The Sonic Edge Fluffer is a guitar effect pedal that works as an isolation pedal board buffer. Announced on November 30, 2011, it was designed to reduce the loading effect caused by stacking multiple FX pedals between a guitar and an amplifier1.
What it does
A buffer sits between your guitar and the rest of your pedalboard to protect the signal. Sonic Edge described the problem the Fluffer addresses this way: "This unwanted loading effect causes loss of signal, high-end frequency reduction and an overall unpleasant 'muddy' sound"1.
In practice, that means the Fluffer is placed on a board to keep the guitar's tone intact when many pedals are connected in a chain. It does not shape the sound the way a drive or modulation pedal does; its job is to prevent the signal degradation that long chains of pedals can introduce1.
For how buffers fit into a board more broadly, see the Buffer Pedals type page, which covers other designs such as the Empress Effects Buffer and the TC Electronic Bonafide Buffer.
Background
The Fluffer was introduced as one of two new guitar effect pedals from Sonic Edge, alongside the FXUL8R wet/dry FX interface, in a new product introduction covered by Vintage Guitar magazine under the headline "Sonic Edge Intros Fluffer, FXUL8R"2. The company describes the Fluffer as a unique isolation pedal board buffer, designed to reduce the loading effect caused by stacking multiple FX pedals between a guitar and an amplifier1.
The Fluffer was a new product introduction in late 2011, reported by Premier Guitar and Vintage Guitar magazine12. Details such as its controls, power requirements and current specifications were not part of the announcement coverage.
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Questions
What does the Sonic Edge Fluffer do?
It is an isolation pedal board buffer. Sonic Edge designed it to reduce the loading effect caused by stacking multiple effects pedals between a guitar and an amplifier. According to the company, that loading effect causes loss of signal, a reduction in high-end frequencies, and an overall unpleasant muddy sound, which the Fluffer is meant to counter.
Who makes the Sonic Edge Fluffer?
The Fluffer is made by Sonic Edge, which announced it in late 2011 alongside a second pedal, the FXUL8R wet/dry FX interface. Both were introduced as new guitar effect pedals in a press release covered by Premier Guitar and Vintage Guitar magazine.
Sources (2)
- Sonic Edge Introduces Fluffer and FXUL8R, Premier Guitar, 2011-11-30
- Sonic Edge Intros Fluffer, FXUL8R, Vintage Guitar magazine, 2011-11-29
