No one makes a better overdrive than barber electronics. I have had an LTD since 2007 and if I want more grit I hit the front end with a compressor. The most musical overdrive I’ve ever heard
I agree. I have a small fry burn unit that seriously sounds amazing. In fact i use it in front of a dumble ods clone because i don’t want to deal with the kleinulator thing lol. Honestly competes with the built in amp drives and sounds and feels soo similar that I forget the amp has a drive channel
I have to say the clip with Jeff and the Strat tones sold me on this pedal. How am I liking it after a week? This is absolutely stunning in every tone it gives. Amazing Dave, AMAZING!!!!!
Dave Barber is one of the premiere pedal makers of the last twenty years or so. Boutique pedals started off being made by guys who really knew electronics, had grown up learning how to do this stuff. Around 2007 or so, guys started showing up who were new to it, and were only then learning how electronic circuits worked. I recall seeing Wampler and Josh Scott showing up at Freestomp Boxes, DIY Stomp boxes asking tons of questions, and learning just enough to know how to manipulate circuits in order to produce things to sell they could claim were theirs, when reality was they were simply peddling modified Marshall Guvnors, tube screamers and others. Dave Barber, and others like him, really know and understand electronics at a much deeper level, and can start from scratch, coming up with circuits to fit a purpose or function, not just modifying something existing. I've gone through Wampler, Greer and other pedals, and sold them. I still have all but one or two of the Barber Pedals I've purchased. He knows how to make great sounding devices that are just more of the same old same old, or modified same old same old. I know Dave Barber isn't the flavor of the month he was back around 2003 to 2010 or 2012. But he still makes among the best you can buy out there, and his prices are very affordable. Great guy, and he's honest as well. I'm glad he's still out there doing what he does. I'm definitely getting a BUSS, even if the 5 Watt World version isn't available.
Barber Pedals (compressor, Burn Unit & Gain Changer) are a fundamental element of my tone and have been for over ten years. Not only do they sound great, but knowing Dave’s character and spirit I’m proud to have three of his pedals always on my board. Keith, thank you so much for getting this interview. Dave is not a spotlight chaser which is endearing but I love hearing him talk shop. I’ll have to get a 5w BUSS soon. Thanks to both of you for all you do for the music community.
Thank you for the vid. Greetings from Helsinki. Just got a BUSS. Love the versatility! Good to hear the principles in the design from Dave. Helps a lot into getting more familiar with the pedal.
Fascinating!!!! I’ve got a few of his pedals …ALL are incredible….. my absolute favorite that has lived on my board since the day I purchased it (The Dirty Bomb) thank you so much for making incredibly musical pedals !!!!
I love Dave's stuff. I have his Small Fry, Direct Drive and Tone Press. I've seen his BUSS listed on his page, but hadn't given it much thought. Now I'll have to look into it. It's on my list along with his 1/2 Gainer and Burn Unit.
@@fivewattworld I see there's one left at the link, There was a compact Burn Unit for quite a bit less, already having a Direct Drive, I went for the BU. I appreciate it and would like to have helped support FWW, but really wanted all the features of a Burn Unit, rather than a half DD half BU.
I was introduced to overdrive thru Zak at TrueTone Lounge. The intro to Zak's earlier shows featured Al Perkins playing his pedal steel guitar and it made a sound I had to have. I asked Zak in the Five Watt comments what Al's pedal was and he said, " Son of Hyde ". So I purchased the Jekyll & Hyde unit and couldn't be more pleased. Lots of tone to dial in to my Tele. Thanks Keith and all of you for being so open about sharing guitar gear information. "Just one more...." I get it. $$$$$
im so excited for this episode, I purchased and got built one of his custom tone pump drives after seeing it and hearing it on That pedal show , its such an incredible pedal and so versatile, he has such a true engineer and musicians ear to what he builds, next on my list is his bass EQ pedal for my touring guitar tech work box
I have the early editions of the Tone Pump and Burn Unit with the stickers, purchased at Rudy's Music in NYC in the late '90s. They are still two of the most beautifully tuned pedals I have heard.
