Any users of old ART processors?

[rhoads157]

I picked up one of the older ART FXR processors (pink/blk) for $10 bucks from my work and was wondering if anyone around here has any experience with these?
I don't have a manual so any tips would be appreciated/

Thanks a lot!

-David

[rjohnstone]

FXR huh... IIRC they were pretty basic.
Is it an FXR or an FXR Elite?
The FXR is basically a bunch of presets, where the Elite can be programmed.

If it's the Elite, here is some info I dug up to do a factory reset.
ARTFXR ELITE PRESS PRESET UP, DRY KILL, AND BYPASS BUTTONS SIMULTANEOUSLY.
ARTFXR ELITE II PRESS MIX, STORE, AND BYPASS BUTTONS SIMULTANEOUSLY.

[lerxstcat]

Inazone said that ART changed hands in 2000 I think, and the employees there now know nothing about the old guitar processors. He had the DST8080 I think and it broke down, and he has no one who can repair it, so unless someone starts up something like ADA Depot for ART users, it kind of sucks. I have an Xtreme distortion/multieffects floor pedal and think the distortion is great, but it'd suck if something happened to it.

Sad thing is, I'm sure someone somewhere has all the old schematics which are the key to readily repairing stuff at a reasonable price.

[Twisteramps]

Even worse than not having schematics is not having a supply of the custom chips or DSPs that they used.

Pete

[lerxstcat]

I guess protecting the unit from bad power would probably be key then. Pete, I know that the more expensive power conditioners are supposed to protect against surges, but I have a question: Would a GFI provide protection or would damage occur at a level below their threshhold?

[Inazone]

Sensitivity to power problems is the weak link in the old ART gear. I have had one Xtreme get "zapped" while playing in our old practice space, although they still could fix them at the time. Although I can't prove that bad power killed my DST head, a fried chip is a show-stopper no matter what the cause. I have also needed repairs on my Tube EQs, although ART still offers service on those units. The service guy I've dealt with, Thom Davis, has always been very helpful, and has given me as much info as possible on the really old ART gear, while most other manufacturers will usually just say "too bad" if you call about a discontinued product.

That said, I will continue to buy old ART preamps and EQs for as long as they are available at reasonable prices. Their distortions and time-based effects are great, and I love their tube EQs for warming up lead guitar parts. I had a little FX-1 desktop processor, and although it was limited to presets, it was really cool for the $50 it cost me. I forget the circumstances under which it died on me, but it also sat in storage for a long time between uses.

[Soap]

The sgx 2000 is a killer preamp, very versatile and quality effects.
Can be found on ebay often...type in..."art sgx 2000" and your good to go.

[Robert Burns]

I had the SGX 2000 as my first real effects unit. At the time it was the ultimate imo! Had it for about 6 years before going to the Digitech RP 12
I had no problems with it. In fact my friend that i gave it too, is still
using it 20 years later!

[rhoads157]

Mine is an ART FXR Elite with the pink writing.
I got a list of the presets and there quite a few.
Too be honest this is my first venture into using rack gear even though
I have been playing for more than 20 years.
Is it best to run it through my JSX heads loop?

Thanks for all the replies....

David

[Inazone]

Yep, in the loop.

[krimson]

I had an ART LT in it kinda sucked. It just had Presets. I use and ART X-15 Footswitch and I really like that with my TC Electronics GMajor.

[mjl927]

One of my best friends was an engineer at ART. According to my friend, the company would constantly turn down great ideas in favor of cost saving ones. He did manage to design several products though. I cannot recall if he worked on the FXR but I can ask him. He eventually left and is now an electronics salesman in the Baltimore area.

[Outlander]

I have an SGX 2000 that I didn't use for years until I thought I would try it on our PA since it had no reverb. The unit sounds and works great.besides the reverb were using the compessor,exciter and expander as well. It made a huge differance.
It was great on guitar I used it exclusively until I got a RP12 as well.When I got the G-major I was glad I hung on to everything because I use the X-15 pedal for that and now the 2000 is being used to help fatten up and clean up the vocals.

[Fourplay2music]

Is there any way to bypass the pre amp on the sgx 2000 and just use the effects with your amps sound?

[Axewielder]

I had an SGE Mach II back in the day, and it was decent. It refused to power on after sitting in the closet for a few years, which soured me on the brand. There seems to be a lot of swirl around reliability issues on their stuff. For $10 you can't really get burned too bad.