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Barber LTD SR Soundclips

icarussmicarus

icarussmicarus

Aug 28, 2007
719
3
Leeming, Western Australia
#1
Ok so I decided to do some soundclips for the Barber LTD SR.

I decided to do this for a few reasons, firstly someone asked for some and that pushed me to try and be helpful. If there was even 10% as many clips on this forum as ridiculous hyping of whatever has landed in someones possession lately, then we would be swimming in knowledge.

Secondly I realised lately I was slowly evolving from a casual lurker to an annoying plug-my-own-preference-whatever-I-own type poster. My post per day is getting close to 1! Not good. So I'm atleast providing audio evidence of why I like this pedal :p

Background to the Barber - I've had the Barber for about a year as my OD pedal without a single switch. It replaced the Blueberry I had which I also loved and I credit for helping me discover what OD sound I personally enjoy.

It is a power-amp like distortion pedal IMHO. It is touch responsive, it's not annoying and fizzy like alot of overdrives, and it has a fairly flat EQ response. This means no annoying loss of lows and no clanky mids/highs. You do have the option to dial in more of those things If you like though to a certain extent. It ranges from dirty boost to about mid gain overdrive and whilst it's more well known for light drive, I think it kills in all settings because even when you crank it up it retains note definition and crunch without harsh fizzy clipping. It doesn't get into singing sustainy distortion area, something that too many overdrive pedals attempt to do at higher gain and end up sounding like something not very natural and not very amp like.

Recording Signal is my Jazz Bass loaded with Dimarzio Model J's (this basically means it's not as snappy as the average J, has a bit of extra low heft and less highs, heading towards a P sound). -> Into the barber -> my GK 1001-II and 4x10 Cab (note its solid state) -> Miked by a MXL 2006 (cheapest condensor ever!) into a cheapy Lexicon USB interface. It's running into the insanely powerful Audacity, so you can imagine how much I tweaked the soundclips :p My suggestion is to turn your speakers up slightly to overcome the low volume of the recordings.

Sorry if there aren't enough clips, I take ages to think of things worth recording for these events. I resisted the urge to resort to covers for these demos :p


Just Barber LTD SR Clips

Light Gain - Fingerstyle
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324897

Light Gain - Pick
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324894

Medium Gain - Fingerstyle
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324896

Medium Gain - Pick
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324893

High Gain - Fingerstyle
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324898

High Gain - Pick
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324895

Despite being known for low gain sounds, with CACG tuning and high gain settings, its quite lovely for some stoner rock.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324899


Barber LTD SR + Other Effects

First just OC-2 then some Barber kicked in for added Awesome
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324900

First just EHX XO BMS then the Barber is added for crunch. Often the choice would be to add a fuzz, but that can lead to too much fizz. The barber gives a nice extra punch and crunch without destroying the synth sound.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8324892


More clips from the past

Recent clip I did with the Barber and the EHX Memory Boy - from one of my bands songies.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=8011948

Ok so here's a cover... Barber plus Echobox from a while back
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7659995

Here is a hell old clip I made just before I sold my Blueberry to show the Barber LTD SR copping a similar (both awesome) tone.
Clean - then Barber - then Blueberry.
http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7330145
 
#2
Excellent clips! I bought my LTD on TB as well after listening to several clips including yours (when you compared it to the Blueberry).

I have replaced Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive with the Barber. Sometimes I wish LTD had more gain, sometimes I wish it had more punch (like the Sparkle Drive, because it allowed you to blend clean signal) but usually I just step on the LTD and let it roll. I am also a set-and-forget kind of guy, I don't tweak things during shows, so a 3 knob pedal like the LTD SR is perfect for me!
 
#3
open_space said:
Excellent clips! I bought my LTD on TB as well after listening to several clips including yours (when you compared it to the Blueberry).

I have replaced Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive with the Barber. Sometimes I wish LTD had more gain, sometimes I wish it had more punch (like the Sparkle Drive, because it allowed you to blend clean signal) but usually I just step on the LTD and let it roll. I am also a set-and-forget kind of guy, I don't tweak things during shows, so a 3 knob pedal like the LTD SR is perfect for me!
Click to expand...

I bought mine after hearing some sick clips by jetpackbassist here on tb (who now has a different handle I can't remember at all). I've never found myself needing more punch out of it, probablly cos my GK is fairly punchy. Also when I need more gain I stack in into my fuzz pedal.
 
#4
Thanks for the clips. That sounds very good, very clear and transparent. I have to say the Blueberry sounds like it has a little more depth to me, if that means anything. It just sounds a bit more like an amp vs. a pedal.
 
#5
i was listening to your clips of the blueberry last night, as a matter of fact. it seems to have a bit more high-end than the barber, but maybe an eq pedal could help with that? but the barber is less than half the cost of a used blueberry and much more available.
 
#6
Brad Barker said:
i was listening to your clips of the blueberry last night, as a matter of fact. it seems to have a bit more high-end than the barber, but maybe an eq pedal could help with that? but the barber is less than half the cost of a used blueberry and much more available.
Click to expand...

Actually thats just due to 3 things.

1 - my strings are alot deader than around the time I made the blueberry clips

2 - I dial the tone back a bit more on the barber for personal preference, it is easily capable of more highs than the blueberry (which is reknown for rolling them off).

3 - I recorded the Barber with a condensor and the blueberry line in. I like the sound of my condensor, but its quite cheap so it darkens the sound just a tad.

If the only thing stopping you is wanting more highs, then don't get a blueberry :P My clips of the blueberry are sortof unrepresentative in a way, because I had to crank the tone to get the highs that present. The barber fairs better in a band mix and sounds great, but I still love the sound of the blueberry too. But I'm not rolling in dosh, so my effects ownage is quite utilitarian, I don't just collect like alot here are abale to do.

