Cheaper alternatives ot the Barber LTD SR?

gibsualdo · #1 01-05-2009, 10:25 PM

I'm after a nice overdrive pedal, that doesn't need to get too OTT dirty and doesn't boost any of the frequencies too much (if at all). Yet it still needs to keep any bass and mids, that the bypassed tone has. I think I've quite possibly found this in the Barber LTD SR, judging by reviews but was wondering if there was anything else cheaper out there that might do the job? £120 is a bit too much for me to spend on just one pedal right now, but unless I can find a cheaper alternative to the Barber I'm gonna do it anyway

I currently have 2 Sansamps (VT Bass and BDDI), so I'm not looking for any overdrive pedals like these, with all the emulation circuitry and what not. Just a basic OD pedal, that keeps all frequencies pretty flat and doesn't lose low end or mids. I'd just rather not have to fork out the money for a Barber just yet, if there are any cheaper options. Of course something cheaper may not necessarily perform as well, but I'm willing to make a compromise for the time being at least.

EDIT: I was just thinking, if I explain a little more it may help a bit. Basically, I'm using my Sansamp VT bass as an always on preamp (with just some mild OD). What I need is something, that wont colour the sound of the VT Bass much (if at all), but will increase the overdrive with a single stomp. Kind of like adding a clean boost, to a tube amp to drive the tubes harder when engaged (I think?).

Any suggestions most welcome.

Swift713 · #2 01-05-2009, 11:02 PM

Have you tried a clean boost?

4StringsEnough · #3 01-06-2009, 12:00 AM

The Modtone Dyno Drive is a fantastic lower-priced alternative. It goes from clean boost through to heavy overdrive. It has a wider range than the Barber but, at low-gain settings, sounds remarkably similar. All in a nano-sized pedal! Not to mention a blue LED so you know it sounds great!

gibsualdo · #4 01-06-2009, 12:45 AM

I've just been looking at the Humphrey Audio Badder Bass Monkey (modded Bad Monkey), sounds like this could maybe work well. Anyone know, if it's just modded to keep the low end, or if any other characeristics have been added? I'm wondering if similar results can be achieved, just by putting a regular Bad Monkey in a loop with an EQ pedal. I currently have a spare EQ and bypass looper doing nothing, that could be put to some use.

I was also looking at the VT1 Std Bass by Dave Hall Amps, anyone have an opinion on these?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swift713

Have you tried a clean boost?

Thanks, I did consider this, but I'm not sure that it'll drive the VT Bass into harsher overdrive. I know it's a tube amp emulator, but I don't know whether it actually behaves like tubes would in this respect or just sound the same but louder.

If I just buy something for a flat, but dirty boost, I'll have more options either way then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringsEnough

Not to mention a blue LED so you know it sounds great!

I'm sold LOL!

Seriously though, it sounds like this might be worth a shot at £50. Cheers for the suggestion

dannybuoy · #5 01-06-2009, 01:33 AM

Both are great choices and will do the job well. I love the DHA pedals, but sold mine because it was too big and had a huge power supply and I wanted to keep everything compact. The Bad Monkey isn't flat like the SR (it has a midrange boost) but it sounds so good in front of the VT Bass. The mid boost really helps you stand out in a full band mix when it's engaged!

Whaaaapsh · #6 01-06-2009, 01:39 AM

People have been comparing the new Transparent Overdrive from Danelectro to the SR LTD. I haven't played it (I get that sound on guitar from my Rat), but I have the Dano Drive and Vibe and they both kick ass.

gibsualdo · #7 01-06-2009, 02:21 AM

Argh decisions, decisions. Too many choices!

Thanks for the input folks

It seems the Dyno Drive, judging by reviews and clips, is a very good 808 clone. This would include the mid-boost, making it similar to the Bad Monkey. But I guess I'm not too fussed about that, since I can reduce them with my EQ pedal if need be. Might not even need to do that.

I can probably try both and send one back, so that's not a problem, same with the Dano (god I wish that pedal wasn't so damn ugly). Just wish I could do the same with the VT1 Std, that way I could compare them all at once. Guess I could still sell it on, for a few quid loss if I don't like it. I sense a possible 4 pedal shoot out review, in the not too distant future.

TaySte_2000 · #8 01-06-2009, 02:41 AM

Just checking you know the LTD SR is a Tubescreamer clone? so you can look at cheaper tubescreamers and just look for one with a flatter eq response.

Personally the Dod 250 is always worth a look in.

gibsualdo · #9 01-06-2009, 03:04 AM

Aye, I heard the LTD SR, was like a TS clone but without the mid-hump.

Cheers Tayste, I dunno how I hadn't thought of the 250, that'll definitely be worth a look too. I built a BYOC clone last year, but gave it to a mate, since I had no need for it back then. Typical really! Might be time to get the soldering iron back out.

Toasted · #10 01-06-2009, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TaySte_2000

Personally the Dod 250 is always worth a look in.

Big +1 to that.

ihateusernames · #11 01-06-2009, 06:28 PM

dod250 is a great cheap pedal, but sounds nothing like the ltd sr imho. oh, how could i forget - the modded bad monkey sounds even less like the sr.

