Barber Electronics LTD
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Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 09/13/2009
at 12:45am
by willie vega
Email: willievega at yahoo<dot>com
Ease of Use
:
10
Could not be better sounding.
Sound Quality
:
10
Perfect for everything but heavier rock styles. Can't be improved on.
Reliability
:
10
Tough as most good pedals.
Customer Support
:
10
I've spoken with them on the first try.
Overall Rating
:
10
Blues/funk/R&B/country styles.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: Euros 138
Submitted 05/11/2009
at 01:57pm
by Mika
Ease of Use
:
9
Very easy to use.
Sound Quality
:
10
I use custom made Strats and Teles all with SD humbuckers (Lil 59, 59 and JB in the bridge and vintage Stack, 59 and jazz in the neck) and an Orange AD 15/12 (and an Orange AD5 at home). This pedal is almost noise free even with drive maxed. I find it impossible to get a bad sound out of it. It really let`s your amp and guitar shine since it`s soooo transparent. Doesn`t colour your tone just beefs it up. Even though it`s a low/mid gain pedal you`re able to get quite enough drive for heavy blues and classic rock (if you`re into metal look elsewhere). Works well with different effects.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Would gig without a back up. Seems to be very sturdy and well made.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never dealt with them
Overall Rating
:
10
I play classic rock, blues and funk and have been playing about 22 years. During that time i`ve gone through lots of drives (Boss, MXR, Marshall, VOX, Ibanez, Maxon, Fulltone, Mad Professor, HBE, MI Audio, Retro Sonic, Analogman and Keeley modded and the list goes on....) and majority of them have been really good overdrives. However in my opinion this beats anything i`ve tried before hands down. Would replace it immediately if it got stolen. I also have a Barber Burn Unit EQ which is another superb drive from Barber (i highly recommend it too).
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 05/01/2009
at 07:59am
by pablo gregorious
Ease of Use
:
5
Its slightly more complicated that i'm used to. The trim pots on the inside open up more scope to fiddle with the sound. When i first got the pedal i didnt touch them but it had more bass in it than i normally like so i took the back off and messed around for....HOURS. Eventually i found a sound i liked so i put the back on wont touch it now. Because of this I'm giving it an honest 5 out of 10 because its not that simple
Sound Quality
:
8
its a beautiful overdrive. Hasnt got masses of gain but thats not what its for. Its kind of like a tubescreamer, but it just sounds more 'alive' than a tubescreamer. Its probably the most natural sounding overdrive i've heard, and i've used a lot or them. My set up is fender hot rod deluxe, fender telecaster with kinman pickups, and a whole bunch of other gadgets. I use a big muff for any fuzzy-wuzzy stuff. I bought this pedal because i was absoloutely sick of all the overdrives i've owned, they all sounded rubbish with my equipment. I ended up using an SD1 which sounded ok, but killed my clean sound. I've also tried ts9, proco rats (old and new), all the boss pedals, keeley pedals (some are ok, some are not), crowther hotcake and a whole bunch of other things. Tone is subjective and its highly dependant on the other equipment you own. The LTD just sat up and said "hello, i'll do it without any fuss thank you". Its got a huge dynamic range, remarkable actually, if you play quiet then it sounds quiet, if you dig in then you can really feel it. My only slight complaint is that there is still a bit of a mid hump in there, however barber make the LTD SR which in hindsight i wish i'd got instead....which i might still do actually. Apart from that this is THE best overdrive i've ever played so far
Reliability
:
10
its also got the most amazing build quality to it. seriously. its just beautiful, I'm giving it a 10 here
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
no idea yet
Overall Rating
:
10
lovely, lovely, lovely, lovely pedal. Cant recommend this highly enough. for light gain sounds which sound natural and really dynamic i'm not sure it could be beaten. Nor can it be beaten on price, i paid ??119 for this. Beautiful overdrive.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: USD 119
Submitted 09/26/2008
at 10:10am
by AJB
Email: ajbstrat at gmail<dot>com
Ease of Use
:
9
Excellent sound from the git-go. This is a player's box all the way - jack in and start groovin'. I own the "SR" version ("Special Recipe"), which is advertised as having a "flat EQ" curve. This appealed to me because for low OD i prefer to EQ in other ways, and especially, i want the GUITAR to be the dominant sound; so i didn't want the box itself to add or subtract much, if anything. The "Tone" pot is nice because it doesn't muffle the highs as you move CCW. The "Drive" pot is smooth in the way it introduces OD. (All Barber pedals that i own or have played behave this way ..... very smooth sound, not harsh.)
Sound Quality
:
9
Vintage players, as well as modern blues/jazz players, will love this box. For those desiring a low-to-moderate OD, the LTD is a great choice. I play a semi-hollow body Reverend Club King; Fender Strat w/Joe Barden pups; G&L ASAT Classic; and PRS Mira. Personally i enjoy the LTD most with my Reverend .... this guitar has moderately-strong HumBuckers, and with the hollowbody's resonance, the LTD just makes this guitar sound beautiful through my Fender and Genz-Benz BP-30 amps. But, it really works superbly with any guitar....so, you won't be dis-appointed, as long as you're looking for low/moderate drive, not that crappy, over-the-top "shred" sheet.
Reliability
:
9
Barber products are built to LAST. They're built with top-notch components. ...nuf said.
Customer Support
:
9
Barber staff (Ronni esp.) are responsive, and quite informative, via e-mail (AS LONG AS you have something of value to talk about.) I'm sure that Barber et al would stand by their products.
Overall Rating
:
9
The LTD is a good match for me and my guitars/amps. My preferred musical styles - blues, modern jazz and alternative - are aptly suited for the LTD. The LTD works well as a front-end to another OD pedal as well, which i routinely apply. The LTD, as are all Barber pedals IMO, is fairly priced too. I really feel that you can't go wrong with Barber.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 06/02/2008
at 04:04pm
by Paulo Keppler
Email: pkeppler<at>tvglobo dot com dot br
Ease of Use
:
No Opinion
Easy? Easier than other pedals. No doubt.
I only needed to run it through my amp and play... result - I am simply love in with it. You are not going to need the manual. It??s simple;
Sound Quality
:
No Opinion
I dont like to use many pedals because I like the natural sound of my amp and my guitars - Fender Blues Deluxe and Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus and Fender Telecaster Deluxe. Great guitars!
I always used the drive channel of amp. I never liked the drive pedals because a lot of them donit have a natural sound. For this reason I avoided them.
Today, after many attempts I finally have found the REAL DRIVE PEDAL.
I bought the LTD and the Direct Drive, sincerely, these are the REAL DRIVE pedals. If you are looking for a natural drive, your seach is over!
My friend, Buy these pedals. You won??t regret buying it!!! You won??t.
The LTD sounds well with either guitar. My favorite is the Les Paul. The Tele is a great guitar though.
I tried some pedals before to buy the LTD - TS9, Drivemaster, Voodoo, etc...) but none of these pedals could make happy.
My advice is to use the LTD and the DD.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
I can depend on it. It seems solid.
If one day my LTD breaks in my gig, I can simply use the drive channel of my amp.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never dealt with Barber but I have read good reviews about him.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
I have been playing i have been playing for many years.
Buy this pedal If you love the sound of your guitar and amp.
I love it.
I need it.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: USD 110.
Submitted 05/23/2008
at 01:43am
by flash
Ease of Use
:
10
Extremely easy to use. Easier than other pedals
Sound Quality
:
10
I have an Analogman King of Tone, a Diamond J-Drive and the Barber LTD. These 3 pedals all sound EXACTLY IDENTICAL when compared at a fairly low volume through my Deluxe Reverb amp. The Barber cost me a $110. on Ebay while the Analogman cost $450.
I actually like the Barber better because you can change the distortion without it affecting your volume or tone. The other 2 pedals can't do that.
All of these pedals sound amazing. Your guitar sounds the same except overdriven.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Don't know. Just got it.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
It seems to me that once an overdrive pedal reaches a certain quality it's pretty much impossible to get any better. If your guitar sounds exactly the same except overdriven - then that's as good as it gets.
So the Barber is equal to my other boutique overdrives except it's the cheapest. It's a win-win situation.
My conclusions were made comparing at low volumes because I don't play rooms that require my amp to be cranked.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 10/17/2007
at 05:26am
by John
Email: plan-x<at>iwvisp dot com
Ease of Use
:
8
It takes a little tweaking to dial in the sound you may want. The manual is very clear on all of the 8-9+ internal controls. If you want more sound shaping control than from a 3 knob stompbox, this is it!
Sound Quality
:
10
Since there is no review for this OD, I have decided to do it. The mod gives so many tweaks, I'm not going into all of them. The mid trim pot was the first thing I adjusted and it works! Although it might work a different mid freq than the inherent one. Overall I was able to obtain(by adjusting everything internally) the finest OD stomp I have ever played!! I play it through my Lonestar & YCV40wr. It does low gain & medium gain so well...I want another one for both. It's clear and articulate. No fizzy artifact. Amp like. Transparent.
Reliability
:
10
Built like a tank.
Customer Support
:
10
I called once and the man himself answered the phone.
Overall Rating
:
10
It's a "10"! Been playing over 35 years and play blues, rock, fusion and progressive etc. If it were stolen I'd buy 2 more. It beats my Keeley BD-2 & SD-1, MI audio Blues pro and the Monkey just to mention a few. The sound of it just inspires me to play more. Oh yeah, it stacks really well. Better than any other pedal I got. If your reading this then your thinking of getting one? I read the LTD Silver or SR sound pretty damn good also. If you own a black one, for $60 you will have a superb pedal. I also modded my DD also. Ahh so much control, a tweaker's paradise.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 09/11/2007
at 03:33pm
by Sandy Carter
Ease of Use
:
10
This unit has three knobs, and is very easy to use.
Sound Quality
:
10
The Barber LTD series are advertised as low to moderate gain overdrive pedals. As such, they are not targeted to serve the metal, or nu-metal market.
What they do exceedingly well, is provide a range of boost from transparent juice to a richly detailed drive. The resulting tones sound more like the amp turned all the way up, rather than a more "toothy" pre-amp distortion.
This range of distortion is very musical and usefull for calssic rock, blues, country, and jazz styles.
I'm using the silver LTD in combination with a Line 6 Verbzilla pedal and a Fender Bassman 4-10 LTD Reissue for my guitar rig, and a black LTD Special Recipe in combination with a Fender Steel King for my pedal steel rig.
The Special Recipe has does not have the midrange "bump" in it's reference EQ. Both LTDs provide beautiful detail even in chords, and a terrific singing quality without noticable compression.
They are very quiet, and exhibit no "tone-suck" when bypassed.
Reliability
:
10
The internal layout and construction of the Barber is first-rate, and I would expect it to last a lifetime. No backup needed. Never had a problem.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Haven't had to use Customer Support.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
I am an active musician on stage and in various studios, on guitar and pedal steel. I play jazz, blues, and some country. I've been playing since 1964.
I spent 20 years selling music equipment, both in retail and as a factory rep, so have played or gigged with almost everything out there.
My gear consists of: Gibson ES345, ES137, and Les Pauls. Ovation acoustic/electrics. Marlen and Texan pedal steels. Fender Bassman 4-10 Reissue LTD, and Steel King amps. Barber LTD Overdrive Pedals, and Line 6 Verbzilla Pedals.
