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Rich_S
Silver Member
USA
219 Posts |
 Posted - 01/26/2010 : 20:29:04
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Whenever I see a dicsussion of buffers in Boss pedals, the answers a generally something like, "All Boss pedals are buffered; some have better buffers than others".
What makes one Boss box's buffers better than another? Different transistor? Transistors vs. op amps?
Which pedals have "good" buffers? Is it genreall older pedals, newer pedals, certain models, etc?
I need a buffer on the front of my pedalboard, and I'm thinking about using a CS-2. I won't use the compressor much, but I need the buffer in that position regardless. I'm wondering if it's a good 'un. |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 20:32:04
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What you need is a lauriepedals HZD Boost 
All humour aside, I'm not sure anyone has ever done an "audit" of the buffer quality. I'd be intrerested to hear comments from folks who have experience with "good" and "bad" buffers in Boss pedals. |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 20:50:42
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quote:
Originally posted by Rich_S
Whenever I see a dicsussion of buffers in Boss pedals, the answers a generally something like, "All Boss pedals are buffered; some have better buffers than others".
What makes one Boss box's buffers better than another? Different transistor? Transistors vs. op amps?
Which pedals have "good" buffers? Is it genreall older pedals, newer pedals, certain models, etc?
I need a buffer on the front of my pedalboard, and I'm thinking about using a CS-2. I won't use the compressor much, but I need the buffer in that position regardless. I'm wondering if it's a good 'un.
I have heard people say that buffers are bad but as a rule Boss uses good quality buffers. That is a good question. What makes a good buffer good and what makes a bad buffer bad.
I have also heard that true bypass pedals aren't always good especially at the end of a long chain where buffered pedals supposedly can improve the signal.
I don't have enough experience with either, particularly true by-pass pedals to know the answer.
I can say this. On my amp, which is a killer 100 watt tube amp, too many Boss pedals in front of it sound like shit. Maybe I am doing something wrong. I am strictly an amateur.
I cannot understand these dudes that have pedal boards with 30 plus pedals in them.
When I am playing into a digital device like my RC-50, it doesn't seam to mind a bunch pedals in front of it. Go figure. |
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Pedal Dan
Silver Member
USA
419 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 21:29:42
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| Almost all clones of the Tube Screamer circuit are true bypass. Yet the original TS-808 is buffered and it sounds great. There will always be a debate on which is better. I run a combo of 8+ pedals, most buffered into my Triple Rec on the clean channel and it sounds fine( I use a gate at the end). |
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DasBeef
Gold Member
United Kingdom
704 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 21:58:18
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| I don't know about the boss pedals, but I watched a video about Visual Sound pedals, and they claimed their buffers made pedals sound better. I've been thinking about getting a Visual Sound pedal for a while, but none have came up at the appropriate price! |
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Pedal Dan
Silver Member
USA
419 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 22:12:34
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| If Your running 6 or more true bypass pedals, it's not a bad idea to have a buffered pedal or a line driver 1st. A Boss or an HZD Boost! |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
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Pedal Dan
Silver Member
USA
419 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 22:25:02
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Thanks, Laurie, I've seen Petes's take on buffered and he makes a good case. But the Boss buffer circuit sure takes a beating from alot of the boutique guys. I think it's pretty damn good! |
Edited by - Pedal Dan on 01/26/2010 22:50:00 |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 22:48:30
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quote:
Originally posted by Pedal Dan
Thanks, Laurie, I've seen Pets's take on buffered and he makes a good case. But the Boss buffer circuit sure takes a beating from alot of the boutique guys. I think it's pretty damn good!
Agreed. But I'd still be interested to hear from folks who have "good" and "bad" Boss buffer stories... |
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aaronharmon
Silver Member
USA
271 Posts |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/26/2010 : 23:47:31
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I've read the Pete Cornish article before and my experience with buffered pedals vs true bypass has really only started in the last few years when i built my current pedalboard...the first TB pedal i got was my Seymour Duncan Twintube,this pedal did something i wasn't expecting ..it replaced my DS-1,0D-2 and my FZ-3 taking three buffered pedals out of my direct signal which as a cosequence made a huge improvement on my clean tone ...it meant i had my Wah,CS-3,twintube,CE-2 and my LS-2 between my amp and my guitar(my TR-2 and DD-3's are looped off the LS-2 as is my TU-12)..but the biggest suprise to me was when at the beginning of december when i changed my CS-3 for the HZD booster..even in bypass i've noticed a major improvement on my tone with the basic tone sounding a LOT fatter and more ..well it's made me fall in love with my Marshall Superbass head all over again... the sound i got out of it on the last gig brought a big smile to my face and was very inspiring to me especially when the HZD was one pushing the front end of the amp sorta reminded me of SRV/Rory Gallaghers tones....so even though the CS-3 served me well for years i have to be honest here and say there is a major improvement(to my ears) with it out of the direct chain between the guitar and the amp so i think there is possibly something to the premise that some boss pedals are more tone suckers than others...
P.S..i think later on in the year when i have a bit of time and space i'm going to look at stinkfoots true bypass mods for the Crybaby and i need to change the tone pot as well...Lauries looper pedal also looks inviting as i've felt that the while the LS-2 is an excellent pedal,in my mind i've always felt it adds a bit of high end to the signal and makes things a bit thin sounding... but i will probably keep the CE-2 in the direct chain not for any other reason than i like it in that position on my pedalboard... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 01/27/2010 00:05:41 |
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Rich_S
Silver Member
USA
219 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2010 : 03:11:02
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quote:
Agreed. But I'd still be interested to hear from folks who have "good" and "bad" Boss buffer stories...
Agreed +1. I believe buffered pedals and true bypass both have their place, and don't want to debate their merits here. This thread is about whether certain Boss pedals have better buffers than others. |
Edited by - Rich_S on 01/27/2010 21:38:32 |
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FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2010 : 11:11:53
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| Ok ..well my two cents is the CS-3's buffer isn't great and i'm not 100% on the LS-2 .... |
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Dirk
Platinum Member
Netherlands
1309 Posts |
Posted - 01/27/2010 : 16:45:31
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Great articles Laurie  Interesting points of view. |
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Miky
Silver Member
Czech Republic
184 Posts |
Posted - 01/28/2010 : 12:45:20
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| Thanks for the links Laurie. They shed some light on my ignorant head. |
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Pedal Dan
Silver Member
USA
419 Posts |
Posted - 01/29/2010 : 05:16:49
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OK, Just got done an extensive and exauhstive comparison of boss buffers... The silver screw ones all sound better, shinyer and more metallic. The others are darker and more plastic. That's got to be it!!! Oh, wait it's that or the long dash!??? Dancing bannanna's for everyone! Peace!!! |
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Topic |
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What makes a better buffer?
