Barber OD Pedals?

ZoSo0789

ZoSo0789

New member
Okay, though I don't have a GOOD tube amp yet to really make up my mind, I've been running my TS9DX into some of my friends and neighbor's tube amps, and I'm still not that impressed with it. I've been running it into a clean Valvtronix (the Fender models mainly) which I've never been impressed with. But I figured it was the digital junk, but even through normal tube amps, it has swept me away yet. I'm beginning to think that Tubescreamers just aren't quite what I'm looking for.

I listened to a few clips of a Barber Direct Drive, and I LOVED it. The additional fat switch sounded wonderful on leads and it had a nice buttery smooth thick and warm overdrive that just sounded great. It was transparent, open, not compressed, even tonal spectrum, just overall awesome. One vid on Youtube had it set up on this awesome low gain bluesy growl while doing some double stops and such and it sounded awesome.

I later read that the Barber LTD is specifically MADE for low and medium gain bluesy stuff, but I havent heard much from it and it doesn't seem to have as many "features" that the Direct Drive does in terms of versatility and such.

I'm look for a low to medium gain pedal that is transparent, organic, smooth, clear and articulate, and can put that warm thick bluesy growl on the solos and chop nicley on rhythm stuff. Which one of those should I be looking at more? I love the sound of that fat boost on the Direct Drive, but the LTD doesn't have that feature. What are some opinions on these?

Are there any other pedals like these I should look into some also?
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

Note: not that I'll get one prolly until I get my new amp, but I've been scanning around since I've just about givin up trying to get what I'm trying to force my TS9DX to do.... which it apparently can't do. Too much of a mid spike to where it sound almost honky, compressed to hell, just doesn't sound great to me; not quite what I'm looking for in a OD pedal. Since I'm running 'buckers in front of it, maybe that's the problem since it seems more taylored to fill out single coils
 
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Re: Barber OD Pedals?

there have been threads about barbers in the past. my ltd run at 18v is my favorite drive. fairly transparent, articulate, and organic. with the two internal controls you can really taylor the sound to your amp and guitar
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

Barber makes good stuff! The Direct Drive is a better all around OD (more gain, more tonal variation with the pull on the tone) and the LTD is better if you want a light-medium OD.

My offer still stands if you want to try any of my ODs......I really like the M.I. Audio stuff....it is priced very low for the quality of the build and the tones they produce.
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

jeremy said:
there have been threads about barbers in the past. my ltd run at 18v is my favorite drive. fairly transparent, articulate, and organic. with the two internal controls you can really taylor the sound to your amp and guitar
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yeah I know you have a LTD, but the search function tosses out the "LTD" part so it comes up with a bunch of threads about nothing mainly. So I can't really find any good opinions on LTDs or Direct Drives really; like no reviews or anything. I just find a recommendation or two mostly
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

not sure why, they make good stuff that isnt too pricey. the only ones ive spent any real time with were the small fry and the ltd, both were cool but the ltd suits my needs better. at 9v its a really good ts type thing with less of a mid hump and the adjustable treble and bass on the inside which is great for matching it with different guitars and amps. i dont want it to sound like i stepped on a pedal, i want it to sound like i added more gain to the amp.

at 18v you get a little less gain overall but a more organic, transparent, amp like sound. never tried the small fry at 18v.
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

I have a DDSS (which I think is now the standard Direct Drive) and I love it. Goes from mellow OD to almost distortion. Works great as a boost for a cranked amp as well. Very versitile, I'd recommend a DD over an LTD for the most options tonewise. I also have a Barber Tone Press and Launch Pad, all of his stuff is top notch!!

Cheers,

CJ
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

I had a Direct drive and an LTD. They both seemed TS based with a littlle less mid hump...The DD can be Marshally or can be Dumble-esque if the tone knob is pulled. They are solidly built, very reasonable priced and sound good...like I said earlier in the thread, I prefer the MI Audio stuff..YMMV.

ZoSo...I would settle on an amp before I started trying ODs....One OD will sound great through one amp and sound like poo through another.
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

from what ive heard of the direct drive (besides it sounds awesome) it sounds more marshally vs the more fendery ltd
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

If you're looking for a pedal that's great for blues, you might want to check out a Lovepedal Eternity. It has everything that you mentioned. The BJFE Honey Bee is also a wonderful one, but you'd have to snag one on Ebay since Bjorn isn't building them currently.
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

Bro, let me tell you this...I know pedals are a lot less cash than amps and you have something in your sighte but buying a pedal knowing down the road you're gonna switch your amp up is a bad move...make sure you have the amp/guitar combo nailed down before you strat trying to add the pedals and such...just my 2 cents, take it or leave it.

