[Harp-L] Digitech RP100 problem

[Bill]

I believe Tony Eyres mentioned here the other day that he uses an RP100 and I am aware of Richard Hunter's considerable knowledge of the RP250/350. I picked an RP100 up secondhand last week. I bought it because i was actually looking for a reverb pedal to go with a buskers amp that doesn't have a built in reverb. I couldn't find a cheap enough reverb but when i saw the RP100 I thought that might do. Playing around with it, I've found a pre-set clean sound that I like for the chromatic and using a low z mic, I balanced the impedence before the RP100, using an either an impedance switch or an Art Tube pre-amp. I'd like to have both options because although it sounds nicer with the pre-amp. I play a lot in one place in particular where space is at an absolute premium so there I need to try to keep everything as simple as i can, this is why i got the buskers amp in the first place.

Anyway the problem i've encountered is that after I've been playing for a while, the RP100 starts going haywire, it loses it's setting and starts making a horrible beating noise or it's like I've got two harmonicas playing at the same time. I'm wondering if it's because I'm balancing the impedence before I get to the unit but i can't see how that would be the case as a guitar would have a hi-z signal going in. I am as you may have noticed, a complete idiot when it comes to all this technological stuff, so any help would be much appreciated.

The amp incidentally is an Ashton BSK158, it's equipped with valves apparantly, precisely what type of valves I'm not sure but for the short period before everything goes wrong using the RP100 and the pre-amp, it sounds absolutely bleeding gorgeous!

Thanks in anticipation

Bill
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[Michael Posey]

I bought an RP100A off craigslist. $40US. I also use it with an Art Tube MP preamp. Have tried it before and after the effects unit. Sounds decent both ways. The preamp really seems to add some warmth and drive when I want to add it.

Are you using batteries? When I first obtained it, I put brand new batteries in and remember having some issues with it. I now power it with the Digitech walwart exclusively which has a very high MA rating (1300!) and is relatively expensive compared to your standard 9v walwart. $30.00 if I remember correctly.

I really dont care for the reverbs on the unit (just my opinion) and use the delay instead on some of the presets I have programmed. I have not lost any settings or had any issues since getting the proprietary power supply.

Thats $70 I have into this thing. I like it for the same reasons you do. Its convenient. Its compact, (have the unit and the tube amp pre-connected in a small case) and its very versatile in the many sounds it will create and its fun to experiment with. Very cool to have a detuner, envelope filter, auto wah etc... and the ability to combine the effects with the many delay emulations as well in one compact unit.

To my ear, it does not provide the same quality of sounds as a train of high-end pedals, however to the untrained or unknowing ear (95% of our audience) it does a fine job of creating some very unique sounds. That and $70.00 is 1/3 the cost of a new EHX Micro Pog!

As info, it is not my main rig however it does get used when I need to emulate an organ or horn section or when I need a UFO to land on the stage!

Regards

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[Bill]

Thanks Michael
Of course it's the batteries, isn't it, I guess there must be quite a big
drain that runs them out quickly which would explain everything as it worked
ok for a couple of hours when I first got it and put new batteries in. I
was thinking about it on the way to play out last night had one of those
Doh! moments a'la Homer Simpson.

Bill