The Barber is the most musical overdrive I've heard to date, and I would definately buy it again.
Obviously, overdrive/distortion tone is very subjective, and there are many fine pedals out there. These just sounded the most natural to my ear.
Thanks for your service! Anecdotal information is very helpful in choosing from such a vast array of products out there...
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: USD 90
Submitted 07/23/2007
at 07:10pm
by shells
Ease of Use
:
No Opinion
3 knobs..the basic tone, volume and drive. fiddle till it sounds right.
Sound Quality
:
10
ok...this is my first review on Harmony...I just had to give props to this pedal. Live so many, I have for years searched for that perfect overdrive pedal...THIS IS IT FOR ME...sold all the common yellow and green boxes this one does it all from a rather clean boost to Texas heat gritty. Can't go into metal zone but I've got a vintage Proco Rat for that. I wanted the overdriven tube sound and this gives it to you in spades. The sound is rich, full and harmonic, never thin or buzzing. No bad sounds across the drive range and the tone chages are subtle..just leave it at 12 and adjust the amp instead. Noise...yeah just a tiny bit, but only really at full drive. I play through a mesa express (great range sounds on its own) and use the LTD to "thicken" up the amp or drive it at lower volumes. bottom line...great pedal, best I've played.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
built like a tank....should stand up to the typical abuses, but I'll say no opinion since it has not been gigged yet.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
no sure...haven't needed it. Barber came very highly recommended to me from another player who has spoken to the shop often.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Not much more to say...I have found "the sound" end of my GAS for overdrive pedals. been playing off and on over 20 yrs, alone and in bands, blues to classic rock to modern pop, use a Tele, HB Reverned Charger (excellent guitar btw) and a Epi dot 335 copy, all sound great though this pedal. Would buy it again in a heartbeat.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 12/30/2006
at 09:02am
by DenHard
Ease of Use
:
9
Rally easy to tweak to find your tone.
No patches, simple pedal simple manual.
Stock Silver LTD
Sound Quality
:
10
Sound Quality is the best I have ever heard from an overdrive pedal.
Easily tailored to fit perfectly on a track. Harmonics seem to jump out of this pedal.
I placed the LTD first in the chain and it's transparent when off and adds no hiss or hum when on.
I use it thru a Boogie Mark IIB head with an Intellifex in the effects loop and a Earcandy Sovereign 1X12 Cabinet and a Peavey Rockmaster with a Xpression in the effects loop into a AA165 Bassman to a Mesa Boogie 1X12 Cabinet. I run them both simultaneously for a thick wall of guitar sound.
The LTD Silver opens the heavens to rich harmonics and adds a thick power tube sounding distortion. It's like getting all new gear adding this pedal.
Reliability
:
10
I've only had it for a month but it's built like a tank.
I would gig without a back.
Customer Support
:
10
I spoke with David Barber prior to purchasing this pedal. Let's face it most pedal are noisy and it is a concern. He said it wasn't and told me if I didn't like it I could send it back. He was right. It is absolutely quite.
They can be upgraded for more tonal definition, but with the internal presence and Bass adjust I was able to adjust the LTD so there was no actual guitar tone change but gained harmonics and add a degree of power tube like distortion.
Overall Rating
:
10
I've played Solo, Duets, Country Bands, Jazz Bands, Rock Bands. Metal Bands, any kind of music to make a living. I currently write and record for background music for TV Shows, along with Writing and selling music. 30+ years on the road has left me in failing health(but memories are mine to keep)
Personally I think pedals are noisy pieces of shit, this one changed my mind.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: USD 109
Submitted 12/18/2006
at 04:01am
by Sonny
Ease of Use
:
10
Very easy once you have it set up for your axe.
Sound Quality
:
10
Why did I even waste my years trying to get subtle warm thick juicy overdrive tones from those lifeless Boss, DOD and ibanez doorstops? This is a lush beautiful open sounding overdrive which is second to none. I can control the gain using the volume control on my guitar, something which I'd never do with my little yellow boss boxes.
I often use a volume pedal to bump up the gain on this little fellow and the LTD responds wonderfully to that too. This is the only OD I've bought and used, and use almost every day and in gigs. All my other OD's have been sold or sit somewhere in a cupboard.
Reliability
:
10
Barber pedals are some of the best made on the planet. They look killer, feel solid and tough, and play great.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never used.
Overall Rating
:
10
The best OD bar none. I won't trade this for anything else on the planet.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: Euro 149
Submitted 12/09/2006
at 01:32pm
by Andreas von Harten
Ease of Use
:
10
Very easy: three controls (volume, tone, drive). But pay attention to the "Tone"-Control. It works in a special way (see website).
Sound Quality
:
10
This is heaven, if you like the Hendrix and SRV sound. You don't get much gain - if you want to play Death Metal, look somewhere else... But if you you want to play Jazz, Blues or Blues Rock, this is the one you need. When you're playing chords, you can hear every single note, even if you choose serious crunch. No muddy sound at all! Using it with my little practice-amp, even with low volume it sounds as if Hendrix is sitting next to me. Unbelievable! I'm very happy, that I could get this pedal from the german distributor, who recommended me this overdrive. Great work, Barber Electronics!
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Well, I just got it, so I can't tell you anything about this. But it seems to be very solid.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
It sounds like heaven and beats all light overdrives, I've ever tried out. Most important: My guitar (custom built strat) sounds absolutely natural with the LTD. It's also very dynamic, like a good amp. No noise at all. Chords stay chords and don't sound muddy. I can't recommend this pedal enough!
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: USD 110 USED
Submitted 12/09/2006
at 03:29am
by Freddy
Ease of Use
:
10
There's just three controls but you need to tweak the two internal trimpots to suit the guitar. The settings are pretty different for my Ibanez hollowbody vs my strat, but I dialed in something to suit both.
Sound Quality
:
10
I use an Ibanez artcore hollow body and a strat with single coils. This is the first low gain OD I have used and loved so much, it gives me a warm, juicy liquid overdrive tone for leads and I can crank up some biting crunch using a booster before the LTD. The beautiful thing about this little black box is it doesnt change your guitar's tone, doesn't add anything overpowering like the tubescreamers, boss ds-1 nastiness, boss sd-1 character etc. When I stomp this LTD it sounds like I've just cranked the amp a little bit, it gives me huge sounding chords and notes without high gain.
Reliability
:
10
The barber pedals are some of the best built I've seen, ever. Compare these to any of the usual boutique pedals, and other analogman, keeley, ross, skreddy stuff and you will see the attention to detail and quality that's gone in here. I bet it would never die on me.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
never used.
Overall Rating
:
10
The absolute best natural sounding low gain OD I have ever used.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: USD 120
Submitted 12/02/2006
at 10:37am
by Adam
Ease of Use
:
10
This is about as easy of an od pedal there is to get a good sound. Controls are clearly marked and are self explanitory, volume, tone, drive. I recomend using Barber's own settings as a good starting point and slowly move your way from there. The only control nob that is somewhat counterintuitive is the tone control but even that is fully detailed on their website.
My unit is completely stock, no mods, and I haven't even played with the internal trim pots but I don't really see a need to do so at this point.
Sound Quality
:
9
For me it is easy to get od drive settings that range from Hubert Sumlins purring tones from his work with Howlin' Wolf, to early Jimmy Page tones and when the drive is fully cranked, SRV TS 9 / Maxon 808 tones. You can also get early Marshall and cranked Vox like tones but you have to play with it a bit.
The LTD mates very well with my Voodoo Lab Anolog Chorus, the only other effect I use. I have tried mating my Marshall GUV II to the same chorus pedal that the results were just nasty sounding. In my opinion mate anolog effects with anolog effects, digital with digital and you'll do just fine.
Speaking of hiss, the LTD is pretty darn quiet all things considered that is until you really crank up the drive setting and even then the hiss is far less than you may get from some of the Dunlop / MXR effects.
Please note, I am running the LTD through a hot rodded '74 Fender Princeton (blackface mod, 20 watt power boost and 10" ceramic speaker all by Tone Tubby / A Brown Soun)and I am using Fender's Vintage Voltage cabels so I am more than pleased that there as little hiss as there is.
Tone gets a 9 because some people may find any anolog hiss unexceptable.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Has a good rep and a five year waranty. Got to like that.
If I am to take a backup with me I'll take my Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive because of their simular tonal characteristics.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Haven't had a need.
Overall Rating
:
10
For me this pedal is a great match. I play country, blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll and for what I want out of a low gain od pedal the LTD is pretty darn cool. If I want to really blast then I'll take out my Marshall GUV II and venture off into Zakk Wylde Land.
This is my third, and hopefully last od pedal. I have owned the Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive (which lives on my effects loop for my Rivera), a Marshall GUV II (hey, it's a stack in a box) and until I returned it for the LTD an Xotic AC Booster.
Before setteling on the Barber LTD I played the Xotic AC Booster for about five days. Prior to taking the AC Booster home I played both the AC Booster and the Barber LTD back to back for about an hour in the store. I thought the AC Booster was very clean, very quite, and it was nice that you could use it as a clean boost and by most accounts use it as a distortion pedal too. In some ways, especially with the lower gain settings, I liked the AC Booster just a little better than I did the LTD, just a little bit more clear but when I brought it home that's when my opinion changed.
The AC Booster had little or no effect through my Rivera M 60 112 when ran through the effects loop and would only alter the tone buy going direct. While using the AC Booster with my Princeton the low gain and clean boost settings settings were as I had expereinced them in the store, quiet, clean, nice breakup, little tone altering, but as the volume levels increased and when the gain level was turned up, even after trimming the bass and upping the treble settings the AC would flub my speaker something awful. The distortion feature of the AC is just nasty, harsh, muddy and unplesant, thumbs down man.
I returned the Xotic AC Booster and played four od pedals back to back for a half hour, through the same amp and with my Strat until I made my decision. I played the Toadworks Lil Leo (it's a good pedal if you are trying to emulate either super cranked tweed and or silverface tones) the HAO Sole Pressure (more of a clean boost than an od pedal but the three position "warm", "bright" and "normal" was very cool if your amp does not have these features), the Barber LTD (again) and the Xotic AC Booster (again) and I went home with the LTD.
Using the same volume settings, same amp, same guitar, and increasing the gain settings on the LTD as high as it would go I couldn't get my speaker to flub the same was as it did with the Xotic.
I am now able to set my Princeton up so sound a lot like my Rivera but in a 50 lb lighter package. Good bass responce, nice highs, very clear and quiet.
My only gripe is I wish the LTD had a top loading AC input like the Voodoo Labs because it is out of the way from the instrument cabels but that is a minor gripe.
As far as the Xotic AC Booster goes, it's a nice low gain od pedal that can be used as a clean boost. As a clean boost goes I think it is much nicer than the Voodoo Lab but as a distortion pedal it is sub par, especially if you condister it runs for nearly $70 more than either the Voodoo Lab or the LTD. When I want a high gain od pedal then it's Marshall time baby!
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted 12/02/2006
at 10:02am
by Steve Morton
Ease of Use
:
10
Absolutely easy, three knobs, and two trimpots inside. No big deal.
