Return of the Living Dead Guitar Effects Unit

 NOTE: The following is something I posted on my secret identity's FaceSpace page.

OK, time for a long meandering story that perhaps two of my guitar nerd peeps may find passingly interesting. Maybe.

Saw hello to the Digitech RP-1, which as summarized by Brave search AI was a "hybrid analogue/digital multi-effects processor designed for guitarists, released in 1992. It combines analogue circuitry for effects like compression, distortion, graphic equalization, and noise gating with digital circuitry for delay, modulation, and reverb effects. The unit features 24 effects, allowing up to 10 to be used simultaneously."

During the first era of Red September I used a Peavey Pacer amp (1x12) with a knockoff (drawing a blank on the brand; they had plastic cases, not metal) of Boss's Heavy Metal distortion, a DOD chorus and a Washburn flanger. After the multiple iterations of that era collapsed in 1989 after three years, it was five years in the woodshed, writing songs on my 4-track, using that setup plus some reverb from an Alesis MIDIverb II.

In 1994, I'd gotten to the point where it would be viable to restart the band and got a new drummer and 2nd guitarist to go with the original bassist. A new decade and new lineup also needed some new gear. I got a new guitar (Kramer Proaxe Deluxe!) and amp, a Fender Performer 1000 (100W hybrid 1x12).

But I didn't want to use the old busted stomps with this new hotness. I needed something for the effects side of things.

Now, I can't remember how exactly the RP-1 came into the picture - speaking of which, the photo isn't my unit, but something I found online - whether I bought it new or used, but because the amp had plenty of gain on its own, I just used it for effects (chorus, delay, verb) running it through the effects loop on the amp.

Later in the 1990s, I switched to a Peavey Special 212 - a 3-channel (clean/crunch/kill) beast with 18 knobs and a really great set of tones. The Fender was LOUDER THAN HELL, but it had a real spike in the high-mids that was great slicing through a live mix, but was super ear-fatiguing in recorded situations.

Because the Special used a standard guitar cable for the switching pedal, I taped together a three-cord "snake" to run to the FX loop and switch jack. This made for faster setup/teardown, too.

However, as the turn of the Millennium came, this setup was becoming a nuisance because as lead singer and guitarist, I had to do the tapdance of FX and channel switching as well. Line 6 had released their 2nd modeling combo amp, the AX2 212, which had the one killer feature to sell me: the pedalboard was connected by a standard Cat5 network cable and you just needed to step on one button to change everything. Sweet!

Eventually in the mid-Aughts I'd move up to the Line 6 Vetta II (which was originally my other guitarist's, but he sold to a buddy and I got it from him) and when I got sick of lugging that 90+ lb beast up/down stairs switched to a Helix LT then Floor plus small FRFR speaker setup.

But the relevant detail is that for the past 25+ years I haven't used the RP-1 because FX were in the Line 6s. I still have all the amps stacked up, but the RP-1 had disappeared, presumably with all the old unused gear I have piled out out of reach in my basement where it's been since moving into Xanadu.

Where this begins to matter is that back on our first album, the cassette-only release This Is Life, there were two songs which had very specific effects on the guitar: The power ballad "Fallen" and the barn-burning show-closer "Waiting On The Papers". I'm not sure if both used the same effects chain with only amp channels changing (sue me, it was literally 30 years ago).

This has now become an issue because after 17 years of Red September only reconvening for the annual Big '80s/Flashback Bash shows of covers only, we are beginning to revisit the original songs in preparation to try and get out there again to play to organ donor crowds. (The "new guy" bassist has been with us 15 years, but never learned to original material because why? But I digress...)

I want to bring "Papers" and "Fallen" back, but was dreading trying to recreate their unique sounds. At practice a couple of weeks ago, I happened to mention how I couldn't find the RP-1 and how even if I did, the memory was probably lost due to not being plugged in for a freaking QUARTER CENTURY! Memories are usually backed up my a battery on the board like a CR2032 coin cell.

Well, this week's practice began with my drummer walking in and holding up the case with the RP-1! He had it all this time - when the band went on hiatus some of my guitars and amps resided at the drummer's and old bassist's places for 8-10 years before I reclaimed them - and it was in a trap case of his with the Digitech logo facing away so he'd always thought it was a stick bag or something.

Cool, but does it work? I immediately plugged it in and it came on with an unfamiliar name on the display, probably the default patch #1 or something. Then I tapped the footswitches and one came up called "Waiting On..." ZOMG!!!!! It still has its memory?!?!?!?

I have no idea how to navigate this ancient forgotten thing, but it appears to be a combo of flanger, delay and reverb. I can get the LFO settings and whatever the values were but how they'll translate to what my Helix has remains to be seen, but it's a start!

TL;DR: I finally got back a guitar effects unit I haven't used since Clinton was President and now may be able to recreate sounds from a 30-year-old album for new shows.