Question about krank dm/buffers

[TimWaldvogel]

Is the transistor stage in the beggining of the circuit a boost-like gain stage or just an input buffer? Does putting a buffer in front of a pedals gain stage give it any more gain/sustain?

[anchovie]

In the DM, it's a booster to overdrive the LM386.

A buffer at a pedal's input can preserve highs when plugging a guitar straight in and prevent "tone suck".

[deadastronaut]

hmm.yeah i agree...but..ive been going straight in the 386 with a couple of caps...without the buffer stage..

i get a nice bite and plenty of gain....depending on the caps used..

just working on the tone stack for it now...