BOSS RC20XL vs JamMan stereo loop pedal

**JazzMinded** · 07-17-2010, 06:26 PM

Can anyone provide info on the Boss RC-20XL vs the Digitech JamMan stereo loopers? Basically the pros & Cons,I about ready to purchase my first Looper.... Holla! Bac...

**0zoro** · 07-20-2010, 07:52 AM

I have no exerience with the JamMan box, but got my Boss several months ago and am very pleased with it. It has simplified my practice conciderably, easy to use. Good luck. 0zoro

**derek** · 07-20-2010, 11:17 AM

Test drive'em both. My understanding is, they have really upgraded the Jamman over the original model I have. The Boss was the first really accessable looper, and they have always done a good job. Mess with them and see which you think is more intuitive, and works well for you. Then be sure and let us know which you choose.

**woyvel** · 07-20-2010, 09:04 PM

Haven't played through them much but the JamMan has more storage capability. I loop with a Line 6 M13 and it takes some practice to get the beginning and ending right. The quantize on the Boss would help with that. I think I'd go JamMan because of a) storage over the Boss and b) stereo. Both units have many die-hard fans.

**Dookychase** · 07-21-2010, 08:15 AM

JamMan also makes the Solo looper. Its about the same size as the Boss.

Musicians friend has a 45 day return policy. Talk to the salesman and buy both with the intention of returning one of them.

I've returned stuff to them with no problem.
Just a thought.

Good luck.

**dmort** · 07-21-2010, 10:48 AM

I was just looking at loopers and I think it depends on what you want to use it for. As a practice tool, I thought the line 6 jm4 offered the most options... However, the simple boss rc2 has a built in rhythm guide, I don't think the jamman has that feature. In the end the pricey option I liked best was the JM4, and the cheaper option I liked was the boss rc2. I didn't really consider the Boss RC20XL or the corresponding Jamman pedal, as I was looking at a bunch of used JM4s on ebay that were about the same price as a new boss.

I have heard that some people have problems with the jamman, and that it is really important to make sure the firmware is updated. I can speak to any of those problems!!

If the unit is to be used on stage, a guy at a guitar shop in New Hampshire, told me he really liked the Boomerang 3... He said it was a fantastic looper and really well suited to stage use.

**Chito** · 07-21-2010, 12:12 PM

I went through the same process of finding out which one to buy and I ended up with the Jamman. It's got more options than the RC20 based on what I can remember from my 'research' of the two. I haven't had any problems with it. And I don't know what is meant by "rhythm guide" or maybe he is referring to a metronome. But the Jamman has a metronome that you can set to whatever BPM you want. From what I can remember, it has all the features, the RC20 has, plus more. YMMV

**dmort** · 07-21-2010, 05:26 PM

Hey there, the boss's rhythm guide are simple drum backing tracks. They are not a metronome...

Also, I'm not favoring one or the other... Just citing what I recall to be the relative features of the two.

**Will Chen** · 07-23-2010, 03:15 PM

Just picked up a JamMan solo, should be waiting for me at home tonight. I choose it due to having expandable memory. I see some solo gigs in the near future, having some looped backing tracks would be nice on a few tunes (in addition to the standard looping fair).

**Dookychase** · 07-26-2010, 08:51 AM

How about a little review.

**Will Chen** · 07-26-2010, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Dookychase

How about a little review.

I also got a Digitech Timebender over the weekend and ended up focusing my time getting to know it. Didn't have a chance other than to plug up the Jamman to make sure it worked...

**Dookychase** · 07-26-2010, 02:46 PM

Well now you can review the timebender too.

Thanks

**P.J.** · 07-28-2010, 07:39 AM

Originally Posted by Will Chen

Just picked up a JamMan solo, should be waiting for me at home tonight. I choose it due to having expandable memory. I see some solo gigs in the near future, having some looped backing tracks would be nice on a few tunes (in addition to the standard looping fair).

I've had a Jamman Solo since Father's Day. It has 35 minutes of loop time w/o memory upgrade, which is fine w/ me since I replaced a Line 6 Delay which had only 28 seconds of looping. The only downside I can think of w/ the Jamman Solo is that individual loops are limited to 10 minutes. This may, or may not, be an issue for most people.

=-) PJ

**fep** · 07-28-2010, 10:05 AM

I've heard some don't like the switches on the Jamman Stereo - they're too loud. For some reason Digitech has been going to these loud switches for their more expensive items.

Are those switches too loud for you?

The solo though has the old quiet switches (which I think would be better). But my rig runs in stereo so if I get a looper it will be a stereo looper.

jamman Search | Musician's Friend

jeffstocksmusic · 07-28-2010, 10:44 AM

Well now you can review the timebender too.

I actually won one of these from Premier Guitar magazine...first time I have ever won anything in my entire life.

I have had it for a couple of weeks and I must say it is amazing. For reference, I have owned literally 10's of delays. All of the major pedal-based ones (DL4, DD20, DD3, DD5, DD6, DD7, NovaDelay, Carbon Copy, etc). I feel the Time Bender sounds as good or better than any of them overall.

The features are crazy...harmonizer, looper, reverse, envelope filter, ducking delay, etc. You can actually input exactly the delay pattern you want to use and it will play it back. It will also set the tempo by your strums (no tapping, etc). There is so much to explore on this delay, probably more than I will ever need for the style I play. I generally lean towards the 'Analog' delay sound set to either a quarter note or dotted 8th. I like the delay to give some 'depth' to my sound and it, along with reverb, are the effects I use 99% of the time.

Despite the features, I found it easy to use. The manual is excellent (for a change) and covers the use very well. There is also a website dedicated to the pedal which features some cool tricks.

On the downside, there are slots for presets but you can't 'directly' access them like the DL4 (for example). You have to cycle through them via the unit or a seperate footswitch (not included). This isn't a huge issue for me since I don't generally use multiple delay presets on a tune, but it is worth noting.

I actually like this pedal so much I am selling my M9 and buying a few individual pedals. I was mainly using the M9 for delay and oddball effects and it just isnt worth keeping now.

**anything** · 07-28-2010, 10:21 PM

Hi, I have a question: does anyone know of a looper pedal where you can instantly erase the phrase you're working on and instantly start recording a new loop--or switch between empty phrases, so that you can record a loop live, overdub over it, then switch to an empty phrase and start recording a new loop, then overdub that, etc. I had a footswitch for the Boss RC-2 and it only allowed me to switch between pre-recorded phrases. So live, I would have had to have pre-recorded phrases, then I could overdub over that live, but I couldn't make up everything live on the fly like I want to. Anyone know if the JamMans can do that, or if any other loopers can? Thanks!

**woyvel** · 07-29-2010, 08:15 AM

I want to record Phrase A and then record Phrase B and then go back to A. (Verse/chorus/verse). Can you do that live, on the fly, with the JamMan's up-down feature on any of their units.