Akai Head Rush Tape Echo Simulator/Loop Recorder

Real easy to use in looping mode (which is the use I bought it for). Step on one button to start recording, and another to end recording and simultaneously start playback/looping. Since the timing can't be adjusted once the sample has been recorded, you need to pay REALLY careful attention to the measures you play during sampling. A little practice (and counting to yourself) seems to fix most of these issues.

I am using it with a Gison SG played through a Mesa Boogie Nomad 45. It sounds pretty good- you have to listen carefully to hear when it is playing and you're not. I find it amusing to just use headphones in the mix output of the pedal (no amp) for late night practice sessions with my "combo of one" playing rhythm and lead simultaneously.

It seems really well built. Switches are sturdy, and give good touch feedback when engaged. I don't think reliability is the main issue on gigging with this unit. Before using the pedal on a gig, you should be sure you can hit the timing right 100% of the time for the pieces you plan on performing. If you screw up a little, it is hard to recover, short of stopping and re-recording. This is evidently not as much of a problem is you plan to record with it.

Only had it for a week- no chance for comment in this section.

I play a variety of music styles, from blues to folk to plain old rock and roll (remember that ?). The thing I like is that when I solo, there is still the nice, steady rhythm (mine!) playing in the background. It avoids the "who stopped playing" questions that often arise during solos.

If you are only going to use it as a "practice partner", you should get this thing. You'll find a number of ways to use it. I would definitely get another if stolen.

The only limitation is that it would be "nice" if it had a longer record time, but this thing is not a rack-based looper. If your muse requires you to be looping for several minutes, you probably already have the (expensive) hardware to do it. Another thing that might be nice would be a way to adjust volume during sampling. As it is now, I just boost my guitar's volume to "step out". It would be nice to reduce the pedal's volume instead, or in addition to that.

Final word- it's fun to play with this thing!

in looper mode, the buttons aren't quite as intuitive as you might think, but it's nothing you can't get the hang of.

my biggest bitch: y'can't stop playback and start recording a new loop simultaneously. the old loop has to be stopped with the playback switch before you can start a new one with the record switch. in my case, this may require the mastery of some sort of ancient, deadly foot-pivoting technique, if you catch my drift.

compared this side-by-side to a boomerang-- the boomerang added *lots* of hiss and had some problems with noticeable high end rolloff. too bad. this, on the other hand, adds a noticeable amount of hum whether on or off. it's not too bad clean, but don't expect to put this before a hot preamp channel, unless you have a noise gate to run in between. perhaps a distortion pedal *before* the headrush is the way to go. or perhaps i just have a bunk unit.

in looper mode, there is a little high frequency rolloff, but it's barely noticeable in most cases. still, given that this thing samples at 44.1/16, you'd think there would be ZERO attenuation of the highs.

delay is alright, sure wish it had modulation on board, but you can't really argue with 24 seconds of delay time. don't particularly care for the "tape echo" effects, the LF rolloff sounds cheesy and fake (and has anyone really hooked up four amps to this thing? i've got enough amps, i'm just too lazy to do it...).

um... who cares? the real reason to own this thing, as alluded to in all the prior reviews, is the looper. and with a little less hum, this would be one killer loopin' machine! hell, it's still pretty cool.

i'd been eyeing this for a while-- then i spotted don caballero using two of them in their new "reduced" three-man lineup. amazingly enough, they were able to perform the majority of their best-known repertoire (with only a few structural changes to certain songs) using this little toy. i didn't get a close enough look at the guitarist's rig, but i'm assuming that the two were being used in parallel through two amps in order to maintain their high-gain multiple-ostinati craziness to its fullest (don't expect to sustain the clarity of individual lines when overdubbing and playing this into a high-gain preamp!).

i wasn't expecting to be overwhelmed by don cab without the presence of their second guitarist, but in the words of wesley willis, they whipped the horse's ass with a belt. "how'd they do that?", you'll ask if you've heard their records. so i was pretty much sold on the headrush from there on out.

my only wishes for akai: kill off the noise, make memory expandable (11.9 seconds of overdubbable looping is adequate for many things, yet totally useless for many others), beef up the output level, and make it easier to start up a new loop in a live context a la boomerang. with such a device, world domination couldn't be far behind.

Very easy to use, especially the loop-recorder mode. Delays are controlled by the same parameters as any analog delay (ie Memory Man etc), and have a logical cotnrol scheme.