Sound Quality
:
10
This is the best smooth low gain OD I have ever used, bar none, period. Having wasted more than $2000 on overdrive pedals ALONE, I am sick and tired of searching for 'that next pedal which will be the greatest'. I have found it, and this is it.
It works great with both single coil and hot humbuckers. My strat sounds like heaven through it. My SG sounds killer too.
This is a deep and full sounding overdrive which doesnt fizzle out and sound metallic raspy like those stupid boss and ibanez units at low gain. At the same time it gives me the sustain I need without a compressor. I can never get this with cheap mass produced boss, digitech etc.
Reliability
:
10
Awesome build, feel and LOOKS!
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Dunno never used them.
Overall Rating
:
10
This is a killer overdrive. It is the absolute best for low gain SRV kind of stuff and as a booster, but it will NOT do high gain like Slash, Zakk etc. This pedal is not meant for that. Work within its limitations and you will not need another, except for higher gain stuff which I do ... I have 4-5 OD pedals I swap when needed.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: USD 109
Submitted 11/06/2006
at 09:44am
by Aleksei Ivanovich
Ease of Use
:
10
Three knobs, extremely easy to use. Two trimpots inside the pedal, also extremely easy to set up and close. Very customizable, but very easy pedal.
Sound Quality
:
10
I have found sound nirvana. Unbelievable, but I have no more GAS.
My axe is a fender standard American strat with Kinman AVn woodstock pickups, going in to the barber LTD, a TS808 and a chorus, simple and sweet setup. It goes into a Laney LC15R tube amp.
A fender with single coils has a sweet natural tone with an incredible range of subtleties and tonal variety. The best grit pedal for a strat is a mild overdrive which doesn't change the character or subtleties of the natural strat tone. Think SRV, and amazing number of blues players who came before and after him. It is stupid trying to use a single coil strat through a mega hyper fuzz distortion type of pedal and expect great results.
I have spent so much time and money on this quest for the holy grail of overdrives for my strat, my head aches even thinking about it, and my bank / wife is not happy either. I think they all have something to smile about now.
After experimenting with the standard stock pedals, boss od, distortion, sd-1, etc, the tube screamers, and many botique pedals including the liquid sunshine, crowther audio pedals, banzai, MXR, maxon, etc, nothing gave me the tone I had in my head, till this little black LTD box.
It makes a simple strat sound so full, so rich, so clean, and so warm. It has tone oozing out of its pores, and a juicy thickness to the tone which is absolutely perfect. Just *how* the heck do they get this kind of thickness and sustain in a pedal with so little gain? I can't imagine how I have wasted so many years getting frustrated with those stupid boss ds-1 type of pedals, making do with their harsh barbaric tones, and telling myself this is going to sound "better" on stage.
I plugged in, switched it on, and was transported to tone heaven. I couldn't stop playing till 1.00am last night and my wife was not too pleased.
I have found the tone I was looking for. I need nothing more in life. Anything I write about this pedal is too feeble an attempt, words can simply not express what I feel in my hands, ears, and soul when I crank my strat through this pedal.
Reliability
:
10
Looks and feels like a tank.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never needed.
Overall Rating
:
10
If you're any sort of guitarist who has ever used an overdrive in his/her life, you owe it to yourself to try this pedal just once. I challenge you to stop playing, or even control yourself after that. You will be a gibbering lunatic chanting the "ltd ltd ltd..." mantra.
I cannot tell you how happy I am with this pedal. I have been searching for this *exact* tone for the past 12 years. Now that I have found it, I can die a happy man.
Playing through this pedal is like playing through nothing at all, just pure clean tube amp tone. It preserves the pristine tone of your guitar without adding or subtracting anything, at the same time, getting as close to a tube amp as is mechanically possible by any pedal I've ever used.
Just get this. Thank me later.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: GBP 99
Submitted 07/29/2006
at 06:13am
by Marko
Ease of Use
:
10
Very simple and well explained in the manual-tone P.M. is for more bass, A.M. is for more treble. Volume-makes the amp get cranked, drive-amount od gain. It also has two inner trim pots for bass and presence, but i'm satisfied with the factory settings.
Sound Quality
:
10
This pedal is a godess. Superb tone. I'm playing it with a Strat(Kinman Woodstock plus set) through a Fender Deluxe Reverb Silverface from 1968. I searched alot for a really transparent low gain overdrive just to crank my Deluxe Reverb a little bit more. This pedal delivered that to me, and more. I can have tones from SRV, Hendrix, Gallagher, Točak etc...I put the volume around 2-4 A.M. tone about 1-2 A.M. and drive at 10 P.M. My amp sings together with me!
I couldn't be happier for this price, this is a best buy, not because it's cheap, but because it has a superb tone! It's true bypass also.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
I think i can depend on this babe, but I can't tell anything yet.
Customer Support
:
9
I was on the Barber shop forum, and Dave Barber is also there. He helped alot, and seems like a great guy!
Overall Rating
:
10
Blues/Rock must have. I'm delighted.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: N/A used
Submitted 05/11/2006
at 08:56am
by Kurt Streuber
Ease of Use
:
10
Well shown, three knobs, two trimmers, easy to dail in and forget.
Sound Quality
:
10
I ust gibsons, a paul and soon a 335, both refitted with imprerial humbuckers, a tele with fralins and a B-bender, and a G&l legacy with andersons. My pedals go from, vht valvulator, ernie ball volume, budda wah, fat boost, carl martin comp, hermida zendrive, the ltd, a line6 mm4 and a roland SDE1000 delay, into a boogie mark I set clean. I ust the ltd as my primary overdrive, with the gain around 8 the tone around 2 or 3 and the volume wherever. I love this pedal with humbuckers, not to say singles aren't equally nice, but I use my zendrive for the strat and tele mostly. With the fat boost, I can get a very convincing Larry Carlton lead tone into the Ltd. This really is an open and natural sounding pedal, and I am really bonding with it quickly.
I previously owned a direct drive, and loved it, so Dave is really nailing the tone I'm after.
Reliability
:
9
All the barbers I've had have been well made, and he stands behind his work.
Customer Support
:
10
I've heard nothing but fantastic stories about his CS, and everytime I've emailed, he's been quick to respond, something I haven't had from many other companies.
Overall Rating
:
10
A very round fat overdrive, capable of being a clean boost all the way up to a primary gain box as I use it. I've thought a lot about ditching the fat boost and getting another one of these, but we'll see.
Kurt
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $100
Submitted 03/28/2006
at 07:11pm
by Mario
Ease of Use
:
10
Easy to use pedal. level, tone, and drive with internal presence and bass trimmer pots. True bypass.
Sound Quality
:
7
Not a bad sounding low drive pedal. Very tube screamer-ish with less mid hump and better tone changing capabilites. Still sounds transistor-ish with a plastic coloration that can really be heard on hard transients / pick attack. That's the problem with solid state that will never be fixed until op amp chips are redesigned. Read up on dielectric noise and you'll figure out why solid state will never sound as pure and crisp as tubes. Tubes are the purest form of amplification that don't suffer from the hard plastic dielectric noise that plagues all transistor pedals. I wonder if TRT Musicoat would work on the IC chips? I might give it a try sometime...but that stuff is NOT cheap. I treated my tube audio amp and CD player and it really did wonders for the sound and clarity.
In its price range, its notches above your typical Boss, Maxon, Ibanez, Zoom, etc. pedals. It can't match a really good tube preamp or tube overdrive pedal.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Not bad, but still sounds sterile like most transistor pedals. Not open sounding but very compressed. I'll stick to my Big Ben pedal.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $75 used
Submitted 03/07/2006
at 07:43am
by Jonathann
Email: jricenator<at>gmail dot com
Ease of Use
:
10
Easy. The tone knob is slightly different in that above 12 o'clock it adds highs and reduces bass while below 12 o'clock it adds bass while cutting hights, but this is a great feature and it's easy to get used to. The internal trim pots are nice. I increased the bass on the internal trim pot ever-so-slightly.
Sound Quality
:
9
I use a 62 RI Tele into a TU2, LTD, Barber Direct Drive, Visual Sound H20, EH Smallstone Phaser, into a Vox AC30cc2. The LTD is replacing a Toadworks Death Rattle. The Direct drive worked great for my full-on rock tones, but the Death Rattle's tweed channel was too much of a compromise of my AC30's tone. I got the LTD, put in the chain, and suddenly couldn't believe I could ever play without it. I LOVE how subtle the controls are. The gain has a wonderful sweep from clean boost to light crunch and everything in between. You can really fine-tune the amount of overdrive. I leave it at about 1 o'clock. I keep the pre-amp gain low on my vox and then really crank the power amp section. With this setting, the LTD drives the preamp nicely when I dig in to the strings while still allowing the power amp to do its thing. I also kick in the LTD with the direct drive on, as well, when I want a boost for a solo. Very responsive pedal. It is not entirely transparent, but no pedal really is. It really does enhance the sound of my guitar and amp, though. Oh, I might add that the LTD really works to make notes super-defined in high gain situations, as well.
The only thing I do notice is a slight mid-jump when I turn it on. It was affecting my amp in upper mid area. By increasing the internal bass pot, it seemed to ballance out the upper mid jump so now it is a lot less noticeable. The difference is subtle, but with the adjustment, the sound is much improved.
Reliability
:
10
I got my Direct Drive 1st and I felt so confident in it, there was no question as to which low-gain pedal I would get. Barber all the way for reliability.
Customer Support
:
10
Awesome. fast to answer questions and such.
Overall Rating
:
10
I play rock. The LTD is a wonderful addition to my rig. It allows me to crank the power amp section of my amp, drive my preamp with the LTD, and forget using an attenuator or having the soundman yell at me to turn down. It's smooth and natural and simple to work with. it works well with other pedals. Best of all, the LTD is the perfect pedal to help build a foundation for all the other tones I could possible need. It is not versatile tone-wise on it's own, but it acts like a great single-channel amp. It sets the stage for me to build whatever tone I want. It beat out the Crowther Hotcake (great pedal, but doesn't have the subtlety in the low gain area that I wanted), Keeley Modded Blues Driver, a second Direct Drive (the LTD and direct drive might be made by Dave Barber, but they are very different pedals), and it replaced my Toadworks Death Rattle, which will soon be up on ebay. I love the LTD. With the direct drive, I've got my basic overdrive needs completely covered. Oh, did I mention that I got it for $75 used? Easily worth the $119 new. If stolen, I would replace it immediately.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $119.00
Submitted 02/28/2006
at 01:04am
by TDM
Ease of Use
:
10
As soon as I plugged my guitar into it and played a few notes I knew there and then this was a pedal to keep. Simple and effective does what it's supposed to do. I attempted to open it up to check out it's innards and mess with the adjustabel pots, but felt I had no use for them yet and just kept with the stock tone. The internal pots are very usefull though.
Sound Quality
:
10
Amazing sound quality. Even with the overdrive knob on full, chords are clear and articulate. String attack is very sensitive. Single lead notes are smooth and creamy sounding with enough bite to stand out in a full band situation. This pedal will compliment any good tube amp, guitar and many styles of playing hands down.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
This pedal seems durable enough to stand up to most rugged circumstances and has a 5 year warranty. I personally don't abuse my gear so it should last a long while.
