Do I need a buffer?

[rasco22862]

Hi, i´m building an A/B Box ( i dont know very well the differences with the A/B/Y box ), i want to switch between the amp and the tuner and mute the amp while tuning. Should i put a buffer somewhere?

Thanks

[shredgd]

Not necessarily.

Giulio

[rasco22862]

and what are the disadvantages of not using the buffer? I mean, when the guitar is connected to the amp, the tuner is out of the chain.

[CGDARK]

If you wire the A/B box correctly you don't need a buffer unless you want to run long cables. When you switch to the guitar/amp side of the A/B, the tuner should be out of the signal completely and when you switch to the guitar/tuner side your amp should be grounded by the switch.

CG

[kvb]

The difference is that if you use a buffer for the tuner itself it never needs to by bypassed or switched in.
The tuner is always on and engaged, there is no tone loss because of the high impedance input of the buffer (op-amp)

The other thing is that whether or not you have a buffer depends on what is following it - straight to amp / most pedals = buffer good/ straight to fuzz = buffer no good