Barber LTD gain

[llamaiguana]

How much gain does the LTD have? I'm looking for a good overdrive to use on my board. I used a Blues Driver this weekend which I liked, but found it a bit harsh and didn't have as much clarity as the LTD is known for and I wouldn't want to do any mods. I liked the Blues Driver's gain at about noon, giving me a nice crunch if I wanted. Does the LTD have enough gain on tap to get a tone like that? If it's too low gain for that sound, what would you suggest? I'm on a students budget, so nothing beyond $120 is best.
Thanks.

 

[JonnyFranchi$e]

No, the LTD doesn't have that much gain, IMO.

BUT, the brand new short run of the unLimiTeD pedal does. I think he's still got some left - he made 55 total. It's got the LTD style but with more gain - closer to the gain level of a direct drive. And it's a very cool pedal - dynamic like the LTD and very touch sensitive with a mojo of its own.

But it's more than your range, $129, and $6 shipping. Uless he decides to make a bunch of em, I doubt you'll see any used ones go up for cheaper any time soon.

If you like the LTD but need more gain, this might be worth the extra 15 bucks, as it sounds like just what you're looking for.

 

[ptdesign]

I think you're looking for something more edgy and dynamic than the LTD. The DLS and OCD can be had cheap and deliver a decent tubey spank. Especially at higher voltage.

 

[cbpickin]

I think the LTD can get to that gain level, honestly. I had a couple of Blues Drivers and, while the LTD IS lower gain, it is around the range of the BD halfway up, but without the fizziness of the stock BD.
You may also want to cehck out the Direct Drive for a great, versatile budget od/distortion. With the internal trimpots, it has a HUGE variety of applications. It can approach TS sounds, and get into higher territory, with a pretty wide spectrum available in between. For the price of admission, I don't think there is a better pedal out there. They show up in the emporium all the time under $90.

 

[wizard333]

Its hard to say what you mean, but the LTD easily goes into AC/DC levels of gain and a little past that. It will also do barely broken up and mild overdrive. It definitely wont do high gain, classic metal, etc.

"Gain" is subjective and depends on what guitar/pickup/strings you are using. I hear people say all the time that such and so device doesnt have enough gain and I'm thinking "are you kidding? That thing has a ton of gain!" So one person's enough may not be enough for someone else.

Hopefully the AC/DC comparison is enough to get the point across.

 

[marvelboy_04]

i think the ltd all the way up could be atleast as much as the other pedal at noon, or you could check out a half gainer which is a dual ltd

 

[s360guitarist]

Ya, set one LTD in there to your normal setting then max out the other...put another boost if front of it and you are where you want to be...

 

[Garygtr]

No, the LTD doesn't have that much gain, IMO.

BUT, the brand new short run of the unLimiTeD pedal does. I think he's still got some left - he made 55 total. It's got the LTD style but with more gain - closer to the gain level of a direct drive. And it's a very cool pedal - dynamic like the LTD and very touch sensitive with a mojo of its own.

But it's more than your range, $129, and $6 shipping. Uless he decides to make a bunch of em, I doubt you'll see any used ones go up for cheaper any time soon.

If you like the LTD but need more gain, this might be worth the extra 15 bucks, as it sounds like just what you're looking for.

They were $119.95 + $6 shipping, but I just checked their website and it's off the home page, so I'm thinking they may be sold out. Wouldn't hurt to contact them, because that would be my 1st recommendation

 

[JonnyFranchi$e]

They were $119.95 + $6 shipping, but I just checked their website and it's off the home page, so I'm thinking they may be sold out. Wouldn't hurt to contact them, because that would be my 1st recommendation

You're right on the price. My bad.

And yep - looks like they might be out of em.

 

[funkycam]

HAving owned both, I think the ltd can definitly get into the same gain range as the blues driver & it is no question less harsh.
I have the LTD silver (even flatter mids), I think I picked it up used for $80.
Barber is known for his great build quality & if it doesn't work for you (& I would be surprised) I think resale is pretty easy & the value stays about the same.
Best,
Cam

 

[FatTeleTom]

I've got both at home and will try to verify sometime this week, but I'm almost certain the LTD (I've got a 1/2-gainer actually) will get you as much OD as a Blues Driver with the gain set around noon.

Pretty sure the BD will do significantly more overdrive than the LTD at higher settings, but the tone you get with the gain half-way up on the BD should be easily doable with the LTD.

And yes, the LTD is smoother and doesn't have that fizzy decay. The fizziness on the BD isn't as noticeable in a rehearsal or gigging context, but it is still there. If you like the low to medium gain settings on the BD, chances are good you will like the LTD tones even more.

I really like the half-gainer, as it gives two settings to choose from, and lets you dial in the mids using a knob on the front.

If you stick with the BD, keep in mind that you probably want to run the tone knob fairly low--I rarely had mine above about 9:00 to 10:00. Much higher than that and it can get very bright.

The exception is when I use the BD-2 as sort of a treble booster, with the gain all the way down and volume up--in that mode, having the tone up around 1:00 works nicely as a booster into a warm OD pedal.

 

[semi-hollowbody]

Its hard to say what you mean, but the LTD easily goes into AC/DC levels of gain and a little past that. It will also do barely broken up and mild overdrive. It definitely wont do high gain, classic metal, etc.

"Gain" is subjective and depends on what guitar/pickup/strings you are using. I hear people say all the time that such and so device doesnt have enough gain and I'm thinking "are you kidding? That thing has a ton of gain!" So one person's enough may not be enough for someone else.

Hopefully the AC/DC comparison is enough to get the point across.

this...especially if your using humbuckers...single coils might not push this pedal into acdc range...

I just got an mi audio blues boy deluxe v2...that has simliar gain range as a boss blues driver but with a LOT more tone control (tone, bright, mids, and character EXTERNAL trim pots...its $160 though...

if I had to pick between the blues boy and my ltd, I would go with my blues boys...ltd is a great pedal and will do what you want, but the blues boy covers more ground and has more tone tweakability