Anyone still using the Barber Linden EQ?

[TwototheValley]

I was moving the Linden around in my signal chain yesterday trying to streamline my pedalboard and keep it very minimalist.

I can seem to approximate quite a few of the Linden tones using the SVPre I have on there as well, and given I have the SLO with the B15 cabsim, am still debating whether the Linden may be redundant .

I was interested in knowing whether the Linden is still a staple on people's boards, or if some have replaced it with other pedals or pedal combos, and if so, what they may be?

 

[40Hz]

Still regularly using mine.

The Linden sounds and behaves very much like a B-15N with some additional tone shaping capabilities. It does not sound anything like an SVT to my ears, which I gather is what the Broughton SV-Pre’s target sound is?

It doesn't do cab sims. So there’s no redundancy there if you’re using any.

 

[TwototheValley]

I was just experimenting to see how close I can get to the Linden by running the SVPre into the SLO with the B15 cabsim engaged? I know they're meant to emulate two very different amps, but was trying to determine whether I can get close enough relying on some EQing from the SLO?

Probably tricky since the Linden and SLO have different tonestacks. I've ABed them can can get pretty close in certain departments, but it may ultimately be a futile exercise. Would a good parametric EQ be able to cover the same ground as the Linden but with added versatility? Or is the Linden too much of it's "own thing", beyond just having a Baxandall tone stack?

 

[40Hz]

Or is the Linden too much of it's "own thing", beyond just having a Baxandall tone stack?

Well, a Baxandall (or James) stack is a pretty significant difference that goes beyond “just.” You can’t exactly duplicate its mid boost/cut and curve with a parametric EQ AFAIK.

The two toggle switches on the Linden Compact also push it up a whole other level as far as tone shaping goes.

To me it’s pretty unique sounding. But I’m really into the baxandall “thing” since my first amp had a bax stack. And how that works kind of shaped my bass sound at an early stage in my development so to speak. So I might be guilty of a little prejudice when it comes to that.

 

[Al Kraft]

Years ago I almost sprung for one but bought an Xotic Bass RC Booster instead. According to Xotic they use a Bax style EQ and I really like how musical a simple (just two controls) EQ like that is. To my ears there are very few EQ designs that are as inherently musical as a Baxandall style EQ circuit.

Short of Ampeg on the B-15, I don't think anyone does justice to that original design as well as Barber...albeit the Xotic Bass RC comes close IMO.

 

[bassbrad]

The Barber Linden sounds great and is a fine take on the Ampeg version of the Bax stack in the "B" series amplifiers but there are other versions. The Peter Baxandall simple tone circuit is ubiquitous and there are hundreds of versions in all sorts of electronics. That was the inspiration for Fuzzrocious' Baxstabber pedal

 

[cosmicevan]

Love my Linden!!!

 

[TwototheValley]

Love my Linden!!!

Well, waiting for a Ginger to arrive to pair with a Linden (and maybe a tube pedal) to see if I can simulate a B15 (or create a poor man's P15 pedal-board equivalent ) beyond merely the tone stack...

I'm using the original "big box" Linden....does anyone know how the actual EQ points of the first version differ from the second in terms of frequencies?

 

[Cracker7]

Recently got on the Linden train and lovin’ every second. Sounds so good.

 

[flatwound62p]

Can’t remember the last time I played without the Linden switched on. Even saved me a couple of times by pulling a decent sound out of very ordinary amps.

 

[jallenbass]

The Linden makes all of my amps sound better even before turning the knobs except for my Ampeg PF50-T. That head just can't sound any better than it already does.

 

[cosmicevan]

Well, waiting for a Ginger to arrive to pair with a Linden (and maybe a tube pedal) to see if I can simulate a B15 (or create a poor man's P15 pedal-board equivalent ) beyond merely the tone stack...

I'm using the original "big box" Linden....does anyone know how the actual EQ points of the first version differ from the second in terms of frequencies?

I often use the linden in place of the P15 when I didn't bother to fire up the P15

 

[Hot Rats]

Yes, I use it every day as the preamp for my DAW. Nothing I've tried sounds as beautiful.

 

[Al Kraft]

Still regularly using mine.

The Linden sounds and behaves very much like a B-15N with some additional tone shaping capabilities. It does not sound anything like an SVT to my ears, which I gather is what the Broughton SV-Pre’s target sound is?

It doesn't do cab sims. So there’s no redundancy there if you’re using any.

Have you ever used the Xotic RC Bass Bosster and if so, would you share your thoughts about it compares with the Linden? I bought an RC back when Barber had paused production of the Linden (which is what I really wanted) and am wondering if I should now jump on one or if it would be so close to the Xotic that I could safely pass and save a few dollars.

 

[40Hz]

Have you ever used the Xotic RC Bass Bosster and if so, would you share your thoughts about it compares with the Linden? I bought an RC back when Barber had paused production of the Linden (which is what I really wanted) and am wondering if I should now jump on one or if it would be so close to the Xotic that I could safely pass and save a few dollars.

I don’t have much experience with the Xotic RC unfortunately. So I couldn’t say for sure. But it does have a Baxandall EQ so I suspect the similarities between them are probably greater than the differences.

 

[Al Kraft]

I don’t have much experience with the Xotic RC unfortunately. So I couldn’t say for sure. But it does have a Baxandall EQ so I suspect the similarities between them are probably greater than the differences.

It's funny you mention the EQ because I actually wrote to Xotic about their EQ design before I ordered the pedal and they confirmed that it is a Baxandall design. As I listened to various other preamp/boost pedals it became obvious to me why I was drawn to the RC - it just had a clean, rich tone and a very musical EQ. While its EQ is not as powerful/dramatic as that on some other pedals, it always sounds inherently well-balanced to me.

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[40Hz]

It's funny you mention the EQ because I actually wrote to Xotic about their EQ design before I ordered the pedal and they confirmed that it is a Baxandall design. As I listened to various other preamp/boost pedals it became obvious to me why I was drawn to the RC - it just had a clean, rich tone and a very musical EQ. While its EQ is not as powerful/dramatic as that on some other pedals, it always sounds inherently well-balanced to me.

Thanks for the quick reply!

What can I say? Bax Rules!

I should get that made into a t-shirt.

 

[Bolsyo]

Still using mine, it's an always on thing, I absolutely love it! I am in the process of making my pedalboard with only self-made DIY pedals from scratch, but I just can't let the Linden go. Made a Ginger, but nope, the Linden sounds so much sweeter and has a lot more headroom, so it stays. Don't forget that while it runs on standard 9v, internally those are boosted to about 25v. I believe this must be a big part of the sweet tone it provides, with a lot of boost, headroom and toneshaping range.

 

[flatwound62p]

So how do you folks set your Linden? My knobs have stayed pretty much like this photo for a while, with the bass toggle set hard left (full). I set the other toggle hard left for fingers and switch to centre position for pick. Volume is set a little bit above unity.

 

[kranahan]

What are differences between the old and new ones besides the logo changes?