Barge concepts vb-jr vs. boss ls-2?

[Flipper43]

Until i feel like lugging a bunch of amps around with my a/b/y box again to get a nice distorted/ clean sound, i want a mixer. I don't know how these things work, but i'm interested. If you all could tell me how these things work, and which is better for getting the amount of clean you want to blend into the sound it would be great.

[Spacelordmother]

You run your effects/tone sucker/bass sucker pedals in the loop, and then dial back in the desired amount of clean signal.

The LS-2 is way more complicated than that; use the TB google search and you can find loads of great information about it.

If you just want a clean blend, I would go with the Barge.

[Flipper43]

Originally Posted by Spacelordmother

If you just want a clean blend, I would go with the Barge.

Is it worth the extra money compared to the LS-2 in your opinion?

[gibsualdo]

Originally Posted by Spacelordmother

You run your effects/tone sucker/bass sucker pedals in the loop, and then dial back in the desired amount of clean signal.

The LS-2 is way more complicated than that; use the TB google search and you can find loads of great information about it.

If you just want a clean blend, I would go with the Barge.

When it comes to using the LS-2 for blending, you put your pedals in one of the loops (as you would with the Barge loop) and leave the other one free. Then use the two level controls (one for the empty loop and one for the loop with pedals) to get your desired amount of blend between the two. Way more complicated, sure

Of course, you may want true bypass, which the LS-2 doesn't have. However, when placing my LS-2 in a true bypass loop, I found the LS-2 did not affect my signal when bypassed

Personally, I think the basic Barge (without any extras) is a bit of a rip off. If you want to spend more on a blender than the price of an LS-2 (which I add does much more than just blend), I suggest you check out the Xotic X-Blender. That seems to at least have some extra functions, which could end up justifying the higher price.

[Spacelordmother]

Originally Posted by Flipper43

Is it worth the extra money compared to the LS-2 in your opinion?

Well, although most others don't seem to notice a tone loss while using the LS-2, I certainly did over time. It wasn't immediate, but I would grow less satisfied with my sound and taking out the LS-2 would immediately improve my perceptions. That is tragic though because I think the LS-2 is an AMAZING tool for blending/routing/effect switching.

YMMV.

[megadan]

The LS-2 seems like a pretty great tool but I like my Barge.
I went from using almost all my pedals in the loops, which seemed to give me some phase/volume drop issues, to just the ones that needed blended - namely my OD pedal (which sounded great before but even better with the blender)

[Jazz Ad]

Originally Posted by Spacelordmother

Well, although most others don't seem to notice a tone loss while using the LS-2, I certainly did over time. It wasn't immediate, but I would grow less satisfied with my sound and taking out the LS-2 would immediately improve my perceptions. That is tragic though because I think the LS-2 is an AMAZING tool for blending/routing/effect switching.

YMMV.

You'd experience exactly the same thing with the Barge. This is what happens when you add 4 buffers on the way of the signal.

[Flipper43]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

You'd experience exactly the same thing with the Barge. This is what happens when you add 4 buffers on the way of the signal.

So are you saying i should get the boss for a lower price? I'm only going to be using one pedal through it. (O.D.)

[Jazz Ad]

Both are good at what they do. The Boss does a lot more for less money, the Barge has a higher quality without a doubt.

[Flipper43]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

Both are good at what they do. The Boss does a lot more for less money, the Barge has a higher quality without a doubt.

Do you think with only one pedal in the chain the boss would make my signal sound that bad? I can dish out some extra cash and go for the Barge, but if i can get a good sound out of the boss than i won't bother. Plus i can't find anywhere to buy the Barge..

[gibsualdo]

Well, perhaps my ears just ain't as sensitive as some people, but I certainly can't detect any discrepancies. I went through all my pedals individually, using my true bypass looper, and while there were a couple of tone suckers, the LS-2 wasn't one of them.

One thing I've noticed, is that in these "Pedalboards of the Stars" threads on this and other forums, I see a fair few LS-2s, but have yet to spot a single Barge (or an X-Blender for that matter). The way I see it, if it's good enough for the pros, it's certainly good enough for me. Regardless, it does the job, so those threads are nothing more than just reassuring really lol

That said, if anyone pics of pro-boards with either a Barge or an X-Blender, I'd still be interested to see them.

[Nikoubis]

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

Well, perhaps my ears just ain't as sensitive as some people, but I certainly can't detect any discrepancies. I went through all my pedals individually, using my true bypass looper, and while there were a couple of tone suckers, the LS-2 wasn't one of them.

One thing I've noticed, is that in these "Pedalboards of the Stars" threads on this and other forums, I see a fair few LS-2s, but have yet to spot a single Barge (or an X-Blender for that matter). The way I see it, if it's good enough for the pros, it's certainly good enough for me. Regardless, it does the job, so those threads are nothing more than just reassuring really lol

That said, if anyone pics of pro-boards with either a Barge or an X-Blender, I'd still be interested to see them.

You also see loads of Boss tuners on "pro" boards, which, if you believe everything you read here, means that these pros are practically playing with horribly out-of-tune basses constantly.

[Jazz Ad]

Seasoned pros typically look for something that works well. They don't seek perfection for they know it's vain.
Who cares if the precious clean tone of your bass is changed in any way, as long as what comes out of the speakers sounds good.

[Spacelordmother]

Originally Posted by Jazz Ad

You'd experience exactly the same thing with the Barge. This is what happens when you add 4 buffers on the way of the signal.

Actually, I have a VFB-2 and I don't experience this.

[grovest]

I am a Barge "fan", but the fact that their site has been on hiatus for months now, and you could walk in to many music shops and buy an LS 2 with a return policy, has to weigh into the decision.