Barcus-Berry Model 1330 Owned and Used by Tom Verlaine Preamp Effect, c. 1970
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Item # 13232
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Barcus-Berry Model 1330 Owned and Used by Tom Verlaine Model Preamp Effect, c. 1970, made in California, black enamel finish, aluminum.
Here we have a relatively standard FET-based preamp from Barcus-Berry, a company most known for making transducer pickups for mostly acoustic instruments (most famously, one of Jimmy Page's D-28's). Originally meant to be used with Barcus-Berry's own contact microphone, it works at its best with piezo pickups and other similar input sources like acoustic or even vocal microphones. This is not a pedal, only a set-and-forget unit that powers on with a 1/4" plugged into the front and a 9V battery plugged inside. The controls are simple, straightforward, and effective: a 2-band EQ for treble and bass, a volume, and a knob for sensitivity.
With most any magnetic acoustic pickup, it is a useful and good quality preamp; with something like single coils or humbuckers however, it can quickly become unwieldly and saturated. We think this is why it belonged to Television's Tom Verlaine, a constant and lifelong experimenter with preamps and unconventional sources of guitar distortion in the studio and on stage.
Height is 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.), 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) width, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth at deepest point.
This pedal is in fine shape but was obviously used by Tom Verlaine, a consumate lover of all manner of unconventional preamps. There lingers some tape on the back and a label on the front numbering this "Ped. 35;" we have seen a few other pieces from his collection labelled similarly. The pedal is all original inside and out and works as it should with any magnetic acoustic pickup at least... per our prior comments, it is usable but a bit more experimental when used with electric instruments and a distorted amp! This pedal does not come with a box, but it does come with a letter of authenticity signed by Patrick Derivaz, Verlaine's close friend and long time musical collaborator from whom we received the pedal. Overall Excellent - Condition.
Here we have a relatively standard FET-based preamp from Barcus-Berry, a company most known for making transducer pickups for mostly acoustic instruments (most famously, one of Jimmy Page's D-28's). Originally meant to be used with Barcus-Berry's own contact microphone, it works at its best with piezo pickups and other similar input sources like acoustic or even vocal microphones. This is not a pedal, only a set-and-forget unit that powers on with a 1/4" plugged into the front and a 9V battery plugged inside. The controls are simple, straightforward, and effective: a 2-band EQ for treble and bass, a volume, and a knob for sensitivity.
With most any magnetic acoustic pickup, it is a useful and good quality preamp; with something like single coils or humbuckers however, it can quickly become unwieldly and saturated. We think this is why it belonged to Television's Tom Verlaine, a constant and lifelong experimenter with preamps and unconventional sources of guitar distortion in the studio and on stage.
Height is 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm.), 5 1/2 in. (14 cm.) width, and 3 in. (7.6 cm.) in depth at deepest point.
This pedal is in fine shape but was obviously used by Tom Verlaine, a consumate lover of all manner of unconventional preamps. There lingers some tape on the back and a label on the front numbering this "Ped. 35;" we have seen a few other pieces from his collection labelled similarly. The pedal is all original inside and out and works as it should with any magnetic acoustic pickup at least... per our prior comments, it is usable but a bit more experimental when used with electric instruments and a distorted amp! This pedal does not come with a box, but it does come with a letter of authenticity signed by Patrick Derivaz, Verlaine's close friend and long time musical collaborator from whom we received the pedal. Overall Excellent - Condition.