What is the best guitar looper?
Every guitar player needs a looper...
...but which one should you go with?
Part of the reason I bought my DigiTech RP360 is that it does have a 40-second looper built in (which by the way is included both on the regular and XP models). However, I may at some point buy a regular dedicated looper because it is easier to have a dedicated looper outside of other effects.
To answer the question up front of what the best looper is, it's the BOSS RC-3 Loop Station.
When you want the absolute best of the best, the RC-3 is it. Built like a tank, loaded with features (including its own built-in drum machine), ability to save loops to internal memory for recalling later... it just doesn't get any better than this. Yes, there are other loopers that may have more features, but none as usable and bulletproof as the RC-3.
The only drawback of the RC-3? Price. It's never been cheap. But then again, it is priced right for what you get, it will last probably at least 10 years with regular use, it is absolutely okay for use both in studio and stage, and it is absolutely true it is the only looper you will ever need.
Yes, I sing high praises of the RC-3, but the plain truth of the matter is that it's just that good.
This is another simpler looper, also from BOSS, that's much less in price, the BOSS Loop Station RC-1.
The RC-1 doesn't have nearly as many features as the RC-3 does, but it does have the same rock-solid reliability BOSS pedals are known for. The RC-1 also has the advantage of a carousel style light that's actually easier to see compared to the RC-3's LED digital segment display.
If you don't need the built-in drum machine or any of RC-3's other fancy features and just want a really good, reliable looper, the RC-1 is a good choice.
BUT WAIT... here comes something from DigiTech, the DigiTech JMSXT JamMan Solo XT.
This pedal is basically just like the RC-3 as it has a drum machine, advanced features and so on. But it also has something else. You can plug a cheap memory card into it that instantly bumps it up to 200 memory presets and up to 16 hours of record time.
Wow.
Now this doesn't mean the JamMan can be a recording studio. Far from it. But the fact you can store so much in the pedal is great. I consider this one the best at-home pedal for recording riff ideas.
Here's something from ZOOM, the ZOOM G1on.
This is actually a multi-effects pedal similar to the DigiTech RP360. But it does have a simple 30-second looper in it.
Why do I list this one? Cheap. Cheaper than the BOSS pedals? Yes. Cheaper than the JamMan? Yes. Even cheaper than the RP360? Yes.
When you want something that just gets you the looper with no fuss for the lowest price that actually works, the G1on is the pedal to get.
Yes, there are cheaper looper pedals like the ammoon AP-09 Nano Loop. But in all honesty, it's worth the extra 15 bucks to just get the G1on instead.
To sum up...
The best-of-the-best is the RC-3. Yes, it's going to sting a bit to spend that much on a pedal, but if you want the best, there it is.
The most reliable simple looper is the RC-1.
The best at-home looper with tons of record time for recording scratch ideas is the JamMan Solo XT.
The best lower-priced looper is the G1on. Even if you only use the looper and nothing else in that multi-effects pedal, it's priced right.
If you want to use what I use, that's the RP360 from DigiTech, although I will say again that at some point I will be buying a separate looper just because it's easier to have that specific function in a pedal dedicated to it.
Ibanez GART60 - cheap and good
I mentioned in The highest reviewed electric guitars in the UK that the Ibanez GAX30 is a great axe. Here in the USA, the GART60 model is similar, low-priced and just as good.
When comparing the GAX30 to the GART60, the 60 is a single cutaway instead of a double, does not have a pick guard, has a top-loader Tune-O-Matic style bridge and tail piece instead of the Strat-style hard tail string-thru, and instead of 2 knobs and a blade selector switch, you get 3 knobs and a 3-way toggle switch.
Technically, the 60 is more advanced than the 30 is. You are getting more for the money even though it sells at the same low price as the 30 does.
The two colors available are Dark Violin Sunburst and Mustard Yellow, both of which suit the guitar quite well.
