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Active Pickups and buffers
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 11:51 am
by gunslinger_burrito
This is more just a random thought/question I had than something I may or may not do. Have any of you used both active pickups and buffers? I'm wondering if the increased signal of an active pickup offsets the loss of signal in larger pedal boards, or if the signal gets degraded anyways. Just curious...
Re: Active Pickups and buffers
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 3:33 pm
by zRobertez
Interesting question. I would think that you would still get signal loss anyway. My thought process is otherwise, people would just use boosters over buffers.

just a guess. I have no idea what I'm talking about
Re: Active Pickups and buffers
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 9:09 pm
by bigchiefbc
One of my basses is active, and I play through a couple buffered pedals pretty much at all times. I don't hear any signal loss at all. Then again, I've never been one of those insane tone purists that hear tone suck gremlins in all their pedals. There's only been like 2 or 3 pedals I've ever played where the bypass was bad enough that I could actually hear a difference.

Re: Active Pickups and buffers
Posted: Sun May 26, 2013 11:24 pm
by JamesHommersen
bigchiefbc wrote:One of my basses is active, and I play through a couple buffered pedals pretty much at all times. I don't hear any signal loss at all. Then again, I've never been one of those insane tone purists that hear tone suck gremlins in all their pedals. There's only been like 2 or 3 pedals I've ever played where the bypass was bad enough that I could actually hear a difference.

Same boat. I only have active basses (and an acoustic Guild) and I honestly can't hear any difference through buffered pedals.
Re: Active Pickups and buffers
Posted: Mon May 27, 2013 12:32 am
by hbombgraphics
I think the active pickups do about what the buffer does
I don't have any active electrics but I have several acoustics with pre-amps built in and they can push a pretty long cable run with no real signal loss.