I grew up around the same time as David. I also built a crystal radio. I guess it was the thing to do! I wonder if he also had one of those mini reel-to-reel tape machines. 🤔
Not only did I have reel to reel tape machines, but my first distortion guitar was a radio Shack mic in the sound-hole of my Gibson LG-0 into a Sony reel to reel and I cranked the input gain until it distorted, it was pure bliss for a 14 year old kid, I thought it sounded like the solo on Sympathy For the Devil!
@@barberelectronics5672 That was the first type of "amp" I had as well. My uncle down the street from me, had a reel to reel (don't remember the brand). He let me use it. But it had on board speakers. I just plugged right into a mic input on it. Of course it distorted straight away. Which like you.....was optimal for my young @$$ 😁
Thanks a lot for this, Keith. I've been a fan of Dave's for a long time--since I got my first big-box Direct Drive many years ago, and since he very kindly shared the schematic to his LTD Silver with the DIY pedal community. Spending this time with him only reinforces the belief that he's a good guy with real knowledge making great products at fair prices. (BTW, it's worth looking inside your Barber pedal, as you say, even if you don't do electronics--the build quality is top notch.) And he's a Bawlmer boy (like me)!
I have the Gain Changer and BUSS. Both are incredible. The Gain Changer is my desert island OD pedal. I also have a Tone Press and big box Direct Drive LG. He makes amazing pedals.
Hey! Those are Hecktar lamps from IKEA in the background of the intro playing section. I have the same in my studio, lol. They make you play really well :)
I picked up a Barber Direct Drive after hearing one on 5 Watt World a few years ago. I was interested in a drive that would get into Clapton-in-Cream tonal territory. It totally does that (and more) and the search for ultimate Marshall tone is over. David is wonderful to deal with and his pedals are a great value for what’s on offer.
Great live stream Keith. Love David's approach. Direct Drive was the first gain pedal we were hot on selling at Calliope. I used to run Analogman TS9s then went to the DD with a '70 Twin. The Buss is very intriguing.
Really enjoyed this. David is interesting to listen to, especially since he is/was in Maryland. I thought he was originally from my home grounds of B'more when he talks about places like Peabody and Guitar exchange. I have his Gain Changer pedal, which is often on my small board. I do have a ton of really great gain pedals, but listening to Jeff play the LP through this new pedal immediately reminded me of listening to an isolated track of Hendrix and the way the amp/pedal responded to the attack on the strings. Of course, Jeff Macerlain and Jimi Hendrix don't play the same, but that tone was very similar. Maybe I will buy one of these new Barber drive pedals with the Jimi Hendrix fingers built In, First I will see if I can find it in what I already have. Great episode.
Thanks for this Keith. Interesting to hear David talk about 'clinical clean' and 'guitar player clean'. I'm tempted to buy one of these (2 left!?!) but I'm running my own home-built SS clinical clean amp (with an amp simulation pedal in front of it) and don't know if this could take the place of that pedal and give me great 'organic' guitar tones? Cheers.
@@fivewattworld Thanks for the reply. I really like the various tones and break-up characteristics in the demos. I just wonder how they'd sound through a very clean solid-state amp (as in essentially zero distortion) - compared with the (I'm assuming) valve amps that the demos are played through. I know that /so/ much of what I hear is from the player but I'd hate to fork out the money then find it doesn't play nice with a clinical amp. LOL, not looking for guarantees, just educated opinion. Cheers. Edit: I see that this first run is sold out now anyway. I guess I missed my chance to find out.
Hi Shaun, We're going to be building another run and have them ready in a couple of weeks. I have used it in front of Fender Tone Master amps, so I can only tell you how "it plays" with some modelers that are solid state. In that use it worked very well.
My board has GC-X and BUEQ velcroe’d and almost always have Small Fry and big box Direct Drive in break-out loop (I’d have them on board if there was space, though…). And I have B.U.S.S. (early grey version). All sound great but different enough to keep them available. Thanks and cheers from Finland!
Direct Drive is such an amazing pedal. It chugs - it sounds like it is tuned for that and is so much fun to play. It can sound great doing a lot of other stuff as well, all the way down to low gain. I use it with an Ampeg Gemini and a Heritage LP with Sheptone Heartbreakers, or a a G&L 'alnico' Nashville tele. Gain Changer is a nice pedal too.
