Do you need a BUFFER?

Let's discuss Buffers and if they really make a difference in tone.

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[martijn_yt]

The difference between an active and passive signal can be compared to the difference between for instance a car with direct steering or powered steering. In direct steering, the driver not only has to provide the information but also the energy to steer. If the steering costs too much energy, the information gets compromised. In electric steering the driver only has to provide information, while the energy is provided externally so the information can`t be affected by external factors such as the size of the wheels, or the condition of the road.

A passive signal also carries energy created by the strings and pickups. This energy gets lost quickly, especially the high frequencies as they carry little energy, so it should be transformed in an active signal as early in the signal chain as possible. This is the function of a buffer, as well as any preamp, or any pedal that is not in bypass mode ;). In bypass mode, you do have a possibility that the signal stays passive ( `true` bypass) or not (buffered bypass).

Ideally, you`d want your first effect to have a buffered bypass, so the passive signal is always switched to active at the earliest possibility in the signal chain. Active signals wont revert back to passive anymore so there is no reason to have another buffer.

This topic often gets confused with two other topics: high versus low impedance and high versus low signal gain. A passive signal straight from a passive guitar has a very low gain and high impedance. Effect pedals as well as guitar preamps accept these signals, and transfer them into active low impedance mid or high gain signals.

Mismatches in the signal chain can produce unwanted effects such as loss of high frequencies (high impedance signal in low impedance input), loss of signal strength (low gain signal in to high gain input) or a distorted signal (high gain signal into a low gain input). However, this is not related to the presence of absence of buffers ;)

[PedroMendesGuitarCorner]

You nail it! I cant unserstand when people ask about buffers or other effect pedal if they have to be at begin or at the end of chain. is it worth it or no?...

Just listen the final sound out of amp. With and without buffer, a pedal before or after...

Keep in mind that what works for me, with my guitar and amp and pedals doesn't mean it works the same for you.

And yes... thicker, thinner picks, plastic or wood or metal, no pick... all of that changes the final sound! putting it all together of course ir makes a difference!

[JoeyMorrison]

If you are running into your Jackson Audio Bloom after the buffer you may not hear a a difference if the blooms buffer is on. The impedance in and out of it do the same thing a buffer does. I’m not sure if its the same on the Bloom v1 and v2 but it looks like it is. Just something to think about. But I’m all about the buffer at the beginning and end of a board (other than a fuzz which will go before the buffer) to make sure you have a strong signal going through the board and if running to an amp after the board. But That Pedal show and The Rig Doctor both have good videos talking about the uses and when and why you should use one. Great vid bro!

[mrmeme-jqqr]

I didn’t care about buffering either in my board - now I know both ends of the chain are equally important

[aaronsanchez]

I used the boss waza craft tuner and you can turn off the buffer. It made a big difference for my set up to bring back the tone I lost. So I have that tuner for my first chain and then my big sky has a buffer also for the end. Helps so much

[insomniakidmonkey]

A long cable length is practically the same as a tone roll off. The longer the cable, the more your tone knob is being rolled back, losing high end. A buffer is essentially turning the knob back up.

[rihraw]

I buffer has drastically improved my tone

[countstoneula]

You should go back and run the A/B audio through a graphic EQ. I'd bet the EQ would be different with the buffer vs without it. The volume is probably the same, but the EQ will have more high-mids and top end which will give that impression of clarity you're hearing. I'm watching through my studio monitors and the difference to me is splitting hairs, but my kids are making a ton of noise laughing in the next room. lol.

I haven't watched your 2022 Pedalboard reveal video yet (I'm saving it for last tonight), but the HX Stomp also has a buffer, so there might be a buffer on either way here...

For myself, I love buffers with my delays and reverbs so that I can have them trail off naturally if I bypass them. I've always had a decent sized pedalboard so a buffer at the front of the chain has been practical. My go to was a Zvex SHO that Y split to my tuner so my tuner could also be always on but out of my chain. I had to remove it when I downsized my board, but I miss that setup a ton and have been toying with mounting it under my board.

[uncleaj]

The HX Stomp also has a buffer in the input before it hits anything in the stomp I believe

[insomniakidmonkey]

It’s more high end. More high end will give it the effect of sounding louder.

[christophernuzzolo]

so small not a person in the world will notice but try it with 30 feet of cable not 6 ft

[crisjohnalvarez]

I hate boss buffer
I tried many time on live situation close door indoor, the sd1, dd7 and mt2 they suck for me it depends on the venue iguess