BJFE Honey Bee vs. Bearfoot Honey Bee

[Justin Clauser]

So I went to my very good friend's house today to A/B a bunch of pedals. He recently bought a Bearfoot Honey Bee pedal and Donner was nice enough to send him a Dyna Red as well to compare. It turns out he will keep the Honey Bee and send back the Dyna Red. I expected as much knowing his taste in tone. It was still a very smart move by Donner as I will now buy a Dyna Red! It blew me away! I was never impressed by the videos I watched on it but I can say with assurance that it sounds much better and less compressed than any video I have seen so far! I plugged it straight into my Matchless 30/15 and fell in love with the sound! I would have just taken that one for myself but it had some sort of defect that when bypassed my amp sounded terrible! I will just order one in perfect working condition.

I brought along my BJFE Honey Bee to A/B with the Bearfoot version. They sounded very similar to us. The differences were minute enough that I suspect would be on par with comparing 2 BJFE's or 2 Bearfoots head to head. Keep in mind I can't say for sure as I have never done that. I slightly preferred my Bee but I think I got lucky and got one with magic in it. Overall, I give my seal of approval on the Bearfoot Honey Bee. It is a great pedal and seemed just as touch sensitive as the BJFE version.

http://www.justinclauser.com/

[Donner]

Yeah Justin, glad you got to try them all, --- Demos have always been a big problem for BJF designs in general because videos all have compression added and skewed EQ so theres no real way to get the real sound and feel of them into a video , like the paintjobs they always sound and look better in person --- which is ok once you find that out

I will warn you tho that BJF/BFs really like a good clean lively amp like the Matchless and you may soon find your self with a board full of them.... the Model H and EGDM would do particularly well on that amp, especailly stacked into a HB ....

Yes the BearFoot pedals sound alot like the BJFs as I had some pretty good help designing them

[Justin Clauser]

Hey Donner! Thanks for the advice. I think I may start doing demos to remedy the problems I have seen with the current crop out there. There are many great settings, rigs, and players (like Bobby D who originally turned me on to BJFE through his demos) doing demos of BJFE and Bearfoot pedals but unfortunately most use the camera's audio.

I would like to try and get a little closer at least to what it sounds like standing in front of the amp. I may make demos of my own and mic the amp. I can easily sync the audio to the video. I would like to give back as much as I can to the BJFE community and help it grow the way Bobby D did by attracting me to these great pedals.

As for feel, there isn't much a person can do to replace trying them for one's self. If I do make demos, I will go out of my way to demonstrate the dynamic nature of the pedals. For instance, with my Honey Bee, I like to dime the gain and keep my guitar volume at max the whole time yet I can still play cleanly with picking control. I love playing Simple Man that way. The arpeggiated chords in the verse sound clean in contrast to the distorted power chords in the chorus. I never have to lift a finger to my volume knob. I use this riff to wow people at the guitar store where I teach. That alone has sold people on the Bee. Perhaps you could even sell your pedals through the store I work at.

It is interesting that you mentioned the Model H and the EGDM. Those are 2 more I am thinking about getting. I am picking up a Model R on Sunday to add to my collection and buying a DRD from you really soon. I was wondering if I could get the Model H from you and send it back if I do not click with it. I already know I want the DRD for sure. The EGDM sounds a lot to my ears like the Matchless cranked. I was considering getting that as well. I have no idea how I could try that out.

Let me know if you can do the same deal for me with sending the Model H with the Dyna Red. I have a feeling you would sell 2 pedals that way instead of just 1. : ) So far, I have bought every BJFE and Bearfoot pedal I have played!

[Donner]

Yes... Justin that was a one time thing - I happen to have a damaged DRD sitting there and thru it in the box on a whim after a conversation with Steve.... thats not usual

[thesjkexperience]

I am also finding some of the BJFE and MP pedals do well with a dirty amp. My favorites are: EGDM, MHvT, SBEQ, MH, MP LGW and MP SHOD.

[hawaii121]

I am also finding some of the BJFE and MP pedals do well with a dirty amp. My favorites are: EGDM, MHvT, SBEQ, MH, MP LGW and MP SHOD.

Ditto... I really like that the BJFE/BF stuff can go either direction (clean or breaking up amp). Of course they sound good on a plane, or a train, in a car, or wherever you are... sorry... getting ready for new family member and future drummer to arrive any day now...

[Justin Clauser]

Donner,

I understand. I will just get the DRD. Is there any way other than Paypal to pay? I am waiting 2-3 days to confirm my account that I just set up. I could pay right away with my credit card. If not, could you hold one for me until I can use my Paypal?

[Donner]

Donner,

I understand. I will just get the DRD. Is there any way other than Paypal to pay? I am waiting 2-3 days to confirm my account that I just set up. I could pay right away with my credit card. If not, could you hold one for me until I can use my Paypal?

Yeah Justin, I just use Paypal and I can hold one til next week, thats fine.... thanks for the interest

[thesjkexperience]

I am also finding some of the BJFE and MP pedals do well with a dirty amp. My favorites are: EGDM, MHvT, SBEQ, MH, MP LGW and MP SHOD.

Ditto... I really like that the BJFE/BF stuff can go either direction (clean or breaking up amp). Of course they sound good on a plane, or a train, in a car, or wherever you are... sorry... getting ready for new family member and future drummer to arrive any day now...

The was my big disappointment with Cornish G-2. Into a clean amp one of the best ever, but a little dirt and

Sleep, sleep, sleep! You won't be getting much pretty soon! Since having twins I seem to have permanent insomnia. But, in about 9 months the fun starts and the blob gets fascinating

My oldest started drums at 2.5, but seems to have given up. He loves Chess (he beats the computer) and at 6 is doing 4th grade math! But, I have noticed, since I played Good Charlotte and Green Day for him, that he is looking at the guitar with a little more desire. It is so hard to not push him into it, but he will get the bug again some day.

[pmard]

Ditto... I really like that the BJFE/BF stuff can go either direction (clean or breaking up amp). Of course they sound good on a plane, or a train, in a car, or wherever you are... sorry... getting ready for new family member and future drummer to arrive any day now...[/quote]

Best wishes regarding your upcoming family Donnel!!!

My little daughter is now 10 months old, and my pedalboard has evolved to a DRD and a DMM on my desk- everything on the floor is hers and just waiting to be eaten..

All the best!!!