Minimalist VS Maximalist: with guest David Barber

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I've wanted to have David Barber on the livestream for a couple of years now. David is one of those guys where whenever we get on the phone we have to set aside a couple of hours.
As one of the original boutique pedal designer/builders I've relied on David for information on everything from what makes a great Marshall in a box (see Beano on a Budget) to how they got a particular guitar tone on a record.
When kicking around ideas for a conversation we realized that our "essential gear" list was vastly different and we thought it would be fun to explore that with everyone...particularly the why of having a little and the why of having, well, a LOT more.
Come and join us and bring your own stories of what is essential for you to do what you do.

[@marcmeyer8910]

The Barber Drive doesn’t leave my board- and I have two boards each with one drive - thanks David

[@steverolfeca]

My LTD SR is a forever pedal, and now my Linden preamp has achieved the same status. Dave’s build quality and engineering are legendary.

[@jimsalman7257]

Same thing with my LTD SR! Lots of good boutique boost/low-gain OD pedals have come out in recent years, but the LTD SR still holds its own, and then some.

[@ptrgreeny]

Damn...missed the live stream. I've got the LTD V2...never leaves my board! Far and away the best OD pedal I've ever played. Run it at 18v and it's incredible!

[@Peasmouldia]

When I was aged 16, Peter Green was everything I wanted to play like. To play like Mr Jimi didn't seem remotely possible. I felt like if I got 80% of the way to P.G. I'd be made. Problem was, there was no KZbin, only "Play in a day and play every day" by Bert Weedon. That and my Rapier 33 and WEM combo somehow refused to replicate PG's tone! I've made some progress in the intervening 55years though. The Bert Weedon book must have been the staring point for so many British guitar players of the sixties. I'd love to hear KW's take on it. Thanks and blessings.

[@davidpggarrett]

The evolution of guitar tutorials - sounds like an idea for a video!

[@clickem2697]

And ‘First Step - How to play the guitar plectrum style’ that Ronnie Wood’s holding on the cover of the Faces first album. Still got my copy somewhere.

[@thelonetwangster]

The Gain Changer is my favourite drive pedal. It can do pretty much everything. I have 2 on my board one low gain the other medium/higher - perfect. A dual GC overdrive pedal in a smallish enclosure would be heaven - but I'm sure David has thought of that already 😀. If not...a GC with a Tone Press...just sayin'...😉

[@frankmccreary9050]

Fun episode. I met Dave at Guitar Exchange in Catonsville. He's a great guitar player as well as everything mentioned here.

[@barberelectronics5672]

Thank you Frank!

[@wesleyhutchinson2033]

Great, interesting discussion - I'm another one of the guys who's been pleased to keep my Barber pedals (LTD and Tone Press) on the board since sometime before 2010👍

[@THEItchybruddah]

Keith… I JUST finished mowing when I found this. It was great to cool off to! The Tone Press is the greatest comp pedal EVER devised. It still lives on my “channel switching/FX loop” board. I’d commit unspeakable acts for a “mini version”.

[@chrisboule970]

Great conversation. The Gain Changer never leaves my board

[@timchalmers1700]

David Barber is a great guest !! Please have him back to discuss minimalist/middle-ist/maximalist. It seems to me that what to buy after a fire is different for everyone, so might not be a great topic.

[@msbrech]

I grew up in Arbutus, just outside of Catonsville! I visited Guitar Exchange once to get some strings for my old Martin. This was long before I really started playing seriously.

[@kevinberthoud9347]

Thx Keith. 1st time listening Mr. Barber. Great interview!

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

Years back Dave gave me a mod for my Marshall from memory. I just wrote it down it meant nothing.... but the tech I found said it was no problem and I got the tight lows Dave promised :-) One cool thing I found is when I tuned my amp to work the best with my favorite pedal it worked with all my pedals. Before nothing worked everything pedal and amp sounded like it needed tweaking that never worked.

[@Mpcoluv]

I just bought a direct drive V4 due to this intro tone.

[@zososhep]

I have been using Barber pedals for 17 years (or so). I have had a 2007 original big box Direct Drive on my board since I got it(in 2007 strangely enough). I also have a Barber GC SR which is phenomenal!! Barber Pedals=Great Tone & feel, quality craftsmanship for a great price!

[@christophertodd1980]

I bought a Gain Changer about 2 months ago, and wow, absolutely incredible - it can extend the natural sound of my Dr Z as if it's there isn't even a pedal in the chain, it replaced the spot where a Fulldrive 2 had been for about 20 years (I use an OCD Ge with the Gain Changer, great combo). Watching this is quite dangerous haha, a Direct Drive is the only overdrive pedal left on my "wish list".

