Nice update - http://www.digitech.com/products/Brian%5FMay/
Peace,
Adam.
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I think i´ll wait for the reviews on the guitar mags!
Take care
Take care
I have to admit, the amount of control is far better than what I originally thought. If this sounds good, then it could well be worth the money after-all!
It even has a harmonised control for the Brighton Rock stuff that Bri did in 1992 ala Chinese Torture. Someone was hoping for that here on the forum and another person said it wouldn't be there. Well... it is! And it also appears from the manual that you can hook it up to a pair of amps after-all. Nice!
Only drawback to that site link is that they still haven't put any clips or samples online. Heck, if the deacy portion sounds good, I'll definitely have to think about getting this. Nice turnaround! But yes, need to hear it and get the reviews back.
Peace,
Adam.
It even has a harmonised control for the Brighton Rock stuff that Bri did in 1992 ala Chinese Torture. Someone was hoping for that here on the forum and another person said it wouldn't be there. Well... it is! And it also appears from the manual that you can hook it up to a pair of amps after-all. Nice!
Only drawback to that site link is that they still haven't put any clips or samples online. Heck, if the deacy portion sounds good, I'll definitely have to think about getting this. Nice turnaround! But yes, need to hear it and get the reviews back.
Peace,
Adam.
See now if I was a half-witted magazine writer, I'd get one of these in the mail with the understanding I'd write a glowing review of the thing.
Frig... I really wouldn't mind having a fiddle with this pedal.
Frig... I really wouldn't mind having a fiddle with this pedal.
Looks like it will be fun to play with, but I'm not sure how much I will be able to use it for my stuff.
Adam, you said you love the VBM1. I haven't been able to do much with it, and I'd be interested in knowing how you're running your signal path with it and what you're using it for. Care to share?
Adam, you said you love the VBM1. I haven't been able to do much with it, and I'd be interested in knowing how you're running your signal path with it and what you're using it for. Care to share?
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Togg wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Have you tried other digitech pedals? the Eric Clapton for instance? well let me tell you for the money they are great, I don't understand what you were expecting? you can't make a pedal that has infinate control and eq built in, the norm is three to four control elements, what do you expect for $200?[/QUOTE]
Togg,
I haven't tried the other artist series pedals from Digitech due to the fact that I've never liked their stuff before. Their pedals always seemed to break and they always seemed to have a very "digital" sound. How about a review of the Clapton pedal? I'm not a big fan of his tone, but if they have come close to recreating it without all the digi-noise (and it doesn't break in the first week), I might give it a try.
Togg,
I haven't tried the other artist series pedals from Digitech due to the fact that I've never liked their stuff before. Their pedals always seemed to break and they always seemed to have a very "digital" sound. How about a review of the Clapton pedal? I'm not a big fan of his tone, but if they have come close to recreating it without all the digi-noise (and it doesn't break in the first week), I might give it a try.
Just pre-ordered mine @ the local Guitar Center - Retail $299 - their price $199.
And now, the wait...
And now, the wait...
Well, DrWinston, there are three ways I use it...
1) As is... - in other words, Recommended settings like the manual states with my Hohner RTX guitar. This particular guitar seems to get me a great Brian sound.
2) I do run it through either my Vox reverb twin amp via the speaker out or into a Marshall cabinet. Both work really well and add a bigger speaker for added warmth.
And 3) I also use it via a Behringer V-amp effects unit. The guitar into the VBM1, speaker out (or it may be the recording out) into the v-amp input. Then a specially contructed patch to make the best use of the amp modelling within the V-amp.
These are the 3 main ways I've used the unit. But even today I just like plugging into the unit and soloing away. My guitar and that amp just work nicely together. I have another Hohner RTS model guitar that should be similar, but doesn't have the same sweet sound. I guess I'm lucky in that sense. I've also demo'd the Burns RS through it and my guitar is close to that sound.
If you want to know anything else, just ask.
Peace,
Adam.
P.S. I just picked up a Digitech GNX3 and that unit doesn't have a particularly digital sound. You really think all Digitech gear does?
1) As is... - in other words, Recommended settings like the manual states with my Hohner RTX guitar. This particular guitar seems to get me a great Brian sound.
2) I do run it through either my Vox reverb twin amp via the speaker out or into a Marshall cabinet. Both work really well and add a bigger speaker for added warmth.
And 3) I also use it via a Behringer V-amp effects unit. The guitar into the VBM1, speaker out (or it may be the recording out) into the v-amp input. Then a specially contructed patch to make the best use of the amp modelling within the V-amp.
These are the 3 main ways I've used the unit. But even today I just like plugging into the unit and soloing away. My guitar and that amp just work nicely together. I have another Hohner RTS model guitar that should be similar, but doesn't have the same sweet sound. I guess I'm lucky in that sense. I've also demo'd the Burns RS through it and my guitar is close to that sound.
