Guidance needed: to go where no amp has gone before!!!

[kleydj13]

I've been feeling the need to utilize some sort of modeler when using my amp is not possible. I love my analog setup, but sometimes I need to keep my volume minimal in my apartment and I will be playing more at church where stage volume is almost non-existent. I have a pocket pod that sounds okay at best on only a few settings. On top of that, I'd never feel comfortable playing live with it... I also have Guitar Rig 3's SE edition that came with the session i/o interface. I use the interface almost daily for recording, and the software is okay. I like the fender amp model and it takes my pedals well, but the others pretty much suck. Also, not portable.

I've been looking into the digitech rp series as they seem to work well with your existing rig/pedals. The RP1000 and RP500 are definitely impressive, and I know they would be fantastic, but they are a little pricey for me right now (just graduated college and am getting married). I was looking at the lower models like the 155 or even 55. They don't seem to have much on the fly versatility, but I think they could be effective as a quality sounding modeler that I could set up just like I do my amp - a clean pedal platform.

- Would the lower rp series products provide some quality amp models that would work well direct in a live situation and at home practicing/recording?
- I could use some clarification for the generational differences with the digitech products, how does the rp250 compare to the rp255, what was updated?
- are there any other brands I should be looking at as well
- budget is a big concern, I've seen some rp55's on craigslist nearby for like $35

Thanks

[Lele]

I have used many modelers, and in the last few years I switched to cheaper ones, because I also got married... But I still love to try and play with anything!
The RP250 is nice (the RP255 just has few models more, but specially has the red display that is much better in daylight, because you can't see anything on the RP250 if you play live with a little sun) but don't expect that much. And modifying the presets "live" is not that easy, but it's possible. My unit has also some software bug, but - as far as I can say - I always found some problems with Digitech firmware unlike any other company products.
Among the cheap modelers, the Yamaha Magic Stomp is much better than the Pod2 and RP2xx, BUT it is almost impossible to modify a preset when playing live, and there is a bad half second pause (=silence) when you change the preset. So after a couple years of use, now mine is in its box.
If you can accept the limits of few parameters about the digital effects (and just two switches), I think the best sounding unit now is the Vox Tonelab ST. It is inexpensive, the sound is good, and there are some knobs that can help to adjust your tone quickly, BUT you do not have a real display to see the stored parameters when you want to edit a preset. It's a compromise... If not, for now a second hand RP250 could fit a small budget.
Or, if you can spend a little more, a great deal is a second hand out-of-production Vox Tonelab SE. The tone is great, there are many parameters, two pedals, and it will last for a long time to satisfy any wide tone needs. But it's huge...

[germs]

why not a Tech21 Character series pedal?

usually the guys with a built pedal board who are in need of a direct-in solution do well with these.

[kleydj13]

why not a Tech21 Character series pedal?

usually the guys with a built pedal board who are in need of a direct-in solution do well with these.

I've looked at those in the past, they're pretty sweet. I wonder though if I'd be annoyed that they're a one trick pony. I could go for an rp355 for not much more and have plenty of options.

Would the Tech 21 Blonde sound better than the RP's fender model?

[epluribus]

Don't s'pose you've looked at an old GNX3 or 4? Terrific sims, very dynamic, reasonably transparent, and you can build patches in libraries on your PC via MIDI. As for tweaking patches live, I've not done that, though the Warp feature, esp in Stompbox mode, gives you some pretty huge flexibility. Ditto the programmable stomp pedal and expression pedal. Doesn't hurt that they have a JamMan built in and they're dirt cheap these days.

--Ray