5:58 So as a duel Canadian/American I can assure you a toke is something we did on a fat old doobie back in the 60’s & 70’s. Up here toque on your head is pronounced with a oo sound rhymed with smooth or tooth.
I’ve never had a Barber pedal but after seeing this I want one. BuI want one. I have had an original Vox Tone Bender and a large box Rat pedal not to mention my 100 and 50 watt plexis with a double stack and an 8 x10 cabinet I have decided not to sell anything since I regret selling most things I’ve sold. harmonics that playing a 3rd gets you that nasty sound. Funny how David grew up near me. The music store near Rockville was chuck levins or vennemins. No? My sister went to Peabody prep for years.
@@fivewattworldI’m find that I like that same approach. I have it BU with gain around 11 and it has a nice edge of breakup sound and then I have the clean boost from the compadre push it. Oh and harmonics toggle to the right or middle
IT REMINDSCH ME SOMUCH OF THE BARBER GAIN CHANGER I WONDER IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PRICE . I LIKE IT A BIT MORE THAN THE GREER LIGHT-SPEED HANDS DOWN JUST COMPARE AN SEE THE DIFFERENCE. . THY BOOTH ARE VERY GOOD
I might be hallucinating but I could swear I saw a reverb and delay pedal next to the new bus pedal when you interviewed David Barber could you please tell me the name of it
I do think he has done a lot in the last 15 years to expose a large segment of the younger, heavier music fans to the potential of the Tele to be a viable interesting choice for players in that genre, the Tele is now fairly popular in the Doom Metal/Pop Metal scene. If not for J5, I don’t think this trend would have ever appeared. But I do get your point though.
So, the Buss is sold out already according to the link. Will there be more?
Yes. David is building another batch right now and they should be ready in a couple of weeks.
@@fivewattworld Excellent news! Hopefully, I can snag one of the next batch.
@@andrewjensen8642I was just able to place an order for one. Looks to be some still available.
How can I get one
Great site! Always great “real” info.🎉
No one makes a better overdrive than barber electronics. I have had an LTD since 2007 and if I want more grit I hit the front end with a compressor. The most musical overdrive I’ve ever heard
I agree. I have a small fry burn unit that seriously sounds amazing. In fact i use it in front of a dumble ods clone because i don’t want to deal with the kleinulator thing lol. Honestly competes with the built in amp drives and sounds and feels soo similar that I forget the amp has a drive channel
He makes no bad tones. Unbelievable builder.
I have to say the clip with Jeff and the Strat tones sold me on this pedal. How am I liking it after a week? This is absolutely stunning in every tone it gives. Amazing Dave, AMAZING!!!!!
My Barber Compact Direct Drive…..BEST overdrive on the planet. Thanks David! Thanks 5WW
Dave Barber is one of the premiere pedal makers of the last twenty years or so. Boutique pedals started off being made by guys who really knew electronics, had grown up learning how to do this stuff. Around 2007 or so, guys started showing up who were new to it, and were only then learning how electronic circuits worked. I recall seeing Wampler and Josh Scott showing up at Freestomp Boxes, DIY Stomp boxes asking tons of questions, and learning just enough to know how to manipulate circuits in order to produce things to sell they could claim were theirs, when reality was they were simply peddling modified Marshall Guvnors, tube screamers and others. Dave Barber, and others like him, really know and understand electronics at a much deeper level, and can start from scratch, coming up with circuits to fit a purpose or function, not just modifying something existing. I've gone through Wampler, Greer and other pedals, and sold them. I still have all but one or two of the Barber Pedals I've purchased. He knows how to make great sounding devices that are just more of the same old same old, or modified same old same old.
I know Dave Barber isn't the flavor of the month he was back around 2003 to 2010 or 2012. But he still makes among the best you can buy out there, and his prices are very affordable. Great guy, and he's honest as well. I'm glad he's still out there doing what he does. I'm definitely getting a BUSS, even if the 5 Watt World version isn't available.
Thanks for this! There are pedals on n stock so have at it!
Barber Pedals (compressor, Burn Unit & Gain Changer) are a fundamental element of my tone and have been for over ten years. Not only do they sound great, but knowing Dave’s character and spirit I’m proud to have three of his pedals always on my board. Keith, thank you so much for getting this interview. Dave is not a spotlight chaser which is endearing but I love hearing him talk shop. I’ll have to get a 5w BUSS soon. Thanks to both of you for all you do for the music community.
