Digitech GSP-2101 Limited Edition Gold Face Studio Tube Preamp/Multi Effects Guitar Processor
This is a great sounding 2 space rack unit used by artists like Steve Vai and Yngwie Malmsteen.
I personally have been using a GSP 2101 since 1999 when I went digital stereo and sold my Marshall head and Tube Screamer TS-808. If you're not playing in Stereo you're missing out on half the fun!
This is a "Do it all" stereo tube preamp and multi-effects unit! It's like having a computer for your Guitar!!!
These units aren't all that great straight from the factor, they sound shallow, hollow, and artificial..... until you take some time(I spent about 6 months programing mine) and you tap into the parametric equalizers and set up your own effects banks called "user algorithm's". (You have to patch every effect you want inline with inputs and outputs all in a bank like a string of stomp box effects called "algorithms", then you run out of memory and have to start a new user algorithm to get all the effects you need in different user algorithns).
I programmed these units until I ran out of memory (about 83,000 bytes of info) and had 12 personal user algorithm's and 30 presets I developed using the 12 user algorithm's I created(The 12 are now condensed into 5 user algorithms automatically by doing system memory dumps to save on memory use).
THIS UNIT IS SETUP AND READY TO PLUG AND PLAY, NO FOOLING AROUND WITH THE 93 PAGE OWNERS MANUAL FOUND ONLINE
It sucks programming these units as it is very difficult and time consumeing.... but I did it for 6 months and have about 30 personal programs from clean to heavy metal, to crazy effects sounds, more than you will ever need, and they are all fine tweeked and ready to go. And I laid them out so you have the main 10 program buttons all on one floor pedal bank so if you get the FC-1 foot controller it is all set up and ready to use with your main effects bank #2 which is 11-20.
I don't use any of the factory presets, I developed about 30 of my own and they have all been midi dumped into this unit that I am selling here so it's plug and play! (You still get the factory presets as well but you won't like the factory settings after hearing mine) Trust me, you will be amazed at the preset programs i have on this one! Guaranteed to be the best effects processor you have ever heard or your money back!
Forget about setting one up yourself as i have done all the work to bring out the true capabilities of these units! The factory settings mostly suck in my opinion as there is no tone or gain and these units sound weak until you set up your own user algorithms utilizing the parametric EQ's. I still cannot believe that none of the factory settings even use the parametric EQ's so you're missing out on the deep capabilities of these units if you only use factory and/or the Artist programs. I found the way to really get these units to growl with the 5 band paremetric EQ!!(I've always been told I have a great ear for sound ever since 1979 when i started playing guitar and owned my own 24 channel tri-amped PA system back in the 1980's).
FYI:
SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE: These units have 2 chips like memory in your computer. There are 1.0, 2.0, and the 3.0 Artist versions. People are deceived into thinking if they get the 3.0 Artist version then you can plug it in and you will sound just like your favorite musicians like George Lynch, Joe Satriani, Steve Via, etc. WRONG!!! None of the artist settings use the parametric EQ's, no one has taken the time to create an effects algorithm to include the hidden potential the parametric EQ's have! I use 2.0 software versions and higher because the 2.0 and 3.0 versions can talk to each other using the midi in's and outs so I can copy and save my programs from unit to unit, I find no difference other than the 2.0 has 200 and the 3.0 has 240 programs but no difference in sound because i only use my own 30 programs. This unit for sale has the 2.01.01a version software.
FYI:
PPC-210 card: These units can be upgraded to use a PPC-210 card that is like adding another processor heart and gives you seamless program changes so when one programs effect is panning out like a long delay you can switch to another program without canceling the old one giving you seamless program changes good for live performances but not needed if you play mostly at home/studio. And the PPC-210 cards are rather expensive(Over $200). This unit comes stock and like all the Limited Edition units it includes the PPC-210 card.
FYI:
10mhz or 20mhz chip: Some have a 10mhz, and some have 20mhz, the only difference i can notice is with the 20mhz chip the system starts up faster and the buttons are faster to respond. Units with the 20mhz chip will display an ".a" at the end of the software version shown upon startup. This unis has the faster 20mhz chip.
FYI:
Battery: I heard alot on other listings and even from Digitech about if your internal battery(a coin cr2032) goes dead then you will lose all your programmed information, fearing this I changed 5 batteries in 5 different units in May 2016 and none of them lost any of the programmed information, and 4 of the 5 batteries were really, really dead! I did replace the batteries fast, but again I lost none of my programs. UPDATE: I did have one lose memory during battery change so it can happen.
