The American Loopers A/B/C Line Selector Switcher is a compact switching pedal that routes one signal to one of three destinations, or lets you switch between three instruments feeding one output. American Loopers pitches it directly at players with more than two lines to manage: "If you are looking to switch between three instruments, this is the pedal for you."1
It is a completely passive device. There are no transformers and no electronics in the audio path, and the maker describes it as 100% true bypass1. That makes it a fit for players who want to change amps, effects chains, or guitars without adding anything to the signal, and it sits alongside the maker's wider range of switching pedals built on the same passive philosophy.
Switching between three instruments or lines
The pedal gives you three selectable lines, A, B, and C, with one active at a time. American Loopers is explicit that this is an either/or device: "Either A or B or C will be active at a time you cannot combine the inputs with this model."1
That single distinction shapes what the pedal is for. Typical uses the design supports:
- Switching between three instruments or lines1
- Routing one guitar to one of three amps or signal paths
- Selecting between three effect chains or lines in a rig
If you need two sources on at once, this is the wrong model in the range. American Loopers' A/B/Y boxes are built for that, letting you "Switch between two guitars, two basses, two effects, etc or have both of them on at the same time"2.
The controls
The pedal uses two footswitches rather than one. The left switch handles the A/B side of the selection: "The left switch will let you select between A or B, while C is on standby."1
The LED behavior is designed around the standby idea. When you move to C, the light for whichever of A or B you came from stays on, so you can see where you will land when you leave C. As the maker puts it, "when you are on C, the Led for either A or B will still be lit up indicating the input you you'll go back to when C is t[urned off]"1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Left switch | Selects between A or B while C is on standby1 |
| LEDs | Show the active line; when C is on, the A or B LED stays lit to show where you return1 |
Power: 9V for the LEDs only
The A/B/C Line Selector takes 9V through a 2.1mm Boss type connector, and that connection does one thing only: light the LEDs. American Loopers states the unit is 100% passive, so the audio path works with nothing plugged into the power jack1.
Because power is only for the indicator lights, the pedal passes signal with no power supply at all. Any standard 9V Boss-style center negative supply from an existing pedalboard daisy chain will run the LEDs.
Build: switches, wiring and enclosure
The construction details are where American Loopers positions the pedal against cheaper alternatives. The switches are what the maker calls "PREMIUM" CHK Electronics switches, "NOT less expensive Chinese ones," chosen for better tone and durability1. The wiring is military spec, and the joints use silver soldering for maximum signal flow1. The whole thing sits in a die cast aluminum enclosure with powder coated paint1.
For a passive switcher, these choices are the product. With no buffers or transformers to hide behind, the switches and wiring are the entire signal path, so the quality of both determines whether the pedal is transparent in practice.
Other American Loopers line selectors
The A/B/C Line Selector is one box in a wide range of passive switchers from the same maker, most sharing the same 9V-for-LEDs-only power arrangement, military spec wiring, true bypass claim, and 1 year warranty. The main models and what each is for1:
| Model | What it does |
|---|---|
| A/B Box Line Selector Switcher | Two-way A/B line selector with premium switch3 |
| A/B Mini Guitar Line Switcher | Compact A/B line switcher4 |
| A/B Loop Selector | Switches between two independent effect loops with one stomp switch5 |
| A/B Loop Selector With Master Bypass | Two loops plus a Master Bypass switch to return to the clean sound6 |
| ABC Loop Selector With Master Bypass | Selects loop A or B or C, with a master bypass7 |
| A/B/Y Line Switcher Combiner Box | Selects A, B, or both at once2 |
| A/B/Y Loop Selector Combiner | Two independent loops, A or B or both8 |
| A/B Box TRS Stereo Line Selector | Selects between two TRS stereo signals, or routes one stereo signal to either of two outputs; backwards compatible with TS mono9 |
| A/B Box TRS Stereo With Added Ground | Same as the TRS selector but with an added ground for the A input10 |
| A/B Loop Selector With Amp Channel Switcher | A/B loops plus amp channel switching and a polarity switch11 |
| A/B Midi Switcher | Toggles a MIDI signal between two destinations12 |
Within that range, the choice comes down to how many lines you need and whether you need to combine them. The A/B/C Line Selector is the model for three mutually exclusive lines; the A/B/Y boxes are the ones for running two sources together; the loop selector variants are for switching effects chains rather than instruments; and the TRS stereo models handle stereo TRS signals where a mono box would not92.
Questions
Is the American Loopers A/B/C switcher true bypass?
Yes. American Loopers describes the A/B/C Line Selector as 100% true bypass, with no transformers and no electronics in the signal path. The unit is fully passive, so the signal passes through switches and wiring only, and the 9V connection does nothing to the audio.
Does the A/B/C Line Selector need power to pass signal?
No. The 9V supply through a 2.1mm Boss type connector is only needed for the LEDs. The switching itself is entirely passive, so the pedal passes signal with no power connected at all; you just lose the indicator lights.
Can I use two inputs at the same time on the A/B/C switcher?
No. American Loopers states that either A or B or C will be active at a time, and the inputs cannot be combined with this model. If you need to run two sources simultaneously, the maker's A/B/Y boxes are built to select A, B, or both at once.
What size is the American Loopers A/B/C Line Selector?
The enclosure measures 4.51 x 2.52 x 1.02 inches, the same compact die cast aluminum box American Loopers uses across much of its line selector range. It is small enough to sit on a crowded pedalboard without taking up much room.
What warranty does American Loopers give on the A/B/C switcher?
American Loopers covers the A/B/C Line Selector with a 1 year warranty. The same 1 year warranty applies across the maker's line selector and switcher range, including the A/B, A/B/Y, TRS stereo, and MIDI models.
Sources (12)
- A/B/C Line Selector Switcher, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- A/B/Y Line Switcher Combiner Box, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- A/B Box Line Selector Switcher With Premium Switch, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- A/B Mini Guitar Line Switcher, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- A/B Loop Selector, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- A/B Box Loop Selector Switcher With Master Bypass, American Loopers
- ABC Loop Selector With Master Bypass, American Loopers
- A/B/Y Loop Selector Combiner Guitar Switcher, American Loopers (www.americanloopers.com)
- A/B Box TRS Stereo Line Selector Switcher, American Loopers (americanloopers.com)
- A/B Box TRS Stereo Line Selector Switcher With Added Ground, American Loopers
- A/B Loop Selector With Amp Channel Switcher Plus Polarity Switch, American Loopers (americanloopers.com)
- A/B Midi Switcher, American Loopers
