33 posts
I've often come on here telling you how great some of the Barber pedals are. They are true high end pedals that cost barely more than Boss stuff.
This is a VERY quick, and VERY initial impression of the new Barber Dirty Bomb. This pedal retails for $99 new. I just got one and have only had a FEW minutes with it at moderate volume. My first impression.....
this could well be the pedal I've been looking for, for YEARS. If you don't have a great high gain amp, and want great high gain tone, this very affordable pedal could be just what you need. TONS of gain, plus it has bass and treble controls and a 3 way mids switch. I have very little time with this thing but it was SO easy to make it sound killer. Even though I've only had a few minutes with it, I really wish I'd had this before Bowling Green. I think this would have blown a few people away. This thing is THE BOMB! No pun intended. ;)
And, I will update this after the honeymoon phase, but it sounded so good as soon as I turned it on and no matter where I put the knobs, that I don't imagine it getting boring any time soon.
The Pedal King is pleased with his 999th pedal
All seriousness aside
Glad you like it. Good luck with it.
So many flavors, so little time. ;D
I just got another Nady TD-1 Tube distortion pedal. http://www.instrumentpro.com/P-NADTD1?source=froogle
I have one and I like it so much I just got another. (So I can take the HRD out without the whole pedal board that the old one is in).
Did you order direct? Not in stock at the few online purveyors I checked.
No, there is a 3-4 week wait for them right now. I had more time with it tonight. What I said above is now NOT an initial impression. I had 30 minutes with it tonight. This pedal RIPS!
This pedal has TONS of GREAT sounding gain. It has a bass and treble control plus the 3 way mids switch. The 3 positions are flat, boosted, and scooped. VERY effective and well voiced. The bass and treble controls are extremely effective making it EASY to dial in what you want in seconds. And there is an internal bass control to allow you to further tune it to your amp and speaker. I haven't even touched that yet...
If you want high gain, Mesa type sound, this pedal is THE BOMB. Dave Barber has done it again... and this might even be his best pedal ever (and that's saying something).
A guy could take a good clean amp, and with the Dirty Bomb, the new DDSS, the LTDV2 and the Tone Press, and do just about anything you could want, from clean to fender to Marshall to Mesa.
For $99???? You've got to be kidding me! Jamie, you need one of these NOW.
I've been looking for a versatile distortion pedal for a very long time.
Just ordered a pre-owned one from music-go-round for $70 shipped. Hope it's not trashed.
Tobe,
That's a steal, and they haven't been out long enough for one to be trashed. At least I sure hope not.
Anyway, this is not "versatile" in that it covers lots of gain ranges well. What it's versatile at, is covering everything from medium gain, to very high gain, with flat, scooped or boosted mids. It's not super dynamic like an OCD. Doesn't do the "plexi" thing. But it covers 70s rock through modern high gain, with real flexibility that should cover most amps and guitars.
I hope I don't have to amend this later... but I've had some times with it. This thing will turn your amp into a high gain monster.
so how many dirt boxes are we up to Howie? :D
DreamTheaterRules — Jul 13, 2009What it's versatile at, is covering everything from medium gain, to very high gain, with flat, scooped or boosted mids. It's not super dynamic like an OCD. Doesn't do the "plexi" thing. But it covers 70s rock through modern high gain, with real flexibility that should cover most amps and guitars.
That sounds pretty versatile to me and covers the range I need. The online demos had me narrowed down to the Barber and a Visual Sound Son of Hyde and finding the used Barber seemed like a sign. I liked the tone of the Barber a bit more.
The Satchurator seems cool too, but less flexible.
The — Jul 13, 2009so how many dirt boxes are we up to Howie? :D
6 But that will be tripling soon. I just got a shipment of pots in so I can finish a bunch of the pedals I'm building. Of course, I won't keep them all (like you guys apparently think I do. ;) )
Whatcha getting ready to build?
Tobe — Jul 13, 2009[quote author=DreamTheaterRules link=1247196811/0#7 date=1247461266]
The Satchurator seems cool too, but less flexible.
the satchurator sux.. very one dimensional.. tone knob after 9 o clock is buzzy garbage!
