Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

dr.barlo said:
- Boss TU2: I think its buffer is good. I have been using it in my gigging board like, I dunno, 20 years maybe more in gigs rehearsals. And Korg Pitchback is much better as tuner I think, the only reason I keep that TU 2 is its buffer. I can hear a difference in an AB test done at home in silence (comparing the same setup with that TU and without it).

- Boss DS-1 was bad. On that same board. Then, I just did the following: 6 feet guitar cable, into a true bypass loop pedal that I did for myself and that DS-1 placed in its loop, followed by a 20-24 feet guitar cable into Fender Blues jr. I was really surprised to see Boss DS-1's buffer was real bad you know. I was kinda expecting it to sound better after all, because of the additional 20-24 feet cable. Soul Food and TU2 did great in that test of mine.
Click to expand...

Shouldn't all Boss pedals be equipped with the same buffering technology?

Anyway, I would just use a dedicated buffer pedal - you can find them cheap and most of the time they are really small if the space on your pedalboard is an issue.
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

PFDarkside said:
You’d think so, but they are not. Check out the link I posted above.

Here it is:
http://stinkfoot.se/archives/3736
Click to expand...

Great article! Thanks for sharing.

"(some say that an op-amp buffer can sound ”cold” and ”stiff” compared to a good transistor one)"
I never knew DD-5 buffer was any different from other Boss pedals, but this nails my experience with it.
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

Jacew said:
Great article! Thanks for sharing.
I never knew DD-5 buffer was any different from other Boss pedals, but this nails my experience with it.
Click to expand...

Correction (I originally posted DD5) but it's the DD-7 that is the least favorite Boss Pedal I've ever owned -I suspect that the pre/de emphasis through the bypass is only the beginning of the circuitry differences in that pedal.
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

PFDarkside said:
You’d think so, but they are not. Check out the link I posted above.

Here it is:
http://stinkfoot.se/archives/3736
Click to expand...

That's a cool concise article -thanks!

-however the article he references in that article about 4 Boss pedals in a row is not as good -if you put 4 true bypass pedals with cable and 13 total connectors (10 on the cables and 8 jacks on pedals) and all your equipment's resolution sees is a tiny notch at 20Khz -then your setup is not accurate enough for good science IMO.. In the end -his conclusion from that setup is probably close enough to correct with overall loss of 2.5 dB through the 4 buffers to be good guidance for people -so not a BAD article -but I would prefer someone going through the trouble of making such an article to confirm these readings with professional diagnostic equipment -not consumer gear.

I have professional diagnostic equipment -maybe I should give it a go and compare.
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

NegativeEase said:
Correction (I originally posted DD5) but it's the DD-7 that is the least favorite Boss Pedal I've ever owned -I suspect that the pre/de emphasis through the bypass is only the beginning of the circuitry differences in that pedal.
Click to expand...

I stand corrected. It was DD-7 I had trouble with as well!

Had to check google, I didn't recall at all it existed...
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

Strange... I thought my DD7 was not bad, on the contrary, I thought it having a somewhat decent buffer...

Aren't they all the same? Are they differences between DD7's?

B
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

dr.barlo said:
Strange... I thought my DD7 was not bad, on the contrary, I thought it having a somewhat decent buffer...

Aren't they all the same? Are they differences between DD7's?

B
Click to expand...

There were some cool sounds on the DD7 -but for me it just had this papery, dry thing like the sound was being flattened into 2 dimensions or something.

I used it in places on recordings effectively -but it couldn't be a pedal on my board or in line for me.
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

My Boss Tera Echo is one of the best elements that I've added to my rig. Not only do I use it for ambient soloing and wah work, but it's at the end of my chain and has an incredible buffer in it.
It does more positive things for my overall tone when it's off, then when it's on. Even if the effect didn't sound as righteous as it does, I would still probably keep the pedal on my board just for it's buffer.
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

Van Noord said:
My Boss Tera Echo is one of the best elements that I've added to my rig. Not only do I use it for ambient soloing and wah work, but it's at the end of my chain and has an incredible buffer in it.
It does more positive things for my overall tone when it's off, then when it's on. Even if the effect didn't sound as righteous as it does, I would still probably keep the pedal on my board just for it's buffer.
Click to expand...

new about this pedal, but never tried it. What does it do? Can you compare it to any standard delay pedal?
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

Mincer said:
new about this pedal, but never tried it. What does it do? Can you compare it to any standard delay pedal?
Click to expand...

It's an unbelievably fun pedal that's definitely more in the echo realm of delay. I have not heard another pedal like the Tera Echo.
Boss developed a unique algorithm which introduces almost extraterrestrial like accent sounds that develop, rise and cascade around your notes almost like a psychedelic pixie dust. With it's intensity dependant on the player's picking force and intensity.
The pedal can be set modestly as an atmospheric colour effect, or with more aggressive settings can go full on science fiction invasion.
 
Last edited:
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

Van Noord said:
It's an unbelievably fun pedal that's definitely more in the echo realm of delay. I have not heard another pedal like the Tera Echo.
Boss developed a unique algorithm which introduces almost extraterrestrial like accent sounds that develop, rise and cascade around your notes almost like a psychedelic pixie dust. With it's intensity dependant on the player's picking force and intensity.
The pedal can be set modestly as an atmospheric colour effect, or with more aggressive settings can go full on science fiction invasion.
Click to expand...

Well, that sounds right up my alley! Have you ever done a demo of one?
 
Re: Non-TrueBypass pedals with good buffers

Van Noord said:
My Boss Tera Echo is one of the best elements that I've added to my rig. Not only do I use it for ambient soloing and wah work, but it's at the end of my chain and has an incredible buffer in it.
It does more positive things for my overall tone when it's off, then when it's on. Even if the effect didn't sound as righteous as it does, I would still probably keep the pedal on my board just for it's buffer.
Click to expand...

I like Rocktron Hush pedal I have in fx loop for same reason. Instead of a gate, it works more like a filter that reduces hiss, and makes everything sound better in the process.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Jeffblue
Tried A Different OD Pedal To Use For Overdrive Stacking
Replies
8
Views
109
Jeffblue
Jeffblue
C
DS1 -> Rat mod
Replies
16
Views
282
Artie
Artie
Ascension
Spent the last 2 days rebuilding my pedal boards.
Replies
7
Views
112
80's_Metal
80's_Metal
Butch Snyder
Looking for a New Pedalboard
2 3 4
Replies
62
Views
291
Aceman
Aceman
Ascension
Bought a Xotic Super clean buffer booster and now don't want to play without one!
Replies
1
Views
67
Artie
Artie
Back
Top