[@erikzen1]

Just ask Mars Blackmon. Money! It's gotta be the shoes. Thanks for bringing Dave on the show!

[@pearsonart]

Late comment: love the conversation. Direct Drive v1 on my board since it came out. Added a Gain Changer when it was released. Dave’s stuff not only sounds great through most any Fender tone stack but they stack beautifully for complex gain staging. Bonus, they play just as well through my TMDR as my 76 SFDR.

[@ericwarrington6650]

Hey buddy @ Keith 😊! I never got a notification of this so I'm catching up now..had a little afternoon nap as my 4/20 started very early..as always thank you for the killer video and topic! Got the LP out today and the JHS and EHX 's the Lizard Queen octave fuzz just got delivered from Sweetwater 🤘😁🎸🎶

[@kmajor44]

Wasn’t able to catch this live 😢 Learned a ton from Dave. Hopefully I can check out a piece of his gear someday.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Two relative terms serving as borders of a conversation change with the context. Very enticing title to attract this viewer.

[@gtr1952]

Well that hour felt like about 10 minutes!! I only own 2 pedals, but now I've got to have that drive pedal!! The least gear? LOL Thanks Kieth, I really enjoyed this one, and a big thanks to David too!! 8) --gary (Brockport, and Stutzmans! LOL)

[@cpk313]

Ha HAHAHA! I have a newly acquired Gain Changer SR on my board and just bought a LTD. Having built pedals, amps, cables etc. etc. I took a peek inside; the build quality of Dave's pedals is exceptional. I'm really digging the GC and looking forward to putting the LTD on my board. Also a reformed drummer....

[@rylieriley]

I have several Barber pedals, and I love them all. For anyone who's a fan of fuzz, I suggest looking into the Barber Trifecta Fuzz. I recommend that pedal as often as I can. David Barber really knows his stuff.

[@limpindug]

Hey fellas enjoyed the chat, lots of info to cause lots of thoughts. 👍👍👍🥃Respect to you fellas.

[@EdBender]

I would love to pick this guy's brain for 2 or 3 hours. Brilliant guy.

[@danewell1952]

Great Show, David is always brilliant to listen to with his take on things now and past. I have 2 of his pedals here in the UK and his customer service and product Quality is First Class. Thanks again for a superb show.

[@jurgengosch3915]

Super informative. This stuff is alchemy.

[@altouchet]

Dave’s pedals are great! I love the way they respond to the volume control on my guitar. I have several but my newest and favorite is the Custom Direct Drive Low Gain. Thanks Dave!

[@trevgrooves]

Love Barber pedals.

[@nickparas7170]

Brilliant interview and man. Thanks so much. I'm hooked, also because the DD v.4 was the only pedal found in my expensive quest that gave my Super Lead the extra gain I was seeking that retained plexi character and muscularity.

[@BluesSky]

The PRS Starlas sound really good to me as well, didn’t know they discontinued them. It’s a Knaggs design right ? Like an affordable Knaggs. I need to get one before they go shooting up in price.

[@darenanderson1960]

What a cool and interesting guy! I’ve heard about him for many years, but this my first time hearing him interviewed. The Direct Drive is on my wanted list. The intro and Outro tone and playing is stellar.

[@gilguajardo7808]

What a knowledgeable guy! Y’all need to do a 3 hour live next.

[@jurgengosch3915]

Your correction needs a correction. Candlestick Park was 1966, not '69.

[@j.d.saccociates3313]

Somebody gave me a silver ltd like ten years ago. Good greif its about the one thing i would never change about my rig

[@nickparas7170]

Rupert Neve-level brilliance.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

I have recently submitted to the reality that I can set up a new guitar exactly to the same starting specs and my preferred controls settings. But, when I play it, it requires tweaking amp and pedal settings to reach its particular potential. And, EQ is the most critical element to maximize clarity and range of "addition" the signal is run through a set of pedals. Also, signal strength and the resulting loudness varies parameters of tone more than one would prefer to be prepared to deal with. But, unless you have a consistent gig environment (ha ha) these previously listed requirements remain. Remember, you not tweaking the guitar only, but the entire system within which the guitar is performed by you. You must be variable in order to provide artistic input. Your gear needs help within a more narrow range. Everything in every "system" needs care and attention and the caretaker must not succumb to the temptation to sit on their self perceived laurels. Hence the attraction to more (different) gear of all representative components of your non static system.

