Searching for an amplifier that sounds "like" the Fairfield Barbershop OD pedal

SonnyBassPlayer

SonnyBassPlayer

Nov 29, 2013
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#1
Good evening Talkbass,

Since I got this pedal about a year ago I never stopped using it. It's my always on pedal, both when I need grit and when I just need some close-to-breakup tone. I just feel like my P bass souns exactely like I want it to sound.
I have a YT channel on which I upload bass covers, which I record using a Scarlett Solo interface. I'm realizing that my bass recorded directly with only the pedal sounds way better than the bass with the entirety of my Ashdown MAG300. Three knobs and a lever are doing more than a full bass amp head with EQ and compression.

My point is, which amps can give me a tone as similar as possible to the Barbershop? I'm sure it's a strange question being the pedal a transparent overdrive, but I'd love to get a amp head that I like as much as this pedal.

I am not currently in the market for buying but I will be in a bit, so I can't really give a precise price range. Hopefully less than valve amps (a used V4BH costs no less than 900€ here) and about 500W in power (for transistor amps of course)

(Sorry if this is the wrong section or a stupid question)
 
#3
Why not look for a super transparent amp and keep the Barbershop? Or perhaps a power amp with an extremely high sensitivity such that the Barbershop can run as a preamp, too (that is, if you don't have a use for an eq which you could also accomplish in pedal form like an Earthquaker Tone Job or similar)? Even with a highly sensitive power amp, the Barbershop might struggle as a preamp, I think Fairfield could let you know if it's possible.
 
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#4
Since you're not quite ready to buy, the Darkglass Microtubes amp is right up your alley. It nails what you want and will be coming out very soon.

If you can't wait, check out the Genzler Magellan. I think it will also do what you want but I have not used that amp myself. But I know it has fantastic drive controls built in.
 
#5
What's wrong with just using the Barbershop? Unless I could go full-on tube amp (PF-50T and PF-20T by Ampeg are EXCELLENT for getting that tubey breakup without needing a cab), I'd just stick with the Barbershop.
 
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#7
Thank you for all the replies!

So, as for now, the options seem to be the Tone Hammer amps and a power amp driven by the Barbershop. This second option really got my attention since there's an Italian brand which makes really high quality power amps and I met some people who praised them quite enough. Also the idea of using my pedalboard and sticking it to a power amp without the interference of an amp's tone sounds really interesting to me.
I am asking this question because I simply don't like my amp head anymore, and I thought about using the tone of that pedal as a guidance to understand what kind of amp I may like.
 
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