Do i need a buffer?

[Axeman16]

Hey guys,

ive been reading a bit about buffers and was curious if some experts could chime in and inform me a bit?

Ive got a pretty simplistic board, guitar runs into a korg pitch black tuner, original cry baby wah, an mxr/custom audio electronics mc401 line driver/boost, and an isp noise decimator.

now as far as i know the korg and mxr pedals are true bypass and the wah and decimator are not. ive noticed the wah is louder when its on than it is when its off.

i dont know much about buffer bypass pedals. i always assumed true bypass was a more direct signal, but i really dont know what im talking about lol.

anyone know if i need a buffer with this setup?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Do i need a buffer?

Well, you already have a buffer in each of the pedals that isn't true bypass. Are you having any problems that you're hoping to solve with the addition of a buffer? Do you have long signal cables?

Also, it sounds like the MC401 would make a pretty good buffer if you needed to add one. But you already have one, so...

 

[Firebrand]

Re: Do i need a buffer?

Well, you already have a buffer in each of the pedals that isn't true bypass. Are you having any problems that you're hoping to solve with the addition of a buffer? Do you have long signal cables?

Also, it sounds like the MC401 would make a pretty good buffer if you needed to add one.

You have no need for to add a buffer unless you feel you are losing signal strength at the end of your board. I have a Maxon made TS9 on my board as my buffer. The rest of my pedals are true or hard bypass.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Do i need a buffer?

The crybaby bypass is notoriously poor. You might get more mileage out of doing a true bypass mod on it.

To determine if you need a buffer, put a Boss pedal first in line, if you like the overall tone and behavior better, you need a buffer.

 

[Axeman16]

Re: Do i need a buffer?

i haven't a/b'd them yet i plan to.

The crybaby bypass is notoriously poor. You might get more mileage out of doing a true bypass mod on it.

To determine if you need a buffer, put a Boss pedal first in line, if you like the overall tone and behavior better, you need a buffer.

ive been contemplating getting a cry baby classic as it is true bypass to use in place of the crybaby original. do you think this would be worthwhile?

since the decimator is not true bypass does putting it at the end of the chain effectively utilize its buffer bypass?

i generally run 10' from amp to board and 15 from guitar to amp. sometimes 20-25' in a live setting. plus 18'" of patch on the board itself.