Barber family of overdrives

[duality]

Low/medium OD is what I'm after

Never owned a Barber

Saw this thread that the v1 green LED is the tops: https://www.thegearpage.net/board/index.php?threads/barber-ltd-v1-best-overdrive-ever.2013615/

Anyone have thoughts on this?

Also seeing things about the Tone Pump though it looks like technically an EQ

 

[johngregson]

LTD is great, that whole family of tones is within the Gain Changer now. Very highly recommended. The GC has the capacity for *much* more gain than the LTD but the low gain is gorgeous. I have a (v2?) LTD that is v nice, and collecting is fun but for functionality the new ones Barber are making are outrageously great value for money and don't skimp on tone.
The Tone Press compressor (haven't tried the Pump) can also function as a great FET boost, but for low gain sounds you really can't go wrong with the GC.

 

[duality]

my impatient a$$ couldnt wait for the first reply... just got a 2004 green LED for $70 +sh... demos sound great,just what im after... i usually have good luck with the translation from youtube demos to real life

def gonna look at the gain changer now too

ive read about the super sport etc it seems like there are a hell of a lot of variations... thats why i made the thread. i am looking for the lowest gain ones

 

[johngregson]

Nice one, enjoy! I really can't recommend Barber pedals enough.

 

[duality]

is there a "holy grail" version of the gain changer?

 

[scatto]

Yeah I don’t know that you could go wrong with a Gain Changer, any of them. I use the GCX, but any variation will make you smile.

 

[johngregson]

is there a "holy grail" version of the gain changer?

Not in my opinion, but there are 2 versions - the old original (plastic knobs) and the current Special Recipe (metal knobs). David Barber might be able to weigh in as I'm not an authority!
I have one of each, very happy with both and not sure I'd recommend one over the other - there might be a slight difference in EQ but I'd have to really A/B them carefully to confirm what the change is.
There's also the GCX which has the Mid control, I don't have any experience with that one but every report & demo I've seen sounds great.

 

[duality]

Good video here on the GC.

Prolly gonna need to get one and flip the LTD. Footprint is a big deal, but mostly because i am a tweaker

 

[Kyle Ashley]

I have one of the green LTDs. Been a few years since i played it, but it was nice. Cleaner and lower gain than most of my ODs. I seem to remember some internal pots as well. I'm going to pull it down and check it out again.

 

[roquero]

To me, the king of the Barber low gain pedals is the Half Gainer. Discontinued, so if you ever see a used one pop up, snag it fast!

 

[Kyle Ashley]

wow. I pulled my LTD and had a look. Is it possible I have the very first unit?

Dated June 22 2009 01 or is it just the first one made that day?

 

[GenoVox]

There’s no such thing as a “bad” Barber dirt pedal... they’re either great, or absolutely stellar

 

[duality]

wow. I pulled my LTD and had a look. Is it possible I have the very first unit?

i just bought a 2004 green led ltd (sorry if i misunderstood your post)

now i gotta try the half gainer too...haha

 

[InkblotNebula]

wow. I pulled my LTD and had a look. Is it possible I have the very first unit?

Dated June 22 2009 01 or is it just the first one made that day?

Nah, the LTD had been around for at least 5 years at that point

 

[Laurence]

wow. I pulled my LTD and had a look. Is it possible I have the very first unit?

Dated June 22 2009 01 or is it just the first one made that day?

I don't know, but I don't think so. Mine is RS01250506. The board on mine has "LTD. Barber 2004" printed on it. Yours looks like "YTD V2 (or Y2?) " is on the board. I'm not sure when he started the LTD series.

 

[Kevsonic]

I have reached a stopping-point with the 1/2 Gainer. It's just so perfect - can stack into anything or be stacked with anything preceding it. It plus the DD/DC is the world for me!

But I agree, there are no bad Barbers!

 

[eoengineer]

Ugh I really need to get off my butt and order a gain changer. My Barber Burn Unit has reined supreme on my board for 5 years.

I’ll never get rid of it but my tastes have gravitated towards less gainy, less compressed, more transparent tones where the Burn Unit might have a little too much personality.

 

[Grendel2000]

Ugh I really need to get off my butt and order a gain changer. My Barber Burn Unit has reined supreme on my board for 5 years.

I’ll never get rid of it but my tastes have gravitated towards less gainy, less compressed, more transparent tones where the Burn Unit might have a little too much personality.

Good luck with that...

Unfortunately they're having production problems. I've wanted a new Gain Changer SR for over a month but they have nothing at all in stock. GCSR, Direct Drive or Tone Press - all out of stock. Their Facebook page says they're working on a limited run but will have limited quantities. That was posted on 10 June. No updates since then.

I'm crossing my fingers. Really hope they can get things back on track.

BTW - there's little to nothing available on Reverb either. People obviously love the stuff and just don't put it up for sale!

 

[Nicholas Quek]

Would love to see the Clark Gainster as a production model T.T

 

[Strumlord]

Would love to see the Clark Gainster as a production model T.T

Barber / Clark Gainster is a fantastic pedal. You may be able to find a used one at a reasonable price.