Buffer2

The new Stereo MI/POD/pedal buffer!

I built this Buffer because I'm a POD fan. I wanted a bit more tube "organics"/sustain. Frankly this buffer will work with anyone who uses pedals in their signal chain. You can use it before or after the pedals. Since it has low impedence output, you can also use it for home recording ANY musical instrument. The essence of the circuitry: 2-channels, Stereo volume & tone controls. Single input & output for each channel. All point-to-point, hand-wired. NO CIRCUIT BOARDS. NOS Allen Bradley resistors, Wima & Mallory capacitors. Teflon-coated silver wire. Sturdy/dense cast-aluminum chassis that also is impervious to RF noise. Internal power supply (no wall-warts!). Highly filtered plate & filament supplies makes for very quiet operation. The 1st stage of the 12AU7 is a low-gain amplifier. The 2nd stage is the buffer stage (low impedence). "Deluxe" BUFFER2. "Studio" BUFFER2. I currently have 2 versions: The "Studio" version: $599. The "Deluxe" version has these glorious tube guards that require more attention in their installation: $349 + shipping. The LED has an inverted cone design that disperses the light 180 degrees around it's circumference. Turn your lights out! and you'll see how it illuminates the fins, shields and chrome grab bars. See the Buffer review from Barry Rudolph which also appears in the June 2008 edition of the Music Connection Magazine. Here's a couple of snippets of some crunchy POD >> POD Buffer by Andy Z from the Institute Of Noise. Andy is currently using the Studio Buffer on guitars, bass and drum applicaitons for the new TV shows "Jesse James Is A Dead Man" on Spike TV and "Superhuman" for National Geographic Channel, both airing in early 2009. This is the latest version of the POD Buffer with the level and tone cut knobs. MANY thanks to Andy Z at the Institute Of Noise for his user input development. These are just some quick and dirty mixes. He used the Sexy Plexi patch for the rhythms and the Spinal Puppet for the leads: Clip 1           Clip 2           Clip 3 Here's one using some of the new PODxt 3.0 models, the 18w Marshall and Fawn AC30 for the rhythm tracks with a Variax, then my SexyPlexi patch and a Tele w a Duncan Lil 59 for the lead. Bass POD for the bass and VDrums for drums: Clip 4 Here is a recent review from Tape Op magazine: "It works so well I almost want to keep it my secret and not tell anyone, so they can ask "What did you use to get that killer tone?" -Andy Z "Hey Paul, The Buffer is a hit. I'm using it primary for direct recording/playing through a mixer into headphones. With the XT I find that the buffer, depending on how you set up the volume and tone levels, significantly decreases the "fizzies" and increases sustain. I don't find that it adds much to my live rig's sound which is XT-->Mesa stereo 50 power amp -->Genz-Benz cabinets. The Mesa doesn't really need any help with tube feel and punch. I also have a Vox ToneLab SE. The Buffer makes an INCREDIBLE improvement with all my high gain patches. The Tonelab really has great crunch and low-gain tones, but suffered from poor clarity and definition in the lower register on the high gain stuff (which I play a lot of). The Buff seem to add natural sound compression and really improves string definition and clarity. Now, the TL Recto and Soldano sims are absolutely brilliant with my 7-string guitars. Bravo, man. I have a couple of suggestions, which I don't know if they are feasible. 1) Give greater incremental adjustment range to the 1st half of the range on the tone knob. It seems like small adjustments up until about 12:00 change the tone characteristic significantly, and after 12:00 the sound becomes saturated with too much treble/high frequencies (at least on my setup); 2) create the option of a true bypass. There are patches on my XT and Tonelab I would like to use without the Buffer. Well, there it is. I may be ordering another one soon. Maybe we can work out a "deal" for such a devoted customer such as me. Seriously, this is a great product. I hope you are proud of you fine work. In the next couple of weeks I'll send you some sound clips a/b patches with and without the Buffer." -Tim