Looper pedal needed

[Rossl]

I would like to use a looper (don't know which would be best)to record rhythm guitar tracks for jamming with a bass and drummer.

I would play chords and record them, the first time through a verse and then play it back to improvise over. I would like to ba able to record a chorus (as a separate loop) also and then switch back and forth between the verse and chorus for allow for vaiations while we are playing the song. I do NOT want to record an entire song (verses and chorus) and just loop it.

If this can be done what pedal is best?

I've ruled out Boss RC-2 and RC-20. I don't really want to spend the $$$$ for the RC-50.

Anyone familar with the Digtech JamMan?

Others?

[Fishin'Musician]

Why have you ruled out the rc-2 and rc-20?

[drolling]

The good old Boomerang's got a setting that's designed for that application - two consecutive loops called A / B. Problem w/the Boomerang is there's no way to store your loops - You have to record those parts on the fly for every performance.

The DigiTech JamMan, as well as the BOSS RC series all allow you to prerecord your parts, but they also require additional footswitches to scroll thru' the different loops, unless you want to bend down & turn the loop selector knob..

[Rossl]

Why have you ruled out the rc-2 and rc-20?

Because they can't play 2 parts on the fly. Example play the verse 4 or 5 times, play the chorus once, play the verse 10 times, play the chorus 2 times, etc....

[drolling]

Because they can't play 2 parts on the fly. Example play the verse 4 or 5 times, play the chorus once, play the verse 10 times, play the chorus 2 times, etc....Why not? W/the BOSS FS-6 footswitch, you'd be able to stomp back & forth between two loops, no problem..

[countandduke]

Depending on how long your loops need to be, the line 6 DL4 is pretty cool. I like the ability to have things play backwards too. I think anything with a tap tempo would be pretty cool too. Playing things live with a drummer often means you need to have a way to keep the loop in time or at least get it BACK in time unless the drummer can hear the loop really well and not lose the beat.

Good luck...

Chris

[Mincer]

well, no matter which looper you get, you are going to need some seriously good monitoring- drummers have to hear the loop perfectly and be used to playing to such things- it is really easy to be off just a small amount, unless your loop is perfectly timed and the drummer can hear it and play to it- perfectly, every time. If you store loops in a looper, and start a song, it might not be exactly the same tempo as the loop. When you go to solo, you turn on the loop, and it is a slightly different tempo. Or spend more $, and get a looper that can sync to a pulse.
You can also make non-rhythmic loops. But the shortest path to this is just getting another guitar player.

[drolling]

Depending on how long your loops need to be, the line 6 DL4 is pretty cool. I like the ability to have things play backwards too. I think anything with a tap tempo would be pretty cool too. Playing things live with a drummer often means you need to have a way to keep the loop in time or at least get it BACK in time unless the drummer can hear the loop really well and not lose the beat.

Good luck...

ChrisNo.. The DL-4 does a single loop 14 to 28 seconds in length. The OP needs a looper that'll hold a minimum of two loops simultaneously and the Line6 pedal ain't it..

[Rossl]

Why not? W/the BOSS FS-6 footswitch, you'd be able to stomp back & forth between two loops, no problem..

It looks like the Boss RC can do it BUT only if there are 2 loops stored, since the switch will work in sequence. I don't think the footswitch would allow you go from loop #1 to loop #2 then BACK to loop #1 (without toggling through loops #3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,&11) Correct?


The following is from the Boss on-line manual for the RC-20:

Using the pedal to switch phrases (Phrase Shift)

While a phrase is playing, you can press a pedal switch connected to the PHRASE

SHIFT jack to switch to the phrase track of the following number.
It is convenient to store the phrases in consecutive phrase tracks according to the order in which you intend to perform them.
If you prepare Intro, looped phrase, and Ending, you can use the Phrase Shift to play them back as a song.

[randprix]

i have the rc-2 and i'm pretty certain you're correct about not being able to switch back to loop #1 from loop #2.

[drolling]

i have the rc-2 and i'm pretty certain you're correct about not being able to switch back to loop #1 from loop #2.I just got the optional footswitch, but haven't had a chance to hook it up yet..

The DigiTech JamMan's footswitch (FX-300?? there's a couple of models out there) has an 'up' and a 'down' button that lets you stomp back & forth between loops. Works the same way w/the 'artist' (Hendrix, May) series patches.