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Post by mikep47 on Oct 9, 2006 14:08:45 GMT -7
I have been looking at Barber Electronics Pedals as of late.The Small Fry and The Tone Press and have never tried either of them.But have read good reviews on these.Have any of you tried any of these pedals and if so what do you guys think.I play anything from Brad Paisley style Tele country to SRV style Strat blues through my RXES combo.Would these compliment my style and setup?
Any help is appreciated.
Mike......................
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Post by johnnyl on Oct 9, 2006 14:50:40 GMT -7
Hi Mike, I have a Direct Drive and I can't get enough of the thing. I haven't tried either of the 2 you've mentioned but I've heard good things about them. You might give the DD a shot as well. It's a TS variant but it's got such a nice open sound (not too much mid hump). It also very tweakable (lots of pots and knobs inside that you can adjust). It does a great blues and rock tone with my Ghia. It also cleans up nicely for country tones. All for around $100. I've gotta try some more of these Barber pedals...
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Post by quinto on Oct 9, 2006 15:58:25 GMT -7
I have a Direct Drive also and it is great. I did try out a Small Fry when I bought the other and it is cool too. I ended up with a MI Audio Crunch Box for heavy stuff instead of the Small Fry.
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Post by tjstrat on Oct 10, 2006 2:24:39 GMT -7
I've owned the old 4 knob Burn Unit, multiple DDs and even a DDSS; fine, fine pedals, a little sterile to my ears but YMMV. I will also say that I had early versions of the DD (one of the first 100 or so, and then later versions that still had the push/pull pot on top). I have a Clark Gainster, built by Dave Barber, that sent my Zendrive and Timmy pedals off to eBay. DEFINITELY all worth a look though.
The old Burn Unit didn't clean up real well with my guitar's volume, but the Small Fry may not suffer from that problem.
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Post by ruger9 on Oct 10, 2006 3:33:02 GMT -7
I have a Black LTD and a Tone Press. Barber stuff is top-notch... even if he doesn't charge top-notch prices. Have nothing but great things to say about Barber.
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Post by toneking on Oct 10, 2006 7:06:30 GMT -7
I have a three DD's and a Silver LTD, they all sound great and the price is right. You can pay more, but you want hear anything better. These pedals are so transparent that if your strings are dead, you'll here it. Make sure you demo these pedals with fresh strings.
TK
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Post by (8^D) on Oct 10, 2006 13:13:50 GMT -7
The Barber pedals are really good. And, all are well built and priced nice! Pretty transparent, maybe a bit sterile as noted, but really nice. The DD can get the less-effected TS9 sound (SRV) or pull up the mid-boost and get a superb early EVH Brown sound (rodded-marshall!). Pretty versatile unit. Tone Press is a cool pedal...like the Sparkle Drive of compressors. Great sounding and nicely priced. If you purchase used you'll definately be able to get your money back.
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Post by dock66 on Oct 10, 2006 14:10:00 GMT -7
Sounds like Barber makes some nice stuff,I might have to check them out.Thanks guys.
dock66
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nick
Full Member
Posts: 136
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Post by nick on Oct 10, 2006 14:46:12 GMT -7
I've got a Tone Press that I think came from someone here. I don't remember exactly, but I didn't pay much for it, and it's fine. I've been wanting to try the DD for a while, as I'm tired of the Analogman SD-1.
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karlo
Junior Member
eleven. exactly. one louder.
Posts: 60
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Post by karlo on Oct 13, 2006 13:44:31 GMT -7
I have both the Tone Press and the Small Fry; they're fantastic pedals. I run them with my Maz Jr. 210. I really don't need high gain at all in my playing, so the Small Fry does just fine, low - med gain. The Tone Press I use with both my Tele and my acoustics (guitar & mandolin). The parallel compression is nice...I use it to fatten things out just a touch and add some sustain. The parallel knob keeps the pick attacks nicely. For under $150 each, I haven't found anything yet that I really like better.
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Post by Lefty on Oct 13, 2006 14:30:01 GMT -7
I've had the Direct Drive a few times (3), the original Burn Unit, and the Barber version of the Gainster. Ended up selling them all off at one point in time. Great pedals for the $$.
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nick
Full Member
Posts: 136
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Post by nick on Oct 14, 2006 10:25:30 GMT -7
Does anybody have experience with the Direct Drive and a modded SD-1? I want to try the Direct Drive, but I'm not sure if there is going to be much difference between the two.
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Post by Lefty on Oct 14, 2006 12:25:26 GMT -7
A lot of difference IMHO. But it depends on the mods of the SD-1. The DD has more gain.
