Nocturne Jr Barnyard

[jeremiahzellers]

Hey all,

I have a Nocturne Brain Jr Barnyard pedal that folks continually recommend in a jazz context. I’m having a little trouble understanding it to be honest. It seems to act like an overdrive pedal in that it imparts some breakup to your signal (which seems to be counter to a traditional “jazz tone”)

anyone using one of these? If so, what are you plugging into it, what are you plugging it into, and what are your settings?

Also, if anyone could post a reference tone (any YouTube videos out there?) that showcase what this pedal is going for exactly, that would be helpful.

[LC Swings]

It’s apparently a cool pedal if you want to emulate the octal sound of the late 30’s-40’s amps, e.g the Gibson EH-150.
For instance if you want to get close to Oscar’s Moore or Charlie Christian’s tone.
That’s why you get kind of an overdriven sound. Early electric Jazz wasn’t about getting a clinical clean sound.
I don’t know how the pedal behaves though. I have heard it in concerts played by some friends, plugged into a solid state amp like an AER and it was pretty convincing in comparison to the tone I get with my vintage EH-150.
Check Jonathan Stout or Jazz Guitar with Andy on YT. Andy made a video last year to showcase it.
You won’t get a clean sound with it. It’s aimed to add grit and thickness to your sound.

Hope that helps.

[nevershouldhavesoldit]

You won’t get a clean sound with it. It’s aimed to add grit and thickness to your sound.

Through the first half of the 20th century, virtually no amps put out a truly clean tone (i.e. with very low harmonic distortion) at anything above bedroom volume. Most had at least 2% THD even at low volumes. The switch to modern tubes making usable clean tone with low THD began in the early ‘50s with Fender amps like the Pro (which used 12AX7s and 5881s).

Earlier amps used hi mu preamp tubes like the 6C5 and 6F5 for what’s now called the octal sound. They couldn’t make the clean tones we’ve come to expect from 12A-7s. But the “octal” sound is a bit of a misnomer, since 6L6s (and 6V6s and several other more modern tubes) also have 8 pins.

It’s ironic that we spent a fortune getting high distortion out of our amps, only to spend another fortune buying devices that add it back.

[Christian Miller]

I’m using it in the intro of this video

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rob MacKillop]

Sounds good to me, Christian. Just enough hair.

[Rob MacKillop]

Hmm…I can’t find a stockist in the UK.

[Christian Miller]

Hmm…I can’t find a stockist in the UK.

I had to get mine direct and pay import tax.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Rob MacKillop]

Boo!

[GuyBoden]

I didn't really want to mention that there is a NAM file for a Gibson EH-150.

I've used it, but I don't know anything about the true sound of the real amp, apart from old CC recordings.

But, here you go:
Gibson EH-150 1939 NAM Profiles by @joels . TONE3000

[jads57]

Interesting Christian Milleris using Humbucker pickups as opposed to a single coil CC pickup and gets more of that tone,lol!

[Rob MacKillop]

What’s a NAM file?

[jeremiahzellers]

How do folks typically use this pedal? As an always on, or kick on for a boost when playing a lead line, or only when playing period appropriate music?

I realize that people always say that "there are no rules" when it comes to music... but surely that are some guides/recommendations that can be followed?

for instance, i really wouldn't kick this thing on when playing "The Girl from Ipanema" or something as that may not sound the best.. but are there some surprising uses for it you haven't really thought of before?

Also, NAM profile = Neural Amp Modeler profile? Like.. a thing you would download of you had one of those Neural Amp pedalboards?

[Christian Miller]

I didn't really want to mention that there is a NAM file for a Gibson EH-150.

I've used it, but I don't know anything about the true sound of the real amp, apart from old CC recordings.

But, here you go:
Gibson EH-150 1939 NAM Profiles by @joels . TONE3000

I have nasty feeling I could replace some of the expensive specialist gear I have bought over the past ten years with a Valeton GP-5 and a few minutes on the internet


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[213Cobra]

What’s a NAM file?

