It Has a Looper...

One of the earlier reviews dings the RP500 because it doesn't have a looper. The lastest software from Digitech, available from their website, includes a 20 second looper.

Otherwise, I second all the great features and sounds.

Worth every penny

I have had this for about a week and like I said in the title it is WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!! I have had a few other Digitech products and have no problems with any of them. A few of the main resons I bought this was because it has Metal footswitchs and some amps I have been waiting for like the Mesa/Boogie Mark IV and the Randol JC 120.

Excellent Product

First of all... kudos to Sweetwater for thier service.

Without going into all the technical aspects of the RP500, let me just say this... it sounds good and is easy to use. It's a processor that acts like a true pedal board and then some. I used it the first night I received it on an acoustic gig - performed great with no problems. I love the fact that it has balanced xlr outs. The amp simulations sound like real amps as well as the stomp box models. No more lugging around amps for me... this box does it all.

AWESOME********

MAN THIS THING BLEW ME AWAY. I USED THE RP 150 AND OTHER EFFECT PEDALS, AND THIS JUST DOES THE JOB BETTER. DIAL IN EFFECTS IS EASIER THAN BEFORE, AND YOU CAN ADD DIST, CHORUS, ETC, LIKE STOMP BOXES AS WELL. PLUG IT IN TO YOUR COMPUTER FOR MORE EFFECTS, JUST AWESOME. GO GET ONE, YOU WON'T BE SORRY.

Digitech RP500

Love my RP500. I highly suggest installing the lastest software from Digitech, available from their website, includes a 20 second looper. Current software version is 2.0. My RP shipped with version 1.4. I wish the unit had a Tuner button. When holding down the bypass switch to get into tuner mode, my EVH 5150 III flips out into a loud feedback scream on channel 3 on the amp. Work around is to punch in to channel 1 on the amp, then turn down the volume knob on my guitar then hit the bypass switch for tuner mode. I would highly recommend this product.

Almost the Best

I believe this is almost the best multi-effects unit out there if you want amp/cab modeling (DigiTech has one-upped itself with the RP1000, which I do believe is the best multi-effects unit on the planet that includes amp/cab modeling).

The amp models are great, the stomp box models are spot-on, and the ability to turn on/off individual effects within a patch is a must-have feature.

My only gripe is that the unit does not have an external effects loop (ie: being able to add your own stomp boxes after the built-in stomp box model and before the amp models)...for me this comes in to play because I like to use a looper pedal and because of this if I want to use an amp model, I run the following setup: guitar -> RP500 (for stomp box modeling) -> DL-8 Delay/Looper -> RP250 (for amp modeling). If I'm running in front of an amp, the RP250 is not used. The RP1000 has an external effects loop (so that you can put individual stomps in front of the amp models), and the RP1000 also has a built-in looper.

So, I would say if you do not need the ability to use an effects loop, the RP500 is the way to go. However, if you do want an effects loop look at the RP1000.

299 for the best stage multi effect pedal..come on!

Most stomp boxes that are your favorites are analog circuits that are adding or subtracting to the signal coming from the guitar to the amp. Digital units are doing the same but the big difference is that as the signal diminishes the break up is often abrupt with digital and "organic" with a stomp. So I have never really been too happy with digital... Until now!
This actually has led me to not take my pedal board with me to some gigs! I have found so many great tones in this unit and you can use it just like you would a pedal board, tweaking up the delay or adding some chorus, or what (from Clyde to cry baby). You then save it to the parallel save side, rename it.."Roadhouse" and you have got your not just doors but Roadhouse Robby sound ready to go. This gives you technically 100 presets that you can save up to your computer. What if you stomp it in and you feel like dropping the reverb or adding some delay? Stomp the Chorus off, stomp the delay on then dial the one you want, even tap the time you want..sweet(water).
Too much info here but on some effects you can get a nasty fade out especially when you are modeling. The cure is to find the effect that is doing it by turning them on an off. For instance in one setting (my Randy Rh Crazy) I found that the compression was causing this and just went without it.
The speaker emulation is really good. I have been using a Randall MTS with their Vox preamp so at times I want some SRV twin tone and here it is all clean yet throat like with some sweet fender reverb. Want to crank this to SRV on Hendrix, stomp in the fuzz face or some rotary..you get it. So you have your excellent presets but you have all this pedal power that you can spice in for lead or groove sections.
Did I mention $300!! I have had $300+ pedals stolen off my board!
Metal construction, USB, Cubase, good tuner, stereo mike jacks for DI into the PA, I/O for for playing with your Ipod in your left ear and the RP500 tones in the other for dialing in and practice.
Ok it doesn't have a drum machine or music presets. Also I use the Digitech Jam man looper that I put in overdubs. I just did a gig without a organ and I played the Light my fire middle jam rhythm part that I kick on while I played a kind of synth sound organ Manzurick lead then kicked off to the next channel for the Kruger lead with the organ synth in the back ground..you get it. Not that hard and 100 channels with basically unlimited length. So if you want a drum jam track get the Jam Man and the RP and you are basically ready to get out there.
It is really fun to have this technology but in the end it is just bringing to life tone and groove so you audience can hook in.
So nothing is perfect but for the moment this is really the answer for a gigging musician or even just a weekend garage jam god.
Have fun!

digitech rp 500

i traded in my boss me 50 for this and was not disappointed. One thing that frequently doesn't get mentioned (over all the other neat features) is the actual sound quality of these all in 1 units. I have many of them including a lot of line 6. The superior advantage to this unit is the ditortion sounds especially when played through an actual amp.My line6 pod xt with the online tone library is perhaps more "Teakable" but this unit just has smmother tone. Specifically the mesa and lead and crunchy orange crush models sound professional as if they came of a pro cd recording. No unprofessional broken speaker junky ditortion here-unless you like that. The clear sounds are comparable to the line 6 stuff-whuch are really good. The other great thing is that there are 100 patches right out of the box that are instantly accesed without any eperience which cover EVERY type of music to prog, blues, modern, and yes even country picken. For an all in one unit this is a must and digitech and technology just keep gettin better with every new unit

rp500

love this thing when it worked /brought one new and didnt last me a year blew up had it repaired and lasted 2 days and blew up again ill never buy another one was very dissapointed and got no response from digitech other then the repair man he was great/ and its still in de shop ( sighs)