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Barge Concepts VFB-2 Variable Feedback amp Blend Bypass Looper
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 The most unusual pedal offered by Barge is the VFB-2 ($125 retail),
a buffered effects looper with a feedback option. It features a Clean
Blend control and a footswitchable, variable Feedback control. This
pedal worked well for taking a Fender Blender fuzz—a tone-sucking
but cool-sounding effect—completely out of the signal path
when not in use. The Clean Blend control let me mix my clean signal
with the output of the effects loop, and then send that signal
to the buffered output jack—a handy feature with my Nano Clone
pedal, which has no blend control of its own. The real fun begins
with the VFB-2’s Feedback switch, which permits you to kick in
a feedback control circuit that adjusts the amount of signal that is
fed to the send jack. A rotary knob sets the degree of feedback.
This feature only works on certain effects; with the Nano Clone,
as well as some standard distortion boxes, it merely removed all
signal. But when it works, wow! Placing the aforementioned Fender
Blender or an Ampeg Scrambler in the VFB-2 loop with the feedback
engaged resulted in wild, random octave jumps. And with
the Scrambler, extreme feedback settings caused self-oscillation,
tunable with the Ampeg’s Texture and Balance controls. Major
wackiness was achieved by plugging an Alesis Bitman (discontinued)
into the loop. Feeding its signal back through the unit and
manipulating the Ring Modulator and Phaser speed controls produced
a blip and bleep festival, with a wide variety of sounds and
effects coming off a single note struck on the guitar. The VFB-2 is
a useful tool for any effect user and a must have for experimentally
minded players.
—Michael Ross
KUDOS Good for adding blend control and on/off LED to effects
that don’t have these features. Feedback circuit great for creating
unique effects.
CONCERNS None.
CONTACT www.bargeconcepts.com
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