Barber Electronics Burn Unit

This has six knobs, 2 channels, and internal trim pots, so it's a bit more involved than the run of the mill tube screamer. All-in-all though, it's pretty easy to get a good sound out of it, and there's plenty of tones from then on. The instructions it comes with give some good baselines.

I'm using this with an old bassman head into a 2x12 cab with jensens. These days, I'm primarily playing a musicman silhouette special and a prs custom 22, but I also use a tele and les paul from time to time. It sounds good with all of them. It's quiet, which is what I would expect from a medium gain pedal. The gain is good, and you definitely can boost the signal to hit the front end harder. My main complaint in the past with OD pedals has been that I can't get enough boost out of them. I haven't had that problem at all with the burn unit, and I've got the added bonus of 2 channels with separate volume and gain controls.

As far as my playing style is concerned, I've done session work and live performance for everything from country-ish, blues, jazz, 80s musicals (footloose), to hard rock. I get the Brian May, Gilmour, Neil Schon, Eric Johnson, comments from time to time. That's a hell of a complement, one that I don't think I'm owed, but you get the idea regarding playing style. This effect does exactly what I need it to. I use it in conjunction with a Barber LTD and an old Rat, and I've pretty much got the dirt covered. I will say that I could gig with just this.

All in all, I'm pretty picky, and will definitely say that I'm an unpaid advocate for barber and the burn unit.

You can hear the Burn unit at myspace.com/kingcarlospdx. The song "hard run" and our cover of "Hey Ya" are the burn unit as the only OD into my bassman.

I bought this used. The guy that shipped it to me shipped it with the battery still in the compartment. One of the capacitors was bent during shipping, and god knows how many times the thing slammed into the circuit board courtesy of the US Postal Service. I haven't had one problem with it in the time that I've had it. I've used it for live performance, as well as a 4 song EP

As I mentioned, there was an issue during shipping. I'm paranoid about my gear, so I decided to call the company to ask a few questions. I called at about 10 minutes until the end of the business day on a friday. Not only did someone answer, but my questions were patiently answered. Try getting that kind of service from the manufacturers carried by the Wal Mart of music stores.

The Burn Unit is awesome. Seriously. I have several other overdrive pedals, and I recommend this one over the other mass market and boutique units I own. It does exactly what I need it to. I've been playing for well over a decade, much of it spent recording and performing live, and I've amassed quite the pile of gear. It takes a great deal to make me want to write a review anymore. A friend of mine turned me on to Barber, and they make such quality gear, that the least I can do is pass it one.

As far as my other gear is concerned:

For guitars I've got a Fender strat, tele, japanese bullet, prs custom 22, musicman silhouette special, and a gibson les paul.

The current pedal board setup is guitar into mxr micro amp, rotovibe, budda wah, burn unit, barber ltd (another pedal I'd recommend for low gain), vintage rat, line 6 dm-4, tuner, and then out to amp. I occasional use a univox superfuzz, marshall shredmaster, and a boss phaser, but I haven't swapped any of those in for sometime.

I've spent a pile of money on gear in the last decade, and I can honestly say I wish I'd found this sooner.

I can't believe that I have never posted a review for this pedal. I purchased an older single-channel Burn Unit back in '01, and have been using it consistently since. I would have to say that the 'honeymoon' period is over.
Why an '8' on Ease of Use? Because even after owning it for 7 years, I still struggle with how to use it- not because it is hard to use, but because it covers a couple of different tones very well (a wonderful problem to have).

