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Digitech RP50 Effects Pedal

The RP50 is the entry level unit in the RP range of guitar processors from Digitech. Digitech say: "Our engineers built the RP50 with the great tone and effects you expect from DigiTech, including award-winning amp, cabinet and pick-up modelling and an arsenal of studio-quality effects." This little unit is a great first step into multi effects pedals.

"The RP50 uses our AudioDNA DSP chip to ensure that both modelling and effects are world-class. Plus 24-bit A/D/A conversion so that no frequency response is lost between inputs and outputs. When we weren’t looking, our engineers even snuck in a drum machine with 30 patterns and an easy-to-use 13-LED array tuner. Then we made sure that the RP50’s user interface was so simple a drummer could operate it (well most drummers, anyway)."

• 20 studio quality effects, up to 8 at a time
• Built-in drum machine with 30 patterns
• Award wining cabinet, acoustic guitar and pickup modelling
• 40 user / 40 factory presets
• Expression pedal input for Whammy Wah and Volume effects
• 24-bit A/D/A delivers full spectrum
• Easy-to-read LED display
• Chromatic tuner with user friendly LED array
• Stereo output doubles as a headphone jack

The RP50 Runs on 6AA batteries, or more likely, the included 9V Power Supply

The pedal has a standard 1/4″ input jack (guitar), 1/4″ output (amp input / amp effects return / headphones) and a 1/4″ control input. The control input can be connected to an external expression pedal to utilise the RP50’s wah and volume effects manually.

What’s it like?

The RP50 is an entry level product aimed at beginners or those on a tight budget. The controls are simple to use, and patches can be edited and tweaked in no time. The drum machine is basic, but a useful addition to help practice to a set tempo. This unit is probably aimed at home use (which is how I have used it) and plugged into any small amplifier, it sounds just fine. It’s not going to win any awards for sound quality - but then there’s no point comparing this to a high end Boss or Pod multi efffects board.

The RP50 features all the bog standard effects such as delay, phaser, tremolo, vibrato and flanger. It also has an Aut-Ya (wah and flanger) to create a human voice effect! 9 different cabinet models each with 9 gain levels, 6 different reverb types, bypass and a built in tuner - they know how to pack a lot in.

There’s no way you could play live with it, the effects are pretty basic, but you can still get some really nice results.

This is a demo from a YouTube user:

Update: After a couple of years use, the only problem I had was one of the the edit arrow buttons gave up. It kept getting stuck under the front panel and refused to function properly. I’m sure I could have got this fixed, but in all honesty, it would have been cheaper to buy a new one.

If the presets are not enough for you, you can find more patches here:http://www.digitech.com/soundcomm/guitar_list_patches.asp?productid=1

The RP50 retails around £40 (correct at time of writing)

You may also be interested in the Zoom G1, or the Korg AX3G. I’ve not used either of these pedals, but they are of a comparable quality.