[@aminahmed2220]

What a fantastic video have a good weekend also today is my ffriends birthday

[@pearsonart]

Kieth and Dave - another follow up: I had a Barber Small Fry for some years. Following the line of his dumble evolution, that limited Buss pedal you guys launched looked like a fantastic evolution with the sweep from low to medium gain. Have you considered another run?

[@fivewattworld]

The BUSS is available from Dave right now.

[@Matthew_Scan]

I’m down to 3 amps 2 AC30s and a Boss Katana Artist , I play the Katana 90% of the time either straight in or my Boss GX 100 into the power amp in

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

I may need to make room for an array of speaker cabinets to compare various speakers This would require investment in amp heads. I'd need to acquire a shelf system to access all that. But, "Uh-Oh" now I need a larger room!

[@Artefracture]

If I had to keep one it would be the St Vincent Music Man. But I'd really miss my Jazzmaster.

[@heyitsandrewcraft]

🤘

[@weehudyy]

I have been friends with Paul Emlyn Crowther , early Split Enz drummer and creator of the Hot Cake , for over four decades . When I was a kid starting out , he used to modify amplifiers , organs , make line mixers and just be the guy that kept our little town's ( Dunedin ) music scene ticking . He built a ' fuzz box ' into a guitar that my school band's guitarist built . I moved to Australia in the 70s and my guitarist pal went to the UK. We are both back in NZ , and his home built guitar has turned up and Paul has made the fuzz circuit whole again . Every time Paul comes down from Auckland he visits my pal and tweaks bits and bobs . The pair of them converted an old valve radio into a very useable guitar amp . I just love these crazy driven people .

[@fivewattworld]

Amen

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

On a personal note - glasses parroting the beard color(less) pattern may act as camoflage and be less distracting than even clear frames. I simply resorted to contacts.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Back when I only had stereo gear it was often stated that your system sounds only as good as its weakest component device. so I didn't buy packaged systems but components. this freed me to upgrade incrementally. that saying applies to electronic music gear as well. If one "digital" component ostensibly converts a system to digital should one purchase digital amps as well? Should one only use tube based components with tube amps and only digital components with SS amp? Clearly, either extreme is impossible to adhere to. Mix and match and let your ear tell you.

[@watzup62]

Will David ever bring back the Barb E Q? My Tweed Deluxe is crying for a tone stack.

[@fivewattworld]

I think he’d build you one. Give him a call.

[@briannacery9939]

Want a Barber Buss.

[@shanewalton8888]

Toooooo early in the morning. Lol I hope everyone enjoyed the live.

[@whodunitpros8555]

? MR 5 WATT - why no link to David Barber Electronics website ?

[@fivewattworld]

Really? Totally over looked that. But David is redoing his ancient site.

[@brentelsaesser488]

Hey Keith, thoughts on Deluxe Tonemaster vs. Princeton Tonemaster.

[@fivewattworld]

Ic you gave the space I’d go w the Deluxe. It just sounds, is, bigger.

[@christiantaylor4027]

Really great playing and fantastic tone. Wouldn't have guessed how it was made. Also sensible shoes always a good idea. Just sayin..... Bye for now.

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks David Keith 😎 ??? Why wouldn’t an amp mfg license a pedal…. Or more than one, & put it in the amp??? 🎸

[@barberelectronics5672]

This is something that happens, and at the moment I am discussing building one of our OD circuits into another builder's amp, for a special client!

[@slicksalmon6948]

The idea that you have to adjust your truss rod every day because you live in the mid-Atlantic is crazy.

[@fivewattworld]

Opinions and needs vary.

[@slicksalmon6948]

@@fivewattworld Perhaps I should have said that I live in the mid-Atlantic not too far from your guest, and I’ve never felt the need to adjust my truss rod daily.

[@barberelectronics5672]

@@slicksalmon6948 It's all about the guy driving the car! :-)

[@jlbaxe]

@@barberelectronics5672 Guitar Exchange… I went with my friend around 90/91 and bought a 70’s Gibson les paul recording model. Might have gotten a Dean Markley cd100 amp from there. Started going to Bills Music in ‘87 . 🤘🏻😎🤘🏻

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

If facts concerning a cultural icon only confuse the fans Is to be correct to be "less" of a fan?

[@stevenpape2021]

I only buy relicked because I buy used.

[@jfredknobloch]

Who is singing what?

[@davidmacleod9313]

“The Beano”? UK comics?

[@fivewattworld]

A reference back to us working on that video together. A member of five watt world shipped them to me.