Also, if you're willing to spend slightly more, there is the GART60FA model that has chrome cover humbuckers, body binding and speed knobs.
The end result here is that this is basically the American market version of the same guitar, but it's good for what it is. The price is right, it's a good guitar to buy as a gift for someone else or yourself, and the basic hardware makes it easy to work on if you want to swap out the pickups and electronics.
And will this guitar last? Yes. Ibanez makes certain that even their lower cost models stand the test of time, meaning this isn't a guitar that will fall apart in a month. You can beat on it and it will keep working, not to worry.
The most reviewed guitars in Canada
Since I covered guitars that are popular in the UK, I figured why not mention the guitars that get reviewed in Canada routinely, so here it is.
Starting with the BPI California Classic, the only reason it sells well is price. At the time I write this, it's priced just under $100 - and bear in mind that's in Canadian dollars (in USA currency it would be about $78 USD).
All I can say about this guitar is that if you're in Canada and want something dirt cheap that you could use as a project guitar, go ahead and get one. From the reviews I've read, the neck is on the thicker side, you may get some sharp fret edges that need filing down, and you may also need to level the frets. But again, bear in mind the guitar is just under $100. For that price, expecting a perfect guitar out of the box would be unrealistic.
Yes, this is a semi-hollow body, so the body is light in weight. The Delta Rose does look fancy for what it is (especially the tail piece,) and I like the fact the inlays are parallelograms instead of trapezoids.
Another semi-hollow body, also with parallelogram inlays, is the Epiphone Riviera. Three P90 pickups, Bigsby B70 vibrato and a gorgeous appearance all around. But it's more than just fancy dress. This one plays and sounds as good as it looks.
I was actually surprised to see this one listed as one of the more-reviewed guitars for the Canadian audience, but evidently Canucks really like their 12-string electrics.
The Boca 12 is a guitar I've reviewed before, and what I have to say about it hasn't changed. It is a bargain for a 12-string electric and definitely one of the easiest 12's to deal with. Some 12-string electrics for whatever reason are really complicated instruments, but fortunately the Boca 12 is simple. The simplicity combined with good price is why it sells well.
A mainstay of the Schecter lineup for a while now, the C-1 Hellraiser is a favorite for many guitar players. It has a distinct upscale look where you can easily say "that's a Schecter" from a distance in a good way, the build quality is amazing and the EMG active electronics is top tier stuff.
I used to own a C-1 myself, and it's one of those guitars that feels like a premium custom shop build without the custom shop price. It's also one of the few guitars where I can honestly say that you do get what you pay for. It's not overpriced nor underpriced.
What's also nice about the C-1 is that you have options. The Hellraiser is one of the upper tier models, but you can get a basic C-1 for much less that doesn't have the fancy inlays, binding or active electronics. And if you like the basic model, you can upgrade (and it is a true upgrade) to the fancier Hellraiser model later.
Two honorable mentions
Two more that appeared when I was searching around for talked-about guitars in Canada are these:
Both these guitars made an appearance because of their low price. I think the Telecaster is the cooler of the two.
The highest reviewed electric guitars in the UK
Guitar tastes across the pond can be quite different from the US...
...but the main reason for that is because there are some guitars available there that just aren't available here. An example is the Ibanez GAX30 TR. I can totally see why it sells well in the UK. It's an inexpensive double-cutaway shape that looks great and has a very nice simple design that would please anyone. If you live in the UK, you can get this guitar for cheap easily. If you live in the US, it's not available anywhere, which is a shame.
Here are four more similar to the above:
Priced almost identical to the Ibanez above, this is a Gibson ES-335 copy that sells for an amazingly low price. Again, not available in the US. The closest we have here to this is the Epiphone Dot Studio which costs more and isn't as well-appointed as the Benson.
