The Sonicake Buffer ABY is a small ABY switcher pedal: it routes a guitar signal between two paths, either sending one input to two outputs or combining two sources into one. Sonicake describes it as "a tiny, sturdy ABY Switcher with a BUFFER switch," and the buffer is the feature that sets it apart from a plain switcher: a switch on the pedal selects between true bypass and a buffer circuit, so you can decide whether the pedal stays out of the signal path when off or keeps a low-impedance drive through long cable runs1.
Routing and modes
The pedal covers the two jobs an ABY switcher is bought for. Sonicake lists two selectable modes1:
- A and B: one input feeds both outputs at once, useful for driving two amps
- A or B: the signal goes to one destination at a time
Signal flow normally runs from A/B to Y, meaning a guitar plugged into the A/B side is sent out to Y. With the BUFFER switch turned off, the flow can be reversed, running from Y to A/B, so two sources can be merged into one output1.
The BUFFER switch
The BUFFER switch is the pedal's bypass control. Sonicake's product page puts the choice plainly1:
"You Can choose True Bypass keeps a clean Signal Path or Buffer Circuitry to improve the sound quality"
In practice that means the pedal can sit on a board as a straightforward switcher with true bypass, or be left in buffer mode to drive the signal, which matters on long cable runs or large pedalboards. For more on what a buffer does and how other units approach it, see Buffer Pedals.
Power and connections
The Buffer ABY runs on a DC 9V supply with a 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative connector and draws 80mA. Sonicake notes that the supply is not included and that the pedal works "with 9V Center Negative Regular Pedal Power Supply"1.
The 80mA draw is modest, but it is more than some daisy-chain outputs are rated for, so an isolated supply output is the safe home for it.
The input impedance is 1MΩ and the output impedance is 1kΩ, figures Sonicake lists on both its US and German product pages12.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model number | QSS-232 |
| Bypass | Selectable true bypass or buffer1 |
| Input impedance | 1MΩ1 |
| Output impedance | 1kΩ1 |
| Power | DC 9V, 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative, 80mA1 |
| Dimensions | 93.5mm (D) x 42mm (W) x 52mm (H)1 |
| Weight | 240g1 |
Price and availability
Sonicake lists the Buffer ABY at $29.99 USD on the maker's product page as of 26 October 20261. The maker's German page shows the same impedance figures, 1MΩ input and 1kΩ output2.
Videos
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Mamat Skill
Questions
Does the Sonicake Buffer ABY take a battery?
No. Sonicake's product page says the pedal works with a 9V center negative regular pedal power supply, which is not included, and no battery option is given. The power connector is a 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative plug, and the pedal draws 80mA, so a standard isolated supply output covers it.
Is the Sonicake Buffer ABY true bypass?
It is selectable. The BUFFER switch lets you choose true bypass, which Sonicake says keeps a clean signal path, or buffer circuitry, which the maker says improves the sound quality. You can set it either way depending on the rest of your rig.
Can the Sonicake Buffer ABY split one guitar to two amps?
Yes. The pedal offers selectable A and B or A or B modes, and signal flow runs from A/B to Y, so a single guitar at the A/B side can feed two amps or destinations at Y. With the BUFFER switch turned off, signal flow can also run from Y to A/B.
What power supply does the Sonicake Buffer ABY need?
A DC 9V supply with a 5.5 x 2.1mm center negative connector, drawing 80mA. Sonicake notes the supply is not included, so you need a regular 9V center negative pedal power supply to run it.
What is the Sonicake Buffer ABY model number?
The model number is QSS-23, listed by Sonicake as the product name for the Buffer ABY.
