Effects Loop Selectors? Help, please....

[tidalwaveGB]

Right now, I am looking at two pedals:

 

1. Boss LS-2 Line Selector

2. Radial Big Shot EFX

3. Keeley Looper

 

 

Here's what I want to do: I want to place most of my dirt/od/eq pedals in one loop, and my modulation/time-based effects in another. The main purpose for me getting a loop selector is so that I'm not tap dancing, and so that I can turn a particular combination of pedals on/off, all at the same time.

 

Just as important, I would like to help prevent the signal loss that I am experiencing, because I use so many pedals (somewhere in the range of 7-10 pedals).

 

Now, here's my question: which of the pedals I have mentioned is easiest to use, and which one will do a better job at preventing signal loss?

 

I am concerned that the Boss isn't true bypass, and from what I have read in a few reviews, it has the potential to add a flat and lifeless quality to my signal. However, I like that the Boss gives me so many different switching options, and that good ol' Boss reliability I have come to expect. Will I really experience tone loss? If so, it kind of defeats the purpose, doesn't it?

 

So, what's the deal? Is the Big Shot or Keeley a better choice, if tone is a main concern? Are they easier to use?

 

All the pedals I mentioned are a similar price. I just want the best result.

 

Help, please? Any other options are appreciated, but I don't want to spend an arm and a leg.

 

Thanks so much, in advance.

[tidalwaveGB]

i only have experience with the ls-2 and i haven't noticed any sound degradation. i'm not sure if people are just anti-boss bypass on this one, people are just more picky when it comes to loop selectors, or if actually does mess with the sound. all i really know is that it is a convenient pedal to have

Cool thanks. I just may end up going for the Boss, unless anyone else can chime in.

[IvIark]

Another +1 for the Boss. It has so many uses that every guitarist should have one. I've used it to put rack effects in parallel with each other and to turn a serial effect loop into parallel and I haven't had any issues with the buffers at all.

[gambit]

the LS-2 has loops with level controls, and therefore preamp type gain boosts, so they just don't compete with a solid bypass loop with no strings attached..

 

useful tool, but the LS-2 is theone to avoid for your needs i'd say.

 

do you need to switch between two loops? like A or B and bypass, or do you need them combined aswell? maybe check out the toadworks roundabout loop, or have a look at something like a carl martin combinator or loooper.com bypass strips where you can have an individual loop for each pedals and 'program' each footswitch to engage multiple pedals at once.

[tidalwaveGB]

the LS-2 has loops with level controls, and therefore preamp type gain boosts, so they just don't compete with a solid bypass loop with no strings attached.. useful tool, but the LS-2 is theone to avoid for your needs i'd say. do you need to switch between two loops? like A or B and bypass, or do you need them combined aswell? maybe check out the toadworks roundabout loop, or have a look at something like a carl martin combinator or loooper.com bypass strips where you can have an individual loop for each pedals and 'program' each footswitch to engage multiple pedals at once.

 

 

Thanks a bunch. Good point about the preamp type gain boosts.

 

Here is what I am looking to do: I want to be able to switch between two loops (ex. Loop 1: OD, Distortion and EQ. Loop 2: Chorus, Flanger, Delay, Boost), but I also want to be able to run them at the same time, if possible. Will any or all of the pedals I mentioned be able to do this?

[IvIark]

The LS-2 has a gain boost possible but that's an advantage if anything because it's available to you if you want it. Setting it at unity means the gain of the pedals are unaffected.

[tidalwaveGB]

I just checked the manual for LS-2, and I don't like how all the switching is accomplished with a single pedal, despite the different available options for switching. I need to be able to run it like this:

 

Loop A + Loop B or bypass

 

and

 

Loop A or Loop B or bypass

 

So, it looks like I need a pedal with at least three switches.

 

Help???

[gambit]

The LS-2 has a gain boost possible but that's an advantage if anything because it's available to you if you want it. Setting it at unity means the gain of the pedals are unaffected.

 

the pedals in the loop are still inside that 'preamp' though so they are affected by being in there. maybe not hugely, but its noticeable against a pedal in a single keeley-type bypass loop.

 

the LS-2 won't give all of those options at once either. you can only cycle Loop A > Loop B > Bypass and around again. or switch between loops, like AB

 

check out blackbox loop boxes. i'm sure i've seen an A and B looper pedal with a global bypass plus a switch for changing the order of the A and B loop. maybe email him?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Double-Loop-with-Bypass-LED-Clever-Pedal-Switching_W0QQitemZ350044799903QQihZ022QQcategoryZ22669QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

will look a bit like this but an extra switch i think:

[tidalwaveGB]

the pedals in the loop are still inside that 'preamp' though so they are affected by being in there. maybe not hugely, but its noticeable against a pedal in a single keeley-type bypass loop. the LS-2 won't give all of those options at once either. you can only cycle Loop A > Loop B > Bypass and around again. or switch between loops, like AB check out blackbox loop boxes. i'm sure i've seen an A and B looper pedal with a global bypass plus a switch for changing the order of the A and B loop.

 

 

Can you send me a link, so I could check out the blackbox? I just tried googling it, and didn't find anything.

 

Thanks.

[gambit]

Can you send me a link, so I could check out the blackbox? I just tried googling it, and didn't find anything. Thanks.

 

 

just edited previous post! also.. you can see the mulitple loop bypass strip thing in this thread: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1973787

[tidalwaveGB]

just edited previous post! also.. you can see the mulitple loop bypass strip thing in this thread: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1973787

 

 

Sweet, thanks a bunch. Much appreciated!

[IvIark]

the pedals in the loop are still inside that 'preamp' though so they are affected by being in there

 

It isn't a preamp, it's gain which is just volume boost or cut before the effect, as opposed to "volume" which is volume boost or cut after the effect.

 

Still it doesn't sound right because of the set order for switching ...

 

 

 

 

so carry on!

[maxisnotdead]

www.loop-master.com

[Rid]

Instead of the Combi2..maybe the Octa-Switch is more suitable for you??

It has relays, and buffer on/off on the input.