Pedal Loopers

[hewesy]

Hi,

This is a thread for Fiveways mostly (as per the sustained chords thread), although if anyone else has advice please feel free to share it (Nobody etc).

I am just getting into looping and ambience, and am looking at getting a pedal based looper in the near future.

I don't need 100's of features and bells and whistles, but I do want something which can offer something more than the standard "loop and replay".

I'm also keen to get something which can overdub loops.

My current interested list of items is:

Line6 DL4
Akai Headrush
Boss RC 20

The Boss is my prefered item at present, as it can overdub, and save loops after power off. I have also got a CD with some samples of the Boss unit in action and it sounds pretty sweet to my ears.

I also like the fact I can record loops from CD/MD to jam with.

Bascially I am after some expert advice, guidance and a little knowledge from other guitarists already playing this genre as to what is a good pedal, and what isn't . Fiveways' ambience thread has sorted most of my qestions, but a looper round up would be great (apologies if I have missed that section).

Cheers all,

Hewesy

[i_finlayson37]

From reading what you want I'd probably knock off the Headrush. For all it's merits it is limited for options. It's really just Record-Play-Overdub and that's it.

[hewesy]

Thanks for the reply mate, the headrush looks interesting, but like you say does look limited.

It is also a hard pedal to rack down in the UK, no one has one locally or even on their websites.

Do you use a looper? If so which one/what style?

Cheers

[doingtheunstuck]

from what you mentioned, the RC would be best, as the DL-4 is elementary as well.

i'm not a huge fan of the RC-20, but it is a solid unit. my main complaint is the fact that i just never felt comfortable with it when toying. i didn't feel confident in it because it just felt weird.

then again, that would probably go away over time.

[ExpAnonColin]

Don't forget the boomerang, it'll do just about anything you want.

-Colin!

[doingtheunstuck]

Originally posted by ExpAnonColin
Don't forget the boomerang, it'll do just about anything you want.

-Colin!

and the boomerang is super comfortable and easy to get started on. you sit down and it's just sort of an instant thing. it's easy as hell, but works great.

[i_finlayson37]

Originally posted by hewesy
Thanks for the reply mate, the headrush looks interesting, but like you say does look limited.

It is also a hard pedal to rack down in the UK, no one has one locally or even on their websites.

Do you use a looper? If so which one/what style?

Cheers

I do use the Headrush for looping occasionally, as far as a Looper I'd like it to do more but I don't have enough use for one to warrant actually buying a better looper.

[hewesy]

Thanks for all the replies, much appreciated.

I have looked at a Boomerang but it's a little big for... Well my flat really!! Nice pedal but huge! I guess the trade off by going smaller is losing the pedals in favour of one or two multi use pedals (a la RC 20) but I would like a play with one to to if it is worth the large size. What's the sample time like on them?

Thanks all,

[fiveways]

RC-20.

5:30 minutes of sample-time, storage, and it doesn't require a second pedal board like a boomerang.

Also, boomerang are overpriced for what you get.

[hewesy]

Thanks Fiveways, the RC 20 does look very good for the money.

The X series Digidelay also looks nice, but I like the idea of recording some tracks on my Tascam 788 recorder then transfering to RC 20 to over dub and jam with, easier than moving faders and leaning over mixers etc. Plus using sample CD's and such like with it.

How do you like yours? What's your own fav looper?

I've seen some pics of your pedal board (very nice), what's the rest of your rig like (guitars, amps etc)?? Or is that in another thread somewhere?

Thanks again mate,

[grungetele]

if you are looking for a looper don't even try the digidelay, 4 sec it's really a little time to loop... otherwise it's a great musical digital delay, surprisingly the setting I use the most is the modulation... only the microswitch is too much fragile, mine died a month ago (and I always played it in the bedroom without heavy shoes etc...) so don't think of it as a tap tempo delay!!

[fiveways]

Originally posted by hewesy
Thanks Fiveways, the RC 20 does look very good for the money.

The X series Digidelay also looks nice, but I like the idea of recording some tracks on my Tascam 788 recorder then transfering to RC 20 to over dub and jam with, easier than moving faders and leaning over mixers etc. Plus using sample CD's and such like with it.

How do you like yours? What's your own fav looper?

I've seen some pics of your pedal board (very nice), what's the rest of your rig like (guitars, amps etc)?? Or is that in another thread somewhere?

Thanks again mate,

The guitar is a Les Paul Studio. I generally don't use amps.

My favourite looper is the Digital Echoplex. I also can;t afford it. second is the electrix repeat, which I also can't afford/find. RC-20 is third, and they are common, and work very well

[hewesy]

Nice tone Fiveways.

