EarthQuaker Devices adds Buffer/Preamp and Buffer/Splitter pedals

November 19, 2024 · 1 sources

EarthQuaker Devices introduced the Buffer/Preamp and Buffer/Splitter, two utility pedals the company describes as fixes for tone loss caused by cable and pedalboard capacitance¹. The announcement came in a blog post by Dan Epstein dated November 19, 2024¹.

Neither pedal has controls. The company says "there are no knobs to turn, no footswitches to step on, no internal trimmers to tweak"¹. Both run on a standard 9 volt DC supply and have a red LED to show power status¹. The Buffer/Preamp has one input jack and one output jack; the company lists a 1 Mohm input impedance and a 100 ohm output impedance, which it says will "straighten out whatever capacitance-related jankiness might be ailing your tone"¹. It also includes a preamp that the company says adds "a subtle-but-noticeable depth, warmth and presence" with single coils, humbuckers or both¹.

The Buffer/Splitter is described as working "the same exact magic as its simpler sibling, only with two inputs instead of one," with a separate cable from each output to each amp¹. The company says the preamp is present in this model as well¹. It recommends placing either pedal at the end of the signal chain, and the Buffer/Preamp after any germanium fuzzes¹.

The post gives no prices or ship dates for either pedal¹. Both are buffer-type designs; the site's buffer pedals section covers the category.