Fairfield Barbershop vs sfx Micro Red Dragon

Low Key

Low Key

Feb 2, 2007
415
592
541
Chicago suburbs
#1
So I've read a ton of posts on overdrive and listened to some great video comparisons. So MANY pedals, but I think I'm down to the two in my thread title. I currently have the following:

Basses (active EQ) --> Empress Compressor --> Empress ParaEQ --> Radial JDI --> to house and amp

I am now looking for a pedal to add some warmth, but not a big EQ adjustment. Leave the bass sound basically "as is", and just provide some light overdrive and growl. From the zillions of reviews I have read, it appears that the Barbershop and Red Dragon both give more of a transparent warmth and breakup, while avoiding bass boost, midrange scoop, etc. There may be others, but these two continue to pop up.

Soooo, I was curious if anyone has done a direct comparison of these two pedals or even owned these two at one point. If there are others I should consider that do the "light, transparent OD thing", I'm all ears.
 
#9
Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to also check out the Grizzly and may also give the Empress Germ Drive or Multidrive a spin. I guess having so many good OD choices falls under the "it's a good problem to have" category ...
 
#10
Low Key said:
Thanks for the replies. I think I'm going to also check out the Grizzly and may also give the Empress Germ Drive or Multidrive a spin. I guess having so many good OD choices falls under the "it's a good problem to have" category ...
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I've owned a Germ Drive and played through a Multidrive, and for what you are looking for, I think the Barbershop is a better choice. IMO/IME

Not sure how the Grizzly got suggested here other than it is the "flavour of the month" (at least for some people), but I think it has a stronger voice and also may not fit your needs.

Here's an option to consider if you are looking at other pedals, even though it may be a bit hard to find (although easy to get built since the circuit is out there) - the ss/bs Sparkle Motion. It is a very nice and warm "boost" pedal that adds just a touch of warmth and grit to your tone, but can also remain fairly neutral if you want it to. They are long discontinued but do pop up occasionally. And, like I said, the circuit has been made public so you could get someone to build it for you.

Finally, if you are moving into "Grizzly" territory, then give the Broughton Azure Drive a listen. The mildly driven tones in it are really nice and can be quite subtle.
 
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#11
blindrabbit said:
I've owned a Germ Drive and played through a Multidrive, and for what you are looking for, I think the Barbershop is a better choice. IMO/IME
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I would agree with this statement. As much as I don't like the kazoo sound of the Barbershop, it's a better choice than those others for what you want.

However, the Grizzly still destroys the Barbershop. It can do the same thing the Barbershop does (and a lot more) but with more control and without the kazoo sound. The Grizzly is more transparent than the Barbershop because it does not change your tone while the Barbershop adds that kazoo sound to it.

If the Grizzly is the flavor of the month, it's been the flavor of the month for the past two years so they're doing something right.
 
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#15
nshuman said:
The barbershop is super transparent and gives you a very nice organic natural tube-like OD.

The Micro Red dragon is less neutral. It has much more tonal range and gain range. I have both, they are very different, very happy to have both on board.
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+1 to this. I also own both. Like both. I would say to the OP the barbershop is a good place to start for what you're describing you're looking for. I've never had the kazoo issue with my barbershop either.
 
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#17
johnk_10 said:
funny. I own several barbershops, a holy fire, and a grizzly and I don't hear the kazoo thing at all in any of my barbershops.
and IME, the grizzly doesn't color your tone at all if you don't want it to (i'e. don't use the mid scoop or the the hi cut).
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mrwood4 said:
+1 to this. I also own both. Like both. I would say to the OP the barbershop is a good place to start for what you're describing you're looking for. I've never had the kazoo issue with my barbershop either.
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nshuman said:
Never had the Kazoo issue either. I have the millennial edition now and had the original before. Never heard that before.
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Yup, another "never heard the kazoo effect" user here. Honestly, I think that the whole kazoo thing is a myth perpetuated by those trying to pump other pedals. :laugh:
 
#19
mmbongo said:


Start playing about 2:10. More Kazoo than a kids birthday party.
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I hear the sound that your complaining about. I also can tell this appears when the drive is about maxed out(and maybe sag control way down). I don't set mine that way, I get my desired sound out of the barbershop with the controls way less that near maxed out. I bet most others do too. Some people may like that sound. Any pedal can be made to sound crappy if you try enough.
I stand by my belief that a barbershop can get the OP the sound he is looking for without the kazoo effect. Probably so can the Grizzly, so can lots of other pedals.:)
 
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#20
mrwood4 said:
I hear the sound that your complaining about. I also can tell this appears when the drive is about maxed out(and maybe sag control way down). I don't set mine that way, I get my desired sound out of the barbershop with the controls way less that near maxed out. I bet most others do too. Some people may like that sound. Any pedal can be made to sound crappy if you try enough.
I stand by my belief that a barbershop can get the OP the sound he is looking for without the kazoo effect. Probably so can the Grizzly, so can lots of other pedals.:)
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Absolutely agree. No pedal out there is safe from gross user error. I'm sure Grizzlies and any other pedal can be made to sound "bad". Fact of the matter is that many, many people who have owned and used the Barbershop on a regular basis in live, studio, and home basement situations have found that a wide variety of tones are easily available to them, including exactly the sorts of light OD and growl tones that the OP is looking for here. Accordingly, I also stand by my recommendation of the pedal. :)
 
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