MusicRadar

The bottom line

Aside from the minor differences between them, the JamMan and the BOSS RC-20XL essentially do the same thing, although the Compact Flash memory here provides more recording space even with the supplied card. The six-hour-plus memory available with a 2GB card turns the JamMan into a very serious piece of kit. So aside from the JamMan’s lack of a reverse function, there’s little reason to consider the RC-20XL over the JamMan. It’s £30 more expensive but that’s absorbed by the fact that a power supply is included – neither system accounts for additional footswitches – so price really isn’t an issue. As mentioned, not configuring the outputs to allow use with a multi-amp/ PA set-up seems a missed opportunity; this writer would much rather see that facility over the relatively limited phrase recorder facility that is totally outclassed by something like Tascam’s standalone CD Trainer. As it stands, you’ll get the best from the JamMan’s facilities by placing it last in your FX loop, setting your amp clean and using stompboxes for drive sounds. For now, at least, the JamMan is state-of-the-art. Whether you want to use it to create new parts or harmony lines, to voice entire backing tracks, or even to simply practise, the JamMan is extremely powerful and could certainly change the way many of us approach our performance.