Never though I would say this---"I am swiching from analog to digital"

[c2dzmm]

I am in a heavy metal band. We play in the style of old metallica and slayer. I was using all analog. I used a keeley modded boss mt-2 for my distortion along with several other boss, mxr, line 6, and custom audio electronic pedals. The other guitarist in my band is using a digitech rp-7. He has made his own unique patch in the system.. We are both using verticle input 100 watt marshall JCM 800s with 4x12 straght marshall cabs. I am hear to tell you, his rp-7 has been blowing my analog stuff away. He has more clarity, punch, and tightness in his sound. Also the system is totally quiet. Another thing, there is no digital sound as you get with plugging into small solid state amps with digital stuff. I still can't believe that my nearly $1000 pedal system got kicked with a $100 digitech rp-7 off eBay. By the way, the best sound comes from plugging the rp-7 directly into the effects loop and not into the front of the amp. P.S. I had an effects loop installed in my 81 2203. However, I am still running a crybaby wah and an MXR e.q. for a boost. Anybody else have an experience like this?

[Soulgolem]

I would like to say some comments since I've switched from digital to analog.

Maybe your friend's sound is good on it's own, but does it cut through and just feel right in the mix as a tube amp would ?

Also, I find that for heavier stuff, digital is more much efficient, I simply play indie pop music and for that, it's very hard to get a realistic slight crunch, or a clean that feels 3D and fills the room without getting shrill. Just my two cents.

In your case, it seems like it's just a good thing, you just made yourself 900 bucks and a lot less hassle !

Francis.

[EunosFD]

In a situation like yours the difference may not be so much "analog vs. digital", but a matter of how each of you have your setups eq'd. Too often I've heard metal players scoop out all of their mid frequencies and they just end up getting lost in the mix. While it may sound kinda cool by itself it totally washes out when mixed in with drums, bass, and other guitars. Before you go changing everything definitely try setting your amp eq controls flat (right in the middle or top dead center I guess you could say). Then try backing off on the bass setting, pumping up the mids, and maybe boosting the treble a little bit. Then tweak to taste and see if it helps you cut through better. This may not exactly work for you, but it's a way to test the gear you already have to see what you can get out of it before going through all the hassle of swapping stuff which may end up costing you a bunch of money. If it doesn't work then you can certainly go that route and find gear that better suits your needs. Just my $.02...hth....

[Lolaviola]

W/ 2 guitars, each sonic foot print should blend. This could mean making the 2 more similar, or less so. Depends on the blend. Try to play your guitar and effects thru his rig and vice-versa. See if you can figure out his magic ingreedient. Is it really the RP7?
Maybe you'd be happy w/ digital, some heavy stuff is fine especially since your marshall is such a large part of your tone.
May need to simplify your own pedals to try to find which is the weak link in your own set-up.

[Enjoyer]

Blasphemy!

[Sid]

I used to use a Digitech rp200, then i switched to a BOSS GT-8...then i heard an analog setup for the first time...

Let me tell you, digital distortion modelling...is the worst thing you can get into...NO KIDDING...if he is using the rp-7 in the effects loop,chances are the rp-7 is doing more Eq than anything else in terms of distortion....

Digital distortions in general are very plastic,noisy....digitech did a decent job in modelling the distortion...but truthfully...if you go hear 2 live bands...one using analog or amp distortion...and the other using digital modelling distortion(not eq)...u will see the difference.....If you've seen slayer live...you should know that the raw sound they get cannot be achieved through digital modelling..its in the amps baby....:BEER

So my suggestion...get the mxr 10 band Eq....if you wanna play slayer....do what slayer does....

ps.it is nearly impossible to get clarity in fast riffs through digital modelling...it seems like the easy solution but you are DEFINITELY compromising.....

[ibanez4life SZ!]

No way.....

First, I would say that running a cheap digitech processor into a tube amp is only killing tone, but that is just me. I'm a big purist with my rig.

First...I assume the marshall does not have enough gain on it's own for your needs. I would ditch any other gain pedals you have and invest in a good overdrive pedal to boost your amp's gain. Maybe a fulltone OCD for example. This way, you'll be utilizing the full potential and tone of your amp...not of a poor pedal.

An EQ pedal might also be a good idea, to allow you to mold it even more.

Then, you should have a tone that destroys his.

[zenfreud]

Hey, if the man says it sounds good, it is good. We're all trying to create art here and if a painter switches from oil to acrylic paints and digs the results, that's all that matters.

Years ago I got into audiophile gear and was convinced I'd be crazy about tube amps. I wasn't, I preferred fast solid state amps. So I'm just saying that our preconceptions can get in the way of just going with our gut and trusting what are ears tell us.

[dw1003]

mistake number one: playing metal
mistake number two: listening to your metalhead guitar friend
mistake number three: listening to your JCM800 being tortured by an RP-7
mistake number four: Selling all your analog gear to me for $50

[Stressfest]

Gotta admit...i love the warmth of analog but it was way too dark and swampy for my taste/style. I tried the Maxon, and ML and settled on the Replica/TC Vintage (same thing aint it?). I just like the hifi of digital with the option of taming the tops with the filter. Best of both worlds IMHO.

[VintageToneGuy]

giver' a shot; but don't sell your analog stuff cause' you will come back to it after a while of 'icepickintheeardigitalstuff'!

[marks]

Well if it works for you then thats fine!