Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum, and after searching and reading a bunch about the buffer and the stratoblaster, I've still not found exactly the answers I'm looking for to help me decide what to put in my wolf variation being started by Robert Rousch. I am probably going to have a single coil in the neck and then 2 super II's....but I won't be doing the OBEL, because I switch guitars frequently during gigs and the other guitars don't have it etc....plus I don't use much in the way of pedals.....Anyways, as I'm not going to have the OBEL, I'm not sure if having the buffer will make a difference in my tone? I DO want to retain the crystal highs of the Super II's though....but Robert believes that I probably don't need the buffer using a standard output and high quality average length cables and that the stratoblaster will be useful though for when I split my middle position Super II so I can bring up the output a bit to even it out with the output of my other guitars I'll be switching back and forth to, and that the blaster will also help me drive my amp of course when I want to etc....

I'd really appreciate some expert opinions, as this is my first Garcia style guitar and I'm new to this type of build, and Robert recommended asking around with guys who've also got experience with these builds....

Thanks a bunch!!!

Have you read this? forum/viewtopic.php?f=419&t=15390&hilit=buffer+blaster

Thanks for the response and yes I had read through the pages of replies to that thread, and while there is a lot of information about both the blaster and the buffer, I guess to me none of the replies specifically answer whether or not the buffer, by itself, is useful if you only have a single non OBEL output on your guitar. However, the last reply on that thread you shared had a link to a page that showed Scott Walker performing a demo of his Buffer/boost on the same board. And he demonstrates it through the regular output as well as the OBEL and I see that the buffer makes a big difference in the tone even out of the regular Non-OBEL loop output and I love how it can be installed with the boost with a pot to control the boost and they can be used independently I believe etc....anyways, thanks for sharing as it helped me find my way to that demo!!!

I have Waldo's buffer in my strat and feel that it enhances the tone and helps to push my signal thru the pedal chain. I too do not have an obel installed. I do not use a lot of pedals and do not have the need for the obel.

A buffer will bring out the high end clarity with or without an effects loop. I have installed them in guitars without an effects loop and it makes a noticeable difference. I installed one in a guitar that had a Super II in the middle that I played for some time without a buffer. When I put a buffer in I was really amazed at the difference. I would consider the era of Jerry tone you are going for and chose the pickups and buffer or blaster accordingly. Personally I've really been liking the Super Distortions with a buffer lately to give me a little more growl than the Super II's. Both sound great though, just depends what you're going for. I haven't tried the Super IIs with a blaster yet.

There is always the buffer or blaster pedal option.

forum/viewtopic.php?f=419&t=11750&start=30

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200 ... =824&kw=lg

I stuffed a buffer and a blaster in my Wolfish. Each slightly different, but you do hear a difference with them. Cleaner, sharper, "edgier": more Jerry-like.

(Say hi to Robert for me- he made the nice brass pickup plate and nut for this guitar.)

Great stuff folks!! Thanks a ton for your replies, ever one of them has been helpful. I am definitely going to add both I think. Now, I just need to decide which versions. I'm leaning towards the Scott Walker dual system on one board with a pot/knob to control the gain on the boost. Robert is reading up on it a bit and will give me his opinion too etc...I wish there were more comparison demo's to listen to between the different versions, but from what I've heard so far, I can't really go wrong, the Walker solution or the Wald buffer and stratoblaster all seem to be great sounding!!

I'll say hi to Bob, and thanks again everyone!!

I have both, myself. Buffer is on always, right after the pickups. The Blaster lives between my master volume and the out put jack. I use it as a slight volume boost. It colors the tone very little and adds only a little more gain so it's still largely clean, but I love the versatility of having both. You get a blaster style pedal too, but I like having it onboard- one less pedal to deal with!