plan to remedy that this year.

Wishing everyone a great new year, this is G Man signing off for now!

What Seems Like Nothing is Something!

It seems I'm getting into the habit of only posting once a month. Hopefully I can start posting more often again soon. I have not been doing anything new with the guitar. I've been doing my usual routine of rotating my guitars and trying out my new 'toys' on them. Right now, I have my Ibanez Jet King out again. I put away my Strat copy after I finished trying out all of my Vox DA5 settings on it. All of the settings I have from the Vox Tone Room sounded pretty good through my Strat copy (with a little adjustments on some). Now I am going through those same settings using my Jet King. So far, I love everything that is coming out of my DA5!

I've also been playing around with my Tube Driver and my Jet King together. This is the first time I try the Tube Driver with a humbucker-equipped guitar. The Tube Driver works well with both single coils and humbuckers. I have come to the conclusion that my particular Tube Driver works best with my DA5 amp (as opposed to my Champ 600) and it works best at higher gain settings. I have to work at finding the sweet spots on the Tube Driver, but when I do, it's pretty awesome!

Although I haven't been working on anything new, I have discovered one thing: My guitar playing has improved! All of the noodlin' I've been doing with my amps and my pedals through my various guitars has payed off! While I've been experimenting with all of these new tones, I've actually been practicing, but it doesn't feel that way (it feels like I've just been having fun!). My point is that practicing can take on many forms: From a formal practice session where you concentrate on chords and scales, to just having fun experimenting and jamming. The important thing is to pick up your guitar and play. It doesn't have to be something new, just play (something I need to do more of myself!).

My Harmony Electric - Plus: Playing with Pedals!

It's been over a month since my last post! In that time, I've put away my Tradition Tele-style guitar and brought out my Harmony Strat copy. My Harmony Strat copy was my first electric guitar. I bought it in 2007, after years of only having an acoustic guitar. The acoustic guitar that I was playing on and off at the time is also a Harmony. It is one of the last U.S.A. made Harmony guitars (made in 1975). I've always loved my Harmony acoustic, so when I had the chance of buying a Harmony electric at a very reasonable price, I took the chance and ordered it. I had not been playing guitar that often up until that point, so I did not want to buy an expensive guitar. I did not want to buy something expensive, not knowing if I was going to continue playing on a regular basis. There are a lot of people that buy an inexpensive guitar as their first guitar, only to be discouraged because the guitar is poorly made and set up and is hard to play. This was not the case with my Harmony electric. I loved it from the first day I got it! It is made very well, considering the price. It was also set up very well when I got it. I have researched the model number on the internet, and it seems this guitar model was made in 1990 or 1991, but it was brand new when I bought it in 2007 (new old stock).

Now that I am using my Harmony, I have been testing it out on my Vox DA5 amp (as I have been testing all of my guitars since I bought my amp). So far, my Harmony sounds great with all of the different amps settings I have used. I still need a few more settings to try out on my Harmony.

I have also been using my Harmony to test out my two pedals that I bought last month. The RAT 2 pedal was great from the start, so I have not really been testing it all that much. The Tube Driver pedal needed a different tube to make it sound better, so that is what I have been focusing on lately. I was able to get two tubes from a great member of one of the forums I belong to. As soon as I got the tubes, I began experimenting with them. I swapped out the 12AX7A tube in the Tube Driver with one of the 12AU7 tubes I was sent. The first tube I tried was an improvement, but I was not totally satisfied with the sound I was getting out of my pedal. I then tried the second tube with great results! I am now very happy with my Tube Driver pedal! I've been testing it with my Fender Champ 6oo and with my Vox DA5. To my ears, it sounds better through the Vox. I am thinking of putting up a demo recording of both of my pedals in the near future (I just have to get up the courage to record myself again!). As I've been saying lately, "Stay Tuned" to see if I go through with it!