Barber Electronics LTD

I wanted to gig with this pedal before I rushed to write a "honeymoon" review. This pedal really sounds great and is very, very easy to get a good out of it. I put the tone and drive controls on 12 o'clock and didn't mess with the internal pots. I didn't feel any temptation to tweak around on the pedal at all.

This is the most "truely" transparent overdrive pedal I've ever played through. I have a Klon and many, many others. I play Blues here in Texas and have been experimenting around with gear for a long time. Spending a lot of money on speakers, tubes, amps and of course guitars. For me this combination of a Barber LTD. a reissue Fender Deluxe Reverb with a Celestion G12H-30 reissue speaker and a Reverend Slingshot has thrown me into a completely different tone zone. Dripping harmonics on "all" strings. Honestly, I could tell the main contributors were the guitar the amp and the speaker because the tone was there without the pedal but the pedal didn't mess with the tone like a Tube Screamer would have. I love Tube Screamers but for anybody that is getting a little weary of the smooth, midrange sound this Barber LTD is wonderful. The G12H30 Celestion really has a cool high end to it too with P90's. I'm not a high end freak but the quality of the high end can make or break you in my opinion.

I don't think there are too many unreliable pedals out there. This one looks great as all Barber pedals do.

Haven't needed it but everyone else gives it a ten so it must be great.

Maybe I can save someone some heartache and money here by recommending this setup and pedal. I know tone is subjective but..... I have a lot of amps and pedals and this combination is like playing on a different planet....where the planet has a lot better guitar tones... :)

The pedal is simple to use with just volume, tone and drive. Set the drive and tone to your liking, then adjust the volume level. There are two internal adjustable parameters, however it sounds great as set.

I run a Strat, Carvin or Les Paul through a Fulltone Wah, Time Machine Boost, the Barber LTD, Keeley Bluesdriver and Big Muff into a Fender Hot Rod Deville with JJ 6V6's. The tone is terrific with a subtle warm drive through my Fender. The tone is similar to my modded Tube Screamer, but with less mid-hump and a more natural overdrive tone. For a low drive tone, it's the best I've heard.

It seems to be well-built. Barber pedals have been reviewed as very reliable. This is my first Barber, so I can't really comment.

I have never dealt with the company.

I play Blues to Rock 'n'Roll. I have been playing off and on for 30 years and find the LTD to do very well for low-gain styles. The natural, warm drive is great with my Strat through a Fender amp. I like my Keeley-modded effects; however for low-drive tone, the LTD does it best. It is also a great deal at $99. Try it out!

Very easy to use. This is an update to my earlier "review" since I've had time to play with this pedal.

Excellent, EXCELLENT TONE!!! I could give Mr. Barber a big hug. Trust me folks, I've owned serveral Boutique moddified Vox, TS9, TS10, etc. etc. This pedal for $99 BLOWS THEM OUT OF THE WATER if you are looking for a minimal mid hump of 'screamer sound. All the other pedals I've owened have that annoying mid hump that sounds cold and sterile. This pedal is very warm and organic. I don't know how Barber does it. Actually, I do know. He doesn't mark up his products like all others do because of the hype surrounding their names.

I'm using this pedal with a '73 silver face (black face spec's) Deluxe Reverb and the sound is glorious. It makes me want to play !!! I also have a DD SS (Barber unit) that covers the harder stuff, but it has a lot more mid hump than the LTD.

The LTD will become the new name in blues / rock overdrives...move over Ts9 and wanna be's.

Go to the web site and listen to the clips.

Built like a tank.

Don't know, haven't needed to contact them.

For $99 do yourself a favor and pick up this pedal. Its not a heavy metal super thrash pedal, but a bluesy rock n roll (SRV to AC/DC) pedal.

Honestly, over 20 years of playing, too many OD/distortion pedals that costed way more than this $99 wonder box and that can't compete soundwise.

Very easy to use - wish changing battery would be easier....

