Floor Unit Pioneers: Digitech RP-1 vs Boss ME-5

[@christopherstudley9374]

I was prepared to keep watching you demo all the effects ! Two of the absolute BEST units ever made ! Biggest bang for your buck no matter what.

[@officialsuburbanvamps]

I bought an RP-1 when they were first released, and did several tours with it. And I STILL use it in the studio! It's been used on several commercially released CDs, and people compliment the guitar tone in reviews. 😁The only reason I don't still use it live is the lag in switching patches from the old internal processor. I tried contacting Digitech many times to ask what pedals the "Overdrive" and "Compressor" in the RP-1 were based on, so maybe I could just buy those pedals, but never got a reply. Great video...my ancient RP-1 will be doing another studio session next weekend! 🙂

[@edwinwierzbicki3503]

Good to see, there's another old gear enthusiast. And happy to know my ears aren't that bad, and know I am not a garbage collector :D I own both - RP1 and 3 ME5's (my main tone sculpture maker before my amps). I follow Your channel - always great content and fun playing style too

[@maxammo6282]

LOL this is a flashback. Me and my good buddy used to have these two units. These were our first all-in-one units. Now he's got the pod go and I got the HX stomp😂😂😂

[@taz3672]

I love the modulation and delay effects that Boss has put out over the years. So I put a Line 6 M5 stomp box modeler in the effects loop of my RP1 to get those old MXR and Roland/ Boss effects.

[@GuitarSmartsPodcast]

Yeah!!! Man these things rock, great playing as always Cliff!

[@user-nu7xx7pc1d]

great video! nice playing! my first unit was the Roland Gp 8.

[@ginoames]

Both units are pretty cool. I think I like the sounds from the Boss a bit more. Those are great units. Awesome playing as always.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks man! Yeah the Boss is more of a pedalboard and the digi is basically a preamp plus effects so it tends to color whatever you plug it into very heavily if not take it over entirely lol.

[@erobi02]

Sold my motorcycle to get the ME-5 when it first came out (@ over $700, it wasn’t cheap for the 1990’s). Loved that unit!!! Even after I stopped using it for FX, I used it as a MIDI controller up through the Mid 2000’s.

[@cliftonwright7081]

That’s so wild! I read the DD-2 was $450 new in 1984. But it was super cutting edge technology like those new crazy ass big pedals with the moving faders that are the equivalent price after inflation.

[@peterjepps1229]

Great comparison. Back in the day these were very hard to get hold of. certainly the Boss. A months salary for most people. Still sounds pretty good 👍

[@cliftonwright7081]

Oh man, yeah somebody in the comments said $700!! That kinda makes sense though considering the DD2 was like $450 brand new in 1984! And the ME-5 has a CS-2, OD2, DS-1, BF2, CE-3, DD-3 and RV-2 all rolled into one unit! It’s amazing theyre not getting crazy prices on Reverb.

[@peterjepps1229]

@@cliftonwright7081 yes worked at Roland UK at the time in admin role. Staff couldn't get them, music shops were calling in favours to get on the sales list. Definitely a sleeper , got gas for one now 😂🤘

[@ayeapprove]

I had the RP7 (with a preamp valve) and it sounded great when pushing the output. I just couldn't get used to the control layout, that's where modern devices are so much easier to get into.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Yeah the Helix is about as good as it’s ever been for ease of use in my little world.

[@zombiemosher1139]

I never managed to get a hold of the ME-5, had the ME-6 which sucked in comparison with this. The RP-1 was actually the floor version of the GSP-21 but I didn't know it had a midi out, could be cool to use in front of a rack for pre gain effects & double as a controller. Great vid.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks for checking it out mang! Ohwow didn’t know that about the RP-1, cool info! I’ve thought about using as a controller for my rack just to also have it as a dope backup if shit gets hairy (it always does eventually)

[@zombiemosher1139]

@@cliftonwright7081 stumbled on your videos from the Rack Enthusiasts page on Facebook. Like your style. 👍

[@wesmitchem825]

I love the boss me-5 it was my first pedal and I played it till it was way beyond dead sounded so great

[@cliftonwright7081]

Awesome! What kind of music did you like using it for?

