Barber Tone Press - Quiet?

Chrismo · June 22nd, 2009, 03:50 AM

I'm really GASing for a good compression pedal.

I had an MXR Dyna Comp but it was noisier than hell.

I've become a huge fan of the Barber pedals - what does everyone think of the Tone Press? Is it quiet?

ibodog · June 22nd, 2009, 09:43 AM

Might seem quieter than your Dyna Comp when you blend the clean signal back in. Otherwise there should be about the same amount of noise from the compression side.

woodman · June 22nd, 2009, 09:56 AM

my Tone Press is a whole lot quiter than my ancient DynaComp. the difference is the Blend knob — all the way down makes it a clean boost; all the way up makes it a full-on guitar compressor (in conjunction with the Sustain knob). of course the more compression, the more noise ... i keep the volume at about unity gain (about 2 o'clock) and the Blend and Sustain knobs below 12 o'clock for just a bit of sweetening and peak control, leaving it on all the time. but if you want to use compression as an effect, you can ramp up the Blend and Sustain controls and get squashed-out compression that sustains for days — plus the noise that comes along with any extreme comp setting.

Chrismo · June 22nd, 2009, 05:52 PM

See, I really liked that blend knob. Just wanted to make sure that it was quiet enough to run! Thank you! :)

guit30 · June 22nd, 2009, 07:26 PM

The Tone Press I tried was very quiet, but I never got any extreme compression out of it
Jim

woodman · June 22nd, 2009, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guit30

The Tone Press I tried was very quiet, but I never got any extreme compression out of it
Jim

right, i don't think they're designed for that ... not like a maxed out DynaComp, but plenty unless you want to use it as an extreme effect.

vjf1968 · June 22nd, 2009, 09:29 PM

I think if you adjusted the internal trim pot, it should give that dynacomp sound.

Tele-writer · June 22nd, 2009, 10:24 PM

In addition to having a Tone Press set up about like Woodman does, it is fun to kick in an additional compressor to add a bit of "sing" to slide parts. Kinda gives it that Lowell George flavor...

Chrismo · June 22nd, 2009, 10:53 PM

I like a little bit of compression, just for some added "pop" if that makes sense.

woodman · June 23rd, 2009, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vjf1968

I think if you adjusted the internal trim pot, it should give that dynacomp sound.

i'd been thinking about tinkering with the trim pot ... not for Dynacomp, but just to round off the edges a little. maybe take it up a quarter-turn and see what happens.

guit30 · June 23rd, 2009, 03:32 AM

Woodman,
In your post above you talk about setting the blend and sustain hi and getting squashed out sustain that lasts for days. The trim pot is to adjust the tone of unit, not compression. I love the Wampler I have, is similar, but has a lot more squash and sustain.
Jim

the_existential · June 23rd, 2009, 10:18 AM

This pedal ended my compressor search for good, and is one of the quietest compressors you can get.

Blend seems to be the name of the game with the Tone Press. Of course the external blend control on top lets you blend back in your unaffected tone. But the internal trim pot that adjusts the "flavor" of the pedal is great for blending between the tone of a "vintage" compressor (where the high end is comprimised IMHO), and the Hi-Fi, almost Optical compressor tone that the other extreme provides. Best of both worlds.

woodman · June 23rd, 2009, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_existential

Blend seems to be the name of the game with the Tone Press.

agree 100% — i'd quit using compressors until i discovered this feature. as i said, i haven't fiddled with the trim pot yet, but will make that one of my projects for the week.

guit30 · June 24th, 2009, 05:49 AM

The glitch of the Ross is the famed 3080 ic, in many different forms, but I have heard today, from a pedal maker that it is the easiest ic to get a compression effect. Some modern compressors are turning to the LMI ic or the optical route, Which I think, shows a lot of promise
Jim

tele-jack · July 3rd, 2009, 05:24 PM

I got rid of my Dyna Comp within a week for the same reason. Extremely noisy! I even bought a noise suppressor to try to tame it. Both a waste of money. I am a happy owner of a Barber Tone Press. Even been the Keeley route.

Del Pickup · July 3rd, 2009, 10:58 PM

The Tone Press is the best comp pedal I've ever come across - cos I don't really like compressors!

I tried adjusting the trim pot to get the more vintage comp tones but ended up going back to the factory setting and haven't had any desire to tinker with it since then.

I could happily leave this pedal on all the time.

