Recommend me a good, simple, easy looper

[mangoman]

Looking to take my practice up a notch. I think I need a looper to work on my soloing and improvisation.

I think I need a looper and would like one that is easy to use, and not a ton of dough.

Thoughts?

[Godspeed64]

Vox Lil Looper I suppose!

[voorhiessa]

Boss dd7 delay.

[tlpruitt]

I have gotten a lot of use out of a Boss RC-2.

[Triangle]

If size isn't an issue, the looper in the DL4 is really easy to use and you can probably find a used one fairly cheap since they've been out for a long time.

[RJLII]

Boss RC-2 here. Takes a bit to get things dialed in but it works nice.

[Zero G]

RC-2.

[coughiefiend]

RC-2 agreed. It's also handy to have something like the Boss FS-U6 for switching around (http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=686) but it's still incredibly useful without that.

[Stevil]

akai headrush e2

[Empros]

akai headrush e2

This. One of the best live loopers out there, for simplicity.

[blackba]

Headrush E2, nice delay too.

[MartinPiana]

Digitech Jamman user here (the middle of the three models, whatever that's called). Been using it a lot lately for practicing playing over changes. Have used it in the past for building a bed of loops for recording. I don't use the preset beat (although sometimes use a metronome in laying down a backing track). It does everything I ask of it for practice. Have yet to use it live - use the Line 6 M9's looper for my few live looper needs (including reverse, which the Jamman doesn't have).

[lochry]

akai headrush e2 -- limited, but dead simple and easy to use.

Wish akai would re-issue it as a small-footprint dedicated looper using the same two button interface with longer recording time.

[codetocontra]

I liked the Headrush quite a bit, but I can no longer recommend it. I have owned 3, and they all had issues. First one was bought used several years ago, found it noisy upon arrival, used it for quite a while and later sold it off "as is" for other gear. The 2nd one I bought a year ago and after a month it failed, as it would randomly stop recording or playback, though it was quiet, it was returned for a full refund. The last one I bought 2 months ago, and the hiss was unbearable, tried it with the original PSU and a PP2+ and couldnt make it better, it got returned as well.

Im so jaded with loopers. None of them are perfect for me.

[fahrner]

+1 on the Akai Headrush. It is dead simple to use and has the 'no click, low tension' switches that I think are very important for a looper. It also has a good delay and tape echo but not while you are looping. And after you have created a loop, it's lost if you go in to delay mode. Not true bypass if that matters to you.

Another looper I find very easy and handy is the loop facility in the Strymon Timeline. I use this one a lot and I can have the delay on at the same time plus make delay adjustments. A little more complex than the Headrush but a great pedal. TBP and no click, low torque switches.

Lastly is the Boomerang III. For me this is simply the best but is a little more complex but has more features. On the other hand, dead simple once you learn how to use it for what you want to do.

Use to use the Line 6 M13. Again, dead simple with easy, fast no click switches. The down side for me was the amount of floor space given that I preferred discreet pedals and didnt use it's other features.

Had no luck with the others I had owned and tried. Found the switching clunky and I always messed up with the timing if I wanted to layer. The other problem was which little button or knob did what. Did not find them intuitive or easy to use.

BTW, the reason I have three loopers is that I have three pedal boards and sometimes run three amps. Go figure eh?
fwiw

[HansIII]

Most use the DL4 for live looping. The new Tc flashback x4 and Vox delaylab seem to har similar looping functions as the DL4. Also the boss digital delay pedals are great for looping in hold mode.