Buffers: The Humble Heroes of Electric Guitar

When it comes to electric guitar, we often think about the guitar itself, the amp, or that one pedal we swear makes us sound like SRV. But tucked away in your signal chain is a humble and often overlooked hero: the buffer. These tiny circuits are the key to preserving your tone, especially if you’re running a pedalboard that rivals the length of a grocery list. Let’s dive into what buffers are, why they matter, and how they’ve quietly shaped the sound of your favorite records.

What is a Buffer, Anyway?

In simple terms, a buffer is a circuit designed to maintain the integrity of your guitar signal. It combats one of the most persistent villains in the world of electric guitar: signal degradation. When you plug your guitar into a long cable or a series of pedals, your high-end frequencies can get lost, leaving your tone dull and lifeless. This happens because your guitar’s pickups have a high output impedance, which makes them susceptible to signal loss over long distances - like that of a 100ft cable or a 30-pedal-long board.

A buffer acts as a middleman between your guitar and the rest of your signal chain. By lowering the impedance of your signal, it ensures that your tone stays clear, crisp, and punchy, no matter how many pedals you’ve got in line.

A Brief History of Buffers

Buffers have been around since the early days of electric guitar effects, though they didn’t start out as dedicated devices. Early effects pedals, like the legendary Maestro Fuzz-Tone or the Arbiter Fuzz Face, often had some form of impedance matching built in—albeit rudimentary by today’s standards.

It wasn’t until the 1970s and 1980s, when pedalboards became increasingly elaborate, that players began to notice the toll a long signal chain could take on their tone. Companies like Boss led the charge with their buffered bypass pedals, ensuring that your signal remained intact even as you added more pedals to the mix. Today, buffers come in all shapes and sizes, from built-in circuits to standalone pedals dedicated to this noble cause.

True Bypass vs. Buffered Bypass: The Great Debate

Ah, the age-old question: true bypass or buffered bypass? Let’s break it down.

True Bypass: When a pedal is off, true bypass routes your signal directly from input to output, effectively bypassing the pedal’s circuitry. This means no tonal coloration—what you put in is what you get out. However, if you have multiple true bypass pedals and long cables, your tone can still suffer from signal loss.

Buffered Bypass: A buffered bypass pedal keeps a buffer active in the circuit even when the pedal is off. This ensures your signal remains strong and consistent, regardless of how many pedals or cables are in your chain. The downside? Some players feel that buffers can slightly alter their tone, though this is often a matter of personal taste.

Ultimately, the best choice depends on your rig and your ears. Many players opt for a mix of true bypass and buffered bypass pedals to strike a balance between tonal purity and signal preservation.

Buffers and Fuzz Pedals: A Complex Relationship

Buffers are great… until they meet a vintage-style fuzz pedal. Classic fuzz circuits, like the Fuzz Face or Tone Bender, rely on your guitar’s high-impedance signal to achieve their characteristic sound. Introducing a buffer before these pedals can alter their tone, often making them sound harsh or overly bright.

To avoid this clash, many players place their fuzz pedal first in the signal chain, before any buffers or buffered bypass pedals. Alternatively, you can use a fuzz pedal designed to play nice with buffers, such as Big Muff style fuzzes.

Dedicated Buffer Pedals

For players who demand ultimate control, dedicated buffer pedals are the way to go. These standalone units are designed solely to maintain your signal’s integrity. 

Dedicated buffers are especially useful if your pedalboard has a lot of true bypass pedals or if you’re running long cable lengths. Place one at the beginning of your signal chain to preserve your guitar’s natural tone, or at the end to ensure a strong signal hits your amp.

If you’re looking to add a buffer to your setup, here are three of the most popular options:

TC Electronic Bonafide Buffer: This compact and reliable buffer pedal ensures your signal remains strong and transparent, even through long cable runs and extensive pedalboards. It’s known for its clean design, tonal neutrality, and friendly price.

JHS Little Black Buffer: Small but mighty, this pedal is perfect for players who want an always-on buffer without taking up much space on their board. It’s simple, effective, and widely praised for its performance.

Empress Effects Buffer+: A high-quality buffer pedal with extra features like input padding, a tuner out, noise filtering, and a bonus boost. The Buffer+ is perfect for players who want top-notch signal preservation and added versatility in a single package.

Signal Check

Buffers may not have the same star power as a vintage Strat or a screaming overdrive, but they’re an essential part of any well-rounded rig. By keeping your signal strong and your tone clear, they allow you to focus on what really matters: making music.

Whether you’re a seasoned pro with a spaceship-sized pedalboard or a beginner plugging straight into your amp, understanding buffers can help you make more informed decisions about your gear. So the next time you’re tweaking your setup, spare a thought for the unsung hero of your tone. After all, a great performance starts with a great signal (...and great strings)!