Tough Choice?

Tony Dz · November 14th, 2003, 08:53 PM

I'm looking to pick up a new dist/overdrive pedal, and based on some of the posts here,I'm looking at the Barber Direct Drive, Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive, and Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde. I play a mix of classic rock, country, and some blues with a Tele & Strat through a BF'd Super Reverb. Any opinions? I know, try them all, but unfortunately, I don't have a store locally that has them in stock, so it'll have to be a 'net purchase, probably ebay.

Thanks,
Tony

Ringo · November 14th, 2003, 10:40 PM

I've had both of these , the Jekyll & Hyde has a good Tubescreamer sound on the Jekyll side , the Hyde side is much heavier, more into RAT/Metal Zone. I liked it but it does get somewhat noisy on the Hyde side , but then don't most high gain pedals?
And if you want even more distortion, use both , but that was too much for me.

The Barber Direct Drive is a better built pedal, also very versatile IMO. From mild boost to crunch to higher gain sounds, doesn't quite get into distortion as much as the Hyde side of the J&H but I like what it does better.

For what you want either one would be good I'd think.
I have no experience with the Sparkle Drive, but isn't it just a TS that you can blend clean signal with? if so it wouldn't be as versatile as the other 2 IMO.

If you buy either one used on Harmony Central, eBay, or here on the TDPRI you can try them out, and if it isn't what you want you can always resell or trade.

genelovesjez · November 14th, 2003, 10:58 PM

I had a Sparkle Drive, and it never really did much for me, although there are some people here who love them. No experience with the other two.

Roel from Holland · November 15th, 2003, 08:26 PM

I've got a Sparkle Drive (modded by Robert Keeley) which sounds great with my G&L Asat Special and Asat Z3. When I use my 52RI, I prefer my G2D Creamtone.

Tony Dz · November 16th, 2003, 02:27 AM

Direct Drive. After reading a bunch of reviews on Harmony Central, it seems that most people playing single coils prefer the DD. I found one on ebay, we'll see how it works out.
Tony

BB · November 16th, 2003, 11:23 AM

A great sounding, versitile pedal. Everthing from Tube Screamer tones to hot rodded Marshall tones....and everthing in between. It would be a great pedal at twice the price....which is what you would have to pay to get anything similar in tone.

hippietim · November 17th, 2003, 11:30 PM

I had one of those. I really tried to make it work for me. In the end it was just way to harsh. It basically sucks the tone out of your sound. I was happy to get 80 bucks back out of it on Ebay. I switched to an AnalogMan modded TS9DX and a Keeley modded DS-1 - much, much, much better. Since then the DS-1 has been swapped out for an Akai Shred-O-Matic which in turn has been swapped out for a Radial Tonebone. The Tonebone is about to lose it's slot to my recently acquired Soldano Supercharger. The TS9DX doesn't seem to want to budge :)

WrapAround · November 18th, 2003, 12:03 PM

It has 3 basic gain settings (low/med/high) and a nice EQ section. It can do from clean boost to metal and anything in between. Having a 12ax7 in it is a bonus.

November 14th, 2003, 08:53 PM	#1 (permalink)
Tony Dz TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NW MI Age: 47 Posts: 47	Tough Choice? I'm looking to pick up a new dist/overdrive pedal, and based on some of the posts here,I'm looking at the Barber Direct Drive, Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive, and Visual Sound Jekyll & Hyde. I play a mix of classic rock, country, and some blues with a Tele & Strat through a BF'd Super Reverb. Any opinions? I know, try them all, but unfortunately, I don't have a store locally that has them in stock, so it'll have to be a 'net purchase, probably ebay. Thanks, Tony

November 14th, 2003, 10:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ringo Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Memphis TN Posts: 1,914	Barber - Jekyll & Hyde I've had both of these , the Jekyll & Hyde has a good Tubescreamer sound on the Jekyll side , the Hyde side is much heavier, more into RAT/Metal Zone. I liked it but it does get somewhat noisy on the Hyde side , but then don't most high gain pedals? And if you want even more distortion, use both , but that was too much for me. The Barber Direct Drive is a better built pedal, also very versatile IMO. From mild boost to crunch to higher gain sounds, doesn't quite get into distortion as much as the Hyde side of the J&H but I like what it does better. For what you want either one would be good I'd think. I have no experience with the Sparkle Drive, but isn't it just a TS that you can blend clean signal with? if so it wouldn't be as versatile as the other 2 IMO. If you buy either one used on Harmony Central, eBay, or here on the TDPRI you can try them out, and if it isn't what you want you can always resell or trade.

November 15th, 2003, 08:26 PM	#4 (permalink)
Roel from Holland Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Den Haag, Nederland Posts: 1,022	I've got a Sparkle Drive (modded by Robert Keeley) which sounds great with my G&L Asat Special and Asat Z3. When I use my 52RI, I prefer my G2D Creamtone. __________________ Proost, Roel http://www.telecastergallery.com

November 16th, 2003, 02:27 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tony Dz TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NW MI Age: 47 Posts: 47	Going for the Barber... Direct Drive. After reading a bunch of reviews on Harmony Central, it seems that most people playing single coils prefer the DD. I found one on ebay, we'll see how it works out. Tony

November 16th, 2003, 11:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
BB Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Pacific NW Age: 53 Posts: 3,145	Another vote for the Direct Drive A great sounding, versitile pedal. Everthing from Tube Screamer tones to hot rodded Marshall tones....and everthing in between. It would be a great pedal at twice the price....which is what you would have to pay to get anything similar in tone.

November 14th, 2003, 10:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
genelovesjez Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Age: 41 Posts: 3,735	I had a Sparkle Drive, and it never really did much for me, although there are some people here who love them. No experience with the other two.

November 17th, 2003, 11:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
hippietim Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Raleigh Posts: 2,101	Jekyl & Hyde I had one of those. I really tried to make it work for me. In the end it was just way to harsh. It basically sucks the tone out of your sound. I was happy to get 80 bucks back out of it on Ebay. I switched to an AnalogMan modded TS9DX and a Keeley modded DS-1 - much, much, much better. Since then the DS-1 has been swapped out for an Akai Shred-O-Matic which in turn has been swapped out for a Radial Tonebone. The Tonebone is about to lose it's slot to my recently acquired Soldano Supercharger. The TS9DX doesn't seem to want to budge :)

November 18th, 2003, 12:03 PM	#8 (permalink)
WrapAround Tele-Holic Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 804 14 Photos	Add ToneBone Classic to your list.... It has 3 basic gain settings (low/med/high) and a nice EQ section. It can do from clean boost to metal and anything in between. Having a 12ax7 in it is a bonus.