Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

[wickenspoet]

I'm just curious how the any of the 3 Digitech Hardwire distortion/overdrive pedals rate in comparison to some of your other favorite pedals?

I currently use the MI Crunchbox and Blues Pro pedals which I like... but I ,was just curious if there's anything I'd like more, and stumbled upon the Hardwire series online. Do you guys think they are better or worse in any way?

What are some of your experiences with the Hardwire dirt pedals?

Thanks.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

These are HARDWIRE. They are TRUE BYPASS. They must be better than any other pedal.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Got the CM-2, sold my Valve disto...mostly because the relay was somewhat iffy...
But I am looking for a replacement as I rather like it!

Got the DL-8 as well.....

And the true bypass fad is just problem created for extra sales....yeah marvelous!

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

And the true bypass fad is just problem created for extra sales....yeah marvelous!

I've heard others rail against the "true bypass" craze. So what's the story with that?

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

The usual about guitarplayers not knowing anything tech related, and just go along with the usual hype and rumours being spewed out!

It is not the frigging bypass that causes troubles, it is the impedance, or the variations on it, to be more specific.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Actually, what true bypass attempts to do is take each pedal makers attempt at keeping the signal true to the original input out of the equation and allow a real straight through signal to be passed on and not go through someone else's idea of what electronics should or should not be in the signal path.

If most pedal manufactures would use quality components the buffers in the pedals would actually enhance the signal, and some pedals in the off position actually did just that. However it is hit and miss, so most decided rather than try and guess at what someone likes in his tone, they decided to go the easy route and let the signal pass un-affected.

So if you have a lot of pedals and all are true bypass, you will lose signal strength, and must add a boost pedal to get the signal back, if your pedals are buffered, the tone may change but the signal strength remains.

That is the real truth in the matter.

And by the way, I own a few of the Hardwire series of pedals. I have found all of them to be very well made, good at what they claim to do. I especially like the DL-8 Delay and the Chorus pedal. Both are do all, end all, in my playing needs.

Brad

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

If they only, and if the quality, and if and if if if if if....The signal degradation is not the only moronic thing about TB.....
You also changes the impedance when you do engage your voodoomojosuperqualitymadefromalienpartelectronics pedal.....uh why is everything sooo bright when I engage my dodoblaster pedal???

Why does my switch makes such big noises??
Why does it pop???
And so on....not very amazing to put it mildly.....but it is the craze....let people deal with it methinks
hehe

















Ponders what other old design I should clone this week, and call my self emperor of the effect universes and dimensions??

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Actually, what true bypass attempts to do is take each pedal makers attempt at keeping the signal true to the original input out of the equation and allow a real straight through signal to be passed on and not go through someone else's idea of what electronics should or should not be in the signal path.

If most pedal manufactures would use quality components the buffers in the pedals would actually enhance the signal, and some pedals in the off position actually did just that. However it is hit and miss, so most decided rather than try and guess at what someone likes in his tone, they decided to go the easy route and let the signal pass un-affected.

So if you have a lot of pedals and all are true bypass, you will lose signal strength, and must add a boost pedal to get the signal back, if your pedals are buffered, the tone may change but the signal strength remains.

That is the real truth in the matter.

And by the way, I own a few of the Hardwire series of pedals. I have found all of them to be very well made, good at what they claim to do. I especially like the DL-8 Delay and the Chorus pedal. Both are do all, end all, in my playing needs.

Brad

Thanks for trying to be specific. It's still cloudy, though. Manufacturers seem to be calling out each other, like some sort of playground spat, over who really uses honest-to-goodness, no-joke, if-I'm-lyin'-I'm-dyin' true bypass. Michael Fuller is one of them, but he's clear about what he uses -- a switch. A big honkin' triple-pole double-throw hard switch. Most companies just condemn the others, but they don't explain how their pedals are different, instead just saying, "Those others aren't really true bypass. Ours are. Trust us. They are. Because they just are. Okay?"

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Who gives a sh!t anymore??
They are all bypassed in some way!!!
Have always used buffered pedals, unless I went total oldschool with fuzz, ringmodulators, univibes.....then one just turned the amp some more

Most of these TB infested things, also sports a 1mega resistor to avoid the pop pop pops...imagine to have a row of those lined up....muuh muuh it goes
And zing when you engage a pedal....

There was a time when you did not bothered much about these things, and just played!

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

^ Yeah, I guess I am an asshole for wanting to understand technology.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Mwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahaha a c..t might the more correct word

There is not much to understand...
High to low impedance is what buffers do, then the signal can travel for long distances without getting degraded, more immune to statics and such, plus you do not get the bleeding from some overdrives and disto boxes, your highs and lows are intact.....
The next pedal is not loaded by the signal either, and will keep being clear and loud, both bypassed and active....

