Building a buffer into a pedal

[Elvis Cocho]

Hi. I have a bunch of true bypass pedals that I've built and I'm considering adding a buffer into the mix to keep my signal clean. I was going to get an op-amp based buffer pcb or a jfet-based pcb and building it.

I don't really want to build it into its own enclosure with dc jacks and 1/4 jacks, so I was considering putting the pcb inside another pedal and wiring the in and out just before the output jack of the pedal and taking 9V from the dc jack of the pedal.

Can someone tell me if this is a good idea or, if not, why not? Are there effects I should not build the buffer into like fuzz faces or other types of pedals? Right now, the type of effects I have built to my board are going overdrives, fuzzes and a couple of choruses.

Thank you in advance for any advice.

[antonis]

Are you experienced of any issue in current (unbuffered) effects chain..??

If no, let it be as it is..

If yes, then locate particular pedals sequence and put a buffer between them..

[GibsonGM]

I have been playing (and gigging) for about 30 years (maybe more but I don't want to admit my age, ha ha!).  Everything from blues/classic rock to 90s grunge. I've never "needed" a buffer.  Perhaps if using long cable runs, one may feel they experience a little tone sucking, a loss of some very high frequencies...sometimes that's not even a bad thing though!   For a long time I used a particular Fender amp that is known for 'icepick thru the forehead' shrillness, and my unbuffered wah and a curly cable seemed to diminish this a little.

If playing somewhat clean, maybe a strat (think Dire Straits), a buffer may help you to retain some 'sparkle', sure.  It's very subjective.   You could try one out on your BB and see if you think you need one.    If you do, sure, you could add it to a DIY pedal or make it a stand-alone thing.  Like Antonis said, if it's just an issue with one pedal, you'd put it before.    To install one in a commercially-made pedal would be far more trouble then it's worth, so I'd just make a buffer - maybe with a switchable mosfet boost after it in 1 pedal, for versatility!    Or simply get a buffered eq pedal and put that first in your chain (Boss or similar)...

HTH, FWIW

[antonis]

a switchable mosfet boost

You have to admit that you do it on bad intention purpose, Sir..!! 

[GibsonGM]

Of course!!   This way, the OP can add another functionality to his buffer, so the enclosure is not 'wasted' on only being a buffer 

[Chris S]

I've used a buffer after my fuzzes and other boost type pedals and as part of a pedal. To work out wear to put it I just placed it before each pedal to see if it changed the sound and then tried to place it as early as possible in the chain. I used a klon buffer. I used a fancy opamp (opa2134) I had lying around and ran it at 18v which is probably over kill but helps me believe it's the cleanest buffer in the world. I do notice a dullness to the tone with out it which could be eq'd by the amp. But using m and that when I click on a phaser delay or similar the tone doens't go slightly brighter.

[bartimaeus]

some fuzzes change in sound when you stick a buffer in front, but most overdrives won't care. you could still put the buffer in a fuzz face, just stick it on the output rather than the input.

i wouldn't necessarily say it's too much trouble to stick one in a commercial pedal. it'd be a pain to add one to a boss or ibanez, but those are already buffered! if it has board-mounted jacks, then that'll probably be too much work for a beginner. but if it's a common "boutique" or diy pedal, there's usually lots of space near the 3pdt to stick a simple buffer.

something like this will probably be good for what you're doing, especially to test and see:
www.muzique.com/news/opamp-buffer-layout/