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Fairfield Circuitry - THE CLUB

#281
Well...the two new pedals in the home-lab. I have to say that while I really love the Barbershop, I'm also pretty impressed with the Accountant. It's just so easy to set-up and in its extreme settings it can make stuff sound like a really sticky summer day. So while I ordered the latter on a whim with the intention to just try it and send it back (since I already got the PWNZOR) both will stay. Bravo!

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#282
Received my first Fairfield pedal today - the new edition of the Barbershop. Only got to play for about 10 minutes tonight, but so far I'm really digging it. I've always heard that they were transparent, now I know just how much! Planning on it being an always on or nearly always on drive, perhaps with a boost before it to kick it up a bit when needed.

 
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#285
I had a quick question for you Fairfield gurus -

the "new" smaller enclosure Barbershop is the exact same circuit as the older larger version?

And have there been any reports of poppy footswitches in the newer ones? I had the older one and since it wasn't always on, I had to sell it as the pop was just too much for live use. Which was a bummer as it was one of my favorite overdrives ever. I know that they all didn't have this problem but that mine wasn't the only one.

Thanks in advance
 
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#286
It's supposedly the same with the added toggle switch. I have both versions and they sound identical with the toggle in the middle position.

I haven't had any footswitch pops on any of my Fairfield stuff. I wonder if it was just a bum switch?
 
#291
Yeah, my v1 does not pop either. It did start popping when I had grounding issues and loading issues (loading back from a tube pre or tube amp). That was fixed with the Lehle DC Filter.
 
#292
Dave W said:
As I said earlier, I've got two ME's and a V1. None of them pop for me.
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What I might do is the next time I am in NYC, I'll head down to Ludlow guitars and actually plug one in. If it pops, I'll put it back on the shelf. If not, I'll buy it.

With my original, I sent it back to Fairfield twice (once at my expense since I bought it used) and both times they promised me that it was fixed and both times it came back popping. Something about electrical charge storing up in the footswitch. So in theory if you clicked it on and off a few times it wouldn't pop. But twice during a gig, as we went from the quiet part of a song into an overdriven part (after having gone through the on/off/on/off cycle a few times) it popped on me and it sucked. Once it actually sent us into a downward spiral as both the guitarist and the drummer almost stopped and stared at me.

Again - I love the freaking pedal and I am not trying to say ANYTHING negative about Fairfield. The fact I want it again should speak volumes. But also as I said before - it was a pretty widely reported problem. It wasn't just my pedal.
 
#295
My v.1 pops, but it's an always on pedal so it doesn't bother me. While I love this pedal, it wouldn't be my first choice for a heavy saturated OD if I were to use it for certain passages in songs. I use it as a general tone enhancer and to give some tube-like push when I need it. Thankfully, it's fairly dynamically sensitive so I don't have to worry about it being overbearing for quieter passages. I'm thinking about adding higher gain drive pedal for heavier parts since I don't really use the BS for it's heavier distortion properties.
 
#296
nshuman said:
Yeah, my v1 does not pop either. It did start popping when I had grounding issues and loading issues (loading back from a tube pre or tube amp). That was fixed with the Lehle DC Filter.
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I have a One Control loop pedal that pops extremely loudly. I bought a Lehle DC Filter after reading your descriptions of it fixing the pop for you, but unfortunately it hasn't solved the problem. I need to try it in some different locations before giving up and buying a different loop pedal.
 
#297
silky smoove said:
I have a One Control loop pedal that pops extremely loudly. I bought a Lehle DC Filter after reading your descriptions of it fixing the pop for you, but unfortunately it hasn't solved the problem. I need to try it in some different locations before giving up and buying a different loop pedal.
Click to expand...


That sucks. I was having a lot of popping pedals, even some soft switch ones. Now I have no popping whatsoever.

I do have some hum coming from a bad cable somewhere that I have been too lazy to troubleshoot this week though :(
 
#298
I was optimistic, but somehow knew that the insanely loud popping couldn't be cured with a $40 device. I think it's just a poorly designed or built pedal. I'm talking pops so loud that if I don't click it on and off with a mute engaged downstream, the thing makes sound guys run screaming for the channel control because they're convinced the PA just exploded. My downstream pedals aren't too happy when it does it either.

I used to have a Little Lehle II that was vastly superior, but I needed more room on the board, and honestly never loved the feel of the weird mushroom foot switch.

Back on the thread topic: I still really want a Barbershop.
 
#299
silky smoove said:
I was optimistic, but somehow knew that the insanely loud popping couldn't be cured with a $40 device. I think it's just a poorly designed or built pedal. I'm talking pops so loud that if I don't click it on and off with a mute engaged downstream, the thing makes sound guys run screaming for the channel control because they're convinced the PA just exploded. My downstream pedals aren't too happy when it does it either.

I used to have a Little Lehle II that was vastly superior, but I needed more room on the board, and honestly never loved the feel of the weird mushroom foot switch.

Back on the thread topic: I still really want a Barbershop.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that kind of popping is not something I have experienced with the BS. The Lehle Filtre will help with the usual click pops you get that are due to less than amazing grounding or loading. It won't fix what you are describing. Did the pedal do it also alone in the chain with an isolated power supply?
 
#300
Barbershop Mk.2 arrived yesterday and so far no pops here.
It seems to sound excellent too!
What exactly is the deal with the sag pot though...?
Btw: My accountant and unpleasant surprise don't pop either.
 

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