Don't know why several commented on noise in the previous reviews. Very quiet and appears to be true-bypass (no residual noise when loop/delay is inactive. I play it through the level-controled fx loop on a Trace Elliot Speed Twin (100W, 2ch all tube) head with zero noise, and it works on my MesaBoogie SOB combo as well. No noise when used in front of the amp input either. On my little class-A practice amp (Trace Elliot Velocette 12R) it performs quietly in front. Never any noise what so ever or I would have returned it.

The looper sounds amazing. I generally don't use the delays as much, for I prefer my E-H and Yamaha analog delay/echos, but the sampler is totally worth the price twice over. Pleanty of sample time for most applications (24s one track, 12.5s infinate overdubs), and the overdub gives you a great layered sound and some unique tones. I've seen several bands using these lately, recording/looping on the fly, which is very easy to pull off once you get used to the two-button configuration.

When layering, the overdubs tend to cut into the high-range of previous tracks, but the the sounds are cool and some very unique synth sounds come through when several dense tracks are juxtaposed.

The looper can maintain what you record indefinately without quality loss (weeks) as long as you don't record over it by mistake or unplug the AC.

The 4-output tape-delay is very cool to run through multiple amps and creates the most amazingly lush delay sounds when the outputs are spatially separated right. Totally overkill for a live rig, but very fun for practice. As for true tape-delay emulation, well not exactly. There is a knob that I call the lo-fi knob, which acts to murk up the output signal and simulate analog, but it just trims off high freq sound and kills the bright tones. Definately a novel function, but the result is still digital-delay. At least you dont have to replace worn tape or worry about the mechanical failute that haunted the old tape rigs.

No problem after 100+ hours of use. Great construction.

I've got a few akai products, from multitrack to samplers. and they are extremely helpful when I e-mail them with questions. I've never had to return any of their stuff, so I can't comment on that end of their support op.

Great unit, very reasonable price. The loop-recorder is the main feature, but the other features are great as well. This pedal is always in front of my guitar and I actually have to resist using it too much since it's so fun to play with.

Easy to use - Although manipulation of the volume level could be easier - I learned how to use it right out of the box.

I've heard about other people having trouble with noise distortion and such, but I'm not receiving any from my amp (Fender Princeton 65). The device sits about 4 feet in front and to the left of my amp. Distance from the amp is certainly a factor with any effect pedal. To get better volume levels, I suggest leaving the level knob at about halfway up or more. Needs better level manipulation (like a foot pedal).

Very sturdy metal casing and pedals. The knobs are of plastic. I wouldn't fear taking this thing on a gig.

Haven't talked with the company yet

I really researched this product before I bought it. I have had it for two weeks and love using it for back up rhythms and special effects. Excellent for all those Trey Anastasio wanna-be's. If you're a beginner with looping this is an ideal device, because it doesn't cost much, and it is crude, so you are forced to fine tune your rhythm skills.

This thing is pretty simple. It has three modes: Tape Echo, Normal Delay, and Looping Recorder. The Echo and Delay have your usual delay and feedback controls, plus a High Frequency Damping control. The Level control is weird because a 50/50 mix between dry and effect is totally clockwise.

In Tape Echo mode you get a Ratio and Head Gap control. These allow you to get some cool multi-tap sounds, but I don't understand how these controls work together; the manual doesn't explain it, either.

The Looping mode is easy to use: hit the right button to start recording, then hit the left button at the very end of what you want looped. It's not quite as intuitive as a switch that you hold your foot on until you're done recording, but I actually like this way better. The manual doesn't explain it well, though. I give it an 8 here because of lousy documentation.

I'm playing a PRS EG-3 into a Mesa/Boogie MkIV combo hooked up to an old Marshall 8x10 (with a few different kinds of speakers in it). I tried the Headrush in front of the amp and in the effects loop.

The quality of the delay is very good. I looped a riff while my rhythm guitarist wasn't looking, and he thought I was playing the whole time (until I started building more parts over top). The Tape Echo probably doesn't sound anything like a real tape machine. I wouldn't know. It feels digital, I guess. The multi-tap sounds are really cool, but otherwise I don't think this mode is very different from the Normal Delay mode; they both have the High Frequency control.

Ok, here are the problems: When I hook it up IN FRONT of my amp, there is a lot of noise. HOWEVER, I plugged my guitar into my practice amp, put the preamp output into the pedal and out to the input of my MkIV, and the noise was gone! I don't think the Akai's input is optimized for instrument levels.

So, I tried it in my effects loop, which I would greatly prefer for loops. On the clean channel, it's clear as a bell. On the lead channel, there are problems. I like to run the lead channel volume at 10 to overdrive the power amp more at high levels, but this is too much for the Headrush. There isn't any digital clipping, so it must have some kind of limiter on the input. The delays and loops end up being less that half as loud as the dry signal. SERIOUS BUMMER! So now I need something for make-up gain after the Akai if I want to use it in my loop. This is whay I give it a 7.