For a pedal, this ranks a definitive '10'. This is coming from a long-term, die-hard pedal junkie. I have collected many OD pedals over the years in my seemingly never-ending search. Bottom line is this- after 25 years of playing, my board is filling up with Barber gear. All of his product that I own is 'World-class'. Most of his OD's I would say in general are very smooth- the Burn Unit is no exception. His web-site sound files do not do his pedals justice. (Dave, I hope you read this!). Honestly they do not express how musical and 'alive' his products are. So if you even begin to like the sound files you are hearing, you will not be disappointed with the product. (Dave, please consider this. I have deep respect for your product because of the years of enjoyment it has brought to me.)
Back to the Burn Unit- It covers alot of ground, but typically I use it as an alternate 'warm' clean tone (burn set at zero, dynamics set at zero). The dynamics control works the opposite of what you would think- the lower the setting, the more compression and sizzle. The reason I use it like this is because this setting has a two-fold purpose- obviously to yeild an alternate clean tone, but also to drive other pedals or the gain channel on my amp. Adding this at the beginning of the chain will enhance almost any gain device, improving the sustain and harmonics. It adds a smooth 'buttery' quality that is a pleasure to hear and to play.
I have used this pedal with a variety of gear ranging from Class-A tube to solid-state and it has worked well in any configuration it has found itself in.

Hand-built. Have used it for 7 years with no back-up. I treat all my gear with care, but even after probably 4,000 times I have stepped on this little baby, it still works fine.

Read some of the other reviews as well- his support will exceed your expectations, no matter how high your bar is set. He cares about his customers.

I would recommend this pedal to anyone- just understand that it does not cover 'metal'. It is very versatile- yielding from a full-blown lead tone or two (Just for reference, it will do this running directly into a clean amp, without any intervention from the amp), or cover low to mild-gain ground as good or better than most of the 'boutique' stuff on the market.
I can't tell you the number of compliments I have received over the years about my tone. I owe most of this to Barber.
Thank you Dave.

This is one of the older hand made pedals not to be confused with the burn unit II, but I doubt there is much difference. 4 knobs volume, tone, dynamics, burn.

The dynamics knob is a bit of a mystery to me. It seems to compress more the further it is turned counter-clockwise. The rest of the knobs are straight forward.

This is correctly described as a distortion pedal. It doesn't do clean boost.

The tone is marshall all the way. In fact it sounds very close to the marshall shredmaster and drivemaster pedals. I was able to cop my shredmaster tone to the point that I could not tell the two pedals apart other than a slight bit more clarity from the burn unit. Some reviews have called it dark. Hmmm... not mine at all. I leave the tone around noon and there is plenty more treble if I wanted it. Could be the original design was dark but mine was updated to current specs before I got it.

The pedal is very responsive to voltage. I found the sound totally changed when I plugged it into a power supply. With a slightly worn battery the tone was warmer, darker and way more distorted. When I plugged in the power supply the volume jumped way up and the distortion went way down. The pedal became much clearer. Then I plugged it into my Batt-Man with variable voltage. Awesome! You can completely change the character by messing with the input voltage!

This is a killer sounding pedal.

This is a sweet pedal. Sounds better than most.

Very Easy to get a good sound. Dial it in and it's there.

The best Distortion pedal I have ever had yet in over 40 years of playing. I have been using a Triaxis for years. I have various speaker cabinets depending on my mood. I have a 2-10" loaded with Celestion Vintage 10's, single 12 cabs with a Vintage 30 in one and a G12H in another, a couple of Eminence speakers which I like and a couple of old alnico white coffee can magnet EV SRO's. I also have various combo's besides my rack gear. BF Super Reverb, Blues Junior, Mesa F-30, Carr Rambler, Fender Deluxe Reverb, etc.....I have been experimenting around with pedals to make up a pedalboard so I can get back into using my combo's since I've been gigging with the Triaxis for so long. I bought a few and discarded them and am still searching for the "right stuff" before I finalize the pedalboard. I brought this to a gig and set it up to use in conjunction with my Triaxis since the pedalboard is still a project in the making. Man, I had to tweak the Triaxis to sound as good as the Barber Pedal. It is articulate, fat and harmonically satisfying. I have since bought the Barber Tone Press and the Launch Pad and am very seriously thinking about getting the Tone Pump. My whole board will be Barber stuff except the Modulation effects such as Chorus and Delay. If they made them I'd probably get them too. I like this better than my Route 66, my green TS-9, a Rat pedal, my V-Twin and the latest pedal purchased, my ToneBone Classic. This is good stuff. It is now my favorite Distortion machine. There are a lot of subtle nuances inside this box. Take the time to feel it out. I enjoy using it. I still like Tube Dist but this is the best non-tube Dist I've heard yet.

