The Barber PLUS V2 is an overdrive, tone conditioner and boost, designed for tube amps, other pedals and amp simulators. Barber's manual describes it as a stand-alone overdrive flavor, one the company says is very different from the two overdrives in its BUSS pedal, and also usable as a boost into the BUSS and other overdrives to take them to various levels of "more" gain to taste1.
Where the circuit comes from
Barber's manual is direct about the pedal's lineage: "It shares some design DNA with the classic BOSS OD-1 and the subsequent Clark Gainster"1. The OD-1 is the early BOSS overdrive that helped define the type; MusicRadar's review of a later BOSS model notes the original was analog2. For readers tracing that family of circuits, see the Boss OD-1 page and our overdrive overview.
Barber also builds a related pedal with Five Watt World, the Barber FWW Plus, which the company describes as covering treble boost, classic boost, vintage overdrive and larger than life modern boutique with amp-like textures3. The PLUS V2 sits apart from that as its own overdrive flavor.
The controls
The PLUS V2 keeps a simple three-knob face, and the manual explains each in practical terms1.
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain | Sets the amount of sustain and harmonic content. Low gain with high volume can "wake up" an amp when boosting it; higher gain settings at unity output suit a switchable clean sound. |
| Tone | Sets overall brightness and tightness, and increases gain a bit as it is turned up. Most users find 9 o'clock to 4 o'clock the sweet spot; low settings have a lot of weight and are great for low gain or clean boost. |
| Volume | Sets the output level. Any setting is useable, with unity gain for most users between 9 o'clock and 1 o'clock. |
"The tone control sets the overall brightness and tightness. It also increases gain a bit as it is turned up."
The two toggles
The two three-way toggles shape the low and high content independently1.
- Right toggle (filter): left is the least highs, the middle is the most open and dynamic, right is between the two1.
- Left toggle (bass): left is the least bass, middle is the most enhanced bass, right is in between. Barber notes the left position keeps things tight when boosting amps, and that the middle is often a good choice as an overdrive and can work miracles with a Strat bridge pickup1.
Power
Barber asks for a 9 to 30 volt DC negative tip adaptor to power the PLUS1. That range covers a standard 9V supply and higher-voltage outputs; some supplies, such as the Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 PLUS, make 18V and 24V available by combining outputs with special cabling4.
The PLUS takes a negative tip adaptor. Before adding it to a shared supply, make sure the output you use matches that polarity.
Questions
Is the Barber PLUS V2 related to the BOSS OD-1?
Yes, by Barber's own account. The manual says the PLUS shares some design DNA with the classic BOSS OD-1 and the subsequent Clark Gainster. It is Barber's take on that family of circuits rather than a copy, and Barber describes its overdrive flavor as its own, distinct from the two overdrives in the company's BUSS pedal.
What voltage does the Barber PLUS V2 run on?
Barber's manual asks for a 9 to 30 volt DC negative tip adaptor. That wide range means it runs from a standard 9V pedal supply up to higher-voltage outputs, the kind some power supplies make available by combining outputs with special cabling. Check the polarity note on this page before wiring it into a daisy chain.
Can the Barber PLUS V2 be used as a boost?
Yes. Barber designed it as an overdrive, tone conditioner and boost for tube amps, other pedals and amp simulators. The manual describes setting the gain low and the volume high to push an amp, and says low tone settings carry a lot of weight and work well for low gain or clean boost.
What do the two toggles on the Barber PLUS V2 do?
The right toggle is a three-way filter switch: left gives the least highs, the middle is the most open and dynamic, and right sits between the two. The left toggle chooses between three levels of bass content, from least bass on the left to the most enhanced bass in the middle, with right in between.
Why does the tone control cut bass instead of adding treble?
Barber's manual explains that the tone control sounds like it is increasing highs when in fact it is cutting low end and adding gain. So turning it up thins and tightens the sound rather than brightening it in the usual way, and turning it down leaves the deeper bass in place.
Sources (4)
- PLUS manual draft 4.0, Barber Electronics
- Boss OD-1X Overdrive review, MusicRadar, 2014-06-05
- FWW Plus, Barber Electronics
- Pedal Power® 2 PLUS, Voodoo Lab