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Post by tjstrat on Oct 14, 2006 22:14:47 GMT -7
I've had the Direct Drive a few times (3), the original Burn Unit, and the Barber version of the Gainster. Ended up selling them all off at one point in time. Great pedals for the $$. I think Barber and Mike Clark REALLY got it right with the Gainster. I looked at this one a long time figuring, eh, just one more OD making a lot of promises, but traded a Power Screamer for it, played it a few nights through my Zs, and just fell in love. Doesn't have the odd hi fi thing that the Direct Drive has to my ears, and felt much more organic to me than either the Zen or the Timmy. AND they're fairly inexpensive and there's no waiting list. To my humble ears the Gainster is a real serious player in medium gain pedals, and a real steal.
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Post by travsbluz on Oct 15, 2006 19:38:52 GMT -7
I was wondering where I could find some information on the Clark Gainster??
I have the Direct Drive, which I like alot with my RX ES. I swapped out the Op-Amp for a OP 2064 (I think that was the model #) I can't exactly tell you why I like that particular op amp better. It just "feels" right in that pedal.
I tried four other op-amps in it, and that's the one that just seemed to work best for me.
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Post by tjstrat on Oct 16, 2006 4:14:18 GMT -7
I was wondering where I could find some information on the Clark Gainster?? I have the Direct Drive, which I like alot with my RX ES. I swapped out the Op-Amp for a OP 2064 (I think that was the model #) I can't exactly tell you why I like that particular op amp better. It just "feels" right in that pedal. I tried four other op-amps in it, and that's the one that just seemed to work best for me. Harmony Central, but they're also sold through The Perfect Note... Google the name and you'll get a hit right away. There are some clips there that don't really do the pedal justice.
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Post by Lefty on Oct 16, 2006 6:07:07 GMT -7
I always felt the odd "Hi-Fi" thing with the DD too. As for the Gainster, I had an original one and the Barber Gainster and the difference was night and day. The orginal one I had, had more gain and was a bit "rawer" than the Barber Gainster. I thought it was so weird I sent back the first one thinking something was wrong with it and got a 2nd one. Same thing. I would of kept the original one but the size was an issue.
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Post by (8^D) on Oct 16, 2006 18:11:29 GMT -7
Does anybody have experience with the Direct Drive and a modded SD-1? I want to try the Direct Drive, but I'm not sure if there is going to be much difference between the two. To me, the Barber DD has a more classic rock/blues application where the Keeley SD1 has a more modern rock flavor. The Direct Drive has 2 characters: 1 - TS9 with a smaller mid-hump. Compressed, smooth OD. 2 - Marshall/Dumble Drive. More open, less compressed. Bit more hair, but a warmer overall tone. Really close to an early Van Halen Brown sound w/the gain up. DD can be a little sterile/thin in the low end. Keeley SD1 has 2 characters: 1 - a more modern take on the TS9...not near the mid hump, but s similar character OD...fairly smooth, with a little more hair. Nice full range tone. 2 - really gainy and compressed tone. Super for fusion/sweep picking. Strong low end. The Keeley SD1 has quite a bit more gain on tap than the Barber DD. Definately different animals.
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Post by tjstrat on Oct 17, 2006 2:21:25 GMT -7
The sterile/thin thing you talk about may be what i call the hi fi effect.. The DD seems (in spite of what I hear from a lot of folks... just MY ears here) very... clean and artificial? It doesn't seem to integrate with the sound of the amp. I can never put my finger on it, but after owning 4 of them I just couldn't ever get the sound I was looking for... The Clark nails it though, for some reason, and Tim Jauernig's DGTM is the pedal the Direct Drive should be... again, to my ears. Dave Barber is a GREAT and responsive customer service guy and builds great effects, but that my ears usually can't get around. Just me and my opinion.
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Post by Lefty on Oct 17, 2006 7:17:00 GMT -7
The sterile/thin thing you talk about may be what i call the hi fi effect.. The DD seems (in spite of what I hear from a lot of folks... just MY ears here) very... clean and artificial? It doesn't seem to integrate with the sound of the amp. I can never put my finger on it, but after owning 4 of them I just couldn't ever get the sound I was looking for... The Clark nails it though, for some reason, and Tim Jauernig's DGTM is the pedal the Direct Drive should be... again, to my ears. Dave Barber is a GREAT and responsive customer service guy and builds great effects, but that my ears usually can't get around. Just me and my opinion. +1, David is a great guy A#1...the DD kinda sits "on top" of my tone instead of becoming part of it.
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Post by (8^D) on Oct 17, 2006 9:54:11 GMT -7
The sterile/thin thing you talk about .. The DD seems (in spite of what I hear from a lot of folks... just MY ears here) very... clean and artificial? +1, David is a great guy A#1...the DD kinda sits "on top" of my tone instead of becoming part of it. Lefty, good descriptor, "artificial". Seemed to have a definate solidstate vibe. And, another +1 for David. Replies to emails quick, answers questions, etc. Do know he relocated business operations this summer which may have slowed things down a bit, but should be up and running as usual by now.
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nick
Full Member
Posts: 136
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Post by nick on Oct 17, 2006 15:29:58 GMT -7
Dan - PM sent
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Post by (8^D) on Oct 17, 2006 19:50:10 GMT -7
Nick - back at'cha.
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