Toasted Posted April 25, 2008 Share Posted April 25, 2008 I went to see my buddy's band tonight, and when I got home I made an impedance buffer. It takes whatever input impedance you put in (for example your looooow impedance active bass) and re-sets it to the perfect (high) impedance to run vintage fuzz circuits that have a problem with low impedance signals - like a fuzz face and derivatives. I can now use my active bass with any fuzz pedal. "Bonza". 9v boss-style power, water clear pink LED, hammond case, switchcraft jacks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Oooh. Does it change the sound of the bass much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oscar South Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 How hard would it be to make the opposite of one of these (high impedance to low) for use with piezo pickups? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dannybuoy Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Just reverse the polarity. Oh wait, I've been watching too many Hollywood movies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 [quote name='joegarcia' post='185690' date='Apr 26 2008, 01:46 AM']Oooh. Does it change the sound of the bass much?[/quote] From my ear-tests there's no change in tone and no attenuation in volume. I'll "prove" that with a scope later on this weekend Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 [quote name='Oscar South' post='185694' date='Apr 26 2008, 02:01 AM']How hard would it be to make the opposite of one of these (high impedance to low) for use with piezo pickups?[/quote] There's loads of pedals/circuits/racks etc. that do it this way. I only did it this way becuase low -> high impedance is a pretty specialist application. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motocross_nick Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 nice job toasted, how much did it cost you to make it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joegarcia Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Was it hard to make? Don't suppose you'd share the schematic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Thanks for the comments. I just spent some time with the scope and there are a few improvements I can make. So I'm going to do that now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motocross_nick Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 i think you would be able to make a small fortune from this by makign them and selling them with all the interest in the sticky about impedance buffer's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 tbf this kinda tempts me to buy a fuzz probe again... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Motocross_nick Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Kev, a bit off topic but does your p-bass special have an active eq? cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
voxpop Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 I would be interested in one....if you go into production, let me know. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 [quote name='Motocross_nick' post='185819' date='Apr 26 2008, 10:57 AM']Kev, a bit off topic but does your p-bass special have an active eq? cheers[/quote] its loaded with an aguilar obp-2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kev Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 i think its about time tayste's failed sticky is removed and this be the new impedance buffer sticky?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 [quote name='Toasted' post='185669' date='Apr 26 2008, 12:37 AM']I went to see my buddy's band tonight, and when I got home I made an impedance buffer. It takes whatever input impedance you put in (for example your looooow impedance active bass) and re-sets it to the perfect (high) impedance to run vintage fuzz circuits that have a problem with low impedance signals - like a fuzz face and derivatives. I can now use my active bass with any fuzz pedal. "Bonza". 9v boss-style power, water clear pink LED, hammond case, switchcraft jacks (...image...)[/quote] Very interesting. Could you post the schematics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBalls Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Just to get my head around the idea of the buffer, are passive basses high impedance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted April 26, 2008 Author Share Posted April 26, 2008 Yes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBalls Posted April 26, 2008 Share Posted April 26, 2008 Ahhhh excellent. Seems like a good idea. It would be cool to hear the difference with and without the buffer when you get the final design done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Toasted' post='185669' date='Apr 26 2008, 12:37 AM']I went to see my buddy's band tonight, and when I got home I made an impedance buffer. It takes whatever input impedance you put in (for example your looooow impedance active bass) and re-sets it to the perfect (high) impedance to run vintage fuzz circuits that have a problem with low impedance signals - like a fuzz face and derivatives. I can now use my active bass with any fuzz pedal. "Bonza". 9v boss-style power, water clear pink LED, hammond case, switchcraft jacks (...img...)[/quote] Do you have any news about this pedal? Any chance you would share the schematics with us? It might be interesting for discussing improvements and ideas... Edited May 4, 2008 by Silent Fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share Posted May 4, 2008 (edited) Well, it works in theory and it works in practice. I've scoped it and it does what I thought it would. There's some refinements I want to make, and I was to get some verified, publishable data. Then I'm going to build a small run of 10. Edited May 4, 2008 by Toasted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Silent Fly' post='191493' date='May 4 2008, 11:03 AM'](...)Any chance you would share the schematics with us? It might be interesting for discussing improvements and ideas...[/quote] [quote name='Toasted' post='191500' date='May 4 2008, 11:16 AM'](...)Then I'm going to build a small run of 10.[/quote] Sorry Toasted, I though it was a sort of hobbyist experiment and you posted here for some sort of functional and technical feedback. I didn't know your were going to sell them (unless you plan to use 10 ) Edited May 4, 2008 by Silent Fly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toasted Posted May 4, 2008 Author Share Posted May 4, 2008 I dont know. I've got all mixed up feelings about what is the right thing to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silent Fly Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 [quote name='Toasted' post='191625' date='May 4 2008, 03:22 PM']I dont know. I've got all mixed up feelings about what is the right thing to do.[/quote] You have my total understanding. Being a DIY person myself, I have been in the same position more than once. I designed a circuit, it sounded good and I thought it might me a good idea make some money with it. Then I though to pre-post sell support, returns, design time, time and resources to build the pedals. If I put everything together to make a reasonable profit, I should sell a simple pedal to more of what I think is reasonable. I am not saying that it doesn't make sense producing pedals or that I will never do it but for the time being I find other activities more profitable and pedal building more enjoyable as a hobby. Whatever you decide, best of luck. Silent Fly ---- P.S. Strangely enough, I don't have any pedal that would require an impedance buffer. I am just very interested to the technical solution you design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mottlefeeder Posted May 4, 2008 Share Posted May 4, 2008 [quote name='Oscar South' post='185694' date='Apr 26 2008, 02:01 AM']How hard would it be to make the opposite of one of these (high impedance to low) for use with piezo pickups?[/quote] Fdeck over on Talkbass has one on his web pages - PM sent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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