ART x-15 ultrafoot & Electro Harmonix 2880

ART x-15 ultrafoot Pedalboard

ok, it took a lot longer than it should have to arrive , but i finally received my ART x-15 ultrafoot pedal board. This is the companion pedalboard to the ART SGX express 2000 guitar preamp and f/x unit. Ok, initial impressions was that well-packed, this thing was filthy dirty, with a layer of crust dirt on it, no power supply (how do i turn it on?!) and the red led cover seemed broken off. Ok, fearing the worst, I took the pedal board and with my fingers I moved the red led cover back in place and it tuns out that it is a piece of red plastic that covers the actual led lights on the circuit board. Ok, cobwebs under one of the pedals was pretty weak as well. Now, I paid $59.99 + $35.00 s/h=$94.99.

Ok so, initially I was a bit worried, but lucky for me, I use a one spot which has a bunch of connectors to power pedals. So I hooked up th x-15 and it came right up and the led lights were intact and it seemed to function well. So I needed to just clean this pedalboard and suddenly it went from pawn shop quality to a really nice pedalboard. Ok, this pedalboard is huge with a big wah pedal and a volume pedal as well. All metal construction. The 80's,early 90's paint really makes it look a little flimsier than it really is. I also cleaned under the 2 pedals. This thing is a monster, each pedal has 2 large bolts (mine have a tiny tinge of rust,not bad). Also I found Little circuit boards right under the pedals which seems a little strange but they are bolted down as well. Ok, the pedal connectors are simple though 3 midi jacks, a pedal bypass jack for an optional footswitch and a power jack .

Ok cleaned up and powered up, I tried the actual buttons on the x-15 and they ware working properly. I like large pedalboards and this one does not disappoint, in fact, it is the largest individual board I have seen other than perhaps a custom bradshaw board. Ok, well, it seems fine, I wonder when it was made, I would guess pretty early on, maybe 1990 or 1992,I say that because I recognize some of the numbers on the serial number. Anyway, its an oldy but goody. all in all it has 14 footswitches and 2 pedals. I download instructions for it and also a firmware upgrade which i may attempt and also a factory reset.This will get this "vintage" pedalboard in shape.

Ok, so overall, the art sgx express 2000 and the matching x-15 ultrafoot make quite a semi "vintage setup". Now I need to hooked it all up and get the sgx 2space rack unit in my rack and gett he pedalboard upgraded and hooked up; then before recording is choosing some preset sounds to use and then record!!!! that would be great!!! The art sgx 2000 was in truly excellent condition like new, while the x-15 was in good shape (not very good or excellent), on the other hand it is old and was really cheap and it works and a pedalboard gets stomped on, so I guess year after year it does take a beating, but I have to say the art x-15 seems to be built like a tank.

Electro Harmonix 2880 Looping unit
Ok, so I was checking out some youtube gear video reviews and run across a review for a not so well known looping unit, I almost lost control of my bowels and frantically searched the internet to see if I could find one. Bellame music in Georgia had an electro harmonix looping unit ready to send me for $408.00 with free shipping. I noticed that I could not fidn this unit at zzounds or american musical supply. Ok, this was a big purchase, but after getting burned on the BOSS RC-50 looping pedalboard that is full of glitches and doesn't sync to midi at all, I had to take a chance. So I ordered it and it was here in 2 days!!! Ok, its about the size of a big electro harmonix pedal and is like a 4 track multitrack recorder and each track loops and it claims to sync to midi. They call it a desktop unit and you have to order the optional pedal to control it.

So I ordered the optional foot pedal from another vendor, big mistake so far, instead of getting it in two days, I get an email saying sorry but the last unit we had isn't working , so we will be getting one in a couple of days to ship to you..I am sorry but that really sucks. there are plenty of vendors who have that pedal in stock and you should know this when you order ,not after they have your money,but stuff happens as they say. Anyway the price for the pedal to control the 2880 is about $111.00 which is inexpensive compared to the 2880. So, I said fine jut get it tome as quick as you can. However, if it has not at least shipped by Friday I will cancel my order and order elsewhere. In any case, the only way this vendor can redeem himself is he gets me the pedal by Friday. Won't happen though I suspect. But we will see. If anything it gives me time to work with the 2880 itself and go though the manual. If it does what it says it does, it would be perfect, everything that the boss rc-50 claimed to be but wasn't. I mean the 2880 seems straight forward, has an octave and reverse function, 4 tracks and can be mixed down to do 4 more tracks and with the footswitch live!!! It also claims to have midi clock sync capabilities and if it does then this could be the holy grail of loopers.

The rc-50 was a dud and I got taken for $500.00 only to discover that the midi jacks were for looks only for one and the software glitches are unforgivable. I guess I have kept it because it can function nicely on its own/by itself, but not incorporated into my usual system. This gave some nice tracks for my albums;a break form my usual setup. but Roland really screwed the pooch on the rc-50. I don't recommend that turd to anyone. I saw the you tube video demo of the 2880 and have read the manual and it really seems like a dream come true. But if the 2880 really functions as advertised, then the rc-50 will go on the auction block and join the shitheap of useless gear. I have only run into a couple of shitheap units, the rc-50 is one, most of the cheapo dod pedals, and many of the practice amp distortion ch's come to mind and other crap I ordered and then returned the same day because it was so weak.

Ok, the electro harmonix unit is metal and the buttons feel ok, not terribly sturdy but not flimsy, it hard to believe they got a looping unit and 4 track recorder and everything in this little unit. amazing. I have yet to try it out, but I will shortly and am hoping for the best. After my rc-50 fiasco, it is hard to believe that this little known looping unit can do what the big corporate mass market boss/roland could not accomplish with the rc-50. we will see....If so, then I am sold!!!! I would even get another one as a back up as these kinds of pedals seem to go out production quickly.