A bit of an odd one here, but again, it sells well, and not just due to its low price. This is a semi-hollow body Telecaster style shape with a Gibson style bridge and tailpiece, Jackson style headstock and P90 single-coil pickups. It might look slightly odd, but it's actually designed well. The control knobs are out of the way of the strumming area, the lightweight body makes it very comfortable to play, and the all-on-top inline tuners make tuning easy.
This is one also available in the US, thankfully. The HB35 from Washburn is an absolutely gorgeous semi-hollow body electric. Nicely priced for what it is. UK buyers actually get this guitar for less than what it sells for here (roughly the equivalent of $50 less in the UK) which makes the deal even sweeter.
Last but definitely not least is an SG style guitar from Vintage. This is a UK brand I wish was sold here in the US. Yes, you can find Vintage brand in the US if you look hard enough, but in the UK they're obviously much easier to come by. The VS6 is absolutely the best low-cost SG copy and it's always highly rated. Mahogany body and mahogany neck with set-in construction. No bolt-on here. This is as proper of an SG as you can get for the lowest price in the UK.
What about the bigger brands?
The UK has Fender and Gibson just like the US does. So if you want a Fender Stratocaster or Gibson Les Paul, there are plenty to be had over there.
And yes, there are also plenty of Squier and Epiphone guitars there too.
But I'd argue to look at the UK-specific stuff first. If I were living there I would absolutely seek out a Vintage VS6 just to try it out.
Modern natural color electric guitar choices
For a long time there really wasn't much choice where natural finishes were concerned. The closest thing you could get to a natural color on a solid-body electric was sunburst for a while. But now there are some good choices out there.
Grain matters. Sometimes.
Take the special edition Fender American '59 Stratocaster with a pine body where you can actually see the knots in the wood. Some guys would really go for this.
With this particular guitar, the entire look is about the grain as that is the first thing your eye is drawn to. This Strat doesn't attempt to hide anything. You can plainly see the cut line between the two body pieces, and the grain is very pronounced.
Not all electric guitars in a natural finish are like this. Far from it, actually. Some have a much plainer appearance to them where the body almost looks like it was painted.
I'm mentioning this so you know that "natural" doesn't necessarily mean "very obvious wood grain".
Some modern natural finish choices
Jackson JS22 Dinky - Natural Oil
Starting off with a low-priced guitar, you wouldn't think that basswood would look that good in a natural finish, but Jackson pulled it off nicely here. The bound neck and headstock is a nice touch.
This is an alder body. The grain in the wood on this one has a nice texture to it and the guitar has a very clean look overall.
This one is a laminate maple body. From a distance, it doesn't look like there's any grain lines. But once you get up close you can see them. Epiphone did this guitar right and the gold knobs work well with the wood.
Squier Vintage Modified '72 Telecaster Thinline
This guitar has an ash body, which is a tonewood well known for having pronounced grain lines - and this Telecaster definitely doesn't disappoint in that department. You can really see the grain on this one, even from a distance. It should also be noted that the pick guard is pearloid and not a solid white, which for this application works well.
Epiphone Les Paul 100th Anniversary Outfit
This is a commemorative Les Paul from Epiphone, and it's the best looking Les Paul I've seen of 2017. Everything on this guitar is premium grade stuff, and it also has the extra fancy Epiphone-specific headstock, which is something you don't see from Epiphone too often.
Fender American Professional Stratocaster - Natural
Fender this year is offering the American Professional Stratocaster in a natural finish. They've chosen to go with a black pick guard instead of white, which for this particular finish of Strat I do agree with. A white guard on this guitar wouldn't look that great, even if it was pearloid. The styling is kept reserved to give the guitar a "workhorse" appearance, and it works.
Rich's pick
The Epiphone LP is far and above the best of the lot. Very good application of a natural finish with other fancy digs to give the guitar a seriously good looking upscale appearance. It is a higher priced Epiphone model, but it is a special edition and to see that fancy Epiphone headstock with all goodies does not happen often. If there is any guitar out of this list that really gets a natural finish right, it's that one.