EBS_freak

I did write a response to this and thought better of it. But I will write a summary. In short, amps are a dying breed, some people haven't caught onto this yet. The future is modelling. The past is nostalgia. We are currently somewhere in the middle where people still have those romantic images of Cream and Hendrix with Marshall stacks as far as the eye can see and get turned on at the idea of big rigs that make your trousers flap (even though they don't). Unless BF have a digital division that we don't know about, they are catering more towards nostalgia.. and that's fine. For now, at least.

Just cos they got excited, doesn't mean that it would make financial sense for Alex to launch it. Especially right now. Knowing Barefaced prices, the amp is not going to be a low ticket item... Go on, I'm intrigued. What's your amp and pedal? Used on the amp I am guessing? Or maybe a teeny practice effort?

I know most of it's rhetorical - but I'll have a stab - How many would have gone out and gotten it if it was an amp released and bitten the bullet? At the moment, not a lot. Unless it's was a cheap combo or practice amp for use at home. I'm sure there's a lot of people that are wondering whether they'll ever gig again. There's a lot of re-evaluation going on for a lot of people, especially if there's a lot of money tied up in gear that doesn't look like it will be used in the foreseeable. If it was an amp, it's impossible to say what would have happened - a lot of people would buy off the specs. There's no specs, there's no amp. It's a pointless question really - but I will nail my colours to the mast... given the pandemic, if there was an amp for sale, I would guess the sales figures would be impacted way, way more right now, than a pedal, which can be used at gigs, at home, rehearsals (if allowed) and recording sessions... oh and they are a lot cheaper than amp is likely to be. How many who would have bitten the bullet bought the pedal have changed their minds based on the graphics and lack of DI amongst the other things mentioned? ZVex made alterations to their SHO because they failed to take into account, theres a whole load of church players in the states that liked the pedal, but felt it was inappropriate to have Super Hard On written on it. I guess there will be all sort of people offended by that kinda thing. That promptly had a change of heart and relabelled it the SHO. Of course, you could have taped over it... but why would you want to do that when you've bought a pedal at a premium? Design is a very important - and often overlooked element of a product. There's always the camp that don't care, it's functional, it works, it does what they want it to... but they are also the people that don't care having their car doors dinged at the supermarket. If you are investing in a product, there's a certain element of visual appeal that in many cases, takes place. I hate the look of the Fiat Multipla. It could be the best car in the world... but I hate looking at it. Would I care if I hated looking at an FX pedal? Probably not... but if there were two otherwise identical sounding units, I'd take the one that visually appeals to me. The DI element - well, that's a fundamental requirement to some. If it doesn't offer it and you want it, look elsewhere, or go begging for a v2 and hope for the best. I am guessing that this product has been produced to be the minimum viable product that has enough appeal to sell over competitor products. Adding DI would be an added expense that the vast majority of people would not have used. Is this a preamp? Or a magical fuzz, grind, clean whatever box. If you want a pre, get a pre with a DI. If you want a whatever box, consider this. How many people will throw in thoughts on what they thought the pedal should do/look like and never had an intention of getting it or anything like it anyway and use that as an excuse for not getting it? If you are never ever going to own a Ferrari, does that mean you can't have an opinion on what you would have liked to see on it or comment on what you don't like about it? It all forms part of the market research and is a valid input. A Ferrari has to have curbside appeal so that those that don't own it, aspire to own it. How many people would change their view based on any clips coming out from BF/COG or based on a BCer who may get one and give their thoughts, and does it matter which member does that in weighting the review/opinion? Not me. No offense, most of you guys are deaf or are prone to honeymoon periods. I'd like to see reviews just to see if I agree or disagree with the points of views displayed in said videos... and get more informed about what's out there. If it suddenly appears on Tim C or Dusty Hills board, does that make a difference? Hell no, there's only two people in the bass playing world that prompt people to buy gear. That's Mark King and Marcus Miller. And the people buying that gear tend to be those in jobs outside of music. What people play and the whole endorsement thing is a complete nonsense. What’s the conclusion? We are on a forum where people share views and opinions. Sometimes in keeping with others views, sometimes not. What's the problem with that? Does it really matter if anybody buys this or not? Maybe to Alex. Not to the rest of us. But if we disclose information about what's good or what's bad, it will drive improvement... and when it comes to Barefaced, people seem to have issue whenever something is said that doesn't go with the grain, whatever that may or may not be. So I think we are on the same page. Maybe?