What do you use instead of an amp, go direct to PA?

In which case I think the POD will help you get a consistant tone between PA/engineers at different gigs, if you have issues with that?

They are some nice loopers, the Echoplex is nice, very nice. Bit advanced for me and again difficult to find to demo in this country.

Cheers,

[hewesy]

I've just read the thread regarding your pedalboards, and the fact you broke up a JC120 (?!).

I have two words, powered monitors.

I use a Laney CP10 with my POD, it's bascially a portable PA system (has inputs for Line, Mic and accepts feeds from PA systems).

Great unit, and being a PA amp sounds totally transparent and clean.

Has a 10" full range speaker and a horn, they also do versions with 12" and 15" speakers.

100w power is rather handy to...

Worth a try? Especially when you get your POD.

Thanks,

[fiveways]

Originally posted by hewesy
I've just read the thread regarding your pedalboards, and the fact you broke up a JC120 (?!).

I have two words, powered monitors.

I use a Laney CP10 with my POD, it's bascially a portable PA system (has inputs for Line, Mic and accepts feeds from PA systems).

Great unit, and being a PA amp sounds totally transparent and clean.

Has a 10" full range speaker and a horn, they also do versions with 12" and 15" speakers.

100w power is rather handy to...

Worth a try? Especially when you get your POD.

Thanks,

how much were/are they? I have to admit, that thought had crossed my mind,as Tech 21 had a guitar verion of them a few years back.

Though! that would also fix my vocoding issues as well.

Actually, that is the best Idea I have heard in a while. In all hoenstly I haven;t heard of laneys, on the tech 21 and the carvin ones. I am defidently about to look into this.

Or, I might just dig out the Peavey keyboard amo I have and use it....18" and 300watts. I want to see if i can break that up.

[viper jazz]

I'd say that the Boomerang and Head Rush are the most comfortable/intuitive.

The Loop Station is good for the money and features.

The DL-4 is good only because it has other delays. Not bad, not great.

Echoplex is the best, but even if I had one, I wouldn't gig w/ it.

What would you all say is the cheapest? My drummer is about to get one for his effects, but it doesn't need to be much at all. Just standard loop capability.

And what's the big deal about the ZVex other than the fact that it'll sound lo-fi? Couldn't I just pour water into my Loop Station to get that effect?

[nobody]

Originally posted by viper jazz
[B]Echoplex is the best, but even if I had one, I wouldn't gig w/ it.

Why not? I've had mine for over 6 years and it's gigged heavily without any problems whatsoever. It's a very reliable piece.

[fiveways]

Originally posted by viper jazz
I'd say that the Boomerang and Head Rush are the most comfortable/intuitive.

The Loop Station is good for the money and features.

The DL-4 is good only because it has other delays. Not bad, not great.

Echoplex is the best, but even if I had one, I wouldn't gig w/ it.

What would you all say is the cheapest? My drummer is about to get one for his effects, but it doesn't need to be much at all. Just standard loop capability.

And what's the big deal about the ZVex other than the fact that it'll sound lo-fi? Couldn't I just pour water into my Loop Station to get that effect?

I prefer the DL-4 to the Akai Headrush, I find it clicks less then the headrush when closing a loop. This isn't a probelm with my timing either, it just leaves a click.

Also it lacks features.

Main thing is amount of time he need(your drummer).

[viper jazz]

Originally posted by fiveways
I prefer the DL-4 to the Akai Headrush, I find it clicks less then the headrush when closing a loop. This isn't a probelm with my timing either, it just leaves a click.

Also it lacks features.

Main thing is amount of time he need(your drummer).

I don't think he'll need much more than 4 seconds or so.

[fiveways]

Originally posted by viper jazz
I don't think he'll need much more than 4 seconds or so.

Digidelay. 4 seconds, cheap.

[nocluejimbo]

on the rc-20, it says it can set itself to a steady tempo from a drum machine. could you set up a click track on cakewalk and use that?

[hewesy]

The laney's a nice piece of kit, compact and powerful plus very portable.

I have the CP10 (10" speaker) they also do the CP12 (12") and CP15 (15"). All have HF horns to. Another cool point, the CP10 has a PA stand top hat fitted so you can put it up on a PA stand for gigs etc, quite handy.

It cost me £95 (GBP), a very good price for what it is. Laney's customer service is great to, I had a few questions about connections etc and they replied to my email within the hour, pretty impressive (although I am in the same time zone!).