Seems very reliable.

Requested directions via email and got a pronto response. Talked to David Barber a couple of times. A nice guy for someone who is busy trying to run a business. He took the time to answer my questions.

Play various styles. Pop, funk, variety, R&R, Classic, jazzy stuff, standards, etc.....everyting except Metal. I have to say I would probably buy this again. I would look around since there are so many pedal manufacturers around now that there are pedals that I have not heard yet, though I've heard many. This ranks high up there.

I wrote a review for the Burn Unit back in 1999. I was playing around with the pedal this weekend and I found I could make it sound exactly like the overdrive from my Gibson GA-15RV GoldTone amp.

The Gibson amp basically has a volume knob and a tone knob. You get overdrive by just turning it up. To get overdrive at lower volumes, I turn the volume of the Gibson amp to 3:00, then I plug this into a Weber Mass Attenuator, then I plug it into a Mesa cabinet. That gives me a pretty good classic rock overdrive tone.

But I discovered I can get the exact tone using the Burn Unit. I turn the attenuator off and set the volume at 9:00 (which is a clean volume setting). On the burn unit, the volume is at 11:00, the tone was at 12:30 (kind of dark, but the mass attenuator darkens my tone too), the dynamics was at 3:00, and the pump was around 7:30. I then plug that into an old Ibanez 6-band EQ pedal. I boosted some of the bass frequencies and this seemed to simulate the fullness you get when turning the amp up. The tone is an exact match of my "cranked Gibson amp into attenuator" tone. I was surprised how close it was. ONe of the reasons I bought the Gibson amp was to get that classic rock overdrive and have a good clean tone.

Now I wonder if can dial in that same tone by using the Burn Unit with my Twin Reverb.

I've had it for 5 years now and it is still working fine.

I bought it second hand. I didnt got the manual. This is the old version with 4 knobs: Volume Tone Dynamic and Burn. I didn't had to fiddle that much to dial in somthing i like. I use it as a booster in front of my V-Amp 2 (giggle). Well, to be honoust, I love the V-Amp. I had my share of tubes, but those things cost me to much. I'm not sure what they Dynamic knob does. Seems to "open up" the sound a bit. Phaps it works as a limiter or somthing like that. Ow yeah, its a crime to switch batteries. U'll have to remove 4 screws in order to change a battery.

My setup: Hohner G3T (the steinberger paddle copy) -> Burn Unit -> Morley Power Wah Fuzz (the chrome tank) -> V-Amp 2 -> Yamaha EMX 640 Powermixer -> 12" cabs with tweets, forgot the brand.
Its not noisy. Well, it can be, when u crank it. But nothing annoying. Hm, i'm not a tone expert, I just like it. My only other option was a Carl Martin Hot drivn boost or the Hughes and Kettner Tube factor. The burn unit was the cheapest, tho the others have power supplies come with it. Oh well, phaps ill trade someday. Have had various overdrive boxes, like a V-Twin, TS-10, MS-10 and the cheap Big Muff. So far like the barb best. Darn, I get the feeling this review wont help ye guys. I'd better shut up.

Well, the guy I bought it from, had it for some time. So, seems it will survive time. Really well built. I dont have a back up. Do not intend to buy a back up. Seems reliable enough. Tho u can step on the knobs. Thats a drawback. Ow and i think the stickers won't last.

Never dealt with them. They have a well equipped website.

