Robben Ford Discussion

nineacres · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 2:58 am Post subject: Joe Barden Pickups

I've been hearing things for about a year now that Joe Barden is no longer making PUs, but that's all. Anybody have any more information on this? Has Joe stopped producing them altogether ... ?
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"Creativeness often consists of merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were only thought up a little more than a century ago?" - Bernice Fitz-Gibbon 1894-1982

marinblues · Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 1:36 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I heard that he didn't feel well, that his employee has left and that he has essentially (temporarily, he says) closed his business.

At the same time, I've just noticed that my Barden Tele set has doubled in value.
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nineacres · Posted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 12:22 am Post subject:

I have a set of his Two-Tone humbuckers - they cost me a fortune (after shipping & UK customs). Wonder how much they're worth now ... Amazing PUs, mind you.
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"Creativeness often consists of merely turning up what is already there. Did you know that right and left shoes were only thought up a little more than a century ago?" - Bernice Fitz-Gibbon 1894-1982

marinblues · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 3:43 pm Post subject:

Hey, I've just reinstalled mine in my Tele. They're a real bitch to play!
I must have been a better player before... Confused

Excellent dynamics, they amplify every movement on fretboard, strong treble and sound well recorded.

I have this love-hate relationship with these pickups.

Marin

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Ian Hurtt · Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2006 11:21 pm Post subject:

Barden hasn't been making pickups for a couple years now. There was a rumour going around that there was a bunch of money siphoned off by an employee which caused the shutdown. I have no idea if any of it is accurate.

telefunk1 · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 7:23 am Post subject:

There was used set of Barden tele PUs on ebay the other day - for over 400 bucks with several days still left to bid. Don't know what they finally went for.

If you want to hear a really good example of the dymanics of these PUs check out Arlen Roth's cd "Toolin Around" - he does an incredible version of No Woman No Cry and I swear his Bardens come alive when he plays them. Amazing stuff.

marinblues · Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:04 am Post subject:

Here's a quick sampe I did with the bridge pickup, which is the one I find a bit edgy (the neck on the other hand is superb):

http://www.marinblues.it/music/bardensample.mp3

I Eq-ed the amp a bit (low treble, presence as normal) and the xotic ac booster added some smooth gain.

The booster probably adds some compression so there's probably a bit less dynamics than what a Barden normally has.

M.
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