Agree 100% - I am Happy to give David Barber my business & Proud to own his incredible pedals.
I am late in seeing this video but WOW, amazing pedal. Placing an order. David and Keith, thank you
Ordered the black variant today. Looking forward to it.
Received the pedal today. For me this is my first always on pedal. Love this pedal!!!
I love Jeff's playing: very authentic and dynamic 🙌
Thank you for the vid. Greetings from Helsinki. Just got a BUSS. Love the versatility! Good to hear the principles in the design from Dave. Helps a lot into getting more familiar with the pedal.
David is a hell of a builder and a hell of a guy. I’ve had multiple Gain Changers on several boards for over a decade.
Just ordered the last one! Looking forward to it.
Just ordered one of these. Glad to see he put out another batch.
I've got a big box tone pump, an original burn unit and the LTD SR. All great pedals.
Dave's stuff righteously ROCKS !!
I love my Direct Drive. It's the one pedal that I've got that I care about. With the tone knob pulled up, it's what guitar sounds like for me.
Fascinating!!!! I’ve got a few of his pedals …ALL are incredible….. my absolute favorite that has lived on my board since the day I purchased it (The Dirty Bomb) thank you so much for making incredibly musical pedals !!!!
Jeffs playing and David's engineering just magic ❤
I love Dave's stuff. I have his Small Fry, Direct Drive and Tone Press. I've seen his BUSS listed on his page, but hadn't given it much thought. Now I'll have to look into it. It's on my list along with his 1/2 Gainer and Burn Unit.
This does much of what the Burn Unit does. It’s the BU in BUSS.
@@fivewattworld I see there's one left at the link, There was a compact Burn Unit for quite a bit less, already having a Direct Drive, I went for the BU. I appreciate it and would like to have helped support FWW, but really wanted all the features of a Burn Unit, rather than a half DD half BU.
I have had a Barber Direct Drive for 15 years. Overall the best overdrive I’ve ever played
This is awesome! I love my Tone Press!
Enjoying the channel mate.
Cheers from Australia.
Btw Maton is pronounced Mayton
I have a bunch of David’s pedals. All of them just sounds right, no hype, excellent level of flexibility. Excellent reliability.
I was introduced to overdrive thru Zak at TrueTone Lounge. The intro to Zak's earlier shows featured Al Perkins playing his pedal steel guitar and it made a sound I had to have. I asked Zak in the Five Watt comments what Al's pedal was and he said, " Son of Hyde ". So I purchased the Jekyll & Hyde unit and couldn't be more pleased. Lots of tone to dial in to my Tele.
Thanks Keith and all of you for being so open about sharing guitar gear information.
"Just one more...." I get it. $$$$$
im so excited for this episode, I purchased and got built one of his custom tone pump drives after seeing it and hearing it on That pedal show , its such an incredible pedal and so versatile, he has such a true engineer and musicians ear to what he builds, next on my list is his bass EQ pedal for my touring guitar tech work box
I have the early editions of the Tone Pump and Burn Unit with the stickers, purchased at Rudy's Music in NYC in the late '90s. They are still two of the most beautifully tuned pedals I have heard.
I grew up around the same time as David. I also built a crystal radio. I guess it was the thing to do!
I wonder if he also had one of those mini reel-to-reel tape machines. 🤔
Not only did I have reel to reel tape machines, but my first distortion guitar was a radio Shack mic in the sound-hole of my Gibson LG-0 into a Sony reel to reel and I cranked the input gain until it distorted, it was pure bliss for a 14 year old kid, I thought it sounded like the solo on Sympathy For the Devil!
@@barberelectronics5672 That was the first type of "amp" I had as well. My uncle down the street from me, had a reel to reel (don't remember the brand). He let me use it. But it had on board speakers. I just plugged right into a mic input on it. Of course it distorted straight away. Which like you.....was optimal for my young @$$ 😁
Thanks a lot for this, Keith. I've been a fan of Dave's for a long time--since I got my first big-box Direct Drive many years ago, and since he very kindly shared the schematic to his LTD Silver with the DIY pedal community. Spending this time with him only reinforces the belief that he's a good guy with real knowledge making great products at fair prices. (BTW, it's worth looking inside your Barber pedal, as you say, even if you don't do electronics--the build quality is top notch.)