Also, on the Barber front the DD left me flat but some bguys really do love it...
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

the guy who invented fire said:
Bro, let me tell you this...I know pedals are a lot less cash than amps and you have something in your sighte but buying a pedal knowing down the road you're gonna switch your amp up is a bad move...make sure you have the amp/guitar combo nailed down before you strat trying to add the pedals and such...just my 2 cents, take it or leave it.

Also, on the Barber front the DD left me flat but some bguys really do love it...
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah I'm aware of that. I know it's basically useless to do stuff until the amp is picked and a guitar that's pup-swapped and really gets along well with the amp and whatnot

But no matter the amp (and I've tried... oh.. 5 or 6)I use my TS9DX with, I still can't get ANY sound of it that is even closely relative to what I'm looking for. And if I were to get the Barber, the price is almost an even trade, so it's not like I'd really be spending anything. With not paying anything on it, getting a new toy, and trying out another sound even without my amp I'm looking to buy; I'm still in a no-lose situation

But yes, without the amp it is kinda pointless. This is kinda just me looking for a new toy in a sense without giving up anything
 
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Re: Barber OD Pedals?

have you looked into getting your TS9DX modded? JHS pedals does great work, and not to mention analog man. FXdoctor is good too!
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

Zoso, just get rid of that TS9 DX, and get a Barber DD and a LTD, and you'll be set.

the DD is a GREAT great pedal, great company, great service, great tones.

For something a LITTLE more drastic and, dare I say, "80's rock" sounding, the MI Crunch Box is very marshally, but not nearly as versatile as the Barber DD.
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

ZoSo0789 said:
Oh, yeah I'm aware of that. I know it's basically useless to do stuff until the amp is picked and a guitar that's pup-swapped and really gets along well with the amp and whatnot

But no matter the amp (and I've tried... oh.. 5 or 6)I use my TS9DX with, I still can't get ANY sound of it that is even closely relative to what I'm looking for. And if I were to get the Barber, the price is almost an even trade, so it's not like I'd really be spending anything. With not paying anything on it, getting a new toy, and trying out another sound even without my amp I'm looking to buy; I'm still in a no-lose situation

But yes, without the amp it is kinda pointless. This is kinda just me looking for a new toy in a sense without giving up anything
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The TS9DX like any Tubecreamer, are the most misunderstood and mis-used pedals out there. A TS style pedal is NOT designed to go in front of a clean signal in the hopes that it will give you overdrive. I'm not saying that you are making that mistake, but most people who end up disliking them do so because they are unaware of how a TS is supposed to function.

A TS is supossed to go in front of an already overdriven amp, or as a boost for a OD-1 style pedal, such as a OCD. Keep your TS and use it as a lead boost. You'll be glad you did.
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

Here's my take on the Direct Drive.

I have one of the really early Direct Drives-

I got it to be the "drive" on my old Showman rig. It failed miserably.

What I liked about it is that it didn't compress your signal all to mush, like a TS-9 or SD-1 do.

What I didn't like is that it lacked the bottom end. I also don't like the location of the LED.

From what I'm aware- they corrected both issues in later versions of the pedal.

Since I no longer own the Showman, I've only been using it as a drive or a boost for solos- and it excels at that. I love the pedal- it's my main OD, and the only "effect" pedal that I always bring.
 
Re: Barber OD Pedals?

Eamonn said:
The TS9DX like any Tubecreamer, are the most misunderstood and mis-used pedals out there. A TS style pedal is NOT designed to go in front of a clean signal in the hopes that it will give you overdrive. I'm not saying that you are making that mistake, but most people who end up disliking them do so because they are unaware of how a TS is supposed to function.

A TS is supossed to go in front of an already overdriven amp, or as a boost for a OD-1 style pedal, such as a OCD. Keep your TS and use it as a lead boost. You'll be glad you did.
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Yeah, but running it into an already "overdriven" digital modeling amp doesn't work the same. You have to do it clean, other wise if the signal gets too high it'll overload the computer inside

And I've tried it the way you said to use it with normal tube amps, but I still don't get results I like that warrant me being happy with it
 
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