I'm not sure about that. Amps tend to be a bit of a bigger financial outlay.

Probably. Also - trying to be helpful, dimensions on the site would be good, so you know how much room it's going to take up on your pedal board.

To be fair, it looks like we have a hell of a lot to time to learn before the gig right now.

I called it when they announced it. It's all vapourware until you get it in your hands. We've seen this time and time again. Yet everybody gets emotionally obsessed with things then can't deal with the delays.

Ive just looked at the bass butler logos as I have never seen that pedal. I wouldn't associate the sine graphic with clean. My thoughts go straight to synths, modulation, tremolo... Again, the square wave puts me into thinking synths. Or clipping... certainly not just drive. The mid, I didn't actually get that at all. Does that make me dumb? I saw it more as a pan or something? But that wouldn't make a great deal of sense on a mono pedal. Obviously I got treble and bass... but not sure what the arrows were meant to be adding? Not overly happy with the variable resistor being gain either. Im not sure the vast majority of people would get that as gain. You'd probably be happier if you were a user of an Orange amp as it's all mirrored on their amps. So given the above, I'd also apply those thoughts to Orange as a whole. Im guessing their familiarity is down to learning through having an Orange or having read the manual - but I certainly don't think they are great choices. Similar confusions are had with the Machinist pedal. But maybe that's just me. For interest - https://orangeamps.com/articles/the-orange-graphics-explained/

Anyway, where's the official demos - and is anybody reviewing them yet?

My skin is thicker in that. But seriously, you may want to read your responses from a number of viewpoints before clicking submit reply.

I won't be buying it. Cos I'm not a musician.

It's OK, I picked up your veiled insult. Again, refer to customer 101. You should know that a great deal of people using fx pedals, amps or anything, the more you give them to twiddle, the greater the chance that they don't know what they are doing. If people at least know the term as opposed to having to learn the meanings of potentially new hieroglyphics, things may be easier?

Just some further feedback - again, just my opinion. Im intrigued by the inclusion of knob choices. Standardise them. If people want to customise them, let them do it at their cost. Build a brand on uniformity - not so your product looks like it's been built from random parts bins. Im taking this is an off the shelf product that you want to just shift in boxes? Why add the complication?

All it took was one ill thought out post...

This thread is about to turn into a case study of customer service -101.

Even I congratulated the product being bought to market. The rest, constructive criticism. I am big into accessibility for all - and not having labels is a big negative on that front. And the LED comment, just personal preference - but it just looks unfinished and rough... to me. But also appreciate that adding collars takes down your profit margin.

You mean, listen to the voice of the people who could be interested in buying your product. As above, wow. Thing is, you may have done a smart move here, get a reputable custom fx company to design your pedal, get it into a position where it can be manufactured in bulk, put your branding on it... and just shift boxes. Thats the beginnings of a good business model. Coming onto a platform an alienating your customers, not so much.

Theres a bit of a shortage.

They say that pictures paint a thousand words. However, in this case, I feel a few labels may have been a little more appropriate. Would have liked to see some collars on the LEDs too. But hey, fair play on getting something to market. Difficult task.

Softboxes are too big as you say. These LED panels are the size of a page of A4.

You want diffused lights anyway (if you are looking for smooth shadows) like the 3rd clip.

Static cameras. I have a few tricks in post to give it a more organic look. As for roving cameras - tricked you... what you see in the audience didn’t necessarily happen at that precise moment in time. That’s the beauty of having additional clips available to you in the edit. Transitions are intentionally hard... as you would see on the TV. It’s very rare to see cheesy transitions in a professional production, with the exception of a cross fade. No hard 6 second rule. This is where your artistic eye has to come into play. Change as appropriate to fit the action and music. Audio - whatever you can get. Desk. Ambient. Onboard camera. Time align in DAW and process to the best of your ability.

If your thread is 1/4” you are good to go. Otherwise you’ll need a 3/8” to 1/4” adapter. Ive got an assortment of k&m mounts... which are always useful for clamping onto things

Myself and my mate have been doing live performance vids for some time - here’s a few from us - heres one I did with one of my bands - this one seems to get lots of love - @Happy Jack - this was in the darkest corner of a city centre bar. Two LED lights providing some help!

Mere flesh wound, right?