Just don't spill beer on it.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I am sure if I have any problem with this pedal down the road there would be no issues of getting it repaired by the company in a professional and timely manner.
Overall Rating
:
10
I play rock music. This pedal is great for my style. If it were lost or stolen I would get another.
I pair up the Barber LTD with a Maxon 0D9 on my pedal board and use Maxon as a "over-the-top" boost distortion to get more grind and feedback. The LTD is perfect for more subtle guitar lines and to get just a bit of overdrive attack when needing a dynamic build into heavy parts of a song.
This is an exceptional pedal.
If you get the Barber LTD you won't be disapointed.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $75
Submitted 01/27/2006
at 09:13pm
by Hookemhorns!
Ease of Use
:
10
Simple three knob pedal- volume/tone/gain. This is a low gain pedal. Its easy to get a good sound from this at any volume. Really smooth. However, being a low gain pedal it is sensitive to the volume of the amp, so the settings in the bedroom are way off in a live volume (reference only to tube amps).
Sound Quality
:
10
Setup is Tele/Strat/335 >Keeley dunlop Wah>Toadworks MrSquishy> Barber LTD (replaced a Keeley Boss BD2 Phat)> Jennings boost>Vodkamods MXR phaser> Johnson Chorus (yep, thats right- $5 and it's killer)> Ibanez AD9> Traynor YJC80 modded w/tubes and Celestions V30's with a Boogie 2x12 extension cab. <P>
Pedal is like any gain pedal- Hissy when maxed out- but this is a low gain pedal so it shouldn't be maxed out...
Tone is completely relevant to your rig. This takes your tone and saturates it. My rig will saturate the tubes, but it sounds like a wet fart. The LTD takes the clean dripping harmonics and just flavors it- very appropriately.
The MFG says 12o'clock on the tone knob is neutral- I've found that to be a hair brighter than neutral- but no problem.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Seems solid. Boutique stuff usually is- aside from the DPDT switches. With as much as these boutique things costs- they damn well better be giggable- or usable to chock the wheels of my truck, shim my bed, and double as drink coaster! So far so good.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
No experience with them. That's good!
Overall Rating
:
10
I play a little bit of everything. My rig "naked" does the fender bassman clean and the Marshall JCM800 on the dirty side sans gizmo. For a really tight blues/country/southern Gospel/southern rock tone it needed some help. Barber LTD was the solution. I have quit looking - seriously. I found it. I've been playing for close to 20 years. I play right and left handed- due to an injury- so i've played crap and i've played the fantastic. If it were stolen, it would be thony piece of gear that I knowI could and would replace immediatly. All the oher stuff took years of searching to find that "special" piece.
the one and only bitch is they put the power jack on the side of the damn box. I use Onespot power supplies and the cords are almost too short.
If you need a tweener pedal- this is worth every penny.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $119.95
Submitted 12/20/2005
at 11:26am
by AleX-Ray
Email: ilic<dot>co at home<dot>nl
Ease of Use
:
10
Just speachless about how you can get with such chip pedal such great sound.
Sound Quality
:
10
Everything at 12 'o clock and ready to rock. Twin already has 3 chanels so i have plenty of combination. Effect sounds just perfect for SRV style you can get very nice sound, more transparant than Tube screamer.I 've used Fender Twin amp with Fender standard strat with Van Zandt true vintage pickups
I can get easyly the sound of many artists but what for me most important was is that i could get very good sound of my idol- Stevie Ray Vaughan.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Yes , sure i can. As matter fact next week we have studio recording, and i'm gonna use just LTD between guitar and amp and nothing more.
I 'm sure that i don't need any kind of backup with this pedal .
Customer Support
:
10
This one is brand new and i hope that i won't have problems with it
Overall Rating
:
10
I play blues, nothing else but blues especially Texas blues. This is perfect match for my setup, very valuable pedal on my pedal board.
For other effects i use Vox wah pedal , Tube screamer deluxe, Hughes & Kettner Rotosphere MK II and Boss TU 2 tuning pedal.
If it were stolen i would call the same shop right away to order two more ( one as booster and one as drive pedal) and of course i would kill this one that stole my pedal ( :-) joke of course )but i think that i realy would'nt like that. The pedal is amazing, it sounds great, it's ligthweighty, what more can i say.
I've tried Fulltone's drive, Alberta,Red snapper, allready have Tube screamer but this one is perfect match for my setup. Other pedals are not bad at all don't get me wrong but for my playstyle ,my kind of blues is this THE BEST.
Barber LTD is great pedal . This is not selling provocation it's just true.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $120.00
Submitted 11/30/2005
at 01:29pm
by the Swede
Ease of Use
:
10
I spent about a 1/2 hour dialing in the internal trim-pots & monkeying with the knobs & after wasting thousands of dollars on pedals over the years, THIS PEDAL RULES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sound Quality
:
10
It is a LOW-Gain pedal, but really has enough gain for anyone that has some overdrive already in their rhythm mix. CLEAR TRANSPARENT TONE!!!!
I use this with a Peavey Butcher (the best sounding JCM 800 on earth) & a Classic 30 w/EL84's. This pedal could also be used to dirty up a JTM or Bassman. Anything that needs some Crunch. It's almost like the old grey DOD 250 preamp BUT BETTER! This is the best $120 I've ever spent on gear. You can dial in your tone quick & easy & get the tone you want. You don't have to settle for Crap pedals. If you want Thin Lizzy - AC/DC tone this is it.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Ask me in a couple years!
Customer Support
:
8
Talked to them a couple times & seem like they'll take care their customers.
Overall Rating
:
10
For Hard Rock / Punk Rock this is the pedal. I've been playing forever & the past 5 years I've gone thru at least 20 Overdrive pedals. You can be 100% happy with your Overdrive/Solo pedal. It sounds good with my Tele, Les Paul & 335. A Reverend Drivetrain 2 is almost as Transparent as the Barber LTD - But, not quite. I will ride off into the sunset with this LTD & Drivetrain 2, the rest is going on Ebay. Don't waste your hard earned cash on Modded Boss, DOD or Ibanez pedals. If you mod a pedal with tone issues you'll still have some tone issues.
Do some testing at your local guitar shop & stop wasting your money!
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: 80 (#)
Submitted 10/28/2005
at 03:31am
by Joseph Muldoon
Ease of Use
:
8
3 knobs, 1 switch, 2 trim pots.
I dont know if i like the idea of the trim pots. I do like the idea of having the extra flexibility, but i dont like fiddling with the innards of the pedal all the time, i would rather they were mounted on the top somehow...... but that's me being picky.
Other than that, this is pretty simple, though the tone control is pretty unusual and offers a lot of different sounds.
Sound Quality
:
9
I added this in my pedal chain, in place of a Danelectro FAB overdrive which i had bought to use as a pedal for mildly distorted rythms and lead lines which would have a bit of grit but not too much. The FAB is actually a pretty nice little unit though a bit too flat, and the volume is hard to balance.
I popped this in, and at first i was unsure, it seemed a bit different from what i was expecting. It really is a low gain device, i was so used to overdrive/distortion pedals which really cranked up to thick distortion that this seemed a bit too soft at first.
HOWEVER..... 10 minutes into playing around with it, i really started to hear what it was doing, and how responsive it was. The next thing i knew it was 3 hours later, and i was still playing with this pedal.... wow.........
Reliability
:
9
It is a nice strong little unit.
Seems sturdy, good solid switch and controls, should last forever :)
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
This is a wonderful little overdrive pedal.
It is very musical, very harmonic, very responsive and very exciting to play with.
It's one of those pedals that make you want to play more.
It really is true that the more you pay the better you get, especially with companies like Barber who put so much time and effort into these things.
The LTD is perfect for getting those wonderful 70's style warm but crystal clear guitar tones that the likes of Dave Gilmour, Beck and even SRV had.
I am really impressed by how much it responds to the guitars volume and tone controls, and how clean it is in the pedal chain. Mine has a neat little green led.
I will not be replacing this one, i would buy it again in a shot.
Buy it..... Love it.... :)
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: Won in Compettion
Submitted 10/20/2005
at 08:11am
by Joe
Ease of Use
:
10
Very easy, Just set all knobs half way, 12 o'clock then worh from the there, i found it very easy, much easier then most boss pedals.
Sound Quality
:
10
Great it works very well for mild overdrive such as in blues and pop music, also i found the clean overdrive brilliant for adding sparkle and presence to your sound such as in Metallica Nothing else matters this is great to just leave on and let ring with a chorus pedal
But i mainly use this pedal to help bring out my distortion, contery to popular believes this pedal is great for metal, when ever i'm playing a song thast all distortion, i leave this on my settings are
Volume 11 o'clock - Tone 12 O'clock - Drive 12 o'clock
These settings are great for helping pitch harmonics ring out perfectly and helps with notes sustain especially if you have to use a noise gate in you're chain like me
Reliability
:
No Opinion
N/A but Barber are renound for being great
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
A brilliant pedal for all the reasons i listed in the Sound quility box
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 10/18/2005
at 12:20am
by rooster
Ease of Use
:
No Opinion
I was the last reviewer so let me give this pedal a follow up.
Let me start by saying that I was wrong about the LP and humbucker equipped gtrs in general - the LTD is remarkable with all my gtrs, Strats, Teles, and LPs, plus various frankenstein gtrs, too.
I am even more impressed with this pedal today than when I did the last review.
Sound Quality
:
No Opinion
It is a very 'clear' sounding overdrive pedal. How can this be? I don't have the answer to this question. Also, I said before, I am a very big fan of the 808 and have a very good sounding one. This having been said, in the short time since my last review, if given a choice for one or the other, hands down I would take the LTD.
It has such great cut, and yet it makes the gtr sing. Also, contrary to my last review, easily, the humbuckers sing more readily than the single coil equipped Strats, but it took a while for me to figure this out. Idiota.
It has to be an amp/pedal/gtr/player combination, of course, to get good tone, but this pedal is something else.
If I had to say such a thing, I would say that with the 808 and a Strat - given the right amp, amp volume, and a relatively bright sounding Strat - you couldn't go wrong. Still, taking the same amp, the same volume, the same bright sounding Strat, and the LTD, you would have something similar but a little different. Still good sustaing tone, but just clearer somehow.
OK, I guess you need to play one to see what I mean.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
This pedal will last, I am convinced of it. However, after such a short time, this is still an opinion.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Still no desire to contact this company - except maybe to tell them they did a great job with this pedal.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
OK, the easy part. Buy this pedal if you like a very natural sounding overdriven amp with singing sustain and great bloom. This pedal is unique and remarkable.
In simple terms, it sounds and behaves like a 'cleaned up' 808. IF you ever played an 808 and thought it was too nasily or too dark, this pedal is the end of the rainbow.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $85 used
Submitted 09/26/2005
at 08:11pm
by rooster
Ease of Use
:
10
Mine is the black unit, FWIW. Straight ahead control features, three knobs like an 808.
Sound Quality
:
10
Well, hang with me here. I think this is really great for a Strat, but I did give it a go with my LP. Both gtrs have Fralin pups. My real deal 808 works better for my LP, which actually seems kind of strange when you think about it, the 808 being a bit honky and my LP being the same.