I've head bad stuff about Akai equipment, but this thing seems sturdy. We'll see . . .

Don't know yet. I'm going to try to talk to somebody about the input gain issue. Maybe I'll post the results of that.

You could find a use for this thing in ANY kind of music. It opens up some great possibilities, and it's a lot of fun.

Two warnings, though: 1) If you want to use it in front of your amp, get a preamp pedal to put in front of it so the input gain is maximized, and noise is minimized. 2) Don't expect it to work in your effects loop. Find an old Jam-Man, or something. Otherwise it sounds great!

It's very easy to figure out how this works. Using it is simple enough. However, the standard stomp switch is probably not the best idea for the sample/tap button, making precise taps/loops more difficult than neccesary--there's a little delay as the switch engages--most annoying..

This unit is very noisy, on or off. It is NOT true bypass (no idea why they're advertising it as such).

That said, the delays/loops sound pretty accurate and the echoplex sounds are warm and quite nice.

Your normal guitar sound will be considerable noisier though.

It seems reliable and reasonably solid, given the price

For the money it has good features and it's fun to mess around with. Within minutes I was able to get some cool layered loops going, mostly reasonably in time with each other.

It has no battery compartment, which seems silly.

The noise and lack of true bypass is my biggest beef. I'm not generally nutty about noise but in this case (especially since they were using the old stompbox swtiches anyway!) they should have gone the true bypass route. Other than that (plus battery and awkward switch), I've enjoyed the Headrush.

Note: I primarily use a Strat into either old tweed amps, or a Sonic Cord amp (http://www.soniccord.com) which is a class A EL34 amp (pretty tweed/Marshall-like). My musical tastes are in the Latin Playboys/Los Lobos category--everything from mean and nasty guitar to small rootsy guitar grooves.

Getting great sounds from the Headrush is a breeze. The controls are simple and intuitive. Tweaking delay times is a snap with the tap-tempo function. The knob that lets you set the degradation rate in tape-echo mode is very nice for dialing in authentic Echoplex sounds. The to-the-point manual covers the bases for the unit's three functions (digital delay, tape echo simulation, and sampling) clearly and consisely. The only thing that's tricky is getting the hang of ending recording of a loop at the right time so playback is in sync -- you have to be sure to end the recording on the right beat. But practice makes perfect. The whole interface is pretty damned ingenious.

I use the Headrush with a G&L Legacy (Leo's last strat), Mesa Maverick combo, and a fairly extensive complement of other pedals. The Headrush sounds fantastic -- its pristine delays easily dust the Boss DD-5 that's also part of my rig (though I sometimes use them in conjunction, getting delays from the Boss and loops from the Akai), and you can roll off the highs on the delayed sounds to avoid that clinical, digitized sound a lot of units have. The tape-echo is organic and Echoplex-y, though for some reason it seems easier to get "reverb" delay sounds with my Danelectro Dan-Echo . The loops are very hi-fi. If you add layer after layer, there's some tonal degradation, but in a very cool way -- the sound can become keyboard-like, and harmonized bends start to sound like slide or steel. Too bad there's no reverse-playback option, but for the price, you really can't expect more. Delay and sample times are generous -- 23.8 second DDL, 5.8 second tape echo, and 23.8 second loops (11.8 if you want to overdub). And incidentally, it has true-bypass switching, which means that your dry signal is uncolored by the box.

I have no hesitation at all using this thing on a gig. It's encased in a tough metal box, and the knobs, switches and jacks all seem to be of good quality.

N/A.

I play improvisational, Dead-Allman-Tull-inspired music in a couple of bands, and the Headrush works well in both. It's especially handy in the four-piece group, wherein I'm the only electric guitarist -- the looping sampler lets me keep a rhythm groove going when it comes time to solo. I've been playing for more than 25 years, and this box is one of the most inspired effects units I've ever stumbled into. Its delays are so good that they'd probably justify the box by themselves, but the real kicker is the looping -- a whole lot of looping power for less than half the price of a Boomerang. If only it had reverse-playback capability. Were it lost or stolen, I'd happily get another one. If you want a good delay or have a yen to experiment with looping, buy this unit!

After getting adapted to the controls it's easy to get perfect delay or echo sounds. That's all I have used it for to this point. The manual is detailed and straight forward.

