surfy « Finally, I found THE distortion! »
Published on 05/11/13 at 02:31Analog distortion pedal size (slightly larger than a boss) made and hand numbered as all USA BARBER.
Standard Power Boss (traditional sector or 9V battery)
4 knobs: volume, gain and 2-band EQ bass / treble
What? No middle?? But if: a small switch can give three contours medium: neutral left, mid boost in the middle scooped (dug) right.
Jack in / out jack
I add not seen the pictures but the metal body is slightly embossed (small relief pattern) which gives it a hyper-class appearance.
And the bonus: a small inner knob to the circuit (easy access, 4 screws) for additional bass boost function to adjust the amp. I have a small 15 watt home, so it gives the body without pushing the volume.
For me everything is there and it exudes quality, love of work well done.
The only downside (which is the same on the other Barber) is the battery access and internal knob that must be resolved directly on the circuit board. It's very easy once again, but the idea is weird since we adjust the knob box open.
UTILIZATION
The manual is an A4 photocopied, the effort made by Barber is on electronics not on the box or manual. And that's fine because the manual we do not care a bit, you plug it sounds in all positions (I mean the pedal ...)
There's some examples of settings and this is where we see the sonic versatility of the beast.
Configure this marvel is a breeze, no brainer. Even the middle of the switch is sufficiently accurate for us to hear the difference between the three positions, and not too grotesque: it's perfect. The bass button to give the body the treble to add or remove the "bees".
SOUND QUALITY
FINALLY! I found the sound that suits me.
A real distortion, which sounds in a pedal format and reasonable electrical power, so that fits on a pedalboard.
It's clean, versatile (the modern or vintage), a very good headroom that sounds at all stages of gain and little breath (if you put a little in depth, as ANY distortion pedal). A wonderful dynamic, and God knows if it's important for distortion!
The distortion is just the holy grail of guitar rock, and I tried distortion pedals ...
I compared:
- Boss DS1 (ahahaha)
- Boss DS2 (hohohoh)
- Boss PowerStack: too many tour emulation and breath
- Ibanez Tube King: great sound but too bulky
- Blackstar HT Dual: the same, even more clumsy (1.2 kg / 22 volts!)
- ProCo Rat 2: not bad but just not versatile, very typical and not a standard input for decision
- Suhr Riot: excellent, superb, but a slight lack of personality and versatility to my ears
I tried on Strat HSS, so single coil or humbucker. One word: I finally found.
OVERALL OPINION
Truly amazing that this pedal is almost impossible to find in Europe.
I imported from the U.S. (I paid $ 139 + international port priority + € 38 customs, ouch). If it was in France that would be cool!
I'm a fan of Barber, I have the Small Fry is wonderful overdrive gain more through. We see that they do not know that quality electronics: the books are rotten, their website is fun.
But then what they do they do it beautifully.
The price / quality ratio is very good for me because it's worth the price (Suhr Riot listening € 215, € 200 HT Dual ...)
What I like most: that is the sound I was looking for, it is versatile and comes in a pedalboard.
What I like least is just to say something, the bass boost control to live on the circuit (but it's very simple).
I remake that choice 100 times!
Standard Power Boss (traditional sector or 9V battery)
4 knobs: volume, gain and 2-band EQ bass / treble
What? No middle?? But if: a small switch can give three contours medium: neutral left, mid boost in the middle scooped (dug) right.
Jack in / out jack
I add not seen the pictures but the metal body is slightly embossed (small relief pattern) which gives it a hyper-class appearance.
And the bonus: a small inner knob to the circuit (easy access, 4 screws) for additional bass boost function to adjust the amp. I have a small 15 watt home, so it gives the body without pushing the volume.
For me everything is there and it exudes quality, love of work well done.
The only downside (which is the same on the other Barber) is the battery access and internal knob that must be resolved directly on the circuit board. It's very easy once again, but the idea is weird since we adjust the knob box open.
UTILIZATION
The manual is an A4 photocopied, the effort made by Barber is on electronics not on the box or manual. And that's fine because the manual we do not care a bit, you plug it sounds in all positions (I mean the pedal ...)
There's some examples of settings and this is where we see the sonic versatility of the beast.
Configure this marvel is a breeze, no brainer. Even the middle of the switch is sufficiently accurate for us to hear the difference between the three positions, and not too grotesque: it's perfect. The bass button to give the body the treble to add or remove the "bees".
SOUND QUALITY
FINALLY! I found the sound that suits me.
A real distortion, which sounds in a pedal format and reasonable electrical power, so that fits on a pedalboard.
It's clean, versatile (the modern or vintage), a very good headroom that sounds at all stages of gain and little breath (if you put a little in depth, as ANY distortion pedal). A wonderful dynamic, and God knows if it's important for distortion!
The distortion is just the holy grail of guitar rock, and I tried distortion pedals ...
I compared:
- Boss DS1 (ahahaha)
- Boss DS2 (hohohoh)
- Boss PowerStack: too many tour emulation and breath
- Ibanez Tube King: great sound but too bulky
- Blackstar HT Dual: the same, even more clumsy (1.2 kg / 22 volts!)
- ProCo Rat 2: not bad but just not versatile, very typical and not a standard input for decision
- Suhr Riot: excellent, superb, but a slight lack of personality and versatility to my ears
I tried on Strat HSS, so single coil or humbucker. One word: I finally found.
OVERALL OPINION
Truly amazing that this pedal is almost impossible to find in Europe.
I imported from the U.S. (I paid $ 139 + international port priority + € 38 customs, ouch). If it was in France that would be cool!
I'm a fan of Barber, I have the Small Fry is wonderful overdrive gain more through. We see that they do not know that quality electronics: the books are rotten, their website is fun.
But then what they do they do it beautifully.
The price / quality ratio is very good for me because it's worth the price (Suhr Riot listening € 215, € 200 HT Dual ...)
What I like most: that is the sound I was looking for, it is versatile and comes in a pedalboard.
What I like least is just to say something, the bass boost control to live on the circuit (but it's very simple).
I remake that choice 100 times!