But this is what I hear over here, I can't explain it. I ran only one amp with it, my modded SR with two Jensen C10Qs and two CTS 10s. It is fairly 'real deal' BF, but running EL34s which are less midrange than 6L6s.
Oddly enough, I had tried another LTD before, a friend's, and actually enjoyed it more with Class A circuits. But today I bought one and tried it with my SR. I was knocked out by it with my Strat.
I also run a Mojovibe, and FWIW, the LTD sounds way better in front of it than the 808. Go figure.
Well, as to the subject at hand, this pedal is very quiet. The build is totally first rate, with high quality poly caps and carbon comp resistors. It is a work of art, actually. Where you really notice the difference between it and the 808 sonically, is above the 12th fret. It has a great clarity to it that the 808 does not have, singing the notes like an opera soprano. Sweet stuff.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
I just received it today, not idea. I can tell you it has less moving parts/circuitry than my 808 which keeps on working. I'm not worried about it.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never talked or emailed the company. Frankly, I hope I meet the designer someday to tell him first hand what a great job he has done here. I really wasn't looking for another distortion pedal, I was very happy with the 808.
Overall Rating
:
10
This is a unique and great pedal. I have a few amps, seven, and they all offer up a piece of the sonic pie. I have yet to run it down using the other amps as yet, but I did try my friend's briefly on a few of them a month ago. Hey, I started today with the SR because it is my main gig amp, and I also thought I would be disappointed. Well, I wasn't. The other amps are: tweed Champ, tweed Deluxe, tweed Super, tweed Bassman, 59 Silvertone Medalist, BJr, and my SR. I honestly think this pedal will make me a better gtr player. Why? Because it doesn't color the gtr as much as my 808. It will help me cut but keep my gtr tone in the open. Nuff said.
I won't lose the 808, no, but I won't lose this LTD either. The other distortion pedals I have played don't even compare and I have tried many. This was a total surprise, if my friend hadn't brought one over I would have completely missed it. Thank God for friends, I guess, eh?
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 09/05/2005
at 06:13am
by Spiral
Email: neilquirke<at>yahoo dot ie
Ease of Use
:
10
Mine?s the new Silver LTD. Very straight forward drive stomper. Once you have the internal trims set to your liking inside, you just have the usual three knob layout of most overdrive boxes. The tone control works slightly differently than usual overdrives but in a very good way?for a start it actually does something constructive?from the twelve o?clock position (flat EQ) - turning it clockwise cuts bass and adds treble and turning it anti-clockwise cuts treble and adds bottom end ? very useful. The internal trims are very powerful tone shapers and you need to be careful to set them to match your guitar and amp at full and proper gigging volumes, then close it up and enjoy the ride.
Sound Quality
:
10
I?ve said it before in a review for the direct drive and the same holds for this one?these barber pedals work like part of your amp and not at all like a pedal?sounds like an extra channel, retaining the character and feel of the original amp and guitar combination just adding power, articulation and break-up.
Now my working rig goes like this, ?72 Thinline Telecaster (Wide range humbuckers) and a ?69 Thinline Telecaster (Single coils), Crybaby Wah, Boss TU-2 Tuner, Silver LTD, Direct Drive, Ibanez TS-9, Marshall Vibratrem (Tremolo), Boss DD-3 delay, Electro Harmonix Holy Grail (Reverb) into Vox AC30tb.
As you would expect from any quality overdrive device, it is very, very responsive to your attack and is hugely dynamic?from lush cleans to a snarling growl just by your own attack on the guitar ? fantastic for rhythmic phrasing along with vocals.
I used to use a Boss BD-2 for this ?amp just breaking up? sound but always felt robbed of sustain and real tube amp like clipping. Using the old technique of shoehorning a higher gain device like the BD-2 or TS-9 to the first third or so of its drive range only works to a degree because at that drive range you wont get enough sustain and the pedal doesn?t dish up its full tone until the gain is at about half or so, and by then you are gone past the drive level you wanted. Plus the BD-2?s clipping was awful anyway ? it had great volume, decent tone but really shitty drive clipping?fizzy bastard!!!
This little beauty has the clean to dirty tube transition all wrapped up across the entire range of its drive pot and thus allows you to pin point accurately the exact break-up and feel point that you have been hearing in your head for years but just couldn?t quite find unless you cranked your old Class A, non master volume tube amp to volume levels that even the drummer gives out about!!!
Reliability
:
10
Built like a tank. Strong durable case like the Direct Drive and insides like a beautifully oiled Rolls Royce. Plus that Silver Hammertone paint job looks great beside the Direct Drive. Don?t foresee any problems and I know David Barber will look after me if I need him to sort anything out. The pedal is as solid as a house though?wont need him. (Famous last words!!!)
Customer Support
:
10
Like I said, David Barber is very good to deal with customers and their queries. He has answered a lot of my questions and queries with rapid responses. I know he offers to fix any problems or mod pedals if you call upon him. Very good customer support. You can talk to him by posting on www.tpngear.com/forum if you have queries.
Overall Rating
:
10
By far the best OD device for a low gain application. Brings a good tube amp to its knees. Very natural and organic sound of tubes just starting to jangle into drive territory and a little beyond. The only thing that pips this unit is when I turn up my Vox AC30tb to just over three quarters, now that?s the sound of my dreams but at that volume I am completely drowning out my bandmates and damaging my ears, plus there is no way any sound engineer will handle that kind of sonic mayhem from the backline on stage.
This pedal however gets me far closer to that feel and sound than any other stomper I have ever tried or ever heard used?fantastic!!!
Now the issue ?Classic or Silver LTD?, well the Silver LTD has a slightly more scooped EQ (very slightly), so if your amp has enough character in the midrange like my Vox AC30tb then the Silver is the way to go, but if your amp EQ is very scooped already then the Classic black LTD may be a better option to add some slight midrange to your EQ to keep your head above the water in a band situation. Overall, these Barber pedals are easily top of the pile.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $105 used
Submitted 07/15/2005
at 07:05am
by Evan N.
Email: Hotshotkiquer<at>yahoo dot com
Ease of Use
:
10
This pedal was very simple to use. With just three knobs, anyone could get a good tone out of it.
I do recommend buying another overdrive to work in conjunction with this pedal though. I use a TS-808 re-issue along with the LTD. I have a fulltone wah in the front and an MXR 10 Band EQ in the back.
Sound Quality
:
10
I play on a variety of strats and a les paul with an early '70s Fender Bassman 50.
My setup isn't that noisy but there is a slight hum proabably from using two overdrives together.
I can get a good Kenny Wayne Shepherd/Walter Trout/SRV/Gibbons Type Tone.
I do have to put this down, IF YOUR'RE A STRAT PLAYER BUY MOJO PICKS OFF EBAY!!! They increase sustain, add more clarity to your sound, and are completely bitchin' for lead work.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I bought this pedal off ebay, so I've never dealt the builder.
Overall Rating
:
10
This pedal is an Overdrive, not too much distortion but enough to add grit to your sound. Every Blues player should have this pedal, it adds sustain, gives you a great base tone to work from, and a must have pedal.
If it were lost or stolen, I would definently buy again, direct from barber electronics this time.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99.95
Submitted 05/11/2005
at 08:56am
by Charlie Bernstein
Ease of Use
:
10
It's so easy, I'm unloading my other distortion pedals. It has the usual three knobs - volume, tone, and drive - but all three sound good just about everywhere. The volume adds the presence and clarity I've only found in a clean boost pedal, and the drive adds sustain and overtones with less of the harshness and tone masking most other drive knobs are guilty of.
But the big surprise is the tone knob. Instead of just rolling off treble or bass, it simultaneously rolls one up as it rolls the other down. The result is a clear, balanced tone at every setting.
It has some internal trim pots I haven't tried yet, because as-is it's good for my Strat (ultra-light alder, rosewood board, Fralin Vintage Hots, Callaham vintage-style whammy bridge). My big complaint about the guitar had been it's seemingly incurable muddy low strings - but the LTD has given them clarity and chime without making the trebles shrill.
The LTD is kind of harsh on my Teles, but that seems to be what the internal trims are for.
The manual is short and sweet - there's not much to using this thing.
Sound Quality
:
10
No pedal suits everyone. But if you dig blues and roots music but don't plan to shell out bookoo bucks for a booteek amp, this is the ticket.
Mostly using it with my parts Strat - makes it sound BIG, 3D, lush, articulate.
There's a small amount of noise - but compared to other distortion/overdrive boxes I've used, it's negligible.
As I said above, it's easy to dial up great sounds. The LTD is just a mass of sweet spots. I've been running it through a slightly modded reissue Vibroverb. I don't strive to sound like anyone else in particular - just like sounding good on my own terms.
I have a couple of (much more expensive) distortion boxes that have turned out to be way too aggressive for me.
I mostly play straight-to-amp and have been looking for a distortion/overdrive pedal that has a genuinely amp-like sound. This is as good as I've found.
My bet is that if, you want to sound like classic metal, fusion, or modern rock, the LTD won't get you beyond beyond. But if, like me, you enjoy fat Chicago/Memphis/Texas sounds, the LTD will bring it on home.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Like all booteek effects, built to battlefield specs. Don't think I'll need or want a backup. Haven't gigged it yet.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
I mainly play blues, country, folk, and jam - American idiom-type stuff. Not a pro, but do gig occasionally. Been playing since around '68. If it were stolen, I'd get another.
The other distortion/overdrive stompboxes I've owned are the Ibanez TS-10, Bennett Brown Sound, and Hao Rumble Mod. I've played a few others. All are okay in their ways, but as an essentially clean player, they don't suit my purposes - they all have a very wide gain sweep, but these offer only a few sweet spots - I could practically glue the knobs in place.
But paradoxically, by having a narrowly limited (LTD) gain range, the LTD's knobs all function in a useful zone, making the box infinitely tweakable, with rich tones everywhere.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $90.00 used
Submitted 04/11/2005
at 07:55pm
by Fred
Ease of Use
:
10
Very easy to use. Volume, tone, drive. Pretty self explanatory.
Sound Quality
:
9
Quite simply the most useful overdrive pedal I've ever tried. Low gain, you won't get metal tones out of it but if you want just a little break-up that you can roll back with your guitar volume control, this will do it. It also adds some mid-range and attack in tandem with other distortion boxes that might be a little mushy on their own. I've used it with Top Hat, Marshall, Boogie and Dr.Z amps and all sorts of guitars. It always sounds good and is always the most used pedal on my board. I'm giving it a 9 because it still doesn't measure up to a cranked tube amp.
Reliability
:
10
I've had it for over a year and have had no problem. I think you'd really have to work at hurting this pedal.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Haven't needed it but they have a great reputation.
Overall Rating
:
10
I only use this pedal live, not in the studio but I'm sure it would be useful in the studio. I play primarily blues, country and 60's rock. If the Barber LTD was lost or stolen I'd have to replace it. I've been playing guitar for 40 years, I'm a session player and I've accumulated more gear than I can mention. This pedal worked it's way onto my pedal board and has stayed there. The cream floats to the top.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 03/09/2005
at 08:58am
by KmcKaskle
Email: kyle at tornpraise<dot>org
Ease of Use
:
9
After adjusting the two internal trim pots, it's a snap to use.