I use a BF super reverb and a 58 Strat that I got real cheap cause its refinished and the original pickups were missing. I put in John Suhr V60 LPs. I'v tried many pedals before to get a great blues tone without cranking the Super up til my ears bleed....Fulltone's Fulldrive sounds really "classy" but way too dull. got a TS 9 w/ analog man silver mod which is really cool, but still it has too much midrange to my ears....Ibanez SD9 was my favourite so far, but I always wished there'd be something inbetween the TS9 and SD9. anyway, search is over with the LTD. I ALWAYS record my gigs to find out about the sound afterwards, and I always play small clubs without miking my amp so I can hear exactly what my amp sounds like on the recordings. well, got the LTD one week ago and used it on two gigs with an Organ trio, playing blues, boogaloo and gospel music. I never felt so comfortable...just the guitar, the LTD, and the amp with some reverb....I achieved anything from beautiful neck PU sounds to nitty gritty Jimmy Vaughn on the bridge PU and all the time playing felt perfectly comfortable!!!! the LTD is very responsive and reacts to every little detail like vibrato, picking, let alone volume control on the guitar. also the pedal is very very balanced, still had enough bass response with the bridge PU which always seemed to be a problem with the tubescreamer. this pedal is a keeper. I bought the direct drive which I didn't even try yet, cause most of what I need is covered by the LTD.

think that backup ain't necessary

I play Jazz and Blues with Single Coil guitars. this pedal is - after a long search - exactly what I was looking for. seems to be a perfect match for my super reverb. oh, forgot to say that it works well with my vox AC 15 too, and I NEVER found a pedal which was "accepted" by this amp....

Easy to use. I like the idea of extra internal pots to shape the tone to suit your amp. I have a Vox AC15 which is very 'middy', so it's nice to be able to push the presence and bass up to compensate. The internal pots are quite subtle, so it's hard to get a bad sound.
Once you've dialled it in, very simple to use. 3 knobs, and there's a 1 page manual.

Setup is PRS Custom22>CryBaby>LTD>Ulbrick 12axe(think vintage TS808)>Ulbrick Megalodon (for solo boost)>Vox AC15 (and from there out to delay etc and another amp). The LTD is super quiet and invisible when off (true bypass like all my pedals except wah).
I use it with gain set to about 10:30, for blues and blues rock mostly. Amazing tone. When run into a saturated power stage of the Vox, it just sings sweetly. With amp a bit lower (or the Megalodon off), a great subtle crunch sound for rhythm. The LTD is so much better for low gain stuff than my other higher gain pedals - they all can sound harsh, or thin, or weak when used at really low gain settings. After the first gig with it I promoted it to a permanent place on my pedal board.

I A/B'd against another low gain pedal, the Nobels ODR1, which is not true bypass. The Nobels sounds good too, but sucks tone when off, and it doesn't have the flexibility that the internal pots give.

Build quality is excellent. As far as I can tell it's all top quality parts, and much sturdier construction that the Nobels (which was only about US$13 cheaper than the LTD!). I am gigging with it without backup and I trust it. No idea about battery life though, I use an AC adapter.

Never dealt with Barber Electronics, see other reviews for that (they sound great though). I can't say enough good things about Indoor Storm/ Music Loft in Raleigh NC - I bought this through Eddie at Indoor Storm and I expected it to be difficult to arrange (because I live in New Zealand). Eddie made this purchase and international shipping really easy for me, and was really helpful to deal with. Thanks Eddie!!

I play mostly classic hits/ classic rock (60's to almost current). About half of the songs we play benefit from a low gain overdrive for leads or rhythm, and this pedal has THE TONE. You could use it as a virtually clean boost to push your amp's power stage too. First gig I used it at I found that it inspired me to play better - quite a few times I really felt that me, my guitar and my amp were one!
This is a keeper!

Looks easy to operate. I have a Direct Drive SS and Tone Pump (all Barber) and they are great, user friendly pedal. Just wish they had an easy access 9v compartment. A minor quibble.

Don't know. I ordered one after hearing the sound clips. I have DD SS and I LOVE that pedal, but I need something that handles a lower range of gain and sweetness for blues and just emotional playing. I think this pedal will do the trick. I'll submit another review after actually jamming on it. Go to Barberelectronics.com and listen to the sound clips. WOW!

Its a Barber...high quality with all his products.

I'll submit a full review when i actuaully get it.

The L.T.D. seemed as plug and play as pedals come. Controls are volume, tone and drive. The tone control is pretty cool because it cuts bass while adding bite at the top of the range, and just the opposite when turned it way down. There are two internal controls that can set bass and presence, very simple. 9 volt operation with a Boss adaptor keeps life easy for me. I give it a 9 because some will find internal trim pots less than perfect, I think they are a sweet touch!

I use a Custom shop Tele/nocaster relic with fralin PU and a Gibson 336 for my fatter humbucking sounds, my amps are a 1965 Fender Super Reverb and a Marshall 18 watt clone that was built by a local guru.