If you want to know anything else, just ask.
Peace,
Adam.
P.S. I just picked up a Digitech GNX3 and that unit doesn't have a particularly digital sound. You really think all Digitech gear does?
Thanks for the info, Adam. I've been able to use the VBM1 as a preamp for recording solos (love the bite to the sound), but I have to skip using it live. I need some kind of footswitch to bypass it for live rhythym part. I don't think they make one, so I just use a treble booster live in its place. It's not as sharp, but at least I can kick it on and off with my foot.
My Digitech experience goes back a while (I've got a few years on most of you!), and I had a couple of rack mount units that just "digitized" my tone. I used the delay and reverb, but any distorotion, phase or other effects gave me a tinny sound. So that left me with a couple of expensive delay units!
I gave them another chance about a year ago and picked up an envelope filter. It had potential, but quit working after three days! Needless to say, I gave up on them at that point. BTW, I tested the GNX board, and I thought it was an improvement, but I went with the Vox modeler - unbelieveable sound out of that little box!
I'll try the new Brian pedal. I downloaded the manual and it looks great. Hopefully the thing lasts longer than a few days this time around!
Thanks again,
Doc
My Digitech experience goes back a while (I've got a few years on most of you!), and I had a couple of rack mount units that just "digitized" my tone. I used the delay and reverb, but any distorotion, phase or other effects gave me a tinny sound. So that left me with a couple of expensive delay units!
I gave them another chance about a year ago and picked up an envelope filter. It had potential, but quit working after three days! Needless to say, I gave up on them at that point. BTW, I tested the GNX board, and I thought it was an improvement, but I went with the Vox modeler - unbelieveable sound out of that little box!
I'll try the new Brian pedal. I downloaded the manual and it looks great. Hopefully the thing lasts longer than a few days this time around!
Thanks again,
Doc
Probably the best sound I've ever gotten out of my Red Special was when my brother-in-law brought over his little Laney AC15. Sounded frigging *sweet*... I remember happening upon the neck/middle pickup setting and trying Bohemian Rhapsody and the thing sang like you wouldn't believe. Ha-ha
Sinceriously though, it was like listening to that Burns/RS comparison Brian May did a few years back, the sound was pretty nice.
Sinceriously though, it was like listening to that Burns/RS comparison Brian May did a few years back, the sound was pretty nice.
Is there a release date for this yet?
Btw Dr Winston, I forgot to list one last way I use the VBM. A few years ago I took apart a small Yamaha computer speaker as I was looking to see what my amp sounded like through it! Yes, this was before the VBM as I was looking for a deacy sound! Anyway, it actually sounds really good! It's just a bit weak in gain. However, the sound is very reminiscent of the harmony guitars on Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy.
Anyway, I plug into the speaker out on the VBM and that gives a pretty excellent sound. It's just a shame the speaker is quite quiet. But for micing up, it produces a great sound.
Peace,
Adam.
Anyway, I plug into the speaker out on the VBM and that gives a pretty excellent sound. It's just a shame the speaker is quite quiet. But for micing up, it produces a great sound.
Peace,
Adam.
[QUOTE][QUOTENAME]Togg wrote: [/QUOTENAME]Sorry but that's nonsense Adam, firstly they haven't released the price in the UK (that I've seen) but if it's on sale in the US for $199 it will be somewhere around that here.
[/QUOTE]
It's up on Soundslive.co.uk for pre-order at £199.
Sounds like a bit of a white elephant to me personally, although a VBM is very tempting I have to admit - how can I sneak one past the wife without her freaking out at me for buying more gear? Answers on a postcard...
[/QUOTE]
It's up on Soundslive.co.uk for pre-order at £199.
Sounds like a bit of a white elephant to me personally, although a VBM is very tempting I have to admit - how can I sneak one past the wife without her freaking out at me for buying more gear? Answers on a postcard...
I wouldn't call it a white elephant personally, I think this could well be the best selling pedal in the coming year, if it truly does what it says on the tin it will be a fast and cheap way to get Brian's sound without a wall of AC30's and a red special. Looking at it I think they have cramed a lot into a small box.
I will grab one as soon as they arrive, so far they seem to be retailing between £195 - £210 and I have been told they will be arriving in two weeks! I don'tthink any of the stores actually have one yet.
I will grab one as soon as they arrive, so far they seem to be retailing between £195 - £210 and I have been told they will be arriving in two weeks! I don'tthink any of the stores actually have one yet.
Got one!
This is it, fellas. The BM item we have all been waiting for. First, what I don't know:
I don't know if it's true to it's claim to turn a different guitar into a Red Special via the SC or HB selection on the guitar knob. I have a Burns Red Special so I keep it set on that.
