Effect Name: Barber Tone Press
Type: Compressor, Parallel
Controls: True by-pass Switch, Sustain, Volume, Blend, Internal Color trim pot
Power: 10mA @ 9V (- Center)
Price Paid : $159, inc. Shipping
(http://www.barberelectronics.com/images/Tone_Press_front.jpg)
What we have here is one nice compressor. I am not a fan of compressors as they never do what I want without squashing the hell out of my tone. I started with a CS-3, tried the MXR Dynacomp and now have settled the Barber Tone Press. It does everything Barber said it would. Count it amongst the CompRoyal - a fairly small subset of compressors that route the dry signal parallel to the effected signal, preserving the original attack while adding sustain. With the blend knob, one CAN dial in the amount of real dynamics that you want present in the mix.
-The Volume (level) and Sustain knobs do exactly what you would expect them to do. Volume around noon is slightly greater unity for my Blend and Sustain settings.
-Inside there is a Color trim pot that allows one to dial down the brightness to taste. It comes shipped with full on bright. It was too much for me, so I backed it off like 1/20 of a turn. I turned it about a quarter turn, it rotates through like 330 degrees, not full circle. I tried a ΒΌ turn and it quickly lost some of the life I was enjoying with it on. The manual refers to the darkening as "vintage", FWIW. It can get much darker than I like in my compressor.
The blend control is where it is at. Mine is at 10:30. At 5:00 its full squash, there are subtle squash differences to the Dynacomp. I find that the "squash" of the Barber is less, shall I say, abusive to my tone. Anyway the ability to blend the dry signal with the compressed one, really allows the player to dial in the amount of squash and sustain. I have my sustain set to 1:00.
I am pretty happy with the Tone Press. I find it very versatile and for the price, it is one of the better values out there. In my research, I read that the Tone Press is from the Ross/DC family. I have been asked about how it compares to a Ross. I can only imagine as I never owned a Ross so I do not have a basis to compare. You would have to hear for yourself. I think I have mine set brighter, I am not sure if, but would assume, that the Ross is darker (than my setting), the Color setting may need adjustment to darken it up. I would consider it a bright compressor.
As for a compressor and what I want in one - I think the it does add and sweeten the tone a little while the player has control of how that is achieved. Sustain is not obvious where I have it set, but it's there. I have been looking for a subtle compressor and I have found it for now. There are two other compressors that interest me still, but that's now a curiosity, not a need, thanks to my Barber Tone Press.
FWIW... My ideal compressed tone...
Peaks smoothed off and not squashed....5/5
Softest notes get slight boost.4.5/5
Subtle but certain sustain. 4/5
Flat frequency response 3.5/5 ( Typical Ross design-dropped lows, 3/5) It gets a 3.5 because the Blend knob compensates I think the color can be touch warmer.
Musicality (Overall ability to dial in musical tones) 4/5
Overall 4.5/5... Quality, versatility and value add points. Definitely worth the $159 considering the next step is like $250.
Glad your happy! Nice review too btw.
Thanks for the review man, that's the exact information I have been looking for. Cheers.
Thank you for the feedback. First time I ever sat down and put thoughts of a pedal on paper. I can another for Machine Vibe, if folks are interested.
Damn nice review as if I read it in a magazine. Nice!