Au contraire, my friend, a whole crew of us at the recent Bowling Green funfest found the Satchurator to be really excellent... if you had gotten off your ass joined us, you would have seen and heard ridiculous tone coming from that thing...
sounded pretty good too me.
charger — Jul 13, 2009Au contraire, my friend, a whole crew of us at the recent Bowling Green funfest found the Satchurator to be really excellent... if you had gotten off your ass joined us, you would have seen and heard ridiculous tone coming from that thing...
its still has a very minimal range of usable tones, not very versatile. the tone knob is just stupid.
The — Jul 13, 2009[quote author=charger link=1247196811/0#13 date=1247507966]Au contraire, my friend, a whole crew of us at the recent Bowling Green funfest found the Satchurator to be really excellent... if you had gotten off your ass joined us, you would have seen and heard ridiculous tone coming from that thing...
its still has a very minimal range of usable tones, not very versatile. the tone knob is just stupid.
All in all I wouldn't have bought it, but.....I thought it was pretty flexable and the tone knob was very touchy....at least on Charger's. I was able to get a lot of different tones out of it and think your assessment is a bit off the deep end. ;)
Fenderbender — Jul 13, 2009[quote author=The Assman link=1247196811/0#15 date=1247517577][quote author=charger link=1247196811/0#13 date=1247507966]Au contraire, my friend, a whole crew of us at the recent Bowling Green funfest found the Satchurator to be really excellent... if you had gotten off your ass joined us, you would have seen and heard ridiculous tone coming from that thing...
its still has a very minimal range of usable tones, not very versatile. the tone knob is just stupid.
All in all I wouldn't have bought it, but.....I thought it was pretty flexable and the tone knob was very touchy....at least on Charger's. I was able to get a lot of different tones out of it and think your assessment is a bit off the deep end. ;)
well im not the only person with the same exact assessment. its a ds-1 with a more switch..
Doesn't really sound like any DS-1 I've ever heard... way cleaner and more hifi than that, seems to me. But... whatever. Several guys played it for a while and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Helped also that Howie had a sick amp to run it through.
And, if anyone is interested in a DS-1 modded by Analog Man, let me know. ;)
charger — Jul 13, 2009Doesn't really sound like any DS-1 I've ever heard... way cleaner and more hifi than that, seems to me. But... whatever. Several guys played it for a while and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Helped also that Howie had a sick amp to run it through.
i can get it to sound good with the tone knob @9-10 oclock ish.. thats it. im going to pull it back out tonight and play with it again. im running it through a fender bandmaster vm which has a decent clean channel.
charger — Jul 13, 2009Doesn't really sound like any DS-1 I've ever heard... way cleaner and more hifi than that, seems to me. But... whatever. Several guys played it for a while and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Helped also that Howie had a sick amp to run it through.
Agreed. It doesn't sound anything like a DS-1. And I HAD a DS-1 for a long time. DS-1 was a bit more grainy to me. I'd say it would be an upgraded SD-1 maybe.
The — Jul 14, 2009[quote author=charger link=1247196811/0#18 date=1247525323]Doesn't really sound like any DS-1 I've ever heard... way cleaner and more hifi than that, seems to me. But... whatever. Several guys played it for a while and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Helped also that Howie had a sick amp to run it through.
i can get it to sound good with the tone knob @9-10 oclock ish.. thats it. im going to pull it back out tonight and play with it again. im running it through a fender bandmaster vm which has a decent clean channel.
I use the tone between 9 and 12 o-clock depending on how dark the amp is. Does it matter where the tone knobs are? As I said in my first review, you can go from pure mud to paint-peeling bright with that tone knob. Not everyone needs that range but it's not, as far as I can see, a deficit. All I really care about is how something sounds.
charger — Jul 15, 2009All I really care about is how something sounds.
I agree with that. The Satchurator sounded great in some clips and harsh / buzzy in others as I would expect from as range of rigs. I like the more button. It has a distinct character to its tone to my ears.