Sound Quality
:
9
This pedal sits in my pedal chain after my other overdrive/distortion units. It's great at giving my other units a little more "oomph." It's also a wonderfull light O/D by itself. I was telling my wife (she's the bass player in my band) the other day that I keep falling more in love with this pedal every time I turn it on. It reacts so well to pick attack, and your style of playing. I can get a nice bluesy sound, a good mild rock sound, or a nice "over the top" sound but at lower volumes, all without changing any of the settings. It's all about how you dig in to the strings. An absolute gem of an overdrive pedal.
Reliability
:
10
Being that I leave my pedalboard stationary at my church most of the time, I would never worry about this thing being abused to the point of breaking; however, I would have no reservations about taking this thing on the road.
Customer Support
:
10
I asked some relatively strange questions abou the pedal, and I got a prompt reply.
Overall Rating
:
9
I play primarily rock style music at my church. We are essentially a rock band that happens to lead worship at a church.
My Rig (currently) consists of a '95 PRS CE-22 maple, Homebrew CPR (compressor), Boss V-Wah, Fulltone Ultimate Octave, Fulltone Full-Drive 2, ProCo vintage Rat, Barber LTD, Mesa Boogie Trem-O-Verb, Homebrew Tramp, T. Miranda Rotor-Phase, Boss DD-3, Boss DM-2.
I bought this pedal becauase I really wanted a low gain overdrive. This was the only pedal I could find that said it was specifically designed as a low gain OD, so I gave it a try. As soon as I turned it on, I was in love, and I can't go a full set without using it at least twice. I would replace this thing immediately if it were ever lost or stolen. It's quite thi inspirational pedal. Great to turn on just for the fun of it, to see what happens.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99.5
Submitted 02/15/2005
at 11:42pm
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
it is simply impossible not to get a good result with the LTD. maybe if one forget's to put a battery or does not connetc it to external power? ..even then ... with the (real)bypass there is still sound ;-))
the hard thing is, this pedal does not have a 'sweet spot' it is a 'sweet spot' on its own ...there are so many combinations giving a perfect result.... maybe somebody prefers a 'one trick pony'??
Sound Quality
:
10
I did own two 'Barber 'Tone Press' wich made me think, that if someone builds such a neutral, natural great sounding pedal, they must have more for me...so oredered one from the US and they are just right.....another perfect sounding pedal
maybe something to my equipment. I do play what someone might call 'silent recording'. the main soundsource is a Groove Tube soul-o-75 (actualla two of them) with loadbox (Koch LB120) and H&K Redbox Pro (a class on its own as whell).Then via a TC M1 and some DI i play direct to the PA and at home direct on my Mixer.
This leaves all the sound's (mostly Clean or a bit fatened with some overdrive)under my control and most of the time i do have almost a similar live sound.
The downside is (was) my leadsound with many compromises because 'silent recording' does show to much ugly sometimes harsh overtones. ...now i get to the point...this is history with that pedal in the chain.It is distorting the sound without distroting it...mhh... and having a fultone FD for lead sound it even makse the FD sound betther then with any OD in front of it.
I have a Klon, original 808 and on and on...they are all great. But this thing makes my live much easyer. I have seen descriptions that is was 808 like in it's effect, that is of course not the cas. BUT it replaces in my case the usage of he 808 because it hase a different dynamic range and the a different tonal range. the 808 is a bit on the nasal side, whilst the LTD is keeping so much of the original sound of the guitar.
i would buy 3 LTD's (or maybe it would be time to get other pedals of Barber, instead of a used $$$ 808, if i would have to start from scratch. simply because i get more AAA+ possibilities out of this box.
(this is not a stament against a 808 ... and i am full of respect for the people who deigned it xx years ago.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
I will depend on it! to a certain extent...it is after all just a pedal..
Would you use it on a gig without a backup? yes i would ...it is after all just a pedal..
but i tend to have backups of almost all affordable parts
I do not have a backup on the 808 and the KLON
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
The manual is a basically A4 Paper and not very rich. also the BArber Homepage could offer a bit more information. But reffering to the chapter 'Ease of Use'
One thing: They offer them online on theyre HP ...but you can get them cheaper on from Music Toys, wich is a bit od??
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
a lot of clean or cleanish sound's 85% of the time playing
and therefor it is the pefect match. our singer just tild me, that he loves my new smooth and still very present sound.
you will find the band under www.uriginal.ch
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 02/11/2005
at 11:43am
by steve
Ease of Use
:
10
It has 3 knobs. Easy to use but many tones when combined with your amp controls, guitar pickups and other pedals etc.
Sound Quality
:
10
I had never had a Barber product before but always heard
good things about them. Go to their web site, they have sound files that give you an excellent idea of what this pedal does and sounds like. This pedal loves my Twin Reverb Reissue. I have a Klon, Landgraff, original 808 and on and on. But this thing makes the TR sing. I use the regular TR voice for clean and the LTD for overdrive. that's OVERDRIVE not distortion. I have seen descriptions that is was 808 like in it's effect, it is much better and Cleaner than any 808 I've heard. For what I was looking for with my Twin this pedal nails it. Iusually use an Analogman Mini Bicomp in front to squeeze that orange just a little bit more. I told Barber, for what I had paid for the above mentioned very over priced pedals, his was too cheap.
Reliability
:
10
so far.
Customer Support
:
10
THEY WILL TALK TO YOU ON THE PHONE! IMAGINE
Overall Rating
:
10
se blah above
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 01/14/2005
at 03:11am
by Brett Valentine
Email: brettgv<at>aol dot com
Ease of Use
:
9
Pretty straightforward to use but allowing you options at the same time (Bass and Presence internal trim pots). Removing the 4 screws is not that much of a hardship to get at the internal pots, and once you find a setting you like, you can "set 'em and forget 'em."
External controls: Volume, Tone Drive, on/off switch LED status light, 9v external jack (also able to run @18v). The main controls are effective and were useful through their entire ranges.
The short manual was to the point and easy to follow and gave a few tonal suggestons.
Seems more about the playing than the tweaking.
Sound Quality
:
9
Effects chain (drive section): Marshall ED-1 Edward Compressor=> Barber Tone Press=> PedalworX Tour Pro Toggle=> Barber Direct Drive SS=> Barber LTD=> ZVEX SHO (borrowed from my other pedalboard)=> Ernie Ball Volume Pedal. Monster Rock cables and connectors. Used mostly with a Brian Moore i21 (Duncan Alnico II Pro neck/Pearly Gates bridge). Running through a Pod, Fender Stage 112SE, (at local studio): Roland JC120, Fender Roc Pro head/Marshall JCM 900 4x12 cab, silverface Bandmaster head/Mesa Boogie 2x12 cab.
With the DRIVE knob maxed, the distortion is on the lower side of medium (which is how this pedal is advertised). I replaced the DRIVE knob with an MXR knob to allow me to adjust the level with my foot. Running the pedal in front of things, it can easily boost your ovrdrive or your amp for soloing. I tend to use ther LTD in the same fashion as I use the FatBoost on my other pedalboard, as a "just that side of breakup" pedal into a clean amp, set at just above unity gain or line level. For "fat clean" playing, I engage the LTD and boost the signal with the SHO clean boost.
The LTD is a quiet pedal on it's own. When run in combination with the DDSS and the Tone Press, the cumulative noise floor begins to come up a bit as both the LTD and DDSS compress the signal just a bit (the DDSS just a bit more). The Fat Boost has even less compression and is just a bit more "open" than the LTD That said, the LTD on its own does retain nice dynamics and cleans up nicely when the guitar volume is rolled off a bit. The slight compression seems to even out the breakup just a bit without squashing dynamics. Running the pedal at 12.5v (Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 power supply) opens up the LTD just a bit more.
The FatBoost also has a larger bottom end than the LTD (even with it's bass trim pot maxed out) which should be a plus for those of you who find the FatBoost a bit too dark). The LTD can just about match the character and warmth of the FatBoost's upper end, high mid thickness by adjusting the tone knob and internal PRESENCE trim pot. I keep both trim pots wide open and can still darken things up nicely with the external tone pot just fine. Note that the tone control boosts the high end and de emphasises the bass a bit once you go past 12:00, and the reverse when the tone control is set before 12:00.
Rather than trying to match the FatBoost tone for tone, I went with what I heard as the pedal's strengths. With these settings, ONE: 2:00, DRIVE: 9:00 (internal pots maxed out) the LTD gives me a rather "transparent" tone with just a slight layer of warmth to the upper mids and a nice balanced bottom end that never get's overpowering. The character of the pickups always come through, and pick and finger dynamics are expressive. With the Tone Press engaged, I've got just enough gain boost and sustain to allow me to still control things from the volume control from clear crisp rhythm to soloing with good compression and light breakup, still with some pretty surprising dynamics depending upon pick pressure. Tonewise, (bridgepickup) it is definitely in the vein of Robben Ford/Larry Carlton. With the just the LTD and both compressors on, you get a "searing" lead with slight breakup, definitely an addictive sound!
Adding the Direct Drive SS (before the LTD in the signal chain), (also set up to be pretty transparent and with lower medium gain, just above line level) The LTD added both a bit of warmth to the DDSS as well as some aggressiveness to the breakup. Because all three pedals add some compression (Tone Press being a compressor), the accumulated sustain at playing volume is always present and very controlable.
The LTD and Tour Pro Toggle (set to no compression, medium gain, just above line level, tone at 3:00) is another winning sound. The LTD smooths out the TPT just a bit and the TPT adds highly dynamic breakup. The 2 tones are ve
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Looks rock solid, all controls are nice and tight. I'm not worried. Expect it to last years.
Customer Support
:
10
Dave Barber answered my emails within 24 hours. Very pleasant to deal with and very accomodating. He explained a bit of how he designed the pedal and offered to modify it for me if I wanted.
Overall Rating
:
10
I play just about every style, going on 30, 32 years, and this pedal seems to be able to fit in almost anywhere. Great for blues (I mean really good), even as a thickener for jazz or country. It makes a nice booster for rock as well, but is definitely not a high gain pedal.
This is definitely the type of pedal you can take with you if you want to throw just one into your gig bag. I love it's tone and it's versatility and really can't thnk of anythng I would change, finally understanding this pedal a little better with time. Had it for about 2 weeks and took into the studio and ended up using it on almost everything.
If lost or stolen, I'd definitely buy it again.
THough they migt not be everybody's "cup-o-tea," I think the LTD, DDSS, and Tone Press make a very versatile combination, and the LTD and the Tone Press should probably be "joined at the hip" or combined in one box, they work so well together, and the price should make a lot of people look twice.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $90 used
Submitted 01/13/2005
at 07:33pm
by M.D. - Ann Arbor, MI via Austin, TX
Ease of Use
:
10
Start with the level set at parity (roughly 9 o'clock for my rig), and the tone and drive set between noon and 1 o'clock. You should be able to find a sweet spot very quickly that will make you want to keep this one on all the time. Simply unbelievable how simple it is. If you really to tweak it perfectly, there are two trimpots inside, one each for bass and presence. I set the bass at half and the presence about 3/4. The result is nearly beyond words when it comes to emulating the old tweeds and blackfaces.
