Tone Press

(Let me qualify my review: I don't buy pedals that are over $250, because I can get a decent cheap guitar for that money. I don't know why, but I can't spend more than that on one, so my knowledge and opinions are limited to that under-$250 range of commercially-available pedals. This said, I own about 35 high-end effects pedals by that standard.)Since my first experience with the MXR DynaComp in the late 1970s and early 80s. I have used compressors often. I then used Boss CS3 through the 1990s and early 2000s. I usually used it very selectively, most often for the "squashed" tone so perfect in funk and country, or to keep a tight level on a hard rock sound. I have also purchased or used the new TC Electronic HyperGravity, Wampler Ego and Xotic compressors over recent years. (by now you must have correctly assumed that I like compressors and have been working in music for a long time.) I purchased a few others either not memorable or worth naming before settling on the Robert Keeley 4 knob compressor, which stayed on my board for about 50 club gigs over a two and a half year period. (Note - I LOVE Keeley pedals and can see 4 of his pedals from where I sit, plus 3 Boss pedals that I sent him to him for modification.) I considered that the gold standard until the Barber Tone Press came along, and I tried it out because of my experience with parallel compression in recording; I figured that being able to blend in the compressed signal might be the answer to the unwanted levels of squash and tone suck I have become accustomed to in almost every pedal I tried.This pedal has changed everything for me. I originally purchased the first version of the Tone Press and it quickly went from a niche sound to "always on" status within weeks. I have been using it on gigs for several years, even though it was so large as to take up more precious Pedal Board Real Estate than the Keely 4 knob. I am now traveling further to play live and got this new small version, and it is every bit as good as its predecessor. Although there is an internal pot to affect tone, I have never once changed it from the factory setting. This pedal has added a brilliance and subtle sustain to my to my every note, and the new, faster attack option makes this even more versatile. I will save you the sales talk and specs, they're out there, but if you appreciate the sound of a great Ross-style compressor, this is where you should put your hard-earned money. Since it is first in my signal chain, the noise issue that I have seen cited in one or two reviews has never been a problem for me, and the Tone Press is far less noisy than other compressors in its price range. Some noise is just a given with compression, simple as that.So this new one now lives on my monster loop-switching home board of 27 other pedals, but not in any group - it's first in the signal chain and always on. (Though sometimes it is preceded by the Seymour Duncan Pickup Booster.) I never leave for a gig without putting it on my small board with whatever other 1 or 2 other pedals I might need, and it makes any beaten up warhorse club backline amp sound worlds better, even when used as a clean boost. And that old, larger version? It now sits in a loop at the very end of my home rig to tighten up the sound if things get unruly!! This is the one to get.

It's a nice sounding compressor, but very noisy. It's not just a hiss, but varying hisses and pops. I even used a noise-free power supply with the same results. It's back to the Xotic SP compressor for me.

Great compressor, one of the best and I've tried a lot. It's become an integral part of my gig board. I don't use it as an "always on" but as an effect - a boost/sustain. Why four stars? Like all compressors, you have to fine tune the settings to keep from introducing too much noise into the signal but this one is better than most.

Well built great sounding compressor. I've briefly owned an older Whirlwind compressor based on the classic MXR Red compressor and the Pigtronix Micro Philosophers Tone. This sounds better than the Whirlwind and as good as the Philosophers Tone but the build is 10 times better and it has more options. If you're in the market get this. Barber makes top notch stuff.

I have had 8 other compressors from original Ross, analogman Bicomprossor, Keeley, Xotic, etc. This and my Oxygen compressor are the two I have kept. They do different things. Since the Oxygen is no longer available the Barber is my recommendation.

Replaced my old big one for more room on my board. Still sounds great and has a little extras. Even though I seem to leave them in classic settings.

I just got my new gearThanks

No complaints about pedal. It is simply magnificent! But dimensions listed in Amazon, 6 x 7 x 10 inches. Really? You need a different ruler.