I use it in front of a Soldano Atomic in place of reverb. Operation is dead quiet and works great for slap back rockabilly and with the use of a whammie on my Strat I get super surf tones. Or I can easily dial in that Neil Young Cortez/No More tone with the tape echo. All who have heard this effect comment on it's great tone.

I bought the first one to reach the Denver area and have used it almost every day since June. No Problems. It ain't an Echoplex. It's quieter and has high quality button switches and a steel casing, ( no wood box ) and seems to be built as well as any pedal out there. I'd have no heartburn about gigging with unit whatever. My rating is subject to time used.

I haven't needed to contact them so I can't say.

I'd rate this unit as excellent. I'm totally happy with it. It's an effect you could build a signature tone around,( excluding Blues),regardless of style of music. Rich and organic layering abilities. I have not tried it through my acoustic system as of yet so I can't say there but for electric you can't go wrong.

Fisrt, English is not my usual language. So...
This unit is a kind of 2 in 1. You have 2 differents echo modes: Tape echo and digital echo. Plus a loop recorder up to 23 seconds. The digital echo is quite simple to use and have all the usual commands that you can find on any good echo effect. There is also 2 buttons to set the speed. The first is the macro setting (From fast to slow) and the second is for fine tuning (Micro setting). The speed can also be set by the last two tap on the footswitch witch is very powerfull for live performance. Note that both echo mode use this switch. The tape echo is much harder to set because there is more parameters involved. It simulate a 4 heads echo tape. you have one output for each head or you can use the MIX output. Very versatile. You have to adjust the distance between the heads (like a real one), the output level for each head and the high frequency degradation like the Dan-Echo. If you take the time to assimilate it you'll find it very versatile and powerfull. Ok Now the loop recorder : There is my second effect. Note that there is two way to use it. If you want to record a musical phrase and overdub on that first phrase another phrase and so on you'll have only 12.3 secods to record your first phrase. At the time you push the footswitch it begin to record. Near the 9 second the led flash for three seconds telling you that the overdub limit has almost been reached. At this time you have 2 choices: Stop the loop by pressing the footswitch or continue with the recordind until the non-overdubbing time of 23 seconds. If you have stopped before the first 12.3 seconds you'll be able to overdub as many phrases as you want (i tested more that 5 ). And there is no degradation in the sampling. You must be very IN TEMPO when you stop recording the loop. If you do so you will NOT have timing trouble like someone said here.
Take the time to know it well...

I use it with a Nashville Deluxe Telecaster and an American Standard Strat. I use a Fender Hot-Rod Deville 4x10 and also a fender Dual Showman. Here what i must tell you : You can adjust the output freq on the repeated sound to match the original sound. So forget the "Plastic Sound" and the "Artificial sound" that you have on too many others echo effects. When i was trying it in the music store, i had it thru the effects loop of the amp (Same as mine). No noisy sound at all. But on mine when i pass thru the effects loop i have a very bad noisy sound...!"/$% . It's may be my amp...but for now i put it in my efx chain before the pream section and i got no noisy sound...

It is made in a strong box and the dimensions (6"x7") are much bigger than regular pedal. Yes i would go with no net. The only thing is that you have to stop playing to change from the echo mode to the recording loop with the HANDswitch. Forget your feet to make this change.

I dont't know for now, but AKAI is not "Clin-clin ABC" Compagny...
I have a full 1 year warranty from the music store that i know for many years now.

I use to play guitar since almost 20 years. I play on regular time for my self and going on stage in local places about 20 time a year. Blues, and music from the 60...and some compo that now turn easier...
Yes i will surely buy it again if it was stolen or lost. It's much expensive that a regular echo but you have the loop recorder that can be easily used in live performance or to express your musical inspiration..Good for the solo musician. You can easily make your self a recorded part to be played and jam on... So i think this is a good echo pedal with a real good sound and good sampling features. And once again excuse my english...

THE ONLY THING I USE THIS FOR IS THE LOOPER, everything else is just digital delay.
it ain't easy to use, but something like this shouldn't be easy to just "dial in" the effect. in order to truly use this pedal, be prepared to sit down for awhile and truly experiment

a tad noisy. it does suck tone as well.
but it is a 23 second looper for under 200 bucks. what more can you ask for. i use this with about twenty other effex, so i am a complete pedal geek. i know what i like, why i like it and i like this.

i have only had it for a few weeks.
it still works, so i am sure that tender care will keep it working

took forever to get it.

i play stuff like mr. bungle. i also play lap steel. i am the designated noise maker of the band, so this with a real analog delay and a whammy pedal pretty much takes me where i want to go.