Buffer help?

[Dan0h]

Here is the situation.

I need a buffer on my board, because:
1. Without a buffer my signal is missing a lot of it’s high end by the time it gets to my amp
2. My Black eye pedal squeals without a buffer in front of it, and
3. Turns out the Mojito build sounds even more epic with a buffer in front of it.

I only have three pedals that currently have buffered bypass. Kliche, General Tso, and an Ehx Canyon. And all three of them in bypass make the end result sound completely different. Good news is they all fix the black eye issue.

Boost only results:
1. Kliche sounds the best, everything is super crisp and present and mojito sounds tits. Con I don’t really use the kliche for the kliche and it’s taking up a lot of space.
2. General Tso sounds almost as clear as the kliche buffer but it’s for sure less present and has no improvement on the Mojito but I do sometimes use it when it’s on my board for its compression.
3. The canyon fixes the black eye squeal but has no noticeable affect on the clarity of my end tone and I don’t use the canyon at all since building my own delays.

So I thought about just grabbing the kliche buffer only board but I wonder if it will do the same magic as the actual kliche in bypass? Or should I just weird out and build is shit load of buffers and find the one I like the best.

Thoughts, experiences, feedback requested. Ideally 1590a would be nice, size wise. And I’m not opposed to Perf boarding it either.

Thanks in advance fellow basement builders and gurus.

 

[bhcarpenter]

Or should I just weird out and build is shit load of buffers and find the one I like the best.

This is the way

 

[bhcarpenter]

If you aren’t dead set on a dedicated buffer box, here are some more PPCB projects with buffered bypass:
- Informant
- Awful Waffle
- ADHD
- FDIC Boost

 

[Dan0h]

If you aren’t dead set on a dedicated buffer box, here are some more PPCB projects with buffered bypass:
- Informant
- Awful Waffle
- ADHD
- FDIC Boost

I didn’t realize the informant was buffered. I sold both of the builds I made of that.

 

[bhcarpenter]

I didn’t realize the informant was buffered. I sold both of the builds I made of that.

There’s wiring options for buffered bypass or true bypass. Details in the build docs

 

[bhcarpenter]

Oh! One other thought. Most tuners these days have a buffered bypass option. You could try sticking a tuner at the front of your chain.

 

[szukalski]

I like the Awful Waffle. It can get a bit lo-fi when pushed but it’s got a nice sound. Reminds me of a Honey Bee.

 

[szukalski]

Oh! One other thought. Most tuners these days have a buffered bypass option. You could try sticking a tuner at the front of your chain.

This is my chain. Poly tune at the start of the chain.

 

[Dan0h]

Oh! One other thought. Most tuners these days have a buffered bypass option. You could try sticking a tuner at the front of your chain.

My poly tune has true bypass which is a bummer because that could have been the solution.

 

[Dan0h]

I like the Awful Waffle. It can get a bit lo-fi when pushed but it’s got a nice sound. Reminds me of a Honey Bee.

Honey bee you say. Now I have to build it!

 

[Robert]

So I thought about just grabbing the kliche buffer only board but I wonder if it will do the same magic as the actual kliche in bypass?

The Kliche Buffer is exactly what you get with a Kliche in bypass.

 

[benny_profane]

My poly tune has true bypass which is a bummer because that could have been the solution.

Doesn't the polytune have a DIP switch to set the bypass mode?

 

[szukalski]

Doesn't the polytune have a DIP switch to set the bypass mode?

Mine does. Buffered in bypass.

 

[fig]

Always buffered FS?

 

[Dan0h]

Doesn't the polytune have a DIP switch to set the bypass mode?

Poly tune mini 2 doesn’t have the options as far as I can see. Version 3 does though.

 

[Brett]

Here is the situation.

I need a buffer on my board, because:
1. Without a buffer my signal is missing a lot of it’s high end by the time it gets to my amp
2. My Black eye pedal squeals without a buffer in front of it, and
3. Turns out the Mojito build sounds even more epic with a buffer in front of it.

I only have three pedals that currently have buffered bypass. Kliche, General Tso, and an Ehx Canyon. And all three of them in bypass make the end result sound completely different. Good news is they all fix the black eye issue.

Boost only results:
1. Kliche sounds the best, everything is super crisp and present and mojito sounds tits. Con I don’t really use the kliche for the kliche and it’s taking up a lot of space.
2. General Tso sounds almost as clear as the kliche buffer but it’s for sure less present and has no improvement on the Mojito but I do sometimes use it when it’s on my board for its compression.
3. The canyon fixes the black eye squeal but has no noticeable affect on the clarity of my end tone and I don’t use the canyon at all since building my own delays.

So I thought about just grabbing the kliche buffer only board but I wonder if it will do the same magic as the actual kliche in bypass? Or should I just weird out and build is shit load of buffers and find the one I like the best.

Thoughts, experiences, feedback requested. Ideally 1590a would be nice, size wise. And I’m not opposed to Perf boarding it either.

Thanks in advance fellow basement builders and gurus.

I know you also built the comprehensive drive from PedalPCB, it’s buffer bypass as well.

You might also consider building or purchasing a Keeley Katana for an always on (barely above unity) boost for added high frequency clarity.

I’ve tried the IC buffer (famously called the Klon buffer although it’s not particularly unique to the Centaur) and it’s fairly neutral and works well. The Cornish style transistor buffer (also works well), however, is slightly more colored than the IC buffer.

The best results I’ve had so far have been with the Mesa High-Wire dual buffer. It doesn’t fit the 1590a bill, but it’s great at what it does.

 

[Dan M]

Or should I just weird out and build breadboard a shit load of buffers

I did a bunch of buffer reading (freestompboxes, muzique, and others) and this was my plan.

They’re small, could probably fit a few of them on a single breadboard and swap stuff around. I just haven’t started it yet.

OR, I could wait for you to do it and decide which one is The Best.

 

[Dan0h]

I did a bunch of buffer reading (freestompboxes, muzique, and others) and this was my plan.

They’re small, could probably fit a few of them on a single breadboard and swap stuff around. I just haven’t started it yet.

OR, I could wait for you to do it and decide which one is The Best.

I have several PCB buffers on the way from Mr. Pedal pcb. I can let you know. Plus I might breadboard a few more if these don’t do the trick.

 

[Dan0h]

I know you also built the comprehensive drive from PedalPCB, it’s buffer bypass as well.
.

I also didn’t remember that one. I love that pedal but it is one of my shelf pedals. I just plug it in periodically to get that yummy YaTs sound. I’m looking for something I can keep on my board.

 

[MichaelW]

Do you normally use a boost in your pedal chain? I agree with @Brett on the Cleaver (Katana) as an always on @unity boost. Very transparent in the clean setting. I gave mine to my brother, but have the board to build another one. One of my favorite boosts. (Do I say that about all the boosts I build? I think I do.........hahah)