Thd DB was more affordable and coverd a little more territory I thought. We'll see - it is waiting for me at home...
Yeah, sorry, I think this thread is about an entirely different pedal...
looking for vids/clips now.
charger — Jul 15, 2009[quote author=The Assman link=1247196811/0#20 date=1247537114][quote author=charger link=1247196811/0#18 date=1247525323]Doesn't really sound like any DS-1 I've ever heard... way cleaner and more hifi than that, seems to me. But... whatever. Several guys played it for a while and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Helped also that Howie had a sick amp to run it through.
i can get it to sound good with the tone knob @9-10 oclock ish.. thats it. im going to pull it back out tonight and play with it again. im running it through a fender bandmaster vm which has a decent clean channel.
I use the tone between 9 and 12 o-clock depending on how dark the amp is. Does it matter where the tone knobs are? As I said in my first review, you can go from pure mud to paint-peeling bright with that tone knob. Not everyone needs that range but it's not, as far as I can see, a deficit. All I really care about is how something sounds.
if you want a plethora of usable tones which is what i expect from a 129 distorton pedal then sure the tone knob doesnt matter. i can honestly say for the price, its one of the worst distortion pedals i have ever owned. i have the satch delay and wah which im very happy with.
I really want to try the dirty bomb but im dirt boxed out!
Hey I get two usable tones from it... the low gain tone and the "more" tone. Which is one more tone than I get from any of my other pedals, when playing live. Which is why it has supplanted my other distortion pedals, and now travels with me, my C30, and my MM+Hazarai.
If you can't get good tone from that thing, I can't help you.
If you want a bunch of tones, and seriously fat ones, check out this thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D42gn8_8c4o&feature=related
It's a keeper... Doesn't even look like it has been stepped on. Has velcro on the back, but otherwise looks new. Nay regrets.
The more button on the Satchurator is a huge plus imo.
This conversation on the Satch is a good lesson in why it's important to sometimes understand HOW pedals work. Some go for huge range to match any amp. Starting at the standard 12:00 position and going only up from there (which is usual on TS style, treble cut only tone control pedals) may not always work.
A perfect example, the famous Paul Cochrane Tim and Timmy pedals. The Flat position on the bass and treble controls is FULL counterclockwise. Turning them UP only cuts. So noon on both is cutting bass and treble. Might work, might not. Some of the Barbers have dual concentric controls where noon is flat, but turning it up BOOSTS treble and cuts bass and vice versa.
Also remember, any time you add gain in a pedal, you are adding treble, because the distortion you are adding is harmonics.
It is a bit unusual for a pedals tone control to be below noon... but there's nothing wrong with that. Explore.
Aaron, why are you even fooling with that pedal? You have a freakin' 6505.
Now if you guys want a thick sounding pedal...: http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=0LQwOQAA1247752774&command=link--amtfg
Dearthian: — Jul 16, 2009Aaron, why are you even fooling with that pedal? You have a freakin' 6505.
Now if you guys want a thick sounding pedal...: http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=0LQwOQAA1247752774&command=link--amtfg
6505 pwns!!! i had the satchurator before i got the 6505, i ran it into my HRD and now the bandmaster.
charger — Jul 15, 2009Hey I get two usable tones from it... the low gain tone and the "more" tone. Which is one more tone than I get from any of my other pedals, when playing live. Which is why it has supplanted my other distortion pedals, and now travels with me, my C30, and my MM+Hazarai.
If you can't get good tone from that thing, I can't help you.
If you want a bunch of tones, and seriously fat ones, check out this thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D42gn8_8c4o&feature=related
i just picked up a MM+hazarai for 120 bux..
Dearthian: — Jul 16, 2009Aaron, why are you even fooling with that pedal? You have a freakin' 6505.
Now if you guys want a thick sounding pedal...: http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_shop.cgi?config=&uid=0LQwOQAA1247752774&command=link--amtfg
Heh, I've been enjoying the tones I can get from my rack gear so much that I haven't even been using my pedal board lately! ;) :)