3010612019 beaws audio research Buffers Buffer or true bypass? The question iss old as some of my socks. fyou hang out on forums or google the tape, you wilfind endless debates about butlers vs.true-bypass. The good news s that its nota binary decision. Here's what've found over countless tone experiments moderated by liberal amounts of beer + Anpedal chain ofall true-bypass devices isnot always the best thing + Apedal chain of ots of buffered pedalsis not always te best thing + Abuffer atthe beginning of your chain of true-bypass pedals, and perhaps one atthe end a good thing + Your ears. as applied to your setup. are the ultimate guide. Try. experiment. ten form your own conclusions So what s the quickest way to gauge the efficacy of buffers in your setup? Easy. Stick any modern Boss pedal atthe beginning of your cain, and nother a the end. The Boss (or any good buffered pedal Maxon, Ibanez) etc. have the buffers always on. You should beable to tell pretty quickly Whats what (On caveat: some older design pedals are famous for thelr distate for buffers. The classic example's the Fuzz Face~it simply doess't sound the same ifyou havea buffered pedal in front oft ‘So wiat about building a buffer? Glad you aske! Buffers ae some ofthe simplest DIY projects out there, s0 ets dive in look at some examples. Transistor Buffers Heres a very imple and effective buffer from Jack Orman, + 1 Sutittes: 263819, 205457 ai wPri02 322 a c2 input Sine ABKF output i> Re 38K 1] Using a low-gain JEET transistor, tis design i as simple ast gets~input cap, bias resistor, and output cap. Next ups the single-ransistor buffer as found inthe Ibanez Tube Screamer--a bit more complex, but your ears willbe the guide as towhether or not itsounds better. 1 Substiutes: 23904 Shad, 2NS088, MPSA ct Rs. at Input 25nF 1K Opamp Buffers beavisaudio.comtechnagestbutfers! 193010612019 beaws audio research ‘Opamps make great buffers, Here is another design from Jack Orman that uses a TLO7/ part The 9 volts shown will work, but Ifyou bump i upto 12-15vDC you wil get more headroom for hotter signals. 2, s8F omput ad Here's the opamp-based buffer section from a famous boutique overdrive that rhymes with "Pion Fentar” The Plon Fentar has a buffer that is loved: bya lot of people, Including those who profess not to lke buffers! This has a few more parts. Again let your ear be the ultimate authority. Let's Build One! You can build a simple butter using any kindof stripboard/pertboard, Closer to home for my US. visitors is the local Radio Shack. Get one oftheir IC boards, part #276-159B and follow tne wiring diagram below. Infact, you shouldbe able to get every part forthe simple project at Radio Shackif youare so inclined. ssp, on re cor bl ui pan a (uildOneButfers) Click on the Image fora Larger Version! (BuildOneButferif) beavisaudio.comtechnagestbutfers! 283010612019 beaws audio research Recommended Reading + Jack Orman's Basic Buffers (ht Arent mmuzique.com/lab/outters htm) + Jack Orman's True Bypass or Not (http://www.muzique.convlab/truebypass.ntm) + The Case Against Te Bypass (http:/www.petecornish co.uk/case against. true bypass html, by pedal-maker-to-the-stas, Pete Cornish + Yes, another true bypass story. (htp//stinkfootse/archives/995), + Agreat PCB from General Guitar Gadgets (http:/ www generalgultargadgets.comvindex.php? age~shop product detailsilypage-shon fypageSproduct,id=248category_ld=146manufacturer_id-O&option=com virtuemart for their Opamp Buffer Itemid=45) + Another great PCB from General Guitar Gadgets thtts://www generalguitargadgets.comv/index.php? page=shop product detailsiflypage=shop fypageSinraduct,id=338category_id=148manufacturer_id-OBoption=com virtue for ther transistor buffer Itemid=45) [REE hto/ereativecommons orglicenses/by-ne-sa/4.0/) ‘This works licensed under 2 Creative Commons Attrbution-NonCommercial-Sharedlike 40 International License (http ereativecommons.org/licenses/by-ne-sa/4 0) beavisaudio.comtechnagestbutfers! ag