How would a DigiTech Drop fair against a real drop B & a real baritone guitar?

[littlebadboy]

This is a comparison between the Digitech Drop transposed guitar sound to drop B versus a real drop B guitar and a real baritone Ibanez RGIB6 guitar.

How would the Digitech Drop fair?



You may jump back and forth to the following for your perusal:
0:21 Original track in standard tuning (drop D is my standard) on a Yamaha eg112c2 guitar
1:47 Digitech Drop engaged to transpose tune to drop B on same Yamaha eg112c2 guitar
3:17 Tuned to drop B with thicker strings on same Yamaha eg112c2 guitar
4:47 Real baritone Ibanez RGIB6 guitar

Description from the DigiTech website:
The DigiTech® Drop is a dedicated polyphonic drop tune pedal that allows you to drop your tuning from one semitone all the way down to a full octave. Get down-tuned chunk without having to change guitars! The Drop also features a momentary/latching switch. With the switch set to momentary, you can turn the Drop into a true performance pedal. Fast trills and roller-coaster pitch dips are at the tip of your toes.

Effects:
Headrush Gigboard

Guitars used:
Yamaha eg112c2, nickname - "Gemini"
Modified with a GM Railbucker bridge and a Fleor single coil sized rail humbucker neck with no tone circuit.

Ibanez RGIB6
Modified with
Seymour Duncan TB-6 Duncan Distortion Trembucker Pickup bridge
Seymour Duncan SH-10n Full Shred Neck Humbucker
No tone circuit

Dragon's Heart Guitar Picks "Pure"

[nomadh]

I think the 1:47 and 3:17 clips sounded the heaviest. If that's what you are going for. Maybe the pedal was heaviest. They all sounded fine. If the pedal is easiest go for it. What inspired you? What feels the best to play?

[rrobbone]

I like the baritone Ibby the best, but I'm betting that's due to the pickups used. I know others think differently, but the comparo between Guitar Madness and SD pickups isn't really fair. I think the baritone had a better "bite" or "edge" to the tone - for lack of better terms.

I got tired of waiting for Line 6 to develop a polyphonic drop function for the Helix, so I dropped cash on a 7-string Agile baritone. It was bone stock and fairly weak sounding, very thin - until I shitcanned the Cepheus pickups and installed a DiMarzio set in it. That woke it right up. I love that stupid thing now. I can't play it for shit, but I love it anyways.

Rumor has it that Line 6 will be updating Helix firmware to 3.0 soon, supposedly it finally has a polyphonic drop in it. I hope so, and I hope it doesn't use up too much CPU to get it done. We'll see...

[Mossman]

The drop pedal sounded pretty much identical to the guitar tuned in B with heavier strings, but the baritone sounded best by far. You could almost feel the grunt and growl of the strings.

[RockYoWorld]

IMPORTANT QUESTION: Did you notice a difference in feel when you played with the Drop pedal?

I agree with the general consensus. The Drop pedal sounded very close to the same guitar with heavier strings tuned to drop B. I did get a TINY sense of a little more definition and clarity on the guitar with thicker strings tuned down, but having a blind test would be difficult for me. I definitely think the pedal does a fantastic job and would be a perfect tool for a live show. I'd consider getting one, myself, now.

I did like the Baritone guitar best, though, but I think the pickups are less hot, causing a little more clarity. Also, as I notice with my 7-string guitar, I think that longer scale-length guitars have more "snap" to the sound (the difference between 25.5" and 24.7" is minimal, but might be part of many factors why I prefer those).

Similar to [mention]rrobbone[/mention] 's experience but on the other brand, when I play with my Fractal Audio Axe FX II XL+'s pitch shifting, I've never been happy with it. I know it's not polyphonic like the Drop pedal, but it also hasn't given me anything to smile about trying to use it like a Digitech Whammy pedal. The sound isn't there and the latency when it's engaged is annoying. I've been considering getting a Whammy pedal to experiment with my Axe FX. Maybe I should think about a Drop pedal too, now?

[littlebadboy]

Thank you all for your time to watch and comment!

I like the baritone Ibby the best, but I'm betting that's due to the pickups used. I know others think differently, but the comparo between Guitar Madness and SD pickups isn't really fair. I think the baritone had a better "bite" or "edge" to the tone - for lack of better terms.

Yes, I agree. My initial plan was to just compare the same guitar using the Drop and then stringing it with thicker strings to tune to drop B. Since I had a baritone lying around anyway already tuned to drop B, I just thought of... why not adding it in!

I think the 1:47 and 3:17 clips sounded the heaviest. If that's what you are going for. Maybe the pedal was heaviest. They all sounded fine. If the pedal is easiest go for it. What inspired you? What feels the best to play?

I would say that the Drop inspires me to play all the same as my baritone. I would use it if I am feeling lazy to grab the baritone. However, it is true that the acoustic sound from your guitar may be annoying, but if you are playing loud enough or through headphones then it shouldn't matter.

For recording purposes, I think I would rather use a real baritone for true tone, but the Drop is not really so bad. I see the Drop as a great live gig tool than for recording so you don't have to change guitars!

IMPORTANT QUESTION: Did you notice a difference in feel when you played with the Drop pedal?

Maybe I should think about a Drop pedal too, now?

There is a little difference but not a negative. I actually appreciate the Drop's convenience than nit-picking on the differences, if any.

I was thinking of selling mine because I don't use it much, but it is such a cool pedal to have! So, I think I am keeping it! It's also a great bass simulator for my Gemini guitar (plays guitar and bass at the same time)!