Loop & Phrase pedals

[infrared72]

I'd like to hear from you about your experience with loop and phrase pedals. I'm working on a trio project with a drummer and bass player, and we're finding that when i play leads or single note melody lines that things get kind of empty in the middle harmonically. So I was considering a Boss RC20XL (or similar) pedal to help fill in the middle on some of our set list tunes.

What I'm wondering is if I play a chordal rhythm guitar phrase, how well do these kinds of pedals keep time? I'm thinking it makes our whole trio a slave to the timing of a phrase or loop on one of these pedals, so not sure how that will work. I know that some of these pedals will do Sound-on-Sound layering, but that isn't as important as tight timing on straight up rhythm guitar.

-Peter

[PFDarkside]

I have a Digitech Jamman that I like using, but I would not be able to use it with a band.

Check out the band Russian Circles, the guitarist uses an Akai Headrush extensively for looping live. He does exactly what you are talking about, laying down a phrase, looping it, then playing over it. Very cool.

[PFDarkside]

The Backline Engineering Riffbox detects your playing tempo and syncs the end of the loop with your playing, avoiding the slight mismatch that tends to happen with loopers.

Also check out www.loopers-delight.com for extensive reviews, info, tips and more.

[scottish]

i recently got an akai headrush E2 and its a killer pedal. The delay on it is sweet but the looping is killer. As long as you can stomp on it in time then it will keep time.

KT Tunstall uses 1 or maybe 2 for that song blackhorse and a cherry tree http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DehtqLVmdcA

She layers a lot of stuff on it too, vocals and guitar. Def a good vid to watch for a full demo of what the pedal can do.

[Mincer]

Loopers keep time perfectly, it is the rest of the band that is the problem. Unless you use midi sync, or have unbelievably great monitors, the band can drift from the loop. It is actually easier to get another band member.
BTW, I use a line6 DL4, a line6 M13, a Boss RC-2 and an Oberheim Digital Echoplex Pro for looping. Not all at once, but for different applications.