EDIT:

Just thought of a reason 4.

4 - When I recorded the Blueberry clips I'm about 95% certain I didn't have the DiMarzio Model J's in my Jazz yet. These boost lows and cut highs!
 
#7
Swift713 said:
Thanks for the clips. That sounds very good, very clear and transparent. I have to say the Blueberry sounds like it has a little more depth to me, if that means anything. It just sounds a bit more like an amp vs. a pedal.
Click to expand...

Das cool. I think they overlap slightly but are generally different beasts. To get them to sound similar in that clip I had the gain on the barber well up and the tone rolled far down to get it darker. By contrast I rolled the tone way up on the blueberry and the gain down. So theres tons of area both of them don't cover. But my favourite blueberry setting is coppable by the Barber, and the Barber sounds better in a band, so thats what I'm using.

As I say, after going from the graininess of the English Muff'n, owning the blueberry taught me what I wanted out of an OD pedal an the Barber ticks all the boxes.
 
#8
icarussmicarus said:
Actually thats just due to 3 things.

1 - my strings are alot deader than around the time I made the blueberry clips

2 - I dial the tone back a bit more on the barber for personal preference, it is easily capable of more highs than the blueberry (which is reknown for rolling them off).

3 - I recorded the Barber with a condensor and the blueberry line in. I like the sound of my condensor, but its quite cheap so it darkens the sound just a tad.

If the only thing stopping you is wanting more highs, then don't get a blueberry :P My clips of the blueberry are sortof unrepresentative in a way, because I had to crank the tone to get the highs that present. The barber fairs better in a band mix and sounds great, but I still love the sound of the blueberry too. But I'm not rolling in dosh, so my effects ownage is quite utilitarian, I don't just collect like alot here are abale to do.

EDIT:

Just thought of a reason 4.

4 - When I recorded the Blueberry clips I'm about 95% certain I didn't have the DiMarzio Model J's in my Jazz yet. These boost lows and cut highs!
Click to expand...

well, i was comparing the tones of the barber and the blueberry in the recording where you play clean/barber/blueberry. figure that's more apples-to-apples.

i'm going to have to try out a barber soon. :hmm:

love your playing, btw. :cool:
 
#9
Brad Barker said:
well, i was comparing the tones of the barber and the blueberry in the recording where you play clean/barber/blueberry. figure that's more apples-to-apples.

i'm going to have to try out a barber soon. :hmm:

love your playing, btw. :cool:
Click to expand...

Ah... I'm silly.


EDIT - In that comparison clip I rolled the tone way down, lower than I ever have it, to get it more thumpy like the blueberry. So theres plenty more highs available, too much if you start turning the tone way up imho (it is a guitar pedal afterall).
 
#10
Those are great clips man. After listening to many clips and playing/owning a handful of pedals, the DHA MK3/VT1 (though I only use the VT1 settings) was my final choice, but the Barber LTD is one pedal that gives me pause to challenge that decision.
 
#12
The Barber sounds very nice and is probably more versatile than the Blueberry in that it seems to have a flatter response and more high end. I find the Blueberry has a somewhat narrow response like a vintage amp. I've thought of replacing it because I could get a Barber plus about $150 for it but it just hits my ear just right. I'm very lucky to have it.
 
#13
Quit telling everyone about my secret weapon! :ninja:

Seriously though, I read up on these online about a year ago (before most of TB was aware) and guitar store that was very local happens to stock barber stuff. I went in and tried it out and was basically floored by how good it sounds.

It sounds a lot better in front of a tube amp than my English Muff'n did. Cuts through remarkably well and has no affect on the low end of my tone.

It's very grindy and sweet sounding without being buzzy at all. This and my boss PS-3 are the only pedals that i know I could NEVER part with.

Great clips!
 
#14
I have tried forever to find an overdrive that I really liked. Well, I loved the Blueberry but (1) it was an expensive pedal and I wasn't using it often enough to justify the cost and (2) it really colored my tone in a great way but also in a way that made it very different from my normal tone.

These days my GAS list is tiny but the LTD SR and the the new Subdecay Quasar are at the top and highlighted.
 
#16
Keep in mind that there are internal trimpots in all the LTD models to adjust the bass and presence. It really is very flexible. Not to mention that it is very well built, readily available, and affordable.

Some puddin':
2563166586_6fce7d9e38.png
 
#18
Sounds excellent IMO. I had a Bad Monkey and thought it sucked, well, monkey butt. But the LTD SR sounds smooth and low without being obnoxiously fizzy. At least in your clips. Good playing, too, which helps make the pedal sound better, as well. ;) Seriously.
 
#19
gastric said:
Sounds excellent IMO. I had a Bad Monkey and thought it sucked, well, monkey butt. But the LTD SR sounds smooth and low without being obnoxiously fizzy. At least in your clips. Good playing, too, which helps make the pedal sound better, as well. ;) Seriously.
Click to expand...

Cheers, Funny thing is it's one of those pedals that sounds so cool on that you just play anything, actually took some thought to come up with riffs instead of just continuing my stupid wankery :p
 
#20
Mr. Pickles said:
Keep in mind that there are internal trimpots in all the LTD models to adjust the bass and presence. It really is very flexible. Not to mention that it is very well built, readily available, and affordable.
Click to expand...

I have turned off the presence internal trim pot on mine and maxed the bass trimpot. This way I can now use the tone control on the pedal to adjust to different amps (I play on rented backlines mostly). I mostly set mine up as follows:

volume - 10 o'clock
tone - noon
gain - 2 o'clock

This way I get a nice low gain overdrive.
 

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