I play all kinds of stuff. Just not so good at evrything. Have been playing for 18 yrs now. The gear i use, i mentioned above. The gear i have sold: DOD FX96, Mesa V-Twin, Russian Big Muff, Fender Bassmann 70 (2x15" cab), Fender PA100 tube pa, Boss GX700, Viscount PX3000 pedal board, Behringer FCB1010 pedalboard, Behringer Virtualizer DSP1000, Ibanez UE405, Ibanez MS10, Ibanez TS10, Ibanez TC10, IBANEZ DDL, Morley Wah, Korg AX1G. Yessssssssssss, I like cheap stuff. Didnt compare it really 1 to 1. I have tried Rats and Tubescreamers and Carl Martin b4. I liked the carl martin. But i could get the burn unit cheaper. I'm starting to like it a lot. Nevertheless, i'm quite certain it will be sold in the future. Cant really stick to somthing.

very easy. this has 3-4 great sounds in it. the manual is great..gives 5-6 different settings fro different sounds. i use the clean boost and marshall settings...sounds killer with a strat!!very easy. i like the british drive sound the best. the manual is very easy. the key is setting the internal trimmer for the bass to 1 o'clock. for the marshall settings, i set the burn at 12-3oclock and the volume at 12 o clock, volume at 1-1:30, tone at 12-3:00 and dynamics at 5 o'clock

i only use dave's pedals with strats....dont need them w/ humbucker guitars. i have a 3 knob tone pump-no internal trimmer, 6 knob tone pump, 4 knob edge hog, 6 knob edge hog, thius burn unit and a dual unit with a burn unit and a tone pump. they all sound great on any setting...just make sure the internal trimmer is properly adjusted!!!

yes very reliable. and i use barber pedals without backups

the best. dave has reworked my 6 knob tone pump and edge hog and wouldn't accept a dime--not even for shipping!! dave consistently emails me back immediately--even when i am bugging him!!

dave barber makes the best boutique true bypass pedals. the burn unit and the 3 knob tone pump are just killer!! he is on par with robert keeley and alfonso hermida...my 2 other favorite boutique guys. i play blues and classic rock, been playing since 1974. my main gear is my custom relic ash strat w/ rosewood board and lindy fralin hot p/ups into my keeley compressor--burn unit)--keeley ts-9 w/ vaughn cost dual chaneel mod--alfonso hermida modded clone clone chorus w/ 2 footswitchable speeds--ibanez ad-9 analog delay or echo machine--sweetsound booster or PE dual tone on clean boost--top hat club deluxe amp/fensder super champ/fender blues jr.
i love the natural sound of the pedal it sounds like a great old marshall. at first i wished for a little more gain, but then alfonso hermida suggested i stick the compressor first in my effects chain as a preamp--which gave me 3% more gain which is all i was looking for---killer!!

Very easy to use. Instructions are included.Has two channels,two volume controls.two drive controls,one for tone and one for compression.

I play a Les Paul through a Peavey Classic 30&50.I also use a Roland GP-8 for delay.This is the best overdrive pedal I've ever heard.It sounds so smooth and creamy like Robben Ford or Larry Carlton.
Now I have the best of both worlds with warm clean sound of a Peavey and the drive of a Dumble.

Handmade with the highest quality parts.Never had a problem.Wouldn't mind having another one just in case.

I've talked to Dave twice.He was very helpful.He answered all of my questions.Big Robben Ford fan.

I play jazz,blues,R&Band funk.The Burn Unit does it all.

Pretty easy to get this pedal to sound good. I haven't played it in enough situations to get any of the "great" sounds other posters have talked about, though. The manual (which Mr. Barber was kind enough to enail me within hours of my request) gives a few sample settings which are great starting points. This pedal was also bought used and apparently had a mod done by Dave to open up and clarify the sound. In addition I have not tweaked the internal bass response pot at all yet.

Using with Reverends, Fender strats, and PRS instruments into a Top Hat Club Deluxe, although it may also spend some time on the pedal board for my Mesa and Budda amps. Extremely quiet in this set up (straight into the front of the amp) and in conjunction with the other pedals in the chain. A little tendency toward treble fizziness with the TH, but easily compensated for and still sounds far more natural than most overdrives with this amp. It's possible, using the "$15,00.00 collectors amp" setting to get a very smooth, almost infinite sustain with no trace of fuzziness. Very nice. And it'll still grind if you hit the strings hard. I don't know from D*umble, but this is nice!

