What makes a GREAT buffer?

Buffers offer a solution to signal degradation caused by long cable lengths and big pedalboards. However, the some of the most commonly used buffers do more harm than good. Today, we’re putting 3 commonly used buffers head-to-head against a high quality standalone buffer, to prove that the type of buffer you use matters.

HIGH QUALITY BUFFERS:

RECOMMENDED GEAR

⬇ GET A ONE-ON-ONE TONE CONSULTATION WITH THE RIG DR. ⬇

FOLLOW US

⬇BUY VERTEX PEDALS⬇

⬇PODCAST⬇

⬇DIY BUFFER DIAGRAMS & TEMPLATES⬇

⬇RECOMMENDED MATERIALS⬇

CREDITS
Host/Producer: Mason Marangella
Videographer: Nico Sotomayor
Video Editing: Nico Sotomayor, Mason Mejia
Co-Production/Design: Mason Mejia
Audio Editing: Hunter Harrison

#buffer #pedalboards #guitargear #guitarpedals

[guitaart]

One of the best explanations comes from Mike Fuller: " Although my ears always told me that it sounded “tinny” and that there was signal loss, with the help of a my favorite Electronic Engineer (using some very expensive test equipment) we recently documented that each unity-gain FET buffer actually cuts the gain somewhere between 0.3 to 0.6 dB. This loss of gain is in the low-Mids and Bass frequencies, resulting in that “tinny” sound now that the highs remained and some of the bass and mids are gone. Now factor in that there are two FETs per pedal required to couple the IN & OUT path,  that’s an obvious loss of between 1dB-2dB per pedal.
What’s an even bigger issue with this old style unity-gain FET bypass?
It kills dynamic pick response, i.e. it kills the difference between picking soft and picking hard…Yes, when the pedal is in bypass! This to me is a deal-breaker, and while I’ve always felt this to be the case, it’s great to be able to actually see it on the scope."

[tonioliveira]

It would be interesting to have the sound reference through the 10 foot cable added to the 40 foot cable as well. This way we could hear the signal losses before activating the buffer.

[joeclayer]

I took your advice and put a TC tuner buffer after the old school whah (first pedal) and a TC buffer at the pre amp input - after all the pedals and cables. It was like lifting a carpet off the speakers! Always GREAT vids!

[McShwee]

Vertex and the tube screamer sounded the most natural to my ear. Klon sounded the worst.

[gergemall]

Thx Mason, you really are the Rig doctor

[waterthroughyouropenhands]

I have always been wary of pedals that have a random buffer in there. I want the effects pedals to determine tone and not some random buffer. Thx for the video

[RickRomanelli]

Hi Mason. I just wanted to mention that my new Ultraphonix is a game changer. I left the pesky tube amps at home and ran it into a JC40. AMAZING TONE!! Thanks brother!

[clownhands]

Great video. I listened with headphones and just wanted to say I like the sound of the room you’re in. It’s pretty live for a YouTube video and sounds great with Masons voice.

[BungleJoogie]

Michael Buffer is probably my favorite buffer

[daddydiesel]

Here is a question: on a ampless pedal board that has an amp going into a wet section like an H90 or Big sky. The wet section being the last in the chain. How would you suggest handling the end of the chain? (Examples: Kemper player>wet section >Buffer>DI>FOH or Kemper player>Wet section>Active DI>FOH)

[RichRobinson]

Fantastic video. Truly great in every way. Thank you.

[soulmine]

I think that 29 Pedals are brilliant and they have EQ built in

[brettsackett]

I used the Vertes FX DIY plans for a 4 cable method buffer - and it is awesome! And yes, it makes a HUGE difference.

[LukeBlase]

The funny thing to me is that the worst sounding buffer in this comparison (in my opinion) was the Klon Centaur, the most expensive pedal here by far. The BOSS and Ibanez buffers definitely weren't perfect, but the Klon really did a number on the tone.

[Gearslayer]

I use the Boss TU3 and I have amazing guitar tone thanks to it's buffer.

[dmitriysemeshkin]

Great video, I recently purchased a Lehle Sunday Driver, although it is no longer in production (there is a SD2), it has excellent characteristics, 1M/150ohm, and what is more important in the buffer, there is no loss of high frequencies when reducing the volume of the guitar!

[VisualSOLUTIONSMedia]

Great info, thanks! You're obviously going for a dramatic look in the lighting, but a slash of light across the guitars would look great.

[wheresallthezombies]

So, I was hoping I wouldn’t have to get a buffer. Haha. I was going to buy a volume pedal this weekend but I should probably get a buffer. I play post rock, post metal, and ambient so no pedals isn’t an option for me. But, I plugged straight into my amp the other day and everything about the signal was better. Louder, fuller, stronger, ha.

[lolx]

None of the buffers matched the reference’s “bounce” and treble in the bass strings. However the Klon’s was noticeably the worst. I could live with the Boss or Vertex ones.

[chesneytube]

I heard the analogy that buffers are like taking a wide hose with a mild flow, and shrinking the size of the hose until the same flow becomes higher pressure. Is that right? To my ears it sounds like they’re eliminating a lot of headroom that harmonics exist in which would fit with this model. I find that something very pleasing is eliminated, not in the actual note itself but in the space around it, the atmospherics and so on, and it becomes too focussed. I also don’t understand the need for them now, the best guitar music is in the past and most of it was made without buffers… and it sounds amazing.