Your guitar will not be loaded either, in most ways this is more ideal, it has its own set of problems too, but the benefits are nicer!

Oldschool stuff is mostly low in and out....it will tax your signal, and take away precious millivolts....
And the next pedal will get loaded with a lowimpedance signal as well...and so on!

 

[wickenspoet]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

I just wondered if they sounded good. The bypass doesn't really concern me at this point. If the Hardwire overdrive/distortion pedals sound good enough, I hopefully wouldn't be bypassing them very often to begin with, haha.

 

[King IzzO)))]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Jeebus, who sh!t in Vasshu's wheaties? This much I know, the metal distortion can get close to sounding like a more evil Rat with more EQ tweakability, and can also get close to the old DOD Death Metal, but without all the noise, and without killing the signal when it's turned off, like the DOD DM does.

I would much rather run a true bypass than a signal killer like the DM, which I'm sure can be fixed, but I don't need to, because I have the HW.

Boss pedals are buffered and sound fine though, so I agree, sort of.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Nobody...I'm just really tired of the true bypass nonsense..

 

[briggleman]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

For the OP. I also own the SC-2 Valve Distortion. It is Good, very good. It has two gain stages that can cover blues to almost metal. As to the question, will you like it....... you have to understand... most of us in here have 3 to 5 different types of distortion and overdrive pedals. My mood swings are not as bad as Vasshu's, but I tend to like one pedal during one gig and then go another the next. To tell you the truth, I now play with a multi effects pedal on most of the gigs and the single pedals are in my studio/guitar room. I still use them sometimes on Gigs and always will. I am just lazy these days and find a single multi-effects box easier to carry.

You will not be disappointed in the Hardwire series.

Brad

 

[AudioWonderland]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Nobody...I'm just really tired of the true bypass nonsense..

Its not nonsense. True bypass switch is perfectly sensible option. It doesn't matter what bypass model is used. The real problem are the people using them having no clue what to do with what they have.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

Thanks for trying to be specific. It's still cloudy, though. Manufacturers seem to be calling out each other, like some sort of playground spat, over who really uses honest-to-goodness, no-joke, if-I'm-lyin'-I'm-dyin' true bypass. Michael Fuller is one of them, but he's clear about what he uses -- a switch. A big honkin' triple-pole double-throw hard switch. Most companies just condemn the others, but they don't explain how their pedals are different, instead just saying, "Those others aren't really true bypass. Ours are. Trust us. They are. Because they just are. Okay?"

True bypass comes in two flavors, True Mechanical and Relay

In a true mechanical bypass the switch does all the work, actually hardwiring the signal through the pedal to the other side and that is both sides of the signal, not just the positive or negative side. Pops can occur but most manufactures will use a small resistor to bleed off the build up of current to prevent that. The advantage to this is a true clean signal, unaffected by the circuitry of the pedal.

Now in a relay type true bypass, a switch is used to activate a switch relay which is where the real switching takes place. Hardwire pedals use this more expensive type of system and it does have advantages. One, no pops. Two, if the batteries die the relay will automatically switch back to true bypass thus the music goes on. Three, in heavy effects type of pedals the signal can actually be attenuated up and down as the effect is switched on and off to avoid drastic changes in the beat or tone of the music. Radial uses this in a lot of the ToneBone series with very expensive relays. Signal is still clean as above, however it did travel just a little bit further to get to the other side of the pedal.

Now some say that relay adds unneeded complexity to a pedal and more can go wrong. All I can say is I have not yet had a relay type true bypass fail on me yet. I have had a couple of Mechanical true bypass switches go, but they are easy to replace.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

^Yeah keep saying that sh!t to yourselves
That 1Mega alone makes it non trooo flooospass, as mentioned imagine have just three or four of those in a chain....mooh mooh tones...awesome

 

[briggleman]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

^Yeah keep saying that sh!t to yourselves
That 1Mega alone makes it non trooo flooospass, as mentioned imagine have just three or four of those in a chain....mooh mooh tones...awesome

Vasshu, I think you and I both know that resistor is not in the signal path and does not effect the tone. It goes from the switch housing to the ground. We understand the effect of many TB pedals and the weakening of the signal, but it is the same in a long unbalanced cable run. However, buffered pedals have their own problems too.

Why do you take the EXTREME view on this? I understand your point. I really do, however in your view its black or white and for the most part.... its gray!

 

[SamusChief]

Re: Do any of the Digitech Hardwire distortions compare...

This thread is getting hijacked quickly.

My Guitar Center doesn't keep these plugged in. They do, but they hide the headphones. I've heard great things, but I've also heard well of Danelectro pedals... XD