Why do people say "make sure you have at least one quality buffer"

[NegativeEase]

Interesting the love for Korg in here. I became not a fan boy because my first experience with their tuners and metronomes, the metronomes lacked all the BPM points so I could match songs I needed, and the tuners were skittish and didn't settle and tell me reliably when things were at pitch. Maybe they've improved and I'll have to look into them again.

Well, let me be clear -the new Korgs advantage is having a great display and true bypass if you need it, but honestly the build quality is so/so and the mini pitch black build quality is below par. I gig with a backup tuner in the gig bag.

Secondly, what makes the Boss TU a good tuner (if you can update, avoid, or you like the output buffer) is that the Boss TU is only accurate as you need on stage -you aren't chasing the resolution of the string oscillation while the needle is dancing -which is why many modern tuners are terrible for gig work. I think TC Electronic doesn't understand this at all.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

The Drybell Unit 67 has an excellent buffer too. I used to have it last in line/always on, for gentle amplike feel and as an end-stage EQ.
But I recently moved it to the head of the line - just after fuzz - to use for audible squeezing, and for its great buffer.

 

[Ascension]

In particular if you run your pedal board in the loop of many amps you will hear a very noticeable difference in the amps tone from nothing in the loop. I have a high quality buffer in the front of all 3 of my boards and on all of them it was like taking a blanket off the amp. If you run your time based effects into the front end of the amp and in particular use a pedal for your crunch tones you might not hear that much of a difference. However I normally run at least a 10 ft run to my board from the loop on stage with at least 20 ft of cable plus what ever is between the time based pedals on the board plus any loss from the pedals themselves. I also use my amp preamp for the vast majority of my crunch tone and if I run a boost compressor OD or wah they are into the front end of the amp not the loop with no buffer. For me I really really need a good buffer the way I run through the loop. Others may not.

 

[NegativeEase]

In particular if you run your board in the loop of many amps you will hear a noticeable difference in the amps tone. I have a high quality buffer in the front of all 3 of my boards and on all of them it was like taking a blanket off the amp. If you run your effects into the front end of the amp and in particular use a pedal for your crunch tones you might not hear that much of a difference. However I normally run at least a 10 ft run to my board from the loop on stage with at least 20 ft of cable plus what ever is between the pedals on the board plus any loss from the pedals themselves. I also use my amp preamp for the vast majority of my crunch tone. For me I really really need a good buffer the way I run. Others may not.

The using your amp for overdrive/distortion versus upstream in a pedal is a great point to consider in the buffer discussion. Nice one.

 

[dave74]

I have a tc bonified-buffer at the end of my front-end so it doesn't matter what pedals I have on or off, or what is currently in the path.

Then in the loop I use my tc HOF2 last and have it's buffer switched to always-on. My loop cables are 20ft to and from so I can use the help.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I have a tc bonified-buffer at the end of my front-end so it doesn't matter what pedals I have on or off, or what is currently in the path.

Then in the loop I use my tc HOF2 last and have it's buffer switched to always-on. My loop cables are 20ft to and from so I can use the help.

I used to have the Polytune 3 back in Mexico. I still technically do, LOL. The buffer in that pedal (I believe it's the Bonafide?) is miles better than the crap the TU-3 has. I didn't find it 100% transparent, TBH (which I guess is how it's supposed to be), but I liked how everything sounded wider and cleaner with it on. Not just less high-end loss from having it on, which it does have a nice crystal clear top-end shimmer, but the low-end also seemed tighter and even slightly deeper. Even when running active pickups and short cables, it just made everything sound better.

 

[hamerfan]

I recommend the Polytune3, which is a tuner with an always on buffer.

 

[maug2122]

I used to have two VHT Valvulator 1's, one as the first thing my guitar plugged into my pedal board.

Then I got a Decibel Eleven Loop Expander with a buffer, to have MIDI control over foot pedals and I added a Mosky Pure Buffer at the end of my pedalboard.

I moved my VHT Valvulator 1 to recieve the stereo signal from my 2112's balanced out puts before going into two Crate Power Blocks.



Sounds even better, two 12ax7 tubes from the 2112 and a 12ax7 tube in each Vht Valvulator 1.

Buffers do make signals better .