Cool Pedal alert!

[duende]

http://www.bargeconcepts.com/bp.html

Got it a few days ago. Heck for $119, I couldn't say no.

Very very convincing low-gain OD, that doesn't require your amp to be on the verge of break up to provide a nice believable od sustain. I'd highly reccomend it for someone who has a clean machine amp, but would like a mild OD at the end of their chain for added "dirty channel" functionality.

This thing is damn tranparent for lack of a better word. Their is a slight loss of low-end presence, but besides that it's easily as clear as say a Tim etc.... There's a pair of internal dip switches to turn off/on it's buffers. As I use a Klon, I preferred them off. But having the optionality of an added line-driver is a plus.

The best thing about this pedal besides it's tonal neutrality is that you can really hit it hard with gainers and not have your sound pinched AT ALL!. No highs cut, no volume loss, nothing! Fuzzes and ODs and Boosters just pass on through with the added dirt of the BP-1.

The worst thing about this pedal for me was that it does introduce a slight bit of noise. But hell, what do you expect from an OD?? Anways at louder volumes it's unnoticeable and far quieter than many many of the mainstay peds out there.

Over-all I have no choice but to give it a big thumbs up! NO pedal is ideal for every rig out there, but there is no denying that this is one super cool ped.

[Old Tele man]

...wonder how their "looper" sounds?

[fuzzinator]

I don't know if i'd call this a "low-gain OD." Are you vouching for the low gain settings? There's a lot of gain on tap!

[duende]

Without the "drive" section engaged and with the harmonics level set at 11, it most definitely is a mild OD. With the harmonics cranked, yes, you can get some nice medium to high gain tones. And certainly with the "drive" section engaged, there are plenty of medium and high gain to fuzz like timbres available.

However, for my uses, what shined most about where it's low gain settings. Also if you take just the cloned harmonic percolator section on it's own, and set everything at noon, I think you'd still find yourself in low gain teritory. Hense my description.

[duende]

Old Tele Man,

I was born and raised in Tucson. Be heading back there in a few weeks to spend the holidays with my folks. Your rig looks very similar to an old friend of mine by the name of Al Perry.

Back to topic... If the looper you are talking about is the VFB-2, then yes! The Looper is absolutely killer! I use it to TB my DM-2 and DML-20 delays. It does this excellantly and allows me to not only blend in my clean source tone, but also send my delays into feedback maddess at the flick of a switch.

[SamPaoli]

I have been thinking about the barge concepts line and was almost ready to buy the DB-2 but decided I realy didn't need "another boost" as they put it. This seems like it might be the ticket to try out their stuff--it's nice to see another US company offering well thought out products for such a "bargain" price. What interests me is the Harmonics controll, how does this sound without the Drive engaged? On the description they mention-

With the input buffer active and the gain turned up, the unit takes on a new character, while retaining the touch-sensitivity of the un-amped setup. Dial up the gain and use the Harmonics control to get everything from a mild boost to outrageous grit. The wide dynamic range of effect makes a wealth of sounds available from your volume control.

How well have you found it to behave concering the "touch sensitive" and "Volume Control" aspects?

[duende]

Hey Sam,

The touch sensitivity is great. No complaints here. That's why I thought it make such a great "dirty" channel for someone with a clean amp set-up.

Volume control is also super nice. To be honest, I need to experiment with it more in high gain situations. But I did notice that you can roll all the way back to "2" on your guitars volume pot and still have useable clean-up tones coming through.

One thing I should mention here if your considering as an alternate to the DB-2, is that it's pretty non-coloring and should suit your needs well. I wouldn't call it a fattening pedal, although the harmonic distortion it throws into the mix does indeed thicken things up. Just not in the same way boosts with low mid-humps do.

[fatback]

Thanks for the review. I'm soooo tempted...

[duende]

John,

Give me a ring, and you can give it a test drive.

[Nathan]

That's a Harmonic Percolator clone isn't it? I have their VFB-2 and it's loverly. I'm going to be watching this company.

[908SSP]

I like the fact that the jacks are on the as they put it the north end of the box. Makes for a much neater pedal board. On a couple they have the AC jack on the side they need to move that. If they sound as smart as they look they could be a real winner.

[Medication]

Steve Albini in a box!

[Barge Concepts]

First off, thanks to everyone for the kind words!

Originally Posted by fuzzinator

I don't know if i'd call this a "low-gain OD." Are you vouching for the low gain settings? There's a lot of gain on tap!

There is ALOT of gain on tap, but some of my favorite settings on the lower gain end of the spectrum. I find that it's at its best with the Harmonics cut back abit, but with the Drive side active to compensate. The Harmonics control is essentially just an input volume, so you can get the same results rolling off the volume from your instrument.

Originally Posted by fatback

Thanks for the review. I'm soooo tempted...

Fatback - I have to admit, I'd love to see the BP starring in one of your pedal demos. Are you recording off the built-in camera mic? I've been fighting with our recording setup for most of the holiday weekend and I'm still not happy with the results (or my embarrassing playing)

Originally Posted by 908SSP

I like the fact that the jacks are on the as they put it the north end of the box. Makes for a much neater pedal board. On a couple they have the AC jack on the side they need to move that. If they sound as smart as they look they could be a real winner.

Other than the BB-1 Classic, ALL of the jacks on all of our units are on the north end. The pic that we currently have up on the BB-1 Standard page is incorrect - even though it shows the power jack on the east side, it has since been moved to the north on the current production model. Not much we can do about the Classic - there's really not room for both 1/4" jacks, 4 knobs and pots, AND the 9v on the North side.

Originally Posted by Medication

Steve Albini in a box!

Not exactly. Although with the right gear and the right touch, some of those sounds can be found in the BP-1, the Interfax is only one piece of Albini's eccentric setup. Having a bright guitar and metal picks helps, but the amps and speakers that he uses plays a large part as well.

Again, thanks everyone for your interest and support. If you have any other questions, please feel free to drop us a line.

Geoff Bryant
Barge Concepts.

[electron transl]

i've had my bp-1 for a bit over a month now. man, this thing is achieving "in my head" sounds now.

typically i like having it as a dirty/mild OD (harmonics set to about 9 o'clock), the balance knob cranked all the way (seems to operate as a master volume of sorts), and when i engage the drive channel, it's set to about 10 or 11 o'clock.

the only downside (and geoff has been VERY cool about communicating with me on this stuff) is that with the harmonics turned down that much, you get a volume drop when you engage the pedal (not the drive channel). since i typically use this as my midrange stuff, i've placed in a looper with an MXR EQ behind it and i'm able to tweak it to perfection.

i REALLY love how this thing eats up chords (even complex ones!). you don't lost strings in there, it maintains it's cut and chimeyness (note my amps below). since i'm not much of a blues guy, these chords and voicings are pretty important to me...but i could see how a blues hound would LOVE the higher gain settings on here.

the nice thing is that it definitely covers an area that i don't have on my pedalboard. really fun pedal to play - well done gents!

[EunosFD]

Thanks for the quick update electron. I'm def getting more antsy about getting mine now. My biggest beef with a lot of pedals is that some bigger/complex chords lose their nuances and as I also hybrid pick note separation really counts. So far the BP-1 sounds like it might fit the bill just right.

The Harmonics control works sort of like a volume knob right? That's why there is a slight bit of volume drop in your case as you have it set low enough for that to happen? Just curious.