[@wesmitchem825]

@@cliftonwright7081 I used it for everything but mainly rock,punk,grunge,metal,ska, rockabilly and surf I definitely want to track another one down I bought a me-6B and it's not even close to as good it might be alright to combine the two to get the synth and auto wah effects from the me-6B but the other effects don't seem as smooth as the me-5.hell I got a gt-3 also but it's such a pain to program it barely gets any use I typically try to use single stompboxes for live use but I would totally incorporate an me-5 in my setup.i did have a problem with mine after a few years the digital reverb and delay just up and stopped working but if that shit happens again I got plenty of good pedals to fill the spot

[@cliftonwright7081]

@@wesmitchem825 I have an ME-5 I bought in Japan I’m not currently using, though I haven’t tracked down a replacement transformer/power supply yet to convert it to USA or Euro voltage yet. I was using it with a step down transformer

[@sarys73]

Wish I could find how to fix my ME-5. Output Jacks are geeked, and the buttons and foot switches are also not working right. Have to press really hard and hope they work.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Probably a combination of cracked solder joints and grime build up. I’ve fixed up a lot of stuff just by carefully cleaning some parts and resoldering a bunch of connections

[@billcompeau4835]

Nice chops man! Cool demo :)

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks man!

[@billcompeau4835]

@@cliftonwright7081 Subscribed and hope you do more vids!

[@cliftonwright7081]

@@billcompeau4835 super appreciate it! Yeah I’m trying to think of more stuff to check out from my pile of old junk lol.

[@shaneaintit2171]

Great playing!!

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks man!

[@HiGlowie]

I’m digging the intro song. Is that yours?

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks man! Yeah, I put all original music on my videos

[@HiGlowie]

Never understood why multi effect boxes go for so much less than individual effects.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Yeah, especially the ones that are built from very collectible models.

[@Bridging_the_Political_Divide]

Great point.

[@Yupppi]

That clean demo arpeggio pattern screams at me something like megadeth world needs a hero album, or that 90's testament. Nice idea pitting these against each other. They have a different flavor even though they do the same thing. Boss is so... clean, nice. And Digitech has a lot of character.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Yeah I really like the bright snap of the Boss but the Digitech is so damn unique in a non-crap way too. Haha I was going for a Jerry Reed covers Whitesnake vibe

[@gainmeister4505]

The backline amps pics killed me rofl

[@cliftonwright7081]

Man…I had a flashback to an old back line Twin Reverb going to amp Valhalla in the middle of set while at a festival on a mountainside in Kumamoto Southern Japan. There was an active volcano spewing out smoke behind us at the same time. It was extremely dramatic/picturesque.

[@gainmeister4505]

@@cliftonwright7081 Amp valhalla lol. brooms away charred amp remains, viking runes in the ground beneath it, "Tolfdir was here"

[@cliftonwright7081]

@@gainmeister4505 lolol

[@markq23]

Hi!😊 Great video!👍 Awesome tones and amazing playing! Wondering what you are using for amp/amp sim? Or are you going direct from the units to your computer?

[@cliftonwright7081]

Hmmm I don’t remember exactly what I did but I’m pretty sure I went stereo into either a strymon Iridium or a Helix

[@timothy5974]

I have the RP12, wondering if this could control the newer amp sims?🤔

[@cliftonwright7081]

I actually really like plugging this stereo into a modeler like an Iridium, lots of good fun sounds that way

[@timothy5974]

Hello, I’m a bit behind. Yes I bought this and even updated the eprom and now it’s a 12🤣 have a great day, one day I mihusee if I can control an amp sim. Take care

[@nikothomasson]

I have me5 but get only maybe 10 different sounds out

[@GNeuman]

Lovely playing.. 👍👍👍*Subscribed*

[@Marty.maflay]

Hi! Great playing! Have you tried the rp12? I've been offered one of those for really cheap and I like the sound here on the rp1. Do you know if they sound similar?

