Mailist to discuss all issues regarding the Digitech GSP-2101 Guitar FX Processor

Brian, see below.

--- In gsp-2101@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Kou" <jeffgeorgebomb@y...> 
wrote:
> So I need new preamp tubes.  Sounds a little fizzy and kind of 
messed 
> up. ANy recommendations?  I haven't changed the tubes in 10 years 
+.  
> I actually use the bypassed cleans, I kind of like a sterile, non-
> warm, colder sounding clean channel.  
> 
> But I want sizzling distortion.  Like Steve Vai, ultra harmonic 
gain. 
> Any ideas?

I have tried quite a few pre-amps and in my experience, the 2101 IS 
NOT, by far, the best thing out there for distortion... anyway, more 
below.

With regard to tubes, if you were to cash out $200 on a pair of new 
old stock 12AX7 Mullards, I truly doubt you'd here much (if any) 
difference at all with most others. My recommendation, buy something 
unexpensive but reliable and with decent sound. My few suggestions:
- Electro-Harmonix 12AX7, russians, decent, solid design.
- JJ-Tesla, a lot of people like them, I'd say comparable to the EH.
- Ei Elites, I like them a lot, some people used to complain about 
microphonics, I don't.
- ECC83 NOS Tesla, RFT or Tungsram, great sound, more mids and good 
gain, way more expensive
- Mullards, Telefunken, Amperex NOS... all great, but not worth the 
money to me.
- Sovtek, chineses, etc... stay away from them, too harsh sounding.


> Just for fun, I got a JMP-1.  You know the preamp everyone says is 
the 
> best or whatever.  

Who is everyone??? I had one for about two years and managed to get 
a great tone coupled to my ART multiFX. But I felt limited tone-
wise. Till I tried a Triaxis. Bought it and sold the JMP-1 next day. 
ADAs are probably a bit more flexible than the JMP-1 but not as good 
as the Triaxis.

On such a unit, where you have a totally different circuit design 
including 5-6 tubes, of which you can certainly and proudly say you 
have a real tube pre-amp, tube make DOES play a role. Still, the 
differences are very subtle, but you can definitely say when it is 
tubed with Sovteks or when it's got Teslas. But on the 2101, my 
suggestion is don't waste money on expensive tubes 'cause you won't 
notice. Replace your worn-out guitar strings for new ones and I 
assure you'll hear greater difference.
 


> I got the JMP-1, and I intend on getting an eventide harmonizer to 
add 
> the effects to it.  Then I'll compare again.  
> 

That'd be great. I'm sure the pitch shifting and harmonizer FXs are 
500% better, but I wonder whether those Eventide's reverbs, delays, 
chorus, etc are really that different to Digitech's. I mean I'm sure 
they somehow are, but does a guitar player really need such fancy 
FXs as Eventide has always been known for having? It's curious that 
they've released just one pure guitar mFX (the GTR4000), that is now 
long discontinued. The rest is mostly indicated to be studio 
processors. I myself use very limited FXs on my sound as reverb and 
some other FX are added post-recording, whem mixing down. That way 
you have more control. But I'm not into Vai-ish extravaganzas, I 
guess if you are, then you probably need them.

I was exited about the new Boss GT-PRO, but after reading the manual 
I got a bit disappointed. Still intend to try it out one of these 
days at a GC store. But I still believe my 2101LE is, and will 
continue being, the "King of the Mountain" for some time.