Sound Quality
:
10
They might just as well have called this "Blackface In A Box". It's THAT good. I leave mine on nearly all the time, and use it as my fundamental tone over which all the other effects do their thing. Sometimes I run it last so I can really emulate running into a wide-open blackface Princeton. My chain currently comprises a 1982 '57 Vintage RI Strat or a late '70s L.P. Custom -> Budda Wah -> Mini-vibe -> Fulldrive II -> Boss CE-2 & PH-1r (on a Loooper A/B loop-switching true bypass unit) -> Ernie Ball volume -> E-H Deluxe Memory Man -> Barber LTD -> a pair of modded Carvin Vintage 33s running Sovtek 5751s in the preamp and JJ EL84s in the power section. Detune the strat and go straight through the LTD into any big, clean 2x12 combo for an amazing SRV tone; put it in front of your OD for an amazing sweetness with real string clarity on more complex chords. The difference is so clear yet subtle. You can set it for minimal tone coloration, or crank up the trimpots and tone control for a nice, mild midrange hump like some of the smaller old Fender combos. I could go on and on about how impressed I am with this gem.
Reliability
:
10
Superb craftsmanship throughout. I wouldn't even worry about the footswitch that much (but I always end up carrying a spare switch or two in my gig bag anyway, just out of habit). With this unit, though, I wouldn't hesitate to gig without a backup. Very, very low battery usage too.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Bought used, though have had no problems yet. I don't anticipate any, but if the experience of others is any indication, getting real help if I ever need it should be a snap.
Overall Rating
:
10
If you have any interest at all in getting a vintage tone pedal, even for just PART of your overall sonic arsenal, don't think twice about where to look for the right box to deliver the goods. If you really dig vintage tones you'll likely end up (like me) leaving this thing on virtually all the time. The Barber LTD is truly an amazing value for the price they're asking ($99 direct from Barber)...
I could go on and on and on and on....
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 01/05/2005
at 06:10am
by Rob DiStefano
Email: rfd<at>rfd dot cc
Ease of Use
:
10
Extremely easy to use - no manual required.
Sound Quality
:
10
This is a superb overdrive that does precisely what it sez it'll do: offer a smooth, transparent boost that will not color the guitar tone and will allow the notes in chords to be clearly heard. It's dead quiet. I use it with a variety of small tube amps - 16 watt Winfield Harvard/EL84/15" Weber, 14 watt MMB/6V6/12" Weber, 5 watt B1uesboy/6V6/10" Weber - and feed it a variety of single coil and humbucker pickups. It stays on all the time and it works perfectly for fingerstyle jazz, bluez, pop, R&B. The LTD offers a range of boost from clean to buttery smooth "hair" to nasty bluez "grit", and it has true bypass.
Reliability
:
10
Built like a Sherman tank, superb craftsmanship - one tough pedal.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/A
Overall Rating
:
10
Though I prefer the tone of a good, overdriven tube amp, there are too many times when a venue will not allow this to happen, so a good overdrive pedal is mandatory (or an amp with a master volume control). After a 3 year quest for the *right* overdrive, and about $2K later, I found the LTD. Now I have two, for when I run a pair of amps in stereo. I predominantly play Strats and Teles direct to the LTD, and direct to the amp - no other FX used or needed. The LTD offers the kind of tube-like overdrive I've been looking for, with quality build and components, all at a very reasonable price tag.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 12/27/2004
at 08:53am
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
# controls and 2 internal pots that you set basically once and then don't change unless you change your equiptment.
Sound Quality
:
10
Best pedal I have used. I don't like pedals in general but this one changes the sound of my guitar very little almost to the point of not at all. I set the internal pots this way; bass--all the way up, presence-- almost all the way up, result my Gibson ES 137 with 57 Classic humbuckers tone is changed hardly at all when tone control on the LTD is at 12:00 neutral. No big mids like a Tubescreamer, no bass drop out, no drop out of highs so the attack and tone remain almost completely unchanged, perhaps just a very small amount of clouding but very slight, this is the clearest most neutral pedal I have ever used. Drive is just what i needed, this is a low gain pedal so the overdrive is very much like a Vintage tubs amp, any where to just some "hair" on the note to cranked vintage amp overdrive. Just wonderful.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Don't know but the build quality is superb, probably will last forever.
Customer Support
:
10
Dave Barber will talk to you all day if you need help.
Overall Rating
:
10
Most neutral, clear low gain pedal money can buy and it is only $99!If this is what you want clear, neutral sounding pedal with vintage tube like overdrive this is it, I don't think there is a second choice.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99.00
Submitted 11/19/2004
at 12:28pm
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
No brainer overdrive pedal. If you want to get really cerebral, open up the back and play with the internal trims.
Sound Quality
:
9
I got a Barber Direct Drive Super Sport which I was really impressed with for a high-gain overdrive so I grabbed one of the LTD's to check out their "low gain" overdrive. I've been playing a Voodoo Lab
Sparkle Drive for a while now and really like that pedal as well, but the LTD is a little more sensitive to picking attack and seems to be a little more dynamic. The Sparkle Drive has a better clean boost capability though. The LTD actually cranks out a considerable amount of gain when the drive level is above 12:00, so it has quite a bit of range. I keep it around 11:00 to 1:00 for best results. This pedal, to my ears, is not as "transparent" as the Direct Drive SS, so I opened her up and adjusted the Bass trim down to 11:00 and bumped the Presence (or Harmonics, can't remember which one it was) up to about 1:00. This tweak helped (for me). Keep the LTD on my board now and gave the Sparkle Drive to our bass player. My board now looks like this; Clyde Deluxe Wah > LTD > Direct Drive SS > Voodoo Lab MicroVibe > Barber Launch Pad > Line6 DL4. George L's for everything and always into tube amps. It's worth noting that the LTD does not seem to bias single coils or hummers, sounds great with both.
Reliability
:
10
Solid. No problems.
Customer Support
:
10
Haven't had to contact Barber, but if I did, they'll take care of me. Smaller companies, like Barber Electronics, Reverend and Carr Amps rule the customer service world. ( I did speak with Barber on the phone initially and he was very imformative and helpful ).
Overall Rating
:
9
There's so many good overdrive pedals out there these days, it's hard to say any one is the best. Having said that, the LTD seems more dynamically senstive and articulate than most of the pedals I've tried, and at under 100 clams is a very good value. I don't always play through my pedalboard, but when I do I'm glad I have the LTD in the "low-gain" spot.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: 99 (Sterling)
Submitted 11/17/2004
at 10:05am
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
9
Can you dress yourself? great! then you will have no problem getting a usable sound out of this box.
Sound Quality
:
7
My set up is Fender Voodoo strat.:Fulltone clyde deluxe wah: Fulltone Mini Deja vibe:rocktron Austin Gold: Barber Ltd running into a Fender vibro-king. There isn't much noise at all from this pedal when the volume is set below 12", however I find that most overdrive pedals only sound good with the volume at around 11 to 1, with these settings there is some background hum, but it's acceptable.I find it sounds good with a wah pdal as it adds a thickness to a strat. so you do not get those screechy highs.
Reliability
:
9
The insides are point to point hand wired and very neat. I would use without a back up, but if you rely on any one pedal for your sound...always take a back up!
Customer Support
:
10
I did contact them about this pedal before I purchased it and after, and got a swift email response. They are very helpful in my opinion.
Overall Rating
:
9
I play in the UK's top Hendrix trib. band and the Ltd pedal is a great asset for the slightly clean/slightly dirty sounds that I was looking for. When the soundman asks you to turn down, and your sound gets thin...kicking in this pedal goes some way to resolving the problem.I have tried most of the high end named overdrives, and none can get the sound that this pedal does.It will give you a cleanish boost to your amp, but the sound of this pedal whilst not being transparent, will not ruin your guitar or amp sound. Also,bear in mind that it is a LOW OVERDRIVE pedal! and as such will not hide your sloppy playing (or mine!)It will make you a more precise player, and lets face it, that can only be a good thing.I like to search the internet for info on different pedals, and have purchased Barber pedals before, Direct drive and the Super sport. however they were soon sold as I found the harmonic content in the overdrive too be overpowering for my needs. The Ltd fits the bill for me, but as with all things amp/pedal guitar, etc. try them first! don't be sold on something just cos' it's got a good review....use your own ears.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $100
Submitted 11/05/2004
at 02:41pm
by nick pierro
Email: rockstarnick<at>verizon dot net
Ease of Use
:
9
Very easy to use. 3 knobs. 2 internal trimpots, which are subtle, but they correct the problem of every tubescreamer: these pots lets you match bass response to YOUR liking, as well as add presence to match whatever amp/guitar combo your using.
Sound Quality
:
10
In short: One of the best, low gain overdrives I've ever played.
First of all, it sounds great with single coils and humbuckers. It doesnt do that clean-note-with-buzzy-distortion-around it thing that tubescreamers do with humbuckers.
Note clarity: better than any tube-screamer or tube screamer clone I've played.
Barber just makes kick-ass pedals. He has perfected the art of how to have the perfect blend of extreme-note clarity and sweetness in one sound. I own a Barber DD SS, and that is the BEST high-gain OD I've ever played. Likewise, this is the best low gain OD I've ever played.
My setup now is a Baber Tone Press Compressor, Barber LTD, and a Barber DDSS. Those three pedals along with a decent tube amp, and you've got all you need to make some killer sounds.
If you need maximum note clarity and zero mid range humpiness, dump your Screamer and get this thing.
Reliability
:
10
Solid as a rock. Pots, switches, and jacks mounted to the enclosure, NOT the PC board.
True bypass switch.
Customer Support
:
10
When I called, I talked to Mr. Barber himself, who chatted with me for a good 15 minutes on pedals, amps, custom orders, and other stuff. Very nice guy. Zero attitude. I don't doubt that he'd help out in a flash if anything happened.
Overall Rating
:
10
Overall, Id say that this is my favorite low-gain overdrive I've ever owned. I would have paid twice as much for this pedal, but at 99 bucks, its a STEAL. Is it the only OD I own? No. sometimes, you just want that weird mid-bump TS type of sound. but in my mind, taht doesnt sound liek a REAL tube amp. This thing does.
Good Story: At a recent recording session, I had this LTD plugged into my bogner (set to dead clean), and I was playing some overdriven chords. The engineer looked and said "man, those Bogner overdrives sound amazing, don't they?" Little did he know that I was playing through the 99 dollar barber LTD. Nuff said.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 11/02/2004
at 09:45am
by Greg Abrams
Ease of Use
:
9
Very nice low-gain overdrive. Very easy to use, as are most pedals. I started at 12 o'clock across the board and worked from there until I found the sweet spot. Didn't take long at all. Has a couple of spinners on the PCB inside that allow for finer adjustments to bass and "presence" output. Have not altered these yet, but may opt to do so just to see if I can draw a slightly deeper sound out of it.
Sound Quality
:
9
Works very well with my Dr. Z Mazerati, where it succeeds in pushing what is already an excellent natural "gainy" tube amp just a little further...without being distorted or mushy in any way. I'm already a Barber Direct Drive owner and was so impressed with that box that I bought the LTD to replace my Boss Overdrive and Blues Driver pedals. While nothing is perfect, I do feel like this box is closer to what I'm looking for in the low-gain arena. I've heard the term "transparent" applied to this pedal and believe that of all the overdrive pedals I've owned, the LTD is the most deserving of that label. It doesn't really change the sound...just enhances it, thickens it up a bit, and gives it some steam. Good product!
