THE TRICKS OF THE TRADE!
By Chris Underwood

Digitech’s Artist Series pedals are designed to allow you to sound exactly like some of the greatest guitarists of all time, better get practicing then...

THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE PEDAL

Jimi Hendrix, I think we can all agree, was a pretty decent guitarist. To some, he’s the best guitarist. Ever. EVER. So when Digitech bring out a pedal that promises ‘the Jimi Hendrix Experience’, you already know they’ve got a lot to live up to.

First impressions are that this pedal certainly talks the talk. From the psychedelic purple box and gold ‘Grateful Dead’ font, to the paisley patterning, the tone is set, but does its performance match the showmanship promised?

The short answer is yes. If you are an impetuous guitarist eager to blast into full-scale Hendrix solo mode, like us, you’ll probably fall into the same assumption that the Jimi Hendrix Experience pedal is a fancy wah wah. In fact, like the great man himself, there’s more going on than the casual observer may appreciate.

Digitech have worked closely with the Hendrix estate, and Eddie Kramer, Jimi’s engineer from the Olympic and Electric Lady studios, to faithfully recreate sounds from a number of vintage effect pedals – the Dallas Arbiter, Fuzz Face, Roger Mayer Octavia, Unicord, Univibe, and Vox Clyde McCoy Wah, as well as amp set-ups including the Marshall Super Lead and Fender Bassman. The end result is a surprisingly versatile range of sounds grouped by theming the different models to the parts of his songs. The first few models are based on Purple Haze, Wind Cries Mary, and Foxy Lady; clicking on the toe end switch gives you the signature sound of the introduction to each tune. Whether it’s apocalyptic distortion, soulful reverb, or dirty funk, the tones are immediately familiar, while a quick visit to the heel switch changes sounds to the respective songs ‘solo tone’, where you can really cut loose.

Model four (Little Wing) and seven (Star Spangled Banner) bring added spice to the mix by allowing you to select second modes on each switch giving four variations, of which, the Univibe of Star Spangled banner is particularly eerie and evocative.

Whilst purists may prefer to buy the full array of original vintage pedals to achieve their desired result, those of us on a more modest income may have just struck gold.

THE BRIAN MAY RED SPECIAL PEDAL...


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