• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Low gain overdrive

#21
Re: BJFE Blueberry, it does low gain really well, super responsive, but it rolls off quite a bit of treble at any setting.
I was looking at the DHA VT1 standard and may well have gotten that if I hadn't lucked into my Blueberry but the Barber LTD SR looks promising as well.
 
#23
At low gain, a Keeley modded Boss Blues driver sounds really good. They begin to suck bass in high gain settings, but have great warmth and definition at low gain. Almost reminds me of taking my supercollider and toning it down several notches.

The Pork Loin is a great option for more versatility and a bit more gain on tap. It is what a sparkle drive wishes it was when it grows up.

I run the Porkloin on bass and the BD-2 on guitar, but the BD-2 is a great option if I didn't have so many distortion pedals already.
 
#25
funkucan'ttouch said:
I just got the DHA vt-1 mk3 the other day. Give it a listen.. gives you the vt-1 but the option of silicon, germ, or just tube drive...
Click to expand...

I got a DHA VT-1 MK3 a couple of months ago here on TB and I can tell you that it does exactly what you are looking for and sounds great. I only like a light OD with some warmth, and this pedal is IT! Love the tones I get with it and pretty much leave it on all the time. Check one out.
 
#26
Clean or subtle grit/hair/wooly tone is all I use. Some i've tried and been happy with.

Voodoo Sparkle Drive (could use again)
OLC Flipster (could use again)
EBS Valvedrive (could use again)
EBS Microbass ii (keeping)
Blue Boy Deluxe (more low end loss than I liked)

Sticking with the Microbass II as I can eliminate several pedals by using it. It's a Swiss Army knife of preamps. In fact, right now all that's on my pedalboard is the Microbass II, EBS Multicomp, and pitchblack tuner.
 
#27
Ive had the Sansamp BDDI, EHX english muff'n and Barber LTD SR.

I didnt like the touch response of the sansamp and the OD always sounded crackly to me. The muff'n was nice but I could never get enough mids out of it.

Barber LTD has been on my board for about a year. I cant say enough good things about it. Plenty of volume, great eq response (bass mids and treble!) and there's a lot of play in the gain knob for going from fat and warm tones to more grindy "spike tv commercial bassline" tones.
 
#28
I've had Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive and Barber LTD. The guitarist in my band now has the Sparkle Drive and I have kept the Barber. It's as transparent as the Sparkle Drive with the blend engaged but it actually has more balls.

Sparkle Drive without the blend is a little to fizzy to use and with the blend knob up at 12 o'clock the Sparkle Drive is pretty nice, but it really sounds really close to Barber LTD. These two pedals really sound similar. Barber has fewer knobs and is really easy to control, although overdrive starts after 1 o'clock on the gain knob.

Both pedals are great, you would be happy with either one.
 
#29
open_space said:
I've had Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive and Barber LTD. The guitarist in my band now has the Sparkle Drive and I have kept the Barber. It's as transparent as the Sparkle Drive with the blend engaged but it actually has more balls.

Sparkle Drive without the blend is a little to fizzy to use and with the blend knob up at 12 o'clock the Sparkle Drive is pretty nice, but it really sounds really close to Barber LTD. These two pedals really sound similar. Barber has fewer knobs and is really easy to control, although overdrive starts after 1 o'clock on the gain knob.

Both pedals are great, you would be happy with either one.
Click to expand...

So is that the Barber LTD SE or the normal LTD?
 
#30
I had the Barber LTD SR for a little while a really enjoyed it. I'm likely going to buy it again because I keep going in circles on what I want to sound like. It can be an extremely mild overdrive, like open_space said, but one can get a good crank out of it as well.

I played on both the LTD SR and borrowed a friends LTD. I liked the way both sounded and bought the SR because it was a little more flat (and I liked the different look and the idea that I wasn't copying my friend. Oh vanity...). If/when I do it again I'll likely buy the cheaper version because it also sounds fantastic.

Disclaimer: I've only had 2 OD pedals, but I've played on several. I will get the LTD after trying a the Fulltone, the T-Rex and the Barber Direct Drive.
 
#32
I'm gonna put another vote on the Barber LTD SR. It ousted the mighty blueberry from my board because it can cops some similar tones and sounds better in a band mix.

Also ridiculous value is the Dan Electro Coolcat Drive. I bought one out of interest because of its clone status. For no money, it sounds pretty damn good.

My soundlick has samples of the Blueberry/Dano/Barber in various combinations and some alone aswell. I did one that is a direct comparison of the Blueberry and Barber too.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=873708&content=music

Also I'll probablly do some dedicated test clips of my current pedalboard soon, but I'm waiting on my new condenser mike to arrive.
 
#33
another vote for the Barber LTD SR.

and to you owners, a word of advice: change the opamp. the Barber comes stock with the JRC4558, the most revered of all opamps, but not the most transparent or clear. i threw a Texas Instruments TR0772 (or something like that) in my Barber, and holy crap, it sounds so clean, clear, and transparent. it now really is "the sound of my bass, only dirtier"
:)
 
#35
Swift713 said:
That LTD SR is tempting me, icarussmicarus' clips comparing it with the Blueberry really impressed me. I may have to test drive it one of these days.
Click to expand...

Do it! The main difference between the two is the Barber sounds better in a band mix since you are given a choice wether you want to roll highs off or not. But the blueberry is still better at a really deep heavy stoner kindof feel when cranked. If I could afford to retain both I would have, but as it stands the low to mid gain settings are more useful to me in my band and the Barber is super sexy at them.
 
#36
john keates said:
So is that the Barber LTD SE or the normal LTD?
Click to expand...

I have the SR version, got it here on TB. I have played a few gigs with it and so far I really like it as a low gain overdrive. I like it for it's simplicity because when I had the Sparkle Drive I was always messing with the blend and gain knobs. Barber is just set and forget, really.

Oh, and Sparkle Drive was brighter and with the blend at noon you were limited because it wouldn't give you much gain. But my guitarist really likes this pedal.
 
#37
If you have a chance to try the Fulltone Fatboost Version 3, you really should. I am just loving this pedal for a warm mild overdrive that retains all the low end and doesn't color my tone. Its a boost pedal but is designed to add some drive with the drive control cranked up. The bass and treble controls work fantastically to tweak the tone without drastic tone changes. Its a sweet pedal.
 
#38
I'm looking for the same thing, a pedal that can really saturate the sound.

So far I've tried:

1. Sparkle Drive - kind of buzzy and the switches kept clicking thru the signal. VL would fix it but it got to be a pain.

2. Fulltone Bassdrive - changed my tone completely.

3. Tech21 VT - too much of a tone change and very sensitive.


Based on this thread and what I've read elsewhere, it sounds like I should try:

1. Fulltone Fatboost

2. Barber LTD

3. Xotic Bass BB

4. Way Huge Pork Loin

Unless I can find a place that has all of them, I think I'll start with the cheapest.

LeonD
 
#39
I'd recommend you try the Meteoro MPX500, but I figure it'd be pretty close to impossible for you to get one if you're not in Brazil (they're made here). The sensitivity response is one of the features I miss the most, having swapped mine with a VTBass (tho I really don't miss the size and bulk and 12v power requirement, and I do find the VTB's more organic overdrive more useful to me than the crunchier drive on the MPX500). I still keep it around for when I'm not in the mood for taking the whole board somewhere.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back