June 22nd, 2009, 03:50 AM	#1 (permalink)
Chrismo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Age: 21 Posts: 1,373 7 Photos	Barber Tone Press - Quiet? I'm really GASing for a good compression pedal. I had an MXR Dyna Comp but it was noisier than hell. I've become a huge fan of the Barber pedals - what does everyone think of the Tone Press? Is it quiet? __________________ Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said..."I'm too drunk to taste this chicken." http://thetonechasers.wordpress.com/

June 22nd, 2009, 09:56 AM	#3 (permalink)
woodman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mint Hill, NC Age: 63 Posts: 8,022	my Tone Press is a whole lot quiter than my ancient DynaComp. the difference is the Blend knob — all the way down makes it a clean boost; all the way up makes it a full-on guitar compressor (in conjunction with the Sustain knob). of course the more compression, the more noise ... i keep the volume at about unity gain (about 2 o'clock) and the Blend and Sustain knobs below 12 o'clock for just a bit of sweetening and peak control, leaving it on all the time. but if you want to use compression as an effect, you can ramp up the Blend and Sustain controls and get squashed-out compression that sustains for days — plus the noise that comes along with any extreme comp setting. __________________ Truth is stranger than fact ... www.myspace.com/stragglerswing (Woody & the Stragglers - Western Swing/Roots-rock)

June 22nd, 2009, 05:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
Chrismo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Age: 21 Posts: 1,373 7 Photos	See, I really liked that blend knob. Just wanted to make sure that it was quiet enough to run! Thank you! :) __________________ Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said..."I'm too drunk to taste this chicken." http://thetonechasers.wordpress.com/

June 22nd, 2009, 07:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
guit30 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Abington Age: 56 Posts: 746	The Tone Press I tried was very quiet, but I never got any extreme compression out of it Jim __________________ Wampler Ego Compressor Edan Analog Nashville Hot Boost Jim's Country Reviews www.geocities.com/guit30

June 22nd, 2009, 09:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
vjf1968 Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Philadelphia Age: 41 Posts: 1,658 7 Photos	I think if you adjusted the internal trim pot, it should give that dynacomp sound. __________________ "the cult aesthetic of liking only what's obscure is just as sick of being mindlessly led around by the nose" -Mark Mothersbaugh http://www.theabsinthedrinkers.com/index.html

June 22nd, 2009, 09:43 AM	#2 (permalink)
ibodog TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 54	Might seem quieter than your Dyna Comp when you blend the clean signal back in. Otherwise there should be about the same amount of noise from the compression side.

June 22nd, 2009, 10:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
Tele-writer Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: just below macongausaterra Posts: 187	In addition to having a Tone Press set up about like Woodman does, it is fun to kick in an additional compressor to add a bit of "sing" to slide parts. Kinda gives it that Lowell George flavor... __________________ I just love the smell of fresh strings in the mornin'

June 22nd, 2009, 10:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Chrismo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Virginia Beach, Virginia Age: 21 Posts: 1,373 7 Photos	I like a little bit of compression, just for some added "pop" if that makes sense. __________________ Well let me just quote the late-great Colonel Sanders, who said..."I'm too drunk to taste this chicken." http://thetonechasers.wordpress.com/

June 23rd, 2009, 03:32 AM	#11 (permalink)
guit30 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Abington Age: 56 Posts: 746	Woodman, In your post above you talk about setting the blend and sustain hi and getting squashed out sustain that lasts for days. The trim pot is to adjust the tone of unit, not compression. I love the Wampler I have, is similar, but has a lot more squash and sustain. Jim __________________ Wampler Ego Compressor Edan Analog Nashville Hot Boost Jim's Country Reviews www.geocities.com/guit30

June 23rd, 2009, 10:18 AM	#12 (permalink)
the_existential TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Cairo, NY Age: 33 Posts: 10	This pedal ended my compressor search for good, and is one of the quietest compressors you can get. Blend seems to be the name of the game with the Tone Press. Of course the external blend control on top lets you blend back in your unaffected tone. But the internal trim pot that adjusts the "flavor" of the pedal is great for blending between the tone of a "vintage" compressor (where the high end is comprimised IMHO), and the Hi-Fi, almost Optical compressor tone that the other extreme provides. Best of both worlds.

June 24th, 2009, 05:49 AM	#14 (permalink)
guit30 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Abington Age: 56 Posts: 746	The glitch of the Ross is the famed 3080 ic, in many different forms, but I have heard today, from a pedal maker that it is the easiest ic to get a compression effect. Some modern compressors are turning to the LMI ic or the optical route, Which I think, shows a lot of promise Jim __________________ Wampler Ego Compressor Edan Analog Nashville Hot Boost Jim's Country Reviews www.geocities.com/guit30

July 3rd, 2009, 05:24 PM	#15 (permalink)
tele-jack Tele-Meister Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: massachusetts Age: 48 Posts: 163	I got rid of my Dyna Comp within a week for the same reason. Extremely noisy! I even bought a noise suppressor to try to tame it. Both a waste of money. I am a happy owner of a Barber Tone Press. Even been the Keeley route.

July 3rd, 2009, 10:58 PM	#16 (permalink)
Del Pickup Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 1,532 6 Photos	The Tone Press is the best comp pedal I've ever come across - cos I don't really like compressors! I tried adjusting the trim pot to get the more vintage comp tones but ended up going back to the factory setting and haven't had any desire to tinker with it since then. I could happily leave this pedal on all the time. __________________ Someone told me that my tone is in my underpants. I'm not sure if that's good or bad......

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