• Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Topic: Digitech

Thinking about adding one to the board, or a harmonizer in general.  I fear it would be a huge tone sucking beast but, the metal band i play in requires some harmonized leads and I have spent way too much time and money on my rig and my playing to share with a second guitar player  tongue .  Also, I am running a three amp blend (JCM800,Jub, and a Fender twin) sometimes off/on/all three, does any have experience with a harmonizer in a blend format?  Thanks all -JR

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  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Digitech

Guess I can run it through the keeley looper if it sucks too much tone from the rig?  I will be using it sparingly. Anyone?

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • Registered: 2010-07-09
  • Posts: 122

Re: Digitech

I have a HarmonyMan, but have limited time on it.  It is true bypass, and I don't notice any tone suck with it in or out of the signal path.  It's very cool but only tracks really well with single note leads.  Chords and note combinations trip it up.  It's great for Allman and Eagles style harmonized leads.  It has several more harmony options than a POG or similar. 

I do hear a very, very small increase in the noise level with it engaged and no signal.  This is most likely due to the internal preamps, but the noise gets lost the minute you strike a note.  You would never hear it in a live environment - only recording.

Guitars: '79 LP Custom, '01 Dickey Betts Goldie - 80 of 114, '00 Chandler Lectraslide
Amps: '00 Marshall 1987x, '70 Marshall 1959 SL, 4x12 JBL D120s
'64 Vibroverb - JBL D130, '66 Super Reverb - CTS Alnicos
'77 Peavey Deuce (great for melting stubborn ear wax)
  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Digitech

Cool thanks Sonic!  Does it track faster runs well or lag? My band wants to do some Avenged sevenfold stuff and things like that, would just like to fill out the harmony lines.  Thanks again!

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?

5 Reply by Sonicboom (edited by Sonicboom 2011-05-19 00:06:27)

  • Registered: 2010-07-09
  • Posts: 122

Re: Digitech

I'm not that fast of a player, so I can't say from personal experience.  That said, most reviews I've read and videos I've seen show it tracking extremely well on fast runs.  I think that there are some demos out on You Tube where folks are shredding with it.

Edit:  Here's an old classic riff http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC4XBj3P … re=related

Guitars: '79 LP Custom, '01 Dickey Betts Goldie - 80 of 114, '00 Chandler Lectraslide
Amps: '00 Marshall 1987x, '70 Marshall 1959 SL, 4x12 JBL D120s
'64 Vibroverb - JBL D130, '66 Super Reverb - CTS Alnicos
'77 Peavey Deuce (great for melting stubborn ear wax)
  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Digitech

Pulled the trigger on one last night and going to give it a whirl, thanks for the input!  Will post my finding here.  -JR

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Digitech

Not bad,  It does track ok.  Could be better on the fast stuff.  Not sure where to put it yet, in front of my JCM800 (quick hook up just to try it for now) or in the loop of the Jubilee, or one output to each?  I think after I get the basics down I will move it around abit.  I will try to post more about it later as some of the things I don't like about it may be due to "operator error".  cheers -JR

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?

8 Reply by Sonicboom (edited by Sonicboom 2011-05-28 12:54:46)

  • Registered: 2010-07-09
  • Posts: 122

Re: Digitech

What I'm finding is that the cleaner/more accurate my fingering, the better it tracks.  Have you noticed this?  I keep the mix fairly dry (1/2 or less) to keep it from sounding to synthesized.  I'm going to experiment with adding a tube drive pedal to the wet channel to warm things up and add a little grind.  That should allow a heavier wet/dry mix.

Guitars: '79 LP Custom, '01 Dickey Betts Goldie - 80 of 114, '00 Chandler Lectraslide
Amps: '00 Marshall 1987x, '70 Marshall 1959 SL, 4x12 JBL D120s
'64 Vibroverb - JBL D130, '66 Super Reverb - CTS Alnicos
'77 Peavey Deuce (great for melting stubborn ear wax)
  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Digitech

keeping the mix at around a 3rd so far and havent had time to play with it as much as I would like.  Makes sense, cleaner the input the better the track.  Results have been good so far, seems like it would be an easy tool to overuse.  I do wish it had more memory (presets) though.

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Digitech

I found that harmonizers of cheaper quality for sure like Boss tend to do good as long as your not bending the pitch for string bends.  I loved playing around with that on my Boss ME-50 but if you bend vibrato or play too fast for it then it sounds like it moves up in pitch like a electronic keyboard in blocks rather then a nice smooth bend like a real guitar player would do.  Over all I think if you buy something nicer then Boss it will be better then what I experienced.  Have you thought about an Octiva Pedal?

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  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Digitech

Hadn't researched the octiva, the digi seems to do bends pretty well actually and vibrato.  Hopefully will get some time to work with it more this weekend.  And i have to admit the chorus and octive features are interesting and usable.

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?
  • Registered: 2008-10-10
  • Posts: 180

Re: Digitech

Sonicboom wrote:

What I'm finding is that the cleaner/more accurate my fingering, the better it tracks.  Have you noticed this?  I keep the mix fairly dry (1/2 or less) to keep it from sounding to synthesized.  I'm going to experiment with adding a tube drive pedal to the wet channel to warm things up and add a little grind.  That should allow a heavier wet/dry mix.


Exactly.  Now that I have it in place and found the right hook up config, it really forces you to play cleaner.  Garbage in garbage out.  Really useful little unit, adding it to all kinds of sections now.

Where the hell does one get a black-backed gold top anyway?