I also don't know how good the Deacy effect is. It sounds kind of like my other Deacy imitations(Vox BM1/Fryer Mayhem), but then again, I don't have a clue how to make it into the device it is. I assume at this point that the Deacy sound is strictly a studio thing involving several working together in harmony. The Winter's Tale bit adds a cleaner sound and a touch of delay to it which is nice.
Okay, what I do know:
1. This Pedal perfectly imitates Brian May's signature tone and allows one to control it's volume to reasonable levels, still keeping most of the sustain. Not only this, but with the treble, bass and gain knobs all being seperate from the level knob, you can really tweak the sound out, getting it to conjure a number of RS sounds.
2. BRIGHTON ROCK IS HERE!! The pedal has the Brighton Rock Live tone perfect and with control over the time between the repeats. This works great, giving you the best you can get with repeats all coming from one amp. I think through a mixer one can seperate the repeats and have them come out of 3 seperate amps if you have them, but I am not sure. My only complaint is that the longest delay amount, while ample for BR, still could have been longer. For instance, it would be nice to try the Earl's Court version of 'Doing Alright' but the guitar part would need a longer delay pattern.
3. CHINESE WATER TORTURE IS HERE!!! The harmonizer effect is exactly workable just like the Q + PR tour where he goes over to switch the pedal to that sweet as hell orchestra sound. Today's guitar lesson(I still suck, but not for long now that this pedal is here) was the bad ass intro to 'China Belle' off of the Another World album. The pedal makes the sound perfectly!
4. The Ovation setting is sweet! I'm not crazy about the Telecaster, but I imagine it just needs adjusting with the knobs and a better player which I hope to eventually be.
5. The We Will Rock You setting is perfect. I never knew or thought about a phaser effect being involved, but this time something missing before was suddenly present in the tone.
The bottom line is that there is no longer any reason to complain about replicating the BM tone. This pedal is only $200 and does so much. Granted it helps greatly that I have at least a Burns, and that I do have a good AC30, but my Fryer Pedals and Vox BM1 are now officially useless. I might even sale them.
For anyone interested in starting a BM kit, by the Digitech pedal first and foremost!
As for negatives, I don't really have any at all. I guess it's barriers from pure perfection are the absense of the weird ass 'Get Down Make Love' effect, the slightly limited delay, and I still am skeptical about the Deacy effect being truly authentic, but what do I know.
This is it, fellas. The BM item we have all been waiting for. First, what I don't know:
I don't know if it's true to it's claim to turn a different guitar into a Red Special via the SC or HB selection on the guitar knob. I have a Burns Red Special so I keep it set on that.
I also don't know how good the Deacy effect is. It sounds kind of like my other Deacy imitations(Vox BM1/Fryer Mayhem), but then again, I don't have a clue how to make it into the device it is. I assume at this point that the Deacy sound is strictly a studio thing involving several working together in harmony. The Winter's Tale bit adds a cleaner sound and a touch of delay to it which is nice.
Okay, what I do know:
1. This Pedal perfectly imitates Brian May's signature tone and allows one to control it's volume to reasonable levels, still keeping most of the sustain. Not only this, but with the treble, bass and gain knobs all being seperate from the level knob, you can really tweak the sound out, getting it to conjure a number of RS sounds.
2. BRIGHTON ROCK IS HERE!! The pedal has the Brighton Rock Live tone perfect and with control over the time between the repeats. This works great, giving you the best you can get with repeats all coming from one amp. I think through a mixer one can seperate the repeats and have them come out of 3 seperate amps if you have them, but I am not sure. My only complaint is that the longest delay amount, while ample for BR, still could have been longer. For instance, it would be nice to try the Earl's Court version of 'Doing Alright' but the guitar part would need a longer delay pattern.
3. CHINESE WATER TORTURE IS HERE!!! The harmonizer effect is exactly workable just like the Q + PR tour where he goes over to switch the pedal to that sweet as hell orchestra sound. Today's guitar lesson(I still suck, but not for long now that this pedal is here) was the bad ass intro to 'China Belle' off of the Another World album. The pedal makes the sound perfectly!
4. The Ovation setting is sweet! I'm not crazy about the Telecaster, but I imagine it just needs adjusting with the knobs and a better player which I hope to eventually be.
5. The We Will Rock You setting is perfect. I never knew or thought about a phaser effect being involved, but this time something missing before was suddenly present in the tone.
The bottom line is that there is no longer any reason to complain about replicating the BM tone. This pedal is only $200 and does so much. Granted it helps greatly that I have at least a Burns, and that I do have a good AC30, but my Fryer Pedals and Vox BM1 are now officially useless. I might even sale them.
For anyone interested in starting a BM kit, by the Digitech pedal first and foremost!
As for negatives, I don't really have any at all. I guess it's barriers from pure perfection are the absense of the weird ass 'Get Down Make Love' effect, the slightly limited delay, and I still am skeptical about the Deacy effect being truly authentic, but what do I know.