I looked at a Tech 21 powerstation for my POD, very expensive compared to the Laney, no real additions either as the Laney has two band EQ, Mic and Line inputs, although I belive the powerstation has XLR inputs (nothing an XLR/Jack convertor wouldn't fix though).

The keyboard amp sounds nice, 300w and an 18"? that I would pay to hear...!! How do you break them up, to much gain or can't they cope with the loops?

[fiveways]

Originally posted by hewesy
The keyboard amp sounds nice, 300w and an 18"? that I would pay to hear...!! How do you break them up, to much gain or can't they cope with the loops?

Loops + Massive reverb + Too much delay. Because of the midrange tonal region a guitar amp takes up, It turns to mush. It's gotten batter since dumping my SE-50 as more then a Multitap delay, but still.....

[tommyboy27]

Please forgive my spam, but if I was reading right, somebody is looking for a POD??


Please email me if you are looking for one. I have a slightly used PODxt that I can sell for $325 shipped with the mounting adaptor

[fiveways]

Originally posted by tommyboy27
Please forgive my spam, but if I was reading right, somebody is looking for a POD??


Please email me if you are looking for one. I have a slightly used PODxt that I can sell for $325 shipped with the mounting adaptor

I don;t think anyone was. I just got a pod in a pedal trade.

[tommyboy27]

damn.

I'm getting desperate to sell this thing! Worst impulse buy I've ever made.

[fiveways]

Originally posted by tommyboy27
damn.

I'm getting desperate to sell this thing! Worst impulse buy I've ever made.

Ebay?

[hewesy]

Have you got to try any powered monitors yet Fiveways?

Thanks for the heads up regarding loops and large reverb, not sure I will be using immense amounts of verb but I do intend having a "clean" signal and a effected signal, possibly in the same amp for ease of use/portability.

Once I get my RC20 I will know for sure, at least I have a couple of amps to split my signal if it is to much for one amp/speaker to handle.

Cheers

[fiveways]

Originally posted by hewesy
Have you got to try any powered monitors yet Fiveways?

Thanks for the heads up regarding loops and large reverb, not sure I will be using immense amounts of verb but I do intend having a "clean" signal and a effected signal, possibly in the same amp for ease of use/portability.

Once I get my RC20 I will know for sure, at least I have a couple of amps to split my signal if it is to much for one amp/speaker to handle.

Cheers

No, I haven;t. Nobody has any around here. It sucks. though, I still haven't gotten the pod yet either.

And with immense reverb, I use insane levels at point. Liek 20 seconds 100% wet.

[tommyboy27]

I listed it on ebay once already, but I have no feedbacks, so nobody (or should I say noone ) bought it from me.

I'll keep trying, though.

[Mincer]

Older topic but I just found it. I use the DL4 for pedal looping. Actually, in my band, all of us have loopers. I tend to use the Echoplex (the best looper ever made, and quite reliable), and we also have 2 DL4s and a Boomerang. So, everyone loops...fun fun!

[Martijn_2M]

For what it's worth after so many already usefull replies :

I own a Akai Headrush, and use it for delays and looping. I find it's use easy , to the point, and basic. The sound however is not superb. The pedal is a tone sucker, and generates too much noise. I've also had trouble overdriving it's input (perhaps just a bit too much boost from my mesa v-twin pedal).

I've owned a DL-4 as well. I loved it. Even more versitality in looping; reverse/speed switches are really cool for creative looping. I liked the fact that you have a delay in the looper program so you can record with delay into your loop (or play over it). I hate to loose delay fx while the loop is going. The sound quality is superb. No overdrive with hotter signals, no hiss, no noise.

I've since traded the DL-4 for it's rack mount brother the Echo Pro because I wanted more control (via midi).

I didn't like the RC-20 because of it's attempts be smarter then it's owner : tap tempo and intelligent trying to find the right beat etc type of feature. A bandmate uses it sometimes, that is why I know. I prefer basic operation : stop/start when I stomp (yes, even if I stomp after or before the beat!). But I guess the unit does have a lot of cool features as well.

That's my 2 cents.

Regards,
Martijn

[pianoguitar]

What is the best value for a looper? I would like an intermediate looper someday- not uselessly cheap but nothing too expensive with features I'll never use. I'd like to get one for less than $200 used.

[fiveways]

Originally posted by pianoguitar
What is the best value for a looper? I would like an intermediate looper someday- not uselessly cheap but nothing too expensive with features I'll never use. I'd like to get one for less than $200 used.

Just get a DL4 used. Still the best one out there value to tweakablility wise in teh sub $200 category.