How much buffer is enough buffer?

[lex666]

Hey guys,

I'm currently using a 25 ft guitar cable to my pedalboard, running thru 8 pedals, and then another 25 ft cable to my amp.

The first connection is guitar to a JHS Buffered Splitter - before any effect pedals. Then, thru 8 effect pedals.

How much buffer is needed? Should I run another buffer at the end of my chain to support a 25 ft cable to amp? Or, should 1 buffer be enough?

Thanks!

 

[playas]

Why don't you compare the tone with a single shorter cable to your current setup and see if you miss the highs?

I actually prefer no buffer currently even though I notice the difference as I have plenty of high end as is.

 

[Mincer]

Do you notice an issue with your sound?

 

[jeremy]

thats good advice. i dont mind a little high end roll off since im using bright pups into a bright amp and usually not many pedals or long cables. id think you are fine but a little experimentation is a good plan

 

[Aceman]

You have a buffer and 8 pedals. Don't worry about it.

That said - given that you are worried about, you'll never be satisfied, IME.

I say this in all seriousness, because instead of asking if it sounds good to you or not, you are asking about buffers.

 

[dave74]

Well how many of those 8 pedals have a buffer of their own?

 

[Dudeman7]

Do you ever play through the board with all of the pedals bypassed, or do you have any pedals that are always on?

The low output impedance from any one of your pedals is adequate to drive the signal through 25 feet of cable.

The only scenario that I think a buffer is necessary is if your clean tone is literally with all of your pedals bypassed. No one I know that uses pedals has a scenario like that. Most use at least something that is always on.

 

[dave74]

The only scenario that I think a buffer is necessary is if your clean tone is literally with all of your pedals bypassed.

And that applies only if all those bypassed pedals are indeed true-bypass, otherwise there will be buffers going no matter what.

 

[lex666]

Well how many of those 8 pedals have a buffer of their own?

The first 2 pedals are likely buffered (Whammy 4 and Wah). The remaining 6 pedals (chorus> phaser> flanger> tremolo> delay> volume) are confirmed true bypass.

 

[LLL]

Why don't you compare the tone with a single shorter cable to your current setup and see if you miss the highs?

^ This guy's got it right. Try his suggestion.

 

[Mikelamury]

Is it possible to have too many buffers degrade your sound? I'm using 5 pedals in my chain that have buffers.

 

[Mincer]

You can do a test yourself. Use a short, good quality cord, and listen to what it sounds like. Then add 1 pedal at a time and see how/if the sound changes.

 

[NegativeEase]

My guess is one or two of the existing buffers in the output section of your 8 pedals is plenty enough -1 is likely fine.

 

[Artie]

If your buffer can supply 1 ma, that's enough. (And all do.) A guitar generally does a fraction of a millionth of an amp.

 

[Artie]

I like to be able to weld with my signal.

There's a "metal" joke in here somewhere.

 

[Erlend_G]

Dunno, man :/

I'd love a long, coiled cable- for my Peavey SSS guitar. Which can be quite bright,

peace

 

[NegativeEase]

Dunno, man :/

I'd love a long, coiled cable- for my Peavey SSS guitar. Which can be quite bright,

peace

A real nice and easy single coil softening strategy for over half a century

 

[Dave Locher]

Is it possible to have too many buffers degrade your sound? I'm using 5 pedals in my chain that have buffers.

Yes, absolutely. Brian Wampler has a video where he runs through 10 Boss pedals (all turned off) and the result is a terrible, weak signal.

Buffered pedals can also interact in weird ways. I once had two buffered pedals that sounded fine OR hissed like crazy when bypassed, depending on which was first in the signal chain. A/B = totally fine, B/A = major hiss