Help Me Design a Pedal

[chuckmoose]

Hi Folks, I'm working on a multi boost A/B pedal for use within my bands, and maybe to be able to offer to the public if it works out well.  I'd like to see what you think of the two designs I have come up with, and how you might alter them for your use, so that I can make something as flexible as possible.  It is designed to fit in a standard 1590NS box (my diagrams are to scale).

Here's my basic need:  I and a bandmate each use 2 electric guitars on stage, a Strat and a Les Paul.  We like to bring the level of one or the other up or down to match them so we can use them with the same amp without radically changing settings.  We have both decided we prefer to cut the LP level down to match the Strat level rather than boost the Strat, but I know most people do it the other way around. 

The pedal would have 2 boosts, one designed as a lead boost, possibly Mosfet based.  The other would be able to act as a boost or a cut to bring the LP level down to Strat level, something like the EHX LPB.  We also both use all true bypass pedals and are interested in getting a buffer in the signal chain, switchable on or off.

So the first design I came up with looks like this: 
2 inputs A/B for switching guitars > Boost 1 > Boost 2 > Buffer > Output



My bandmate however asked about having the attenuating boost permanently assigned to one of the inputs so he doesn't have to switch it on and off.  So input B would always go through the attenuating boost, negating the need for a footswtich.  With this switch not needed, I realized I could add switchable outputs, useable for a muted tuner output, or even amp switching.  It's conceivable I might even be able to squeeze another jack in there and make it a switchable true bypass loop!?

So, design number 2:
Input A/B (B goes to attenuating boost) > Boost 1 > Buffer > Output A/B



Which design makes more sense to you?  What you rather use three footswitches to control?  What boost circuit would you like to see in the box?  Clean Mosfet, LPB, Rangmaster, Treble Boost, etc?  What would you do instead of all of these?  The space does not seem to allow for a 9V battery so this is a 9V DC only pedal.  Is that a deal breaker?

I am especially interested in opinions as to how should the buffer work.  Should it be switchable on or off all the time, and if so does it work better before or after the boosts?  Or, should the buffer be on only when the boosts are bypassed and off when a boost is active?  I have seen some pedals that do this, buffer when the pedal is bypassed but remove the buffer when the pedal is active.

[chuckmoose]

I have some concern about the room for effectively manipulating three footswitches on a 1590B.  This version allows for the footswitched clean boost and a toggle take the attenuator in and out of the B channel.  I lose the output switching though.

[slacker]

If I've understood your last version correctly, input B is always going through some active electronics so there isn't any point making the buffer switchable for that channel. In my opinion, unless you've got something like a Fuzz Face that likes to be plugged directly into a guitar, there's no real point making it switchable for the other channel either.

If I was going to do this I would have the buffer always engaged and then attenuate input B after the buffer whilst leaving input A unattenuated. Then I'd just chuck in whatever booster I wanted after it.