The LTD has easily been the best overdrive pedal I have played with either amp. This box is certainly as advertised, low gain to a max of medium gain. The lowest drive settings give the COOLEST SWEETEST tone conditioning I have ever heard from a (gulp!) non tube device, my Tele sounded like my amp was at that "perfect volume" that the pit conductor or club owner would never let me use for clean tones. The Medium settings of the drive control gave up ultimately clear vintage bluesbreaker style breakup to smokey "sugar coated" tones when using the 336. The highest drive settings went to old tweed amp cranked tones. I hate to rave so much after a week of owning a pedal, but I know this is THE KEEPER after trying The Gainster,Tim, Fulldrive, TS-9/808,RC booster...etc

Passed the bedroom test, passed the gig tests now velcroed to the pedalboard. Call the lower gain OD search done for me.

One week and going strong! LOL All the Barber pedals I have seen are the highest quality devices available, I would gig without a backup without issue I am sure.

I talked to Craig a couple of times before buying, he was very relaxed,informative to the enth degree and down to earth. And best of all he left the selling side out of it until I said "where do I send the money dude". Good people!

I play gigs of all types from society to pick up jazz/rock and blues gigs. My pet project is a pop style with lots of Elliot Easton style guitar lines with some almost tasteless Danny G type banjo rolls thrown in LOL. I have been playing for guitar 35 years. I would surely replace the LTD if lost or stolen. I guess my only wish is that Barber would make a dual footswitch version at some point for a higher gain selection, this would give me a lead channel for the over the top stuff, I feel a direct drive in my future as well. I would not recommend the LTD for guys who need serious gain, although it proved great for knocking the input of my 18 watt into higher drive. there is a ton of output volume on tap. The price is great. Great job on this one!

Easy, easy, easy. So far, not a bad sound to be had. Manual covers the essentials

Finally, an OD that preserves my setup's natural harmonics - doesn't change the sound of my guitar or amp in the least. Transparent and natural as can be, and no mid-hump. Also, very quiet.

The LTD is similar to no other pedal I've tried, save for the TIM (another fine one). As a reference point, the TIM is not as quiet, is rougher around the edges, a little looser, and has a thinner dynamic range than the LTD. The LTD sits atop the roost now.

Outards and innards are superbly designed, laid-out and assembled.

D. Barber (and Craig) was instrumental in getting me to understand how the LTD would perform. Even so, it has exceeded my expectations. Helpful people over at BE.

16 years playing guitar hero music of yesteryear. Stylistically, I tend toward SRV, JB, Zappa, Elliott Randall, Jimi, Gatton, Buchanan, et al. This pedal gets me there.

Would replace immediately if lost or stolen. @ $99 the LTD is a bargain! I'll probably buy another. The LTD will be a collector's item someday.

This pedal is a prototype. There are three knobs and an LED: volume, tone, and drive plus on/off. Inside there are two trim pots for bass and presence. Remove the four screws, insert battery, adjust the trim pots with a guitar pick. More. Less. It came with instructions but it's completely intuitive. If you can't figure this out, you should be a drummer.

This is an amazingly quiet pedal. I owned an early Klon that was neither this transparent or this quiet. I play Strat and Tele into a Victoria 35210, an old Supro Tremoverb, and a Reverend Hellhound. The natural sound of the amp and guitar is apparent and immediate; you can tell what kind of guitar and which pickup setting. I like to hear the sound of an amp pushed by single coils to almost the breaking point but not past where you can't distinguish a LP from a Tele. This pedal shines in this regard. You can go beyond this point into a very mild harmonic overdrive if desired. Of all the pedals I have ever tried, this one has pristine sound.

The inside of this, the workmanship, is something to see. Yes, I would use without backup or hesitation.

David Barber answered the phone every time I called. I first called about a Direct Drive and after some discussion, he recommended that I wait for the production version of the LTD. I called back a week later to check on availability, and he hooked me up with this prototype, then insisted that I call him when I received it so that he could get my input. Well, how many people really care once it's shipped out the door? Mr Barber does. I could go on, but I think you get the point. He should get an an "11."

I play blues with old timers like myself and this pedal is perfect for getting a bluesy yet transparent overdriven tone in small bars. This is a superb clean boost/mild overdrive pedal with world-class build quality and super-low noise. It's touch sensitive like an Adirondack top--dig in and it gets louder. I've owned a Klon, Maxon 820, Sparkle Drive, reissue 808, Hotcake and sad to say, too many more. I've only kept the Hotcake; this pedal is for the cleaner side of the tracks. And, at this price, it's the best deal I've seen out there. You will be hearing more about this pedal in years to come.