Ryan Mohr · #12 01-07-2009, 07:14 PM

Danelectro Transparent Overdrive

gibsualdo · #13 01-08-2009, 01:22 AM

Well, I cracked and went for a second hand DHA VT1 Std Bass, £65 + postage on ebay. Should hopefully be here within the week.

Even if I like it enough to keep, I think I'll still get a Dyno Drive for g****r. I should at least be able to compare a couple that way.

gibsualdo · #14 01-10-2009, 07:38 AM

Well the DHA VT1 turned out to be a major disappointment, it doesn't play nicely at all with my active Spector. I spent ages, trying to get a good sound out of it, but to no avail. At low gain settings it wsn't too bad, but for my needs it failed miserably. I wanted to make the VT Bass sound like it does with the drive cranked, but with the drive flat on the VT Bass itself. God I wish they sold them with multiple preset switches.

I currently have 2 channels blended roughly 60/40 (60% clean+effects 40% grit), with a VT Bass in each channel. The VT Bass in the grit channel has the drive at about 2:30, the one in the clean+effects channel has the drive flat. I need something to put infront of the clean+effects VT Bass, to make it sound like the grit one with a single stomp.

Maybe I'll just get a third one, and another LS-2, so I can put one in each loop and A/B switch them for the clean+effects channel. It's just that 3 VT Basses and an LS-2 looped within another LS-2 all seems a bit excessive. Oh well, the search continues. I'm even worried a LTD SR wont be up to the job :/

dannybuoy · #15 01-10-2009, 09:37 AM

If you're in south west London, you're welcome to come and try out the Humphrey modded Bad Monkey! I set my VT for clean sounds and give it the ol' monkey boost when I want some grit. Sounds much better than having the VT set to a high gain setting, which sounds to mushy IMHO.

gibsualdo · #16 01-10-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannybuoy

If you're in south west London, you're welcome to come and try out the Humphrey modded Bad Monkey! I set my VT for clean sounds and give it the ol' monkey boost when I want some grit. Sounds much better than having the VT set to a high gain setting, which sounds to mushy IMHO.

Hey man, thanks very much for the offer

To be honest though, I think I've fallen too much in love now with the VT Bass, on both clean and dirt settings to substitute it for anything else.

I agree with you that it gets a bit mushy, but that's what I like about it. Everyone's tastes are different I guess. I've just spent the afternoon messing around with one of mine, and I've managed to nail the sound I've been after for a while now (basically the tone from the QOTSA first album). This is with just a single VT Bass, so I want to use the second, to blend with this on clean to have a mellow version of this tone. Then once I have my third one I can go from the mellower blended version, to the full-on version in a single stomp.

Now this is a tad complicated, but 've decided on getting an A-B-C box, since I want to use my GT2 as a seperate premap in the same way as the 3 VT Basses.

In my grit channel (mentioned above), I'll put a VT Bass with a nice amount of drive. Then in the clean+effects channel, I'll have an A-B-C box. Connected to outputs of the A-B-C box will be my GT2 (for nice OTT distortion, some might even say fuzz), one VT Bass (set the same as the one in the grit channel), and another VT Bass (with the drive flat). The three will then be connected to an active mixer. The grit and clean+effects channels will then each be put in a loop in my LS-2.

I've no idea how well this'll work, but I'm dead set on trying it anyway. Only one way to find out.

4StringsEnough · #17 01-10-2009, 04:37 PM

Three VT Bass's?

You'll have to post this on the post your pedalboard thread!

CuticleThorns · #18 01-10-2009, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

Well, I cracked and went for a second hand DHA VT1 Std Bass, £65 + postage on ebay. Should hopefully be here within the week.

Even if I like it enough to keep, I think I'll still get a Dyno Drive for g****r. I should at least be able to compare a couple that way.

are you Redzombie on basschat?

gibsualdo · #19 01-12-2009, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4StringsEnough

Three VT Bass's?

You'll have to post this on the post your pedalboard thread!

I'm not really into the whole "look at my 1337 pedals!" thing

but I guess I could make an exception when I get a third one.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CuticleThorns

are you Redzombie on basschat?

Yup, that's me. Hi John, cheers for sorting me out the cheap VT1

Unfortunately it wasn't really my cup of tea, but buying one was the only real way to eliminate GAS. I'm sure I'll find it a good home, it's not a bad pedal, just not the sound I'm looking for.

CuticleThorns · #20 01-12-2009, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gibsualdo

Yup, that's me. Hi John, cheers for sorting me out the cheap VT1

Unfortunately it wasn't really my cup of tea, but buying one was the only real way to eliminate GAS. I'm sure I'll find it a good home, it's not a bad pedal, just not the sound I'm looking for.

Sorry to hear that, I was convinced it would be the perfect always on pedal with my SS amp but now I use a Tube amp it became pretty much redundant.

Was very good at getting a warm tube amp sound though not great as cranked distortion.

Hope you don't have any problems selling it on.