I want an "almost always on" pedal that captures a warm, clean, tubey tone. Essentially, the B-15 tone, but I don't need any of the "hair" or "fuzz", I just need a clean tone. I realize the Flipster has the tubiness that the Linden lacks, but it seems like the EQ on the Linden is "magic" based on the reviews other people have given. I know both have the Baxandall tonestack, but I was wondering if the Flipster is lacking any of "magic" that the Linden has. Are the bass and treble at the same frequency points, flat at noon, and the same amount of cut/boost? If the Flipster lacks any of this, I can buy the ART Tube Pre for 40 bucks to combine with the Linden. However, this would be less convenient. Thanks!
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Barber Linden EQ vs. OLC Flipster
- Thread starter Ryan Mohr
- Start date
I just bought the linden and soon I'm gonna get a tube pre, that art looks cool for how cheap it is if it sounds good.
The Art Tube Pre (and any other that runs off a wall wart) just isn't gonna be tubey enough. Tubes like to see current and some amperage before they behave in that saturated tubey way. Most of those ( including my somewhat beloved Presonus Tubepre) don't send enough juice to the tube to get it going. Is it a tube, yes. Does the tube have an influence on the sound, yes. Does it sound like a vintage tube piece of equipment, no. Most of the mini tube pres have the tube as window dressing. Some go as far as having a LED near or underneath the tube to help you see a glow and think, "we're really tubin' now". I run a Presonus Tubepre into a Linden and it sounds good. But the thing that makes that rig sound big is with out a doubt, the Linden. Running both into the poweramp in on a Studio220 into a Goliath jr 2 ten bottom sounds no greater or worse than just plugging into the 220 as a head. Both have tubes, and EQ, both sound good. The Linden is a great eq for adding low end into a signal, its not a magic bullet. I love mine but it pretty much stays busy at my home studio and doesn't get to travel much live.
I just got my linden as well. I also have the VT, but I was looking for a nice smooth eq to replace my sadowsky outboard which was a little brittle in the highs for my liking and while early days, I am hoping the linden and the VT can co-exist on my board with the VT offering up the grind when needed. Running my jazz and precision through the linden gives me more of the warmth I was looking for, as well as great lows - not to mention the ability to cut lows, not just boost. I guess I would describe it as kind of taking my tone, wrapping it up and giving it a nice warm hug before giving it a big boot up the backside down low.
Don't get me wrong, the sadowsky is a great piece of kit, but just not what I want in my live sound right now.
I own the Linden and have tried to chime in in all of the related threads to share my experiences. One thing I would note, that I haven't mentioned before, is that a little roll off on the Linden's treble gets me in the ballpark of the B-15N sound (i.e. the overall frequency range of it's tweeterless cab). So, the only thing missing here is the "tubeyness" factor of the fliptop's preamp.
Less is more, generally speaking. Sounds like the OLC Flipster fits your needs better as it would get you further along towards your tone goals than the Linden alone would. That way, you'd save the trouble of needing an additional tube pre in terms of pedalboard space and power requirements.
Good luck.
Less is more, generally speaking. Sounds like the OLC Flipster fits your needs better as it would get you further along towards your tone goals than the Linden alone would. That way, you'd save the trouble of needing an additional tube pre in terms of pedalboard space and power requirements.
Good luck.
This is my school of thought as well, but I have listened to a lot of Flipster soundclips, and they all have a little hair. Maybe I could get rid of this by turning the gain to around 9 o'clock or lower, but maybe it's just an inherent characteristic of the pedal to have a little hair.
I've owned an early 70s B-15N, Sunn Sceptre and Classic 400...
I'm pretty happy with my Flipster into a SS head and a tweeterless cab as a easy solution to that vintage warmth when needed.
I'm pretty happy with my Flipster into a SS head and a tweeterless cab as a easy solution to that vintage warmth when needed.
I'll try to record some 'just warmth' clips... but I work weekend so it won't be until mid week.
Thanks, clips would be much appreciated. Would it be possible to play for a few seconds with your dry tone, and then turn on the Flipster?
will do!
Mine was pre built. I also bought a kit (plain and unpainted) to build.
Yes... I bought the one I use on my board pre-built. OLC builds boutique pedals AND also sells them as unassembled / unfinished kits. The pre-builts come as pictured on the site.
I built the kit for a friend
Yeah I knew yours was pre-built, but I thought bongomania said he wasn't building them anymore.
I think they had some growing pains for a stretch a long while ago. They are definitely still doing pre-builts, I just got an Orange Peel a couple months ago.
I've been tearing my hair out trying to decide between a prebuilt Flipster or a Linden EQ. I'm wanting either to tame my modern active basses a bit when needed and give them more of a vintage vibe. A warm touch of hair on the tone is an added bonus, but I never use a bunch of over-drive, and have a SparkleDrive that handles my modern slight grindy type tones.
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From what I learned in this thread, the Flipster is gonna give you the B-15 tonestack and B-15 tube/speaker coloration, but the Linden is just gonna give you the B-15 tonestack, which isn't a bad thing but isn't gonna give you the tubey sound.