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Like the Direct Drive, the LTD is nicely built into a pretty rugged enclosure. Plunger switches are usually where I have the most trouble with breakages, so I'll hold back on a rating for now. But based on what I've seen so far from both of these pedals, I'm not worried about them dying anytime soon.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Have not dealt with them yet. So no rating here...
Overall Rating
:
9
I play a little bit of everything - from metal to blues-rock to funk. I have quite a few pedals now, after having gone through so many that just didn't do anything for me over the long haul. I'm at a point now where I'm feeling fairly comfortable with my overdrive sound, thanks to a combination of the Barber DD and LTD. Of course, when playing metal, I still lean to the Tonebone Hot British for the "chunk". But for most everything else that isn't intended to pulverize bone and batter the crowd into submission...these little Barber pedals are quite nice. Oh yeah, and for $99 each, this is easily one of the best deals out there!
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 10/07/2004
at 06:27am
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
3 knobs, very simple.
Sound Quality
:
10
No noise at all. I have a klon which is the best od I have heard but this pedal comes close. It is definately going to stay on my pedalboard. I have all high end equiptment - Keeley,Klon,Suhr guitar and so on. I have come to know good tone. This pedal is worth more than Barber charges. Outstanding pedal.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Only had it a month.
Customer Support
:
10
I have talked to Barber Electronics a couple of times and they were very helpful.
Overall Rating
:
10
Been playying 20 years. I would definately get another one if stolen.
Inside is incredible. It is very professionaly wired. Most of all it sounds incredible. Very slight coloration but in a good way. In my opnion it is #2 in od's right now. I have had a lot of pedals. If you want a low to medium overdrive, this is the pedal for under $290 which is the price of the Klon.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99+ 11
Submitted 09/26/2004
at 08:06pm
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
9
Easy, as long as you take time playing with all the knobs,outside,and inside.
Sound Quality
:
10
Once you have this thing dialed this thing, it is all golden. The main key is the fine adjustment of the two internal pots( presence,bass). As far as available gain goes, it semms there is just sufficient amount of it available for nice Rock solos a la ZZ top.(but then I run a compressor after it to increase the sustain). However,it's true forte is in the low-mid gain terrain. As it is well deserving of prisitine sound quality rating.
Reliability
:
9
It looks durable, and I was quite impressed with the tidyness of all the internal parts upon opening the back cover. The only thing that I noticed that the 9 volt battery clip moves around when you shake the box.Probably no big deal unless you turn this thing into a percusive instrument by shaking it around!
Customer Support
:
10
I have two other pedals by them and it has always been an pleasant experience dealing with them. Their products seems to be no frills,just gobs of unadulterated pure tone emmiting boxes.
Overall Rating
:
10
Great box, it is a sort of box that is most likely appreciated most by those guitatrist who can actually carry a tune on their own. Who places enphasis on the actual tone of their instrument rather than the effect sound. This thing can bring out all the musical nuances when required to do so.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 09/23/2004
at 11:59pm
by Woland99
Ease of Use
:
9
Finding good sound was fairly easy - finding perfect sound combination took a while. Tone knob is fairly subtle so I found that I had to adjust bass and presence inside depending on guitar I was using.
Sound Quality
:
10
At first I wanted this to give me very mild overdrive (for crunchy rhythm and more defined single notes) on my blues on rock guitars (Washburn HB35 and Gibson Firebird). I run it to Rivera S120 set to very clean and boosted presence. At first the sound was a bit dissapointing - sure it was growling very nicely with more attack and was clean when you play gentle. But it had slight trace of that midrange hump - which I rather dislike. Manipulating internal pots to adjust presence and bass helped and adding EQ after LTD almost took care of midrangeness. Don't get me wrong - it was NOTHING even close to TubeScreamer-like midrange hump - just a slight loss of bass and smaller loss of presence. I like the Drive set to 9-10 (depending on pickups) to get mostly clean tone (for more OD I use SIBs Varidrive) Results were good but not perfect. Then on a whim - I tried LTD with my jazz axe - Ibanez AS120 with flatwound 14s. Pickups on that guitar are not very hot so when plugged directly to amp it tends to sound a bit "plunky". And it is rather dark-sounding guitar so I thought that LTD would not do it any good. But I was wrong - LTD gave that guitar new voice - if you set the drive to about 9-10 you get only very nice sparse growl when you hit few notes. But single notes become very well defined - they feel maybe slightly compressed but o/w perfect. BTW - the effect is dead-quiet with true-bypass and noisless switch.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Looks very well built - all point to point wiring and hand-soldered.
Case, switch and pots are high quality. But I did not have it long enough to rate its reliability.
Customer Support
:
10
Customer support is perfect - they respond immediately to email and
answer phone call in very knowledgeable way. I bought the effect directly from them and it arrived 5 days later. They give you 48 hrs to evaluate it.
Overall Rating
:
10
You can probably find more flexible overdrives there - LTD is indeed somewhat limited in what it does - I never turn the drive past 12 - for upper part of range either Varidrive or drive channel on Rivera sounds better.
I play jazz and some blues. Try to keep effects to minimum - other one I have are: Ernie Ball volume pedal (yes - it is a very musical effect!), Budda wah, SIB Varidrive, Holy Grail reverb and H2O chorus-delay. LTD was a perfect addition - it really gave much needed edge to my Ibanez AS120. If lost I would experiment with couple other pedals (LPB 2ube or Fatdrive) before buying it again.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99.99
Submitted 09/16/2004
at 09:23pm
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
This is so easy to use!There is not a bad sound to be found reguardless of where you set the controls.I like mine with the drive knob pointed to the led.Being able to go inside and adjust presence and bass is something i have always wished for.
Sound Quality
:
10
I use this with a genetx2 in front with a tech 21 power engine for small places and 2 techs for large places with great results.People are always asking me what kind off tubes are in my amps and what is that little pedal in front of my pedal board.I know what all you true tone freaks are thinking by now if you are even still reading but i am fiftey years old and will not bore you with all the stuff i have but this ltd is the stuff.We do ZZ, Bad comp,Dire Straits,etc. and this LTD makes it so easy!
Reliability
:
10
I have a tone pump also for a year but it stays in the case for back up.I dont feel i will ever need a back up.
Customer Support
:
9
i have not needed support but feel like it would be no problem if i did.
Overall Rating
:
10
I play everything from hendrix to beach,been playing for 42 years,tried everthing out there,and this will do semi/clean boost to blooz and puts a little tube sound back in my sound.I only wish it had a blue led but for this kinda quality vs. price i aint complaining!
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 09/16/2004
at 05:49am
by Fret Tech
Email: frettech at frettech<dot>com
Ease of Use
:
10
Three choices: volume, tone, drive - as with any pedal, you need to tweak the sound to best fit what yer playing. Doesn't get any easier or harder.
Sound Quality
:
10
Strat with Rio Tallboys --> Barber LTD --> a Penn 40w tube amp. Extremely quiet pedal. This is a superbly toned OD device that adds the right amount of subtle "push" or "hair" or whatever you wanna call it that most of us look for to fatten up the tone for both chords and leads. This pedal does it all in spades, with smooth overdrive that doesn't hide the notes in chording nor leave a fizzy sonic aftertaste (yuk). Yes, like all pedals, your tone will get somewhat "cloaked" - this pedal does it in a very transparently subtle manner that's actually quite appealing. And, the in/out switch offers true bypassing - perfect. Interestingly, though this pedal works perfectly fine with a single 9v onboard batt, Dave Barber sez you can push the DC up to 18 volts (via an outboard wallwart AC/DC supply) for tone tweaking variations.
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Looks like it's built to last, all metal constructon.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
N/A
Overall Rating
:
10
I keep the LTD plugged in and left on no matter whether we're playing R&B funk, blues, rock, or jazz ragtime fingerstyle picking. Been twanging the strings since '55 for all manner of guitar music. After going thru about 40 different OD peds over the decades, the LTD is here to stay.
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99
Submitted 09/13/2004
at 05:56pm
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
Simple
Sound Quality
:
9
For the money this is a great sounding OD. The controls are subtle but effective. All ODs take something away from your natural tone. A richness is lost. I don't care what unit you use, they all color the tone. This is no different. However with the gain at 12ock the OD is very light, like a pushed tube amp (really its very good) then as you add gain the mid hump comes in and the bottom goes its slight and acceptable. For the Money this is a great buy and a great idea
Reliability
:
No Opinion
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
Product: Barber Electronics LTD
Price Paid: US $99.00
Submitted 07/17/2004
at 12:31am
by Anonymous
Ease of Use
:
10
Absolute no-brainer!!If you've ever used a Tube Screamer or the like,you'll be more than familiar with the 3 controls -Gain, Tone, Level. The tone control is different to the run-of-the mill in that it seems to add low end once you turn it counter-clockwise from 12 o'clock instead of just rolling off the tops. Set 'em all at 12 o'clock and you're away with a great full-bodies low-medium gain rhythm/lead tone with subtle compression.
Sound Quality
:
8
Fender CS '60 NOS Strat/SRV Strat/Stewart Male Custom Strat w/Suhr V60LP's ->Keeley-modded Vox V847 wah -> Barber LTD -> TIM -> Pete Cornish SS-2/G-2 Duplex -> Pete Cornish NB-2 clean boost -> Fender '59 Bassman LTD RI/'65 SRRI/THD Bivalve. The LTD provides a great low gain rhythm/lead tone with only a hint of mid-hump compared to my Keeley and AnalogMan-modded TS9's. Comparing these 2 pedal types, the LTD has so much more tonal clarity in the low-mids whilst still retaining a strong lead voice to cut through the stage mix. I know it sounds cliche but after using modded TS9's, the LTD really does sound like someone just pulled the bomb-proof blanket off of the amp. The range of gain available is more than useful for cleanish boosts right up to classic rock tones - think cranked non-master volume amps as opposed to Dual Rectifier buzz/crunch. There are 2 internal trim-pots for adjusting bass and presence but I haven't felt the need to adjust these as yet. The factory presets are spot-on for my tonal requirements.
Reliability
:
10
Exemplary internal construction with high quality components and super-neat layout. Looks like it will be easy to service if that's ever required. I always gig with back-up OD's 'cos I'm always changing my pedal line-up like the Pedal-Ho I am!!
Customer Support
:
10
I found Craig very friendly and helpful when I rang Barber electronics. Sent a PayPal payment on a Thursday, received the LTD on the following Wednesday, all the way down here in Australia!! Fantastic service!!
Overall Rating
:
9
Great for low-medium gain rhythm/lead tones with a musical Hi-Fi tonal quality. The Barber LTD has booted my modded TS9's off of the pedal board for the moment due to the amazing improvement in tonal clarity and more natural bottom end. Stacks very well with the TIM for higher gain, sustaining tones.
"Anything you wish it had?" - Gee wizz, how about a 2-stage LTD in the one box with separate controls for each side and the capability of running one side into the other!! What the hell, at $99 it's probably cheaper just to buy a 2nd LTD!! Thanks so much to David and Craig @ Barber Electronics!!
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