Top 5 Most Popular Looper Pedals

Whether you’re looking to explore soundscapes that lie beyond traditional performance, need the tools to create your own one-person-band-style arrangements, or are searching for a pedalboard companion that will give you the liberty to play intricate, intertwining compositions a la King Crimson’s hypnotic “Discipline,” a looper can open up creative possibilities no other stomp can. In this article, we’ve rounded up the five most popular looper pedals and put them to the test so you can cherry-pick the best fit for your rig, needs and budget.

Most Popular Looper Pedals

BOSS RC-1 

Why We Picked It: The RC-1 offers an intuitive layout and up to 12 minutes of stereo recording time.

Key Features:

• High-performance buffered bypass delivers studio-quality tone

• One of the most popular choices due to its simple functionality and stereo outputs for integration with guitar, synth and key rigs

• Remembers your last recorded loop, even after the unit is powered off

BOSS has become a staple on almost every pedalboard due to the quality, affordability and consistency of their effects. Rock solid, effortless to operate and flexible enough to accommodate a variety of setups, the RC-1 can handle jam sessions, live performances and everything in between. An ample 12 minutes of stereo recording time and ability to pair with multiple auxiliary footswitches for additional functions like decay, reverse playback and MIDI sync, make this looper a strong addition to any board.

BOSS RC-5

Why We Picked It: With a storage bank of 99 memories and pristine 32-bit floating-point processing, this pedal is packed with pro-level features.

Key Features:

• 13 hours of stereo recording time

• Perfect for players looking for onboard drum loops and advanced effects

• Backup your loops to your computer via USB to develop your own backing tracks for live performance, lessons or jam sessions

The RC-5 looper is a premium offering built on BOSS’ stellar reputation. This pedalboard staple has the features to create long, high-resolution in-depth patterns thanks to its flexible recording capacity and intuitive interface. Unlock its full potential when interfacing with your computer via BOSS Tone Studio to tap into playback compatibility and open up live performance possibilities that aren’t achievable with simpler looper pedals.

Sheeran Looper Looper + Dual-Track Looper Pedal

Why We Picked It: A high-resolution, stage-ready looper with versatile I/O, this dual-track looper is a foolproof addition to any board.

Key Features:

• 128 loops with over three hours of onboard storage time

• Suitable for a wide range of production styles whether you’re just starting out or looking to upgrade

• External footswitch inputs allow for advanced control of effects and functions

With all the bells and whistles you’d expect from a signature pedal, the Looper + provides everything you need for solo jams or live performances. Whether you play guitar, bass or keyboard, its ample I/O allows you to connect to pedals, controllers and computers to create complex arrangements. Plus, its ability to run entirely on AA batteries for over six hours give you the power to jam anywhere your audience is.

Acoustic Loop1

Why We Picked It: The Acoustic Loop1 is about as powerful as a compact, one-button, one-knob looper can get.

Key Features:

• Unlimited overdubs and 30 minutes of recording time

• Ideal for players with limited pedalboard space

• Automatic loop store function saves your existing loop after powering off

Sometimes, keeping it simple is best—and the no-frills, intuitive layout of the Loop1 from Acoustic does just that. With unlimited overdubs, your ability to create in-depth loops and full songs is unhindered, allowing you to serve up entire performances with minimal impact on your pedalboard’s real estate. Plus, the Loop1 saves your loop after being powered off, so you can pick up right where you left off.

TC Electronic Ditto Looper

Why We Picked It: A staple looper on many boards, this compact pedal’s design includes several thoughtful signal path features.

Key Features:

• Undo/Redo function and unlimited overdubs let you refine and tweak your loops to perfection

• Perfect for players who seek intuitive onstage performance and loop-editing controls

• Analog-Dry-Through keeps your original tone 100% analog

The TC Electronic Ditto gives you the tools you need to create the perfect loop, every time. Thanks to its easy-to-operate Undo/Redo functionality, 30 minutes of recording time and unlimited overdubs, the Ditto allows you to efficiently layer performances, retry when you make a mistake and effortlessly craft full arrangements. Plus, its Analog-Dry-Through circuit design keeps your dry tone 100% analog and latency-free.

How We Picked These Looper Pedals

This list is made up of the five best-selling loopers here at Guitar Center. Players from around the world have chosen them time and time again thanks to their ease of use, memory, I/O, size and affordability. This collection of stomps includes options that are minimalist in design, as well as more versatile options that can handle a variety of production needs or onstage routing configurations.

Run It Again, and Again and Again

If you’re looking for a looper, it’s probably already past time to pick one up. Whether you want to practice your leads when no one else can jam, explore new progressions for a song you’re working on or need to put on the one-man-show of a lifetime, finding the right fit for your style and pedalboard is crucial. If you want to get hands-on with these, or other pedals, check out the Pedal Station at your local Guitar Center, and if you need a little guidance on how to arrange your pedalboard, check out our article on the best guitar pedal order for some pedal chain basics and routing starting points.