Need a buffer? Maybe you already have one. Possibly useful trick

[GuitarGuy08]

Hello RT,

All of the pedals I have on my board are true bypass, I just prefer it that way. That being said, several do have the option of changing their bypass modes but that is NOT what this is about neccesarily....

Any pedals that let me select a favorite setting before turning the pedal on/off will turn the signal into a buffered one, because the pedal is engaged in a way, even if not affecting the signal. I have noticed this with several different pedals. My reverb pedal and chorus and fuzz pedals have different modes or options that can be 'activated/toggled' while the pedal is technically off. The only color to the sound is the effect of a buffered signal essentially.

Sometimes, if I want a more 'top' oriented and extra tight sound, I can utilize a buffer in front of the amp or loop to immediately color the signal, even if it is not my preferred overall tone/sound that I use all the time.

Your experiences may vary but I thought this was a neat way of being able to utilize pedals I already have to double as a buffer than can be activated without changing bypass modes or anything like that in various places in the signal chain.

 

[psychodave]

I use a Cornish style buffer before and after all of my pedals. I tend to use a lot of vintage MXR pedals that need the buffers.

 

[EyesOfTheSouth!]

I can’t live without a buffer right before the input. And I don’t even have a pedalboard…..just one or two TB overdrives.

 

[cardinal]

I used a CAE Line Driver turned all the way down as a transparent (to me at least) buffer pedal. For some reason my Quad Cortex had a really like whine/whistle that disappeared with a buffer in front of it.

 

[EyesOfTheSouth!]

I used a CAE Line Driver turned all the way down as a transparent (to me at least) buffer pedal. For some reason my Quad Cortex had a really like whine/whistle that disappeared with a buffer in front of it.

Same here on the line driver

 

[Mr. Willy]

I use a Cornish style buffer before and after all of my pedals. I tend to use a lot of vintage MXR pedals that need the buffers.

Do you use a buffer going to your wet amps?

 

[GuitarGuy08]

I used a CAE Line Driver turned all the way down as a transparent (to me at least) buffer pedal. For some reason my Quad Cortex had a really like whine/whistle that disappeared with a buffer in front of it.

Ah yes, I should have mentioned that I do the same with my Keeley compressor plus. No compression, just level. Crazy transparent!!

 

[psychodave]

Do you use a buffer going to your wet amps?

No. I don’t need one. I come out of the Suhr ISO box into a mixer. Everything has levels, so there is no loss of signal.

 

[Mr. Willy]

No. I don’t need one. I come out of the Suhr ISO box into a mixer. Everything has levels, so there is no loss of signal.

I’m running a wet/dry. Line out of SLO, into FX, into power section of wet amp. Would you recommend a buffer to the wet amp in that configuration, or is it unnecessary?

 

[psychodave]

I’m running a wet/dry. Line out of SLO, into FX, into power section of wet amp. Would you recommend a buffer to the wet amp in that configuration, or is it unnecessary?

Your FX unit likely has level controls so it’s not needed.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Your FX unit likely has level controls so it’s not needed.

Copy that. Thanks for the response!

 

[SwiftReason]

I also have some pedals with the switchable buffer/true bypass option. I've always wondered if I should switch over to buffered. Maybe need to do some experimentation.