This unit for sale has the version 2.01.01a and I have installed a brand new Sony cr2032 battery with a "use by" date of 2031.
The condition is very good and works great with no problems, the Gold face plate does show some smudging/tarnish from age.
It has reverbs, choruses, echo's, delays, noise gate, compression, tremelo, auto panner, flange, wah, phaser, distortion, analog equalizer that can be in graphic or parametric mode.
It has midi in out and thru ports, balanced XLR as well as 1/4" outputs and headphone jack.
Shipping, handling, and insurance charge will be $65 in the Fed-Ex's deliverable USA 48 states, $150 for USPS's International deliverable delivery elsewhere in the world, $125 for Canada. I reserve all rights.
Here are the presets that I set up for this unit, they are all in CAPITAL LETTERS so they can easily be identified and I laid them out conveniently for use with the Control One foot controller that IS NOT included.
10 RYTHM CLEAN DISTORT
11 JAMMIN W/ CHORUS
12 JAMMIN W/ FLANGER
13 JAMMIN W/ DELAY
14 CLEAN
15 JAMMIN
16 JAMMIN W/ DETUNE
17 JAMMIN W/ PHASER
18 SPACE HARMONY (Easy to change Harmony from 5ths to 7ths to 12ths or?)
19 CLEAN CHORUS
20 RYTHM
22 JAMMIN W/ FLANGER SATURATE
23 JAMMIN W/ DELAY SATURATE
25 JAMMIN SATURATE TUBE
28 SPACE OCTABASS
29 RYTHMIC ORBITS
30 RYTHM TUNE
32 JAMMIN W/ FLANGER 2
33 LEAD IN SPACE
34 CLEAN PHASER
35 JAMMIN 2 GRUNGE
38 MORGUE AUTOSWELL
39 FLOATING 5THS
40 RYTHM W/ PHASER
48 LOTUS LOVE
49 KILLER CHORUS
50 RYTHM W/ CHORUS
58 SPACE ICE
59 CLEAN CHORUS W/ DELAY
68 ETERNITIES
78 SPACE HARMONY 12THS
My Favorite setting is # 15 JAMMIN(Think Marshall crunch! Good for power cords like Black Sabbath, Disturbed, AC/DC etc.) and I go to #13 JAMMIN W/ DELAY for way cool stereo delay for leads(Think Joe Satriani, Steve Via) and then I have 14 CLEAN or 19 CLEAN CHORUS and switch to my rythm pickup for a smooth clean sound..........or try #17 JAMMIN W/ PHASER for a sound like Eddie Van Halen with your lead pickup or flip to your neck position pickup for a sound like Robin Trower and Jimi Hendrix! You can play all day with the radio and sound just like the guitar sounds coming from your stereo!(I set up in my living room with speaker cabs on both sides of the room so I can play with the stereo or my HD TV!)
And you get variations of my preset sounds by just going to the next bank but keeping the last digit the same, for instance my 15 JAMMIN is the same as 25 JAMMIN SAT., or 35 JAMMIN 2 GRUNGE but with different distortion settings, or 19 CLEAN CHORUS is simular to 29, 39, or 49 all are clean programs with heavy effects but different settings, and then there are the crazy 8's like 18, 28, 38, 48, 58, 68, and 78 that will blow your mind with the crazy sounds from the crazy 8's!!! And I have set them up in a usable layout using the foot controller(Not included), so if your on bank 2, 3, or 4 the ten floor program buttons are layed out so you know 5's(15, 25, or 35) are the Jammin standards, 3's(13, 23, or 33) adds delay for leads, the 9's(19, 29, 39, 49, or 59) are the clean programs with heavy effects etc. and I left the bank 1 from 1-10 alone so you can select and send and save your favs and set up your own personal lineup if you like.
These processors have made me a much better/faster lead player because when you go way high on the fretboard it has great gain/sustain!!! Not like my old Marshall head straight through with my old Tube Screamer that sounded good with the power cords but always left me struggling with the dryness of the lead gain.
Note: When playing really loud you may want to adjust the noise gate threshold and reduce the distortion gain some.
I used a Charvel Model 4 guitar with the Jackson JE-1200 electronics to set up the sound back in year 2000...I used a Rivera Stereo Hammer 120 tube guitar amp with speaker cabinets on each side of the room(For true stereo effects that pan back and forth from left to right).
