Do I need a loop pedal?

BRISTOL86

I've just picked up a Yamaha THR10 and want to create some loops so I can practice soloing over them. 

Do I need a loop pedal to achieve this or I can I record to (say) GarageBand direct from the amp and then have that playback through the Aux In on the amp? 

This is all a bit bit new to me so sorry if this is a daft question! A few days ago all I owned was an acoustic!!

BRISTOL86

Also if I do need a pedal, can someone recommend a good basic one to get started with? Thanks

ICBM

If you've got the cables to hook it up there's no reason you can't use Garageband, but it will be a bit of a faff compared to a loop pedal. On the other hand it does make it easier to record longer and more complex loops than most simple loop pedals allow, and you will be able to use a different sound to play over the loop than it was recorded with.

If you do still want a simple but good looper, I've never found anything that beats the Akai Headrush E2. You can pick these up secondhand for as little as about £60 now. I recently tried the Boss RC-1 which was close, but just a bit too limited.

Whitecat

A loop pedal will be far more immediate. I like the TC Ditto x2 personally. 

Jimbro66

Why not go a stage farther and get a Digitech Trio Plus which is looper with optional bass and drums. A little more band-like. There's one for sale in the classifieds right now.

BRISTOL86

Thanks guys. 

That Trio looks very interesting but I'm looking for cheap and dirty at the moment considering my budget for guitar and amp was £100 and I spent £390  

fields5069

cheap and dirty = your phone + youtube backing tracks + the mini stereo cable which comes with the THR

Jimbro66

BRISTOL86 said:

Thanks guys. 

That Trio looks very interesting but I'm looking for cheap and dirty at the moment considering my budget for guitar and amp was £100 and I spent £390  

LOL

http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/ditto-looper-pedal-/152307912141?nav=SEARCH

usedtobe

BRISTOL86 said:

Thanks guys. 

I'm looking for cheap and dirty at the moment

Sorry mate, she's taken! 

olafgarten

The Zoom G3 is cheap and works great as a looper I have the G5 and use the loops a lot. 

Grunfeld

BRISTOL86 said:

I've just picked up a Yamaha THR10 and want to... practice soloing.... 

Do I need a loop pedal to achieve this or I can I record to (say) GarageBand direct from the amp and then have that playback through the Aux In on the amp?

Practice soloing over backing tracks.
But loop pedals are great fun.  TC Ditto is quick and dirty and super simple to use.

p90fool

If you just want stuff to play over rather than create yourself there's stacks of good stuff on YouTube. The advantage of using other people's backing tracks is that it drags you out of your comfort zone too. 

usedtobe

There are websites with free backing tracks, to solo along to, if that's your thing..

Sporky

ICBM said:

If you do still want a simple but good looper, I've never found anything that beats the Akai Headrush E2. You can pick these up secondhand for as little as about £60 now.

Such as mine (now I've got a Helix with a built-in looper). £66 including shipping. Pics here:

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/comment/967852/#Comment_967852

Jalapeno

I like the Jamman ones because you canuse SD cards to plug in loop collections.  Plus the controls make sense.

BRISTOL86

Thanks for the help guys! Will definitely check out the Ditto and the Headrush! Will also use backing tracks for sure but fun to be able to play both parts of songs myself also so I think a cheap looper will be a worthwhile investment

ICBM

One advantage of the Headrush is that it's also a very good delay pedal with both a standard delay and a good tape-echo simulation. In fact, that's it's main purpose - but it's so outstanding as a looper that it seems to get overlooked.

Check out a KT Tunstall live performance of Black Horse & The Cherry Tree for an illustration of what you can do with it as a looper...

thebreeze

p90fool said:

If you just want stuff to play over rather than create yourself there's stacks of good stuff on YouTube. The advantage of using other people's backing tracks is that it drags you out of your comfort zone too. 

usedtobe said:

There are websites with free backing tracks, to solo along to, if that's your thing..

Sorry OP for jumping in here.  However, I'd really like to know how this works or how I can set up so I can play along with backing tracks.  Is it possible to get these backing tracks to come out of the amp (at amp levels)?  I only have one amp.  I have a Macbook.  Can I get a lead from Macbook to go into the amp and would this be all I need?  

menamestom

Another shout for the Headrush. Simple and sounds great.   I do think however nowadays all digital amps should come with a simple built in looper which can be controlled via a simple one button footswitch.  I have an infinity which is great, but having a handy one built into the amp would be good for simple straight into amp home jamming.

cj73

BRISTOL86 said:

Thanks guys. 

That Trio looks very interesting but I'm looking for cheap and dirty at the moment considering my budget for guitar and amp was £100 and I spent £390  

Looks like you're gonna fit right in here 

Neil

BRISTOL86 said:

Thanks for the help guys! Will definitely check out the Ditto and the Headrush! Will also use backing tracks for sure but fun to be able to play both parts of songs myself also so I think a cheap looper will be a worthwhile investment

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/53562/fs-digitech-jam-man-express-looper-pedal-40-inc#latest ;