Buffer pedals

[Lucas]

Hi,
Recently I became interested in buffer pedals such as Wampler Decibel plus or similar. It does really helps to retain your true signal coming out from your guitar especially when using long cable or loads of True bypass pedals. So far so good.

Long cables and loads of pedals suck goodies (high frequencies) out of your signal (when all pedals are off), but is that true that when you have at least one pedal engaged (let say compressor or chorus) all the time it automatically buffers the signal at that point and there`s no need for separate external dedicated Buffer pedal?

When do you need buffer pedal in your pedalboard and when you dont?

[Dave Sloven]

I have a buffer or line-driver at the front on my board but I'm not sure I need it.  I'm presently building my board and there are some effects that haven't arrived in the post yet, so I'm not sure if I will actually need it in that capacity, but I can also use it as a clean boost in the loop or at the end of my front-end if I want to, so no money wasted.  I just haven't heard much difference with it as yet.  Maybe once the phaser arrived it might prove to be useful as a buffer.  It might be the case if you have a wah that is non-bypass at the front of the signal chain it might act as a buffer. I think my Dimebag signature wah is in that category, but at present I have it after the line-driver so it is hard to say.  The line-driver though is true bypass and I don't notice a difference when it is off ...

I have one of these, currently running at 0db boost and 18V

http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/mc401-boostline-driver

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tq5qjFARZuU

They also make this 'Boost' - I'm not sure of the difference

http://www.jimdunlop.com/product/mc406-Buffer

[juansolo]

It's all about when you have very long runs of cables (20ft+) you can suffer a loss of highs (only affects passive pups as they're high impedance). In those cases a buffer will most likely help.

A lot of pedals are essentially buffered when they're on, yep. Also if you've got any pedals that aren't true bypass, they're buffered when they're off too. How the buffer is done will determine how much effect it has on your signal. The Klon buffer for example, is very transparent. Boss, not so much.

The only other thing to note is that buffers will screw with some old fuzzes and wahs, so will need to go after them in the chain.

If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can make yourself one for peanuts, there's not much to them:



Thinking about it, I could knock that together in a 1590A for about £20 delivered and make it look pretty cool.

[Lucas]

Thanks for info.

So correct me if Im wrong, once I have compressor (Wampler Ego) running ALL the time on the front of my chain in pedalboard and soon there`ll be Dunlop Zakk Wylde Crybaby before it I dont need separate buffer pedal ot all? At least compressor will act as a buffer as well.
When it comes to Dunlop Wah I found some people saying they are true-bypass and some denying that.

[juansolo]

Thanks for info.

So correct me if Im wrong, once I have compressor (Wampler Ego) running ALL the time on the front of my chain in pedalboard and soon there`ll be Dunlop Zakk Wylde Crybaby before it I dont need separate buffer pedal ot all? At least compressor will act as a buffer as well.

Can't find a schematic for it, but it's likely.

When it comes to Dunlop Wah I found some people saying they are true-bypass and some denying that.

No idea on that one. Can go either way on wahs these days.

[Dave Sloven]

When it comes to Dunlop Wah I found some people saying they are true-bypass and some denying that.

Here you go.  Don't forget that you have to scroll down a bit further for the signature models.

http://www.jimdunlop.com/blog/what-is-true-bypass/

My DB-01 Crybaby From Hell, for example, is one of the wahs listed as 'buffered' (the discontinued DB-02 was 'true hardwire'), which they describe as follows:

The signal always goes through circuitry in the effect. The signal is bypassed either through an electronic switch or through a variable gain amplifier. This bypass scheme buffers your signal into a strong, low impedance source. You’ll be able to drive longer signal chains without signal degradation. Also, electronic switching is completely silent. You won’t hear any ‘pops’ like you do with mechanical switches.

Other categories are true hardwire, hardwire, and relay