Rob,

NAM = Neural Amp Modeler. There's a good explanation here:

Neural Amp Modeler . TONE3000

Read the full scroll on that page, and then the rest of that site has lots of resources.

You need a NAM player of some type to use a NAM file. It can be a pedal (for example, I have the Dime Head NAM Player), or a software plug-in for a DAW, or a desktop hardware device.

A NAM file is the output of an AI-based or machine learning analysis of a known input signal and the resulting output from an amp, to create a digital representation of an analog amplifier that (if captured and created well) "dynamically predicts" how a given amp will sonically respond to your style of playing. AN IR file is added to capture speaker/cabinet/mic & room characteristics.

Phil

[zephyrregent]

I read many times that the Junior Barnyard pedal produced clean tones. I bought one recently and it always had some distortion or overdrive to it no matter what setting. I contacted the builder and he exchanged it for an Atomic Brain pedal that does produce a wide range of clean tones. It fattens and brightens the tone on my Henriksen 112ER. I was trying to get a clean 50's sound as in the recordings of Billy Bauer, Johnny Smith, Barry Galbraith and others. I realize that no amp setup will sound like a studio recording of a guitar. I recommend the Atomic Brain for a wide range of clean tones. I'm surprised that it hasn't been mentioned on the forum. The Junior Nocturne will produce a Charlie Christian tone but as mentioned, is not suitable for playing clean chords or solo arrangements.

Hey all,

I have a Nocturne Brain Jr Barnyard pedal that folks continually recommend in a jazz context. I’m having a little trouble understanding it to be honest. It seems to act like an overdrive pedal in that it imparts some breakup to your signal (which seems to be counter to a traditional “jazz tone”)

anyone using one of these? If so, what are you plugging into it, what are you plugging it into, and what are your settings?

Also, if anyone could post a reference tone (any YouTube videos out there?) that showcase what this pedal is going for exactly, that would be helpful.

[Rob MacKillop]

zephyr - my Henriksen Blu gives me very clean tones, but I’m intrigued by your comment about having several clean tones. Could you give me more details, please?

[entresz]

How do folks typically use this pedal? As an always on, or kick on for a boost when playing a lead line, or only when playing period appropriate music?

I realize that people always say that "there are no rules" when it comes to music... but surely that are some guides/recommendations that can be followed?

for instance, i really wouldn't kick this thing on when playing "The Girl from Ipanema" or something as that may not sound the best.. but are there some surprising uses for it you haven't really thought of before?

Also, NAM profile = Neural Amp Modeler profile? Like.. a thing you would download of you had one of those Neural Amp pedalboards?

I use it as an 'always on' pedal. I have no issues getting a totally clean sound from it, although I don't run my guitar volume on 10 generally, and I generally use lower output pickups; single coils usually. It does warm up an overly sterile sounding amp. I tend to dial in a small amount of overdrive with it - I like the extra compression it gives and the overdrive is very musical sounding - warm and fuzzy.

I probably have played Girl from Ipanema with this pedal switched on.

Another pedal that is good for clean sounds, and warming up a sterile sounding amp, or just making a 'bad' sounding amp better is the Joyo American Sound. Absurdly cheap, but it has been incredibly useful at festival gigs where the backline amps haven't been too good. It isn't so much of the octal sound, but covers more of the Fender amp spectrum, from blackface to tweed and can be totally clean if desired.

[zephyrregent]

Hello Rob,

I have a Henriksen 112ER plus a Blu 6. The Atomic Brain pedal worked better on the 112 than the Blu 6. The pedal can fatten up or thin out the bass or treble yet stay clean. It really brought my Henriksen 112 to a new level. It now has a fuller, livelier, and brighter tone if wanted. I will try to test it with the Blu 6 again and let you know the results.

Here is a description from the website. I don't understand half of the details about the Japanese pre-amp it is based on but it's simple to use and adjust for different guitars. There is a video on the site where you can hear some of the different clean tones in the beginning. before it gets into distortion. The dials can be adjusted subtlely to enhance the clean tone without getting into distortion or breakup.

