DigiTech Unveils "Johnson Millennium" Guitar Amplifier
January 16, 1997
DigiTech proudly unveils its first guitar amplifier at the 1997 NAMM Show in
Anaheim, California. Dubbed the "Johnson Millennium", the product pushes the envelope of guitar
amplification to the next level by combining a powerful 150 watt stereo amplifier (75 watts per side),
two 12-inch speakers and an on-board programmable multi-effects processor.
Featuring dual inputs for normal and bright, the Johnson Millennium combo amplifier's front-end
features two 12AX7 tubes to provide the warmth and clarity that only tubes can offer. Featuring six
different possible amp voicings--American Stack, British Stack, American Combo, British Combo,
"Johnson" and Custom Distortion--the amplifier can simulate virtually any amplifier on the market,
as well as create tones all its own.
The Johnson Millennium offers a wide palette of distortions. Selectable tube voicings include Warm
Clean, Bright Clean, Dirty Tube and Saturated Tube, while solid-state distortions include Overdrive,
Heavy Sustain, Fuzz and Grunge. Tube and solid-state distortions are parallel and may be used
simultaneously if desired for an incredible array of tones.
All of the traditional amplifier controls are provided on the Johnson Millennium, including Input Level,
Gain, Bass, Mid, Treble, Level, Contour and Master Volume. Rear connections include Mono
Effects Send, Mono Effects Return, Speaker Outputs (4), Preamp Out/Power Amp In (2) and MIDI
In, Out/Thru. There are also input jacks for DigiTech's FS-300 footswitch, Control One foot controller
and two separate expression pedals.
The flexibility of the Johnson Millennium's effects section is unparalleled by any other guitar
amplifier in history. Based on the DSP operating system of DigiTech's new 2112 Studio Guitar
System, the preamp's parameter controls are located on the front panel, giving users instant control
over the principal aspects of their sound. A large, custom LCD display and backlit buttons
additionally add to the user-friendliness of the system. Thanks to two proprietary S-DISC(tm) II
processing chips, the Johnson Millennium provides seamless program changing, allowing delays
and reverbs to fully decay even after the program has been changed.
Aside from the tube and solid-state distortions, effects include Compression and Analog Wah (both
via the 12AX7 tubes), Digital EQ, Noise Gates, Reverbs, Choruses, Flangers, Intelligent and
Smooth Pitch Shifters, Detuners, Smooth Whammy, Phasers, Tremolos, Auto Panners. Rotary
Speaker Emulation, Cabinet Emulation and more.
The Johnson Millennium's preamp also features full MIDI implementation, dynamic modifiers and a
chromatic tuner. Using 20bit, 128x oversampled digital conversion, the amplifier's DSP section
offers nothing short of full-bandwidth, studio-quality digital effects with a Signal-to-Noise Ratio
greater than 98dB (A-weighted, ref=max signal, 22kHz measurement bandwidth).
Even the cabinet itself is manufactured with the finest materials and covered with a space-age
material that actually binds the joints creating amazing tonal resonance. Weighing 57 pounds, the
amplifier's dimensions are 18.5" H x 29" W x 11.5'' D.
For more information, visit their web site at www.digitech.com.
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