Would depend on it. DO depend on it.

See above. All signs point toward Barber as another terrific boutique designer/builder.

I play all kinds of stuff and really like this pedal. Clean and with enough gain to drive anything I'd be likely to play (a tad gainier than the Fulldrive 2, not in the ballpark of the Rat or Morley JD10). I'd look at this unit again if lost or stolen, but I have my doubts regarding the new 2 channel unit. Sounded very fizzy on its decay when I auditioned one recently. But I don't know how it would work with my gear. Similar to the Fulldrive 2 with a little more gain and less of a midrange notch. Before this pedal I lined up a Voodoo Sparkle Drive, JD10, DOD 250, Rat, Tube Screamer, Bixonic Expandora, and Fulldrive 2 in front of my new Top Hat and was very disappointed by all but the Fuller pedal. The Bixonic, in fact, sounded far worse than even the reissue DOD. THERE'S an overhyped pedal for you. Took a shot on the Barber and so far it has lived up to its reputation. Very clear and articulate tones, even with whompin'amounts of distortion. Cuts through very well, and when you back the volume down on your guitar maintains its basic tonal structure so that you can play grinding rhythm and then dial up for your leads. The "cleans up/doesn't clean up" question is a non issue. I LIKE a pedal that retains its tone when I back my guitar's volume down. That's why I'm using a pedal. A little MORE gain would be great, though.

Addendum to the review I submitted without finishing (DUH!). There has been some controversy over this pedal being "dark" and not "cleaning up well." My view is that the people stating these two "complaints" are probably the same folks that think Miller Lite is a "really great beer." The pedal is ever so slightly "dark"--it's not enough to really mention. I've seen Eric Johnson 7 times in 10 years and everytime his tone is slightly "Dark"--so there. The pedal cleans up great when you back off your volume! If you want clean--DON'T USE IT!. Sorry I don't hear much of a "grainy" tone either. The pedal has an extremely musical, smooth, harmonically rich tone that reacts well to picking nuances (harder, softer, etc.)
Finally, I've got other good od boxes (Budda Phatman and a Fulltone Soul-Bender). They are good at what they do, the Burn Unit just does more and is really more my thing. If you are a good player with a refined technique--I'd URGE you to check out a burn unit.

Had it almost a year. Built like a mack truck. Have used it without a back up and wasn't worried a bit, but may buy another unit just to have for fun (Yes, I like it THAT much!!!!!!)

DAVE IS THE BEST. He cares about what he does and his customers. I needed/wanted a manual when I first got the pedal and e-mailed him for one. He responded to me in LESS THAN TWO MINUTES--GOOD LORD! (We had the same e-mail service). Dave has answered any and all questions and been generous with advice on some amp repair questions I had. I WILL buy this man a beer one day! If anything ever went wrong (yeah right!), I feel Dave would be absolutely helpful.

I play a wide variety of rock/blues/some fusion-y stuff and this one fits everything with a minor amount of tweaking. Been playing about 16 years and this is one piece of gear going to the GRAVE with me. It is simply a must have at any price for what I do. Yes, I know we are in the age of amp modeling and I honestly think it's wonderful, but sometimes (for me) simpler is better. I'm not a computer programmer--which is what I feel like when I diddle around with those things.
I've not tried any of Dave's other creations, although I would certainly like to. I can find no weaknesses in construction/tone/or use with any type of equiptment (pedals and amps) and believe me, I CAN ALMOST ALWAYS find something! I'm sold on the Burn Unit totally. If it was stolen---hmmmm--hope the person has a great proctologist to remove my Burn Unit/Hamer/Foot/Ass-halt rifle from his posterior. You'd be better off stealing from Attilla the Hun. Prices for these Units do fluctuate. I got a great deal off mine on e-bay. New one will cost ya more. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me a line--I LUV to talk shop/amps/burn unit!