Looper pedals? Use one?

[here_is_to_hope]

I am on my third, a Jamman by Digitech. I had a Boss RC20XL and liked it better but had to sell it in the bad times.
The Jamman is harder to hit on beat to fill in but it does have a better mic input and far more storage.
Great practice rigs and when used on stage, can really fill out the duo I am in.
Combined with the mic input for various flute overlays, lottsa bang for the buck.
And its US made...

[kysrsoze]

1. I've got the RC20. The Jamman looks really interesting too... tons of storage

Digitech makes some outstanding pedals.

I've done a little looping, but lately I don't have a lot of time these days, so most of my time is spent just trying not to suck. Ever seen Andrew Bird play live? He's a phenomenal looper. The guy can run a small orchestra by himself.

[old mark]

2. I am really thinking about tht Jamman and I welcome any info you can give me

about how well it works onstage. I play guitar, bass and harmonica and sing. Obviously, I'd like to be able to have a previously recorded bass and some hand percussion on a looper to go with me when playing guitar - a one man band!!!

How well do they work - I have never actually seen one in the flesh.

Thanks.

mark

[here_is_to_hope]

4. For stage work, I would go with the RC20XL, the Jamman

is much harder to hit on beat while the Boss has an 'auto-quantize' function.
While I have 99 spots to store a loop, with the Boss, I never used more than a few as I made the loops live.
I use mine for guitar, mic (Shure 57) is set up for playing my flutes over the track I laid, sometimes mandolin solo's too. I loop the flute too sometimes.
In our duo, the percussion guy has conga's, bongo's and a marimba.
We fill that in with guitar and flute/mando and its a pretty full sound without being too sterile.
The Ting tings use both, can't tell the difference but they pre-loop everything.

Given a choice, I would have gone with the Boss again but these Jammans went on sale at 250.00, come with a power supply and have XLR mic inputs.
Both are transparent, I have not noticed a difference in tone with either.

Here is my old pedal in action, a Boss RC20xl...

No, not me, she bought it from me on ebay...lolz...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMQPEiy7ffM

[old mark]

5. I am really looking for something that I can pre-record before hand

bass tracks and percussion, as she did on stage...Boss stuf has wporked well for me - I have an old multi function stomp box unit they made in the '80's that stil works like new..That and a Cry Baby DB02 are my only effects other than the amp.

I really have to investigate this stuff - there is so much potential!!!!

mark

[here_is_to_hope]

6. Then the Jamman would be best for you

Its the same price right now but with the power supply and the XLR input is handier than the BOSS 1/4 inch.
Check on the footswitch, I think you can get one that goes from one prerecorded loop to another.
I know the Boss has one that's optional.
I haven't had my Jamman long but I have only seen good reviews on its reliability.
And you can go with a bigger storage card too.

[stlsaxman]

8. one HUGE drawback to the Jamman- if you're composing loops "live" you can't

switch between loops until they're STORED- iow... you have to stop the loop and bend over with your axe and press the store button twice before you go to the next or it gets erased.

only if you're into pre-recording arrangements or backing tracks is the Jamman really brilliant.

otherwise the BOSS re50 is what you need for a live performance.

[mitchum]

7. It is a matter of personal preference, but using loopers in that way...

for live performance
always smacks of semi-karaoke,
but that's just me (I'm an odd combination of luddite and gear queen)

[here_is_to_hope]

9. Oh, that was me too until...

The other guitar player didn't show up to a gig..
The drummer did show up...drunk...

I drew the line at prerecording loops, I do it live or nothing.
But I see your take, like I said, I felt that way too.

[mitchum]

3. I am a big fan of the Headrush...

it is very intuitive and I like to use some of its limitations as part of the playing aesthetic. The same for the old DOD DFX94s (I have three where I have tweaked the trimpots)

For truly lo fi work,I sometimes use two homemade loopers that incorporate the Radio Shack 20- Second Recording Module.

Loop On!
Loop On!
Loop On!
Loop On!
Loop On!
Loop On!
Loop On!
Loop On!