Re: [Harp-L] St.James Infirmary Blues Digi rp155 patch

[Richard Hunter <turtlehill@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sandy Weltman wrote:
<Hey All- I've been having fun with the digitech RP155 processor and also Richards patches that go along with it. <Here's a fun little wah-wah effect that I tweaked and put together with The St.James Infirmary Blues.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYCEPy1lIDU
<
<Also,does anyone know what the main differences are ( effects wise) between the digi 155 and the 255 and up <(aside from the expression pedal)? Thanks- Sandy

Hi Sandy,

Nice sound, cool effect.  I remember when you did Armstrong's "West End Blues" and Lee Morgan's "Sidewinder" on your first CD--clearly trumpet lines are welcome in your house.

Each step up in the RP line includes more FX and more amp models.  For example, in the RP355, you get a model for the FX25 envelope filter, which is a killer autowah effect that to my ears works better than the model you find in the 155/255, the TC Electronics chorus model, the Octavia distortion model, etc. etc. along with a pair of low-frequency oscillators that you can use in various ways to add motion to the sound.  Those are the "main differences."  Which of these additions you consider to be "main" depends a lot on taste and the kind of music you like to play.  For example, many people who play traditional blues aren't likely to be much interested in the modulated delay that's available in the 355, but they'll eat the tape delay and Echoplex models right up. 

Where the RPs overlap, they sound pretty much the same. A Champ amp model with a bassman cabinet model and an analog delay model sounds the same on everything from a 150 to a 355, although the 355 does give you more control over treble frequencies.  The higher end models just give you more to work with.

I use the RP355 because the price difference between it and the 155/255 is not much, especially if you buy used, I like a lot of the FX and models that come with the 355, and I ABSOLUTELY must have that expression pedal (and the FX25!).  I also find that the way the 255 has the looper set up is inconvenient for stage use--you can trigger it just by holding the left pedal down too long.  That said, I've used the 255 on gigs with great results.    

For further information, check out Digitech's website.

Regards, Richard Hunter

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