BMF vs Barber vs Zvex

[The Whale]

Hey All,

Help me make the call. I'm looking for a low gainer or something with a strong low gain character. I'm playing a Budda Superdrive 30, generally clean or with a hint of bite with an LP and Strat... both pretty vintagy. On the board i've got a Barber DD (which I love) and an Tonefreak Severe for the high gain stuff. I'm replacing a Wampler Ecstasy... an awesome pedal in it's own right, but it just wasn't getting the call much. The DD gets the nod for the smooth mid-gain stuff.

The pedals that are grabbing my ear currently are:

BMF Holy Balls
Zvex Box of Rock
Barber LTD

I'm looking for something with a chewy midrange and a clear top end. Bottom end can be loose... as the DD is decently tight and the Severe is very modern. I'd most likely be stacking a Fuzz Face on it and using this pedal for Black Crowesy, Zeppeliny stuff.

Feel free to make other suggestions if you have them.

M.

 

[aaronblues]

i'd get the ZVex, having owned the BOR, DD and LTD. It can cover some of the DD's territory, but set lower gain, it will have a much fatter midrange then the LTD. And it's one of the best stacking pedals that i've ever played, especially with fuzzes. Plus you get an outstanding clean boost with it....

cheers

 

[PedalFreak]

I'm going to put my vote in for the BMF. I love Scott's products, and he is a great guy to deal with also

 

[coot tone]

I, too STRONGLY recommend BMF. Scott's got a great ear for this stuff!

 

[mlavin00]

Zvex is the single best pedal I have ever owned, period! I don't even use the gain channel on my Shiva anymore, just the BOR.

 

[Nork]

i like both the LTD and the BOR, but i find they're two very different beasts. the LTD is very clear and transparent. great sounding pedal. the BOR is very bassy and chunky.

 

[The Whale]

So, there's no clear winner here . If i could afford all three, i'd just do it. But i really can only spring for one. The Holy Balls is $179 new. I've seen the BOR go in the $130's used and the LTD in the $90 used. Does that change your votes at all?

m.

 

[mkl13]

While I haven't played the Holy Balls, I have a BMF Fat Bastard and Purple Nurple and both are great sounding and easy to use pedals. Plus Scott is super helpful and very easy to get in touch with.

 

[Rockprocess]

If you like the regular Direct Drive, you'll really like the Direct Drive Low Gain. It's my personal fave.

 

[freaksho]

i have only owned with the BoR. the beautiful clear top end you want is there in spades. the chewy midrange maybe not so much. it's got a huge low end, and that along with the prominent high end gives it an apparent mid scoop.

now with the Distortron you can switch the bass to very low, turn the tone knob way back and boost the level. this brings the mids back up and may be more what you want. (but you lose that great extra boost function)