Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

[mwalluk]

I always imagined that the buffer should be last on the pedal board. It should be the last in signal chain to essentially boost the signal to the amp. I just bought a Fryette Valvulator and the manual is saying plug guitar in directly then run output into efx pedals. So first in line? Are buffers differ from one another or do they all typically go first in a signal chain?

 

[ErikH]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

It depends on several factors.

1. How many pedals on the board.
2. Length of cable from guitar to board (or wireless).
3. Length of cable from the board to the amp.

Most custom pro boards have buffers at the beginning AND the end. I'm talking the high dollar custom built for the artist jobs.

If you are running very few pedals, one at the end is sufficient.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

If the pedals in your signal chain will allow it running it first, like Fryette suggests is "best" but some pedals simply want to see the guitars pickups as pure as possible so first is not always possible.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

I'm running 20 ft cables.
I'm running 4 pedals (delay, chorus, od and dist) plus a tuner and a volume pedal.




Pedals are:

MXR Carbon Copy Delay
MXR Black Label Chorus
GNI Extreme Distortion
FUlltone OCD
Ernie Ball Volume Pedal JR
Boss TU-3

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

Found this on another forum..........

A buffer can only preserve the signal it receives. Its function is limited by the length of cable and other stuff between the source and the buffer itself and that's why it has to be the first device in the chain. The closer to the source, the better. Like I mentioned earlier: the first pedal on the board has to have a good buffer or it should be build into the guitar itself.

The ideal pedal board has both an input buffer and an output buffer. For example, I dug up my clone of a Klon Centaur and it mostly functions as an input buffer for whatever pedals I'm using. At the end of the chain, the CAE Boost / Line Driver is taking the signal to my amp and doubles as a clean boost when necessary.

What's a good cheap buffer if I need to go that route? I don't wanna drop another $215.........

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

You will be more than fine with only one buffer...

Second, that post you quotes is nuts...the bypass buffer in a Klon is not nearly the same as a dedicated buffer and the CAE line driver isn't really the same either.

Just stick with the Fryette and put it first...you'll be fine.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

You will be more than fine with only one buffer...

Second, that post you quotes is nuts...the bypass buffer in a Klon is not nearly the same as a dedicated buffer and the CAE line driver isn't really the same either.

Just stick with the Fryette and put it first...you'll be fine.

Alright cool man, thanks.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

Now how would I set up my board?


Guitar > Fryette Valvulator > Boss TU-3 > GNI Extreme Distortion > FUlltone OCD > MXR Black Label Chorus > MXR Carbon Copy Delay > Ernie Ball Volume Pedal JR > AMP?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

Now how would I set up my board?


Guitar > Fryette Valvulator > Boss TU-3 > GNI Extreme Distortion > FUlltone OCD > MXR Black Label Chorus > MXR Carbon Copy Delay > Ernie Ball Volume Pedal JR > AMP?

Me personally I'd put the volume pedal first, right after the buffer and Id even put the tuner off the tuner out of the volume pedal but that's me...past that I'd do it like you listed it.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

Me personally I'd put the volume pedal first, right after the buffer and Id even put the tuner off the tuner out of the volume pedal but that's me...past that I'd do it like you listed it.

I'd do this, except doesn't the Valvulator have a tuner out? If so, I'd use that instead of the volume pedal's tuner out ... the VP Jr is a passive volume pedal which means anything you put on that tuner out is going to load down your signal (I have the VP Jr and tested this).

I might possibly also put the VP Jr in front of the Valvulator, because the buffer might affect the taper of the pedal. My advice is to try it after, and if you find the taper to be too weird, put it before the buffer.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

Decisions decisions.

I was thinking about using the tuner out of the valvulator, however i like how using the tuner mutes everything, therefore doing it that way will neglect it. It could work if I use the VP after the tuner, then I can cut any signal to my amp.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

If the buffer has a tuner out then use that...like RD said it won't load your signal like the volume pedal will.

Go directly into the buffer then use the tuner out on the buffer after the buffer in your signal path put the volume pedal then you can mute by just killing the volume at the volume pedal.

Done!

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

If the buffer has a tuner out then use that...like RD said it won't load your signal like the volume pedal will.

Go directly into the buffer then use the tuner out on the buffer after the buffer in your signal path put the volume pedal then you can mute by just killing the volume at the volume pedal.

Done!

So Guitar > Buffer > Output B - Tuner > Output A - VP > efx pedaqls

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

So Guitar > Buffer > Output B - Tuner > Output A - VP > efx pedaqls

Yep

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

...the VP Jr is a passive volume pedal which means anything you put on that tuner out is going to load down your signal (I have the VP Jr and tested this).

What tuner(s) did you try this with??

 

[wahwah]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

One more question on mwalluk's behalf for you guys who have used OCD's. Will its lack of an output buffer potentially cause a problem, or does the buffer at the front negate that?





Cheers...................................... wahwah

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

What tuner(s) did you try this with??

Just my Korg Pitch Black.

The problem is that the tuner out on the VP Jr is engaged full time - which means the pedal is basically acting as a passive splitter. If it were wired to only engage the tuner when the pedal was up (volume at zero) it wouldn't be a problem. I have no idea why they wired it that way but it's kind of stupid.

It's the only complaint I have with the VP Jr ... aside from that it's an excellent pedal.

 

[mwalluk]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

One more question on mwalluk's behalf for you guys who have used OCD's. Will its lack of an output buffer potentially cause a problem, or does the buffer at the front negate that?





Cheers...................................... wahwah

+1

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

One more question on mwalluk's behalf for you guys who have used OCD's. Will its lack of an output buffer potentially cause a problem, or does the buffer at the front negate that?
Cheers...................................... wahwah

Yes, the OCD is rather picky as to it's placement...

+1

Just work with it and see what you find...some guys saw that it doesn't bother them, other hate it...that's my issue with the OCD.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Does a Buffer go infront of pedal board or behind?

Just my Korg Pitch Black.

The problem is that the tuner out on the VP Jr is engaged full time - which means the pedal is basically acting as a passive splitter. If it were wired to only engage the tuner when the pedal was up (volume at zero) it wouldn't be a problem. I have no idea why they wired it that way but it's kind of stupid.

It's the only complaint I have with the VP Jr ... aside from that it's an excellent pedal.

I have heard if you use a tuner with a buffer it helps...ever try that?