And he's a Bawlmer boy (like me)!
I have the Gain Changer and BUSS. Both are incredible. The Gain Changer is my desert island OD pedal. I also have a Tone Press and big box Direct Drive LG. He makes amazing pedals.
Me to. 100% Gain Changer SR ( ended my tone search ). Phenomenal sounding pedal.
Loving my Barber Gain Changer as I do and after hearing Jonathan Cordy's demo, I'[m going to have to get one of these.
:35 Bless you!
This was a lot of fun to watch...and learned a lot, too.
Thanks!
Hey! Those are Hecktar lamps from IKEA in the background of the intro playing section. I have the same in my studio, lol. They make you play really well :)
As always an excellent stream both entertaining and educational, thank you Jeff!!
what a great episode!! thank you! David seems like such a great guy apart from his profound knowledge on amps
I picked up a Barber Direct Drive after hearing one on 5 Watt World a few years ago. I was interested in a drive that would get into Clapton-in-Cream tonal territory. It totally does that (and more) and the search for ultimate Marshall tone is over. David is wonderful to deal with and his pedals are a great value for what’s on offer.
Great live stream Keith. Love David's approach. Direct Drive was the first gain pedal we were hot on selling at Calliope. I used to run Analogman TS9s then went to the DD with a '70 Twin. The Buss is very intriguing.
Love Barber pedals best ever made!
Really enjoyed this. David is interesting to listen to, especially since he is/was in Maryland. I thought he was originally from my home grounds of B'more when he talks about places like Peabody and Guitar exchange. I have his Gain Changer pedal, which is often on my small board. I do have a ton of really great gain pedals, but listening to Jeff play the LP through this new pedal immediately reminded me of listening to an isolated track of Hendrix and the way the amp/pedal responded to the attack on the strings. Of course, Jeff Macerlain and Jimi Hendrix don't play the same, but that tone was very similar. Maybe I will buy one of these new Barber drive pedals with the Jimi Hendrix fingers built In, First I will see if I can find it in what I already have. Great episode.
Thanks for this Keith. Interesting to hear David talk about 'clinical clean' and 'guitar player clean'. I'm tempted to buy one of these (2 left!?!) but I'm running my own home-built SS clinical clean amp (with an amp simulation pedal in front of it) and don't know if this could take the place of that pedal and give me great 'organic' guitar tones? Cheers.
Hmmm, it does take some lows away, it isn’t « transparent ». So that depends on your favorite edge of break up settings.
@@fivewattworld Thanks for the reply. I really like the various tones and break-up characteristics in the demos. I just wonder how they'd sound through a very clean solid-state amp (as in essentially zero distortion) - compared with the (I'm assuming) valve amps that the demos are played through.
I know that /so/ much of what I hear is from the player but I'd hate to fork out the money then find it doesn't play nice with a clinical amp.
LOL, not looking for guarantees, just educated opinion. Cheers.
Edit: I see that this first run is sold out now anyway. I guess I missed my chance to find out.
Hi Shaun, We're going to be building another run and have them ready in a couple of weeks.
I have used it in front of Fender Tone Master amps, so I can only tell you how "it plays" with some modelers that are solid state. In that use it worked very well.
@@fivewattworld Thanks Keith.
5-Stars! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Small Fry - the only pedal that I have bought (and sold) twice; thinking it might be time for a third. I have good memories of it.
Excellent.
My board has GC-X and BUEQ velcroe’d and almost always have Small Fry and big box Direct Drive in break-out loop (I’d have them on board if there was space, though…). And I have B.U.S.S. (early grey version). All sound great but different enough to keep them available. Thanks and cheers from Finland!
Direct Drive is such an amazing pedal. It chugs - it sounds like it is tuned for that and is so much fun to play. It can sound great doing a lot of other stuff as well, all the way down to low gain. I use it with an Ampeg Gemini and a Heritage LP with Sheptone Heartbreakers, or a a G&L 'alnico' Nashville tele. Gain Changer is a nice pedal too.