You need to play in stereo(It is soo fun) so I recommend a stereo rack mount tube guitar amp like Rivera, Marshall, Mesa Boogie, etc. And the speakers you use will make or break your sound....I use the original 30watt Celestions with the black plastic back, or the Vintage 30's that sound close to the originals.(Don't buy the celestion 70watts with the white paper backs, they have terrible tone). If you don't yet have the cabs or amp you can use 2 small practice amps for the stereo effect, but set the 2 amps tone neutral and no overdrive/distortion as the 2101 processor has all the effects already in it.
Check out my other auctions as I usually have 40+ guitars for sale. I buy and sell quality musical instruments and have over 7000 positive Ebay feedbacks so bid with confidence that you will receive quality merchandise as described, shipped promptly and securely. I also have been playing lead guitar since 1979.
Colorado sales must add 4.6% sales tax. No trades.
Please... Only bid if you have all the money NOW, and will send me the payment if you are the winning bidder.
Here are some further descriptions that I have copied from others who know the
tech stuff much better than me:
DigiTech GSP2101 Studio Tube Preamp/Processor. Effects include chorus,
phaser, many distortion and overdrive modes, delay, reverb, auto wah,
whammy, pitch shift, etc, etc...Many more! This item features Power
Switch, Parameter, Function Keys, Display window, Headroom Meter, Clip
indicators with link, edit, overload, and bypass indicators, Program
up/down buttons, Edit buttons, data wheel, output level control,
instrument input jack, Rear panel input, Headphone output, balanced
outputs, left main output, right main output, speaker compensator
switch, left (mono) FX return, right FX return, FX send, and built in
Tuner.
2 space rackmount guitar preamp - effects unit. This unit is extremely
clean and the sounds are absolutly incredible.
The GSP-2101 consists of a digitally-controlled analog preamp section
followed by a true stereo digital effects section. The 2101 utilizes
Digitech's S-Disc, a proprietary Digital Signal Processing chip. Due to
its modular design, the 2101 benefits from the ability to upgrade to a
second S-Disc processor for enhanced capabilities.
The 2101 has a rear and a front 1/4" monaural input jack. The rear jack
is slaved to the front such that a connection to the front jack
disconnects the rear jack from the input section of the 2101. This
signal passes through the Analog Preamp Section of the 2101.
A single monaural 1/4" output jack is provided for Fx Loop Send. The
signal from the output of the Analog Preamp Section is ALWAYS present at
this jack regardless of the state of the Fx Loop (Bypassed, Summed, or
No-Sum).
Two (left and right) 1/4" monaural jack inputs are provided as Fx Loop
Returns. Each input is independantly converted from Analog to Digital,
thus making the 2101 a true Stereo Digitial Signal Processor (2
independant inputs, 2 independant outputs).
Two (left and right) 1/4" monaural jack ouputs are provided as Master
Outputs. The signals present at these outputs have passed through the
Digital Section, the Master Mixer, and the final Output Level Amplifier.
The Output Level Amplifier's knob is on the front panel in the upper
right-hand corner. This is not digitally controlled, since the Master
Mixer has level settings which are digitally controllable. Finally,
there is NO Hardware Cabinet Emulation available at these outputs,
although a software Cabinet Emulator module has been added to the
3.00.00 firmware.
A 1/4" stereo jack ouput is provided for headphones. This output signal
is always present. The level is adjustable via a front panel knob (not
digitally contrallable). Finally, this headphone jack includes a
Hardware Cabinet Emulator designed to cut some of the high's in the same
manner as typical guitar cabinets would. This Hardware Cabinet Emulator
is not adjustable in any manner (furthermore, it is always active for
the headphone output and cannot be bypassed), although some users have
reported success in altering a couple capacitor values to change the
brightness of the emulator.
Two (left and right) balanced XLR jack ouputs are provided for mixing
board applications. The signals at these outputs are identical to the
signals at the 1/4" master outputs. However, note that the 1/4" master
outputs are BALANCED, but that typically you will connect them to a
device expecitng UNBALANCED 1/4" signals. This is perfectly acceptable,
but you will be negating the effect of the balanced circuit. Also, there
may be perceived differences in signal strength when comparing balanced
vs. unbalanced configurations as a result of the additive input in the
balanced configuration. Finally, there is a switchable Hardware Cabinet
Emulator available. This is the same emulator that is always used in the
headphone circuit, except that it is switchable (on/off) for the XLR
outputs. The switch is located in the rear of the unit next to the XLR
ouputs.
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