[@cliftonwright7081]

Sorry amigo, never tried the 12!

[@christopherstudley9374]

You should ;)​@@cliftonwright7081

[@ncoyouth]

Hello Clifton Which unit do you prefer please (for the 80's sounds) : Boss GX-700, Boss SE-70, Boss ME-5 etc... Thanks Nicolas

[@cliftonwright7081]

They’ll all do a great job at it, just depends on what gear you already have. I made some nice 80s tones in my ME-8 today which is cool because all you need is an amp or Two Notes Cab M or whatever and it’s good to go. The SE-70 is probably my favorite of the ones you listed but it’s really mostly an effects unit that’s best run 100% wet (all effects no dry tone) in parallel with your dry tone using some kind of a mixer.

[@gatt2b]

Bro you could plug straight into your amp and sound amazing 👏

[@IvanoIcardiOfficial]

ok ok all this stuff is fun... but your playing is killer :)

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks for the kind words man! What I lack in technique I make up for in enthusiasm lol

[@IvanoIcardiOfficial]

@@cliftonwright7081 :D

[@matsnilson7727]

I remember the lead guitarist in my first band borrowing the ME-5 for our second ever gig back in 1988. We thought it was some kind of alien technology. Well, almost... I played a DS-1 into a cheap 30W Regent transistor amp. No reverb. Might have been one of the worst metal guitar sounds ever heard. 😁 These days I have an ME-5 collecting dust. Bought it mostly 'just to own one' so I haven't played it much at all. I should probably hook it up to my old Laney and see what it can do. Oh, and your playing is great, as always!

[@cliftonwright7081]

Haha awesome! I feel your pain, my first amp that was loud enough to hear was a Crate solid state. Well if you like vintage Boss pedals and midi controllers, the ME-5 is both of those!

[@matsnilson7727]

@@cliftonwright7081 Yeah it is a cool unit. There's almost always room for some classic Boss stompbox tech. One thing that still bothers me slightly is not ever coming into contact with the Digitech RP-1. Back in the early 90s I thought it was the coolest thing I had ever seen, but still to this day I have never played one. Might just be a future gear hunt to embark on. Gotta scratch that veeeery old itch. 😄

[@cliftonwright7081]

@@matsnilson7727 whelp, let me know if you want one, I’m moving and can’t keep all this shit lol.

[@matsnilson7727]

@@cliftonwright7081 Since I live in europe I'm afraid it wouldn't be very practical, but thanks for asking. 🙂 Hand on heart, I also have way too much gear taking up valuable living space so I probably should get rid of some of it before buying even more... 😄

[@davidbuzzin426]

🤓I THINK THESE OLDER UNITS SOUND / FEEL MORE ORGANIC, GRAINER / RUSTIC THEN MORE MODERN 2000 - 2023 🎸 DIGITECH SEEMS MORE RAW / WARMER THEN THE BOSS 🤔......RP - 1 👍

[@leandrocamiolo7761]

que toca el dogor, sos magico amigo

[@cliftonwright7081]

Gracias, amigo!

[@AerodromZeljavagodine]

My favorite boss

[@RickMichaelis63]

Way cool !!!!!👍👍😎✌️🎸🎶🎵😊

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks for swinging by Richard, I appreciate your company!

[@mrbaiser4133]

Compare the schematics... The ME-5 doesn't contain the same circuits as the mentioned pedals.

[@cliftonwright7081]

Thanks for the comment! I have, that’s mostly correct but there are some broad similarities in the analog architecture of a couple of them. Too late to redact now though lol. The GP8 does a better job of this concept in my opinion.

[@eduardoherrera3341]

I think the me-5 wins in clean, in distorted tones wins the RP1

[@cliftonwright7081]

Yeah, that’s fair. The rp 1 dirty sound was easier to play for sure