Barber Barber New Direct Drive

There is a tendency Tube Screamer overdrive, with more gain, though not enough to go to the big rock del MUSCL shall we say.
Three knobs: volume, tone, gain.
Tone contains a Push / Pull and when it takes the sound becomes slightly "fat" with more overtones. This characteristic is particularly effective.
It is fate's hand in the shop of David Barber. You can see it immediately when you open the machine, because the circuit, the welds are of incredible cleanliness. I put an 8, for two reasons, First really is minor, is that I was told was that each copy signed and dated by the manufacturer or it is not. Sign of an increase in production, perhaps? The SECOND is that the knob Tone is less resistant than the other two, I guess it's because of the Push Pull. This can have the consquence of drglages while playing live. Good, m'tonnerait a little, and I know worse as pedals in the genre - Carl Martin Surf Trem my example. I note this only because it is a so-called pedal "boutique" and that therefore we are entitled to moan about small details like these l.

USE

Well, the word, is used as a whole Overdrive pedal base. The Push / Pull simply operates, its effect on the sound is audible but subtle. What more?

SOUND QUALITY

Hey, this is the srieuses things happen !!!
It's too much, simply the best overdrive pedal on which I have ever played. The sound is incredible transparency. It goes from clean boost say the big AC / DC. With the drive 11 hours, we have a perfect indie rock. And even with the gain was less than half sings and the gain is standard for solos.
The tonal transparency is such that one can use the tone throughout the stroke, while respecting the original sound of the amp. The sound is not compressed when the pedal is triggered, and there are not too many mediums like a Tube Screamer.
The gain is superbly tag. The grain is beautiful.
The Push / Pull that magnifies the sound, it's just the icing on the cake. Again, this is effective but subtle and always musical.
I find that in fact the best thing about this pedal is that is does not sound like a pedal, it's just like adding the gain in the amplifier. Sublime.
So, like sound when s'claircit down the volume on the guitar, we say that it is better to let the Switch-on effect. And last Dtail, we always said that good Overdrive are litistes, ring only on lamp amplifiers. Well, this is not the case of the latter. I tried with a Fender Princeton and Crate Powerblock, and the effect is just as striking. I hte to see what it gives in a Fender tube has forcment should be sublime.

NOTICE GLOBAL

I played on tons of overdrive pedals (Danelectro Daddy O, Blues Driver, Tech 21 Double Drive, Wasabi Overdrive, TS-9). It is very very very far the best.
I forget to say that there are better ... the price !!!
119 dollars, bought from the manufacturer's site, Barber Electronics. By adding the shipping cost ($ 30), has 109 euros, ie the price of an Ibanez TS-9. Frankly, I think the price that you need Seriously consider buying this pedal rather than Maxon or Keeley !!

EDIT (10 August 2009): After over two years of using this pedal, I would say that my opinion has changed somewhat. I always find as good and I always use it, but I would compare most TS-9. I would say that it is rather a Marshall in a box, rather intended play rhythm and rock solos. On reflection, I think that we should not consider it as rempacement as a TS-9, but rather as a complment because the TS-9 has its own personality including levels of the lowest gains and as a booster. For some time, I use both pedals and works perfectly. If you want to get a Fender and saturation, look no further. For lower levels of gain or to boost the sound, it is better to see the ct clones Tube Screamer.

The following opinion on the pedal "new direct drive", there are several Barber pedals in which are very similar. Pedal fairly common aspect, a switch "true bypass", three knobs, volume, tone, drive, is pure analog. It should be noted that the tone volume pot is a push-pull "in high position the bass is more present. When you open the box, there are two settings in additional presence of one and one for bass, thereby further increasing the bass amps for soneraient too garish. All very well made, the circuits are nickel, solders very clean, solid case and cherry on the cake and autograph verification date, the editor of the beast. It's a pedal boutique there's no doubt.

UTILIZATION

To find a pleasant sound, no problem is super simple to use, we try and find it. In addition there is the pedal a sheet of paper with various settings typical of different musical styles.

SOUND QUALITY

It's an overdrive, gain level so limited, we still can play with a scraper mounted with double in the big rock record that task. This pedal a grain of its own, it can be classified as a "tube screamer," without being a pale clone of his grandfather. I own a TS-9 modified, so I compared the two .... nothing to see. Barber is the most musical, the sound is more defined without being sharp, he has a husky little thing that I love. It must be said that the pedal will not sound the same on all amps, it does not color sound of the amp, it will keep its character. In addition it also sounds good with a Les Paul guitar typed a Start. Start with the neck pickup position is easily found on this side TS-808 that appeals. With a Les Paul, it's going to AC-DC, Led Zep etc. ....

OVERALL OPINION

I play with this pedal for a week and frankly cà'l'fait! Beautiful sound, usable on any race of knobs, it goes from very light to boost big rock 70's and still very musical. It exists on the market an impressive number of overdrive pedals, I can say after having tried a few, the Barber Direct Drive is one of the best, if we add to that an unbeatable value for money it gives € 115 ttc want to try it. I do not regret my purchase.
Small addition: It is now a little over a year since I use it, still excited about the sound of this pedal, I have now a Zvex box of rock ready and I can say that the sounds Barber as good or better, the same settings box of rock with a noise level higher, but the Barber rate overdrive therefore more! It sounds more dirty, then it depends on personal taste, a little more for the booster box ...! I keep the beard!