Loopers. I mean, they’re just so much fun to use, and can be extremely beneficial as a learning and practicing tool. The Phrase Sampler + is my favorite – I know, it’s old, and “outdated”, and doesn’t have all the bells and whistles that some of the newer loopers do, but it is just perfect for my setup. 5 easy-tap buttons that are labeled telling you exactly what each one does, so there’s no confusion in a live setting, or a 300-page manual to try and sift through to figure out how to stack phrases on top of one another.
It seems that guitar folks compare the Boomerang with the legendary Echoplex, but at a much more reasonable price. Having never played an original Echoplex, I can’t really comment on how the two sound in comparison, but I know the Boomerang was about $600 cheaper! The Reverse mode is what most people are talking about, I think. It gives the user the on-the-fly ability to create some fantastic, Hendrix-esque tape reverse sounds that the Echoplex is famous for, with just a flick of your foot. You can also Stack recorded parts as layers to beef up your loop, and there’s even a foot-adjustable Volume roller to easily control the amount of the loop signal in your path. Again, the Boomerang doesn’t have all the options of an Echoplex or a Boss RC-300, but it’s not supposed to. It does what it does very well, is built like an absolute tank and is known for being put through the tour ringer and coming out the other side working just fine, time and time again.
Now, I love my JamMan Express XT, too, don’t get me wrong. I just like the bigger range of option the Boomerang provides, and being able to Reverse my signal so fast is a feature that I just can’t do without. Like with all of these pedals we all use, different times call for different applications, and the Boomerang is no different. The new ones look nice as well, and have more options I would think, but if you can find one of these old ones for a decent price, pick it up and check it out. At the very least, you’ll have some fun…
Specs:
2 side-by-side independent loops with A to B to A transitioning
Choose 16 or 24kHz sampling rates
Stack button can be programmed to be latching or momentary
7 selectable decay rates
Users: Trey Anastasio, Daniel Lanois, John Scofield
Submitted by Mike B, Website
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June 9, 2014
Great review, thank you.
January 20, 2016
Thanks, Tommy! Sure do appreciate it!
January 9, 2018
Really great review Mike! Thank you. I was deciding on whether to go with the newer Boomerang III or the Boomerang+. I spoke to some folks at the Boomerang Co. last couple of weeks to get an idea of which direction the company is headed.
I am really torn between the plus and the III. I did much research. The III looks to be the way to go but at $489 I am curious if -in fact- I actually need all the added benefits.
I like the bigger + because of the apparent ease of use for a live setting. I will be primarily using it for live gigs. Tough call!
January 10, 2018
You pretty much nailed it – the + is fairly straightforward and easier to use, but the III is just so much fun, with all of its bells and whistles. Both have their own learning curves, the III’s is just a bit steeper. Cheers!