It’s the creamiest OD over. I’ve giged with it for years and gave away my TS808
⚓️ Thanks David 🇺🇸 Keith 😎
Thank you Keith
You’d love the MI Tubezone pedal.
It’s got a character knob that winds in a JTM45.
What a fantastic video have a great weekend keith ❤😊 also happy first week of November also known as movember
I love my Barber Small Fry, I even modded it to get a little bit more gain.
I personally think it would be epic of David built an all solid state 50 watt combo.
5:58 So as a duel Canadian/American I can assure you a toke is something we did on a fat old doobie back in the 60’s & 70’s. Up here toque on your head is pronounced with a oo sound rhymed with smooth or tooth.
Thanks!
Who wins the Canadian / American duel?
"Toook" it is. I stand corrected (well sit, I'm usually sitting.)
I’ve never had a Barber pedal but after seeing this I want one.
BuI want one. I have had an original Vox Tone Bender and a large box Rat pedal not to mention my 100 and 50 watt plexis with a
double stack and an 8 x10 cabinet I have decided not to sell anything since I regret selling most things I’ve sold. harmonics that playing a 3rd gets you that nasty sound. Funny how David grew up near me. The music store near Rockville was chuck levins or vennemins. No? My sister went to
Peabody prep for years.
I feel the same way. Hard part is to decide which one to get
I'm addicted to overdrives through a clean Fender. You sold me after 5 minutes. Change the name to 5 Minute World.
Anyone know what that song was at the end? it sounded so familiar wasn’t sure if it was a song or just something made for the video.
I believe John wrote that for the video.
Opening phrase is sax hook of Baker Street (by Gerry Rafferty). Other than that, I got nothing.
Consider a t-shirt with the logo placed as it is on the classic hoodie. Put you saying on the back. It's more subtle.
Good idea
Keith. What are your favorite settings on the buss?
I tend to use it at edge of breakup, then boost it. But I’m still learning all the hood stuff. We’re going to put out some setting suggestions.
@@fivewattworldI’m find that I like that same approach. I have it BU with gain around 11 and it has a nice edge of breakup sound and then I have the clean boost from the compadre push it. Oh and harmonics toggle to the right or middle
Turn up your own audio volume please! Thank you for everything dude.
I've had my silver LTD for about 17 years. I've tried a bunch of ODs but that's the one I keep coming back to.
tried a lot of overdrives, then found a barber LTD, never changed
I have a tone pump from 2002 😊
Keith, Why don’t you do an episode about Slide Guitar playing, or Slide players?
IT REMINDSCH ME SOMUCH OF THE BARBER GAIN CHANGER I WONDER IS THERE A DIFFERENCE IN THE PRICE . I LIKE IT A BIT MORE THAN THE GREER LIGHT-SPEED HANDS DOWN JUST COMPARE AN SEE THE DIFFERENCE. . THY BOOTH ARE VERY GOOD
I loved that he referenced Star Trek Voyagers final rip off.
I might be hallucinating but I could swear I saw a reverb and delay pedal next to the new bus pedal when you interviewed David Barber could you please tell me the name of it
I had a white prototype of the BUSS and a white HX Stomp on a little board. Is that what you mean?
@@fivewattworld ot was a reverb and a delay but I thought it was te
@@fivewattworld my bad it was the Keeley abbey chamber verb from the Beano on a Budget video.
A "blues lawyer" stack lol.
Call it a dirty bugger.
Keith! It's already sold out. Please tell me you guys are making a second run 😅
Oh yeah, pulling it together now and will announce it here
@@fivewattworld phew, I'll definitely do my part and keep an eye out. Have a nice weekend!
How about the Stink Bomb 😮
Hey Keith. Just a word on the Telecaster list. If you don’t include John 5, your list is will be incomplete.
Really? I don’t know if he’s really had a big impact per se.
I do think he has done a lot in the last 15 years to expose a large segment of the younger, heavier music fans to the potential of the Tele to be a viable interesting choice for players in that genre, the Tele is now fairly popular in the Doom Metal/Pop Metal scene. If not for J5, I don’t think this trend would have ever appeared. But I do get your point though.
What about Jim Root with Slipknot? I have him on the list playing a Tele shaped object.