Any Barber effects pedal fans?

Moonsorrow

New member
Very impressed with Barber pedals,some of the best made without a doubt! I just picked up the LTD Overdrive and its one amazing sounding and constructed pedal!!! Here`s the specs from the Barber website.....

Precision matched components-using proprietary specifications to ensure symmetrical clipping and reduced intermodulation distortion.
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True bypass switching with led indicator- this is achieved by using an high grade switch, in addendum Solid 20 gauge copper hookup wire is used between the jacks and switching to create a transparent bypass.
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Full size pots- for durability and for easy serviceability if needed.
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Hand made-we make the LTD one at a time and each one is signed and dated by the craftsman.
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Volume knob response circuitry-more shades shades and textures at your fingertips just by adjusting your volume knob.
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Cast aluminum enclosure-our incredibly durable enclosure will last decades if not centuries!
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Double sided pc board with plate through holes-This is the way the military does it when they want electronics to work FOREVER! all pedals should be made this way , few are.
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Three knob control +2 internal adjustments -The LTD uses a simple three knob control layout to keep things easy on the performer. There are two more trim adjusts inside of the LTD so the most demanding player can match bass and presence to his/her needs.
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Ready for 18 volt operation-The LTD operates from 9 volts to 18 volts, this allows use of higher voltage converters and supplies, for players who want to try higher voltage tweaks.
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High quality components- Players have requested the use of carbon resistors, metalized polyester and silver mica caps. These components were thought to be only available on the highest priced pedals. Players asked, and we deliver...no problem, no exaggerated "boutique builder" pricing.
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Center EQ tone control- This Barber tuned vintage style control is meant to sound balanced at the 12 o clock position, from there going up adds treble and cuts bass, turning it down adds bottom and cuts treble. You will find plenty of control from the top of the LTD.
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Barber adjustable phono style recovery stage- Most of our op-amp based overdrive pedals use a cool old style phonograph circuit to recover the frequencies lost in the overdrive stage, this worked great for vinyl and now works great for guitar overdrive!

I don`t know about you but i`m impressed!!!!!!!
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

I have to admit, I've tried one or 2 and was left unimpressed with them...lots of guys use and really like them but to me they are just kind of so-so...
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

They aren't bad and I do like how his pricing is pretty reasonable. Like anything though, its not a case where each and every pedal is the end all of end all for tone.

I'm honestly not quite sure what point your trying to make .

Specs are specs and theres a ton of other builders all doing the exact same thing.

Handmade, true bypass, aluminum case, full size pots, NOS parts, internal trimmers, etc etc


Its honestly rarer to find someone who's NOT doing those things these days
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

I wasn`t trying to make any point other than how happy and impressed i am with this pedal!!
 
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Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

Actually, I'm waiting to purchase the Barber Tone Press (as soon as it's in stock). As good a compressor as the Keeley but much cheaper!
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

I really tried to like the LTD, but I ended up using it only as a boost(vol maxed/gain min)and it worked well in that mode for me. But my Box of Rock is killing everything else on my board for od and versatility. The LTD, sadly is gone forever.
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

I used to own a Barber Tone Press. Absolutely the most awesome compressor I ever played. Unfortunately i kind of found out compressors weren't really for me in a live setting but that didn't stop me from digging this one.
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

Actually, I'm waiting to purchase the Barber Tone Press (as soon as it's in stock). As good a compressor as the Keeley but much cheaper!

If you want a pretty killer compreson that will knock the Keeley out of the park for not a lot of green, look around for a used Teese/RMC FK-1 compressor. It's the size of a Phase 90 and has 2 controls...great comp pedal and was pretty afforadable when it was new, they shouldn't be bad at all, short of that I'd get an HBE comp or one of (or both of) the AnalogMan comps.
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

The Tone Press is on all the time when I play clean. Staying with me for good. I have the Direct Drive too, very good OD. I think Barber makes great pedals.
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

the DD is one of the very few pedals I've sent back. Even though it's a GP Editors' Pick, all those descriptions of "lack of compression artifacts" and "tranparency" just resulted in "lack of character" for me.

what works for you often depends on your gear and style of music, but I've noticed that players on forums often rave about a pedal without mentioning their gear & playing style. When it comes to ODs, most players usually want a clean boost with humbuckers, and something that boosts mids with single coils. The same pedal set differently might work for both, and might not.

there are certainly a lot of Barber fans out there ... they're well made pedals, reasonably priced. But when I read the descriptions, it seems like most of the ODs are optimised for humbuckers.
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

I really tried to like the LTD, but I ended up using it only as a boost(vol maxed/gain min)and it worked well in that mode for me. But my Box of Rock is killing everything else on my board for od and versatility. The LTD, sadly is gone forever.

*lol* I`m the opposite....i really wanted to like the ZVex stuff but found alot of their pedals unusable,especially the Fuzz Factory!
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

*lol* I`m the opposite....i really wanted to like the ZVex stuff but found alot of their pedals unusable,especially the Fuzz Factory!

:fing2:I can't comment on any other Zvex pedals other than the BOR, but I'm sure that can be said of any manufacturer. There are so many great pedals out there, but they all don't work with your particular gear. My buddy, who now has the LTD, just loves it with his set up.
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

:fing2:I can't comment on any other Zvex pedals other than the BOR, but I'm sure that can be said of any manufacturer. There are so many great pedals out there, but they all don't work with your particular gear. My buddy, who now has the LTD, just loves it with his set up.

True!
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

i have an ltd and its my favorite drive pedal. low gain for sure, i think my ts has more gain on tap. the trick for me is running it at 18v. at 9v its a cool pedal but didnt knock my socks off. at 18v there is more headroom and less coloration of the tone, the internal trim pots are very useful in tayloring the tone to sound like an extension of the amp rather than a pedal.
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

I've got an old Direct Drive. I initially got it for being the main overdrive for my old Showman. In that respect it failed miserably. It doesn't sound "just like an amp." Then again, I have yet to find a pedal that does.

What the Direct Drive does do is give you a nice boost and OD on top of an already driven sound. It's my most used pedal for either a clean boost or a little hair on the signal. It doesn't really compress like most other OD/Dist. pedals- which is a godsend.

My only complaint about it is that I wish it had a bit more bottom end- which, as I understand, is part of the newer Direct Drives.

normal_directdrive.jpg
 
Re: Any Barber effects pedal fans?

i use mine like that too so its used as a boost rather than a 'stand alone get all my dirt from the pedal' pedal.
my ltd does not lack bottom end at all
 
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