A Full sonic spectrum, VINTAGE JAPANESE preamplifier that is a very reactive, and tube like dynamic enhancement for your Amp and DAW buss inserts! Notes bloom and chords ring out while keeping your guitar tone up front and pure.I've replicated a much improved, let me repeat it, Vintage Japanese 70's preamp from the ROL@ND RE-301 Tape Delay machine known as the Space Echo. that is now true bypass & loaded with hi-fidelity audio components

Here is a link to the product.

https://www.thenocturnebrain.com/products/the-atomic-brain? ATOMIC BRAIN(R) 301 Analog preamp - for Guitar, Pedal Steel, Keys & Bass – The Nocturne Brain

[jads57]

I occasionally use either an Xotic Sweet Boost or T.C.Jauernig Luxury Drive pedal set at low volume. Then it goes into the front of my Quilter Aviator 100 watt combo.
This gives me more volume and fatter Clean Tones.

Im assuming the Xotic is similar to the Atomic Brain in that it has a certain chip used from other boost/ preamp pedals.

[EastwoodMike]

I read many times that the Junior Barnyard pedal produced clean tones. I bought one recently and it always had some distortion or overdrive to it no matter what setting.

I can’t speak for the jr Barnyard pedal, however I do have the el pescadoro pedal which is essentially a jr Banyard & reverb combo pedal.

the el pescadoro has a trimpot on the inside. This will adjust how hot the preamp gain runs. For cleaner response I backed it off a smidge. I would not be surprised if the jr banyard has the same gain pot inside.

it is marketed as a hot pre-amp. But I do run it with humbuckers cleaning up nicely. Dig in and you get some hair. It is a coloured sound. But that’s the point right?

[Rob MacKillop]

Thanks, Zephr.

[sgosnell]

The JR Barnyard pedal has no trimpot inside it. The only adjustments are the obvious ones on the top.

[jeremiahzellers]

Getting more acquainted with it. Have been kicking it on for some chord melody stuff and it adds a nice warm crackle. Have to mess with the settings a bit more for lead lines ( they still sound a little too “jagged” for my taste)

[Ben Toury]

The JR Barnyard pedal has no trimpot inside it. The only adjustments are the obvious ones on the top.

I confirm the Jr. Barnyard has no internal trimpots, anyway it’s an excellent pedal

[Woodstove]

I can’t speak for the jr Barnyard pedal, however I do have the el pescadoro pedal which is essentially a jr Banyard & reverb combo pedal.

the el pescadoro has a trimpot on the inside. This will adjust how hot the preamp gain runs. For cleaner response I backed it off a smidge. I would not be surprised if the jr banyard has the same gain pot inside.

it is marketed as a hot pre-amp. But I do run it with humbuckers cleaning up nicely. Dig in and you get some hair. It is a coloured sound. But that’s the point right?

I also have the Pescadora and use it quite a lot. It’s a great match for my Victoria 2112 which does not have reverb. The reverb on the Pescadora is really great and unique. It emulates a true large echo chamber at chess records and reminds me of the wonderful Capital Reverb, which does the same for the one at Capital records that UA sells as Plug-ins.There is a lot of control over its intensity, even two completely different settings for very washy intensity versus more laid-back and then further controls beyond mix and it’s very easy to dial in a very pleasing reverb. . The pedal is almost worth it just for reverb maybe is worth it. The preamp is definitely an edge of dirt drive or over the edge, and it also has two very different settings what he calls “chillin’”and the more intense “grit.” I wouldn’t call it a clean drive at any setting, but it can be extremely subtle in terms of the hair that it adds with a very unique character. And the internal trim pot allows you to get pretty close to a clean boost, but I really don’t think it’s the point of the pedal. And when I pair it with my Victoria, which drives very easily, the tone is more mid forward and rounder than the amps own distortion. In other words, I think the Pescadora is the way to go to get into the Barnyard preampand I see that there’s one up on for sale here a very good price, Not affiliated in any way with the seller