Which Looper?

fulltone1989 · June 19, 2012, 10:34:34 PM

I know this has been discussed thousands of times on the net but I am looking to pick up a looper for mainly practice usage but also something that will be easy enough to use live so that I can record a quick loop on the fly ala a funk siren. Memory Slots are a huge plus.

So far, the one closest to fitting the bill is the Boss RC-3 but what else is out there? I have owned a Boomerang + and a RC-20XL in the past and while both were great the sound quality was a tad iffy IMHO.

IamWILSON · June 19, 2012, 10:41:46 PM

Check out the Akai Headrush. An old friend that I played with 10 years ago had one, and he got great tones out of it in live situations. They aren't that expensive either. I almost got one, but then decided to just get a Boomerang when I found a used one for the right price. I bought the Boss RC-20 around the time I was looking for a looper and returned it before the 30 days was over. I never got it to sync up right. The boomerang is a breeze in that department.

fulltone1989 · June 19, 2012, 11:02:06 PM

Quote from: IamWILSON on June 19, 2012, 10:41:46 PM
Check out the Akai Headrush. An old friend that I played with 10 years ago had one, and he got great tones out of it in live situations. They aren't that expensive either. I almost got one, but then decided to just get a Boomerang when I found a used one for the right price. I bought the Boss RC-20 around the time I was looking for a looper and returned it before the 30 days was over. I never got it to sync up right. The boomerang is a breeze in that department.

I actually owned an Akai Headrush E2 for awhile, got it with GC's $99 sale last year on them. I thought it was a-ok but the build quality and lack of saved spots was a bit of a concern for me. I had the + and loved it but I needed money so I sold it (stupid!) I only really need practice quality loops for jazz standards/chord progressions and to save riff idears. Ideally, I would be purchasing an RC-3 from GC should I want to try the Boomerang III.

sour d · June 20, 2012, 01:58:40 AM

digitech jamman stereo. great looper.

fulltone1989 · June 20, 2012, 11:31:29 AM

Quote from: sour d on June 20, 2012, 01:58:40 AM
digitech jamman stereo. great looper.

Why do you like it? I see you have both a Jamman and a Boomerang on your board, how would you compare the two?

picture_of_nectar · June 20, 2012, 12:05:37 PM

I'm really happy with the Rang III, it has a great buffer and seems to improve my tone when it's in my chain. Has some cool functions. I still have a ton to learn about how it works, but basic looping is pretty straightforward.

fulltone1989 · June 20, 2012, 02:44:58 PM

Quote from: picture_of_nectar on June 20, 2012, 12:05:37 PM
I'm really happy with the Rang III, it has a great buffer and seems to improve my tone when it's in my chain. Has some cool functions. I still have a ton to learn about how it works, but basic looping is pretty straightforward.

I would love to have one of these, but unfortunately it doesn't save loops. Of course, running a simple recording setup between the III and an amp would solve that problem. Do you use the Stereo option? Do you have the sidecar/volume roller? If I had the cash i'd do a Rang III + sidecar and roller on a PT Junior.

MomaDan · June 20, 2012, 04:26:02 PM

I like the original 'rang and never have any problems with sound quality. Guess it didnt work for you? Now if I could only get rid of all the noise accompanying it...

sour d · June 20, 2012, 04:43:37 PM

Quote from: fulltone1989 on June 20, 2012, 11:31:29 AM
Quote from: sour d on June 20, 2012, 01:58:40 AM
digitech jamman stereo. great looper.

Why do you like it? I see you have both a Jamman and a Boomerang on your board, how would you compare the two?

Thats an old pic of my board. I actually dont use the boomerang anymore because it was too noisy at gigs. I did like the reverse function but I use a boss dd7 for that now. The digitech is great. You can scroll through the 99 loops with your foot. Sound quality is great. You can also use the guitar input and the mic input at the same time if you wanted to loop vocals. USB out to a computer and burn your song ideas or loops to a cd. Slow down or speed up loops without changing pitch. I does have a reverse function but I havent messed with that yet. I have used it to record sound clips to randomly play at gigs (honey badger, yoda, stewie, shit like that). I have also used one to record gigs with a line out from the soundboard.

fulltone1989 · June 20, 2012, 06:07:57 PM

Quote from: sour d on June 20, 2012, 04:43:37 PM
Quote from: fulltone1989 on June 20, 2012, 11:31:29 AM
Quote from: sour d on June 20, 2012, 01:58:40 AM
digitech jamman stereo. great looper.

Why do you like it? I see you have both a Jamman and a Boomerang on your board, how would you compare the two?
Thats an old pic of my board. I actually dont use the boomerang anymore because it was too noisy at gigs. I did like the reverse function but I use a boss dd7 for that now. The digitech is great. You can scroll through the 99 loops with your foot. Sound quality is great. You can also use the guitar input and the mic input at the same time if you wanted to loop vocals. USB out to a computer and burn your song ideas or loops to a cd. Slow down or speed up loops without changing pitch. I does have a reverse function but I havent messed with that yet. I have used it to record sound clips to randomly play at gigs (honey badger, yoda, stewie, shit like that). I have also used one to record gigs with a line out from the soundboard.

Wow, this looks awesome, the added footswitches looks like its real easy to use live. Is it possible to upload loops from iTunes to the JamMan? Do you use it in conjunction with the SD card?

Heady Jam Fan · June 20, 2012, 08:05:48 PM

From iTunes? Just don't go Milli Vanilli on me

fulltone1989 · June 20, 2012, 09:02:06 PM

Quote from: Heady Jam Fan on June 20, 2012, 08:05:48 PM
From iTunes? Just don't go Milli Vanilli on me

Haha I won't. There's an AUX jack so I guess you can! The Boomerang III looks really cool but for the added coin I am not sure if I need all those features, but it looks just so awesome. If only it saved a loop or two! Thankfully GC stocks the III but I can't try it out in store. Only online :/

Edit: Looks like the Digitech Jamman Stereo is the way to go any way you look at it. Going to check one out tomorrow along with the new Whammy, will report on my findings.

fulltone1989 · June 21, 2012, 12:24:24 PM

Sour, does the Jamman Stereo have a Dry mute like the older 'Rangs?

fulltone1989 · June 22, 2012, 07:27:04 PM

Went ith the jamman, although its still pretty early in my relationship with the unit it's pretty easy to operate and can do the verse>bridge loop thing with some simple tap dancing. Funk sirens may Be a little difficult to pull off.

sour d · June 22, 2012, 08:21:20 PM

Quote from: fulltone1989 on June 22, 2012, 07:27:04 PM
Went ith the jamman, although its still pretty early in my relationship with the unit it's pretty easy to operate and can do the verse>bridge loop thing with some simple tap dancing. Funk sirens may Be a little difficult to pull off.

Search ebay for the FABE footswitch. I have one and it makes it nice saving loops on the fly.