The Sonicake Sonic Super Master is a mini clean boost pedal with a built-in buffer, made by Sonicake. It offers up to +12dB of gain from a single knob, and the buffer can stay active even when the boost is switched off, so one small box can do two jobs on a pedalboard. It is a current model, listed at 29.99 USD as of the maker's product page dated 26 October 2026.1
What it does to your signal
As a boost pedal, the Sonic Super Master lifts your signal without adding overdrive or coloration of its own: Sonicake describes it as a "Mini Clean Boost Pedal with a Buffer and +12dB gain."1 Players typically use a clean boost to push an amp or a drive pedal harder, to lift a solo above a mix, or to make up level lost elsewhere in the chain. The gain knob covers the full range from 0 to 12dB, so the amount of lift is set by ear rather than in fixed steps.1
The buffer side sets it apart from a plain boost. A buffer is a circuit that drives your signal onward at low impedance, which helps keep treble from dulling across long cables and crowded pedalboards. The Sonic Super Master's output impedance is 1kΩ against a 1MΩ input impedance, the usual arrangement for a circuit that accepts a wide range of guitars and drives the rest of the chain cleanly.1 If you want to read more on buffers as a type, see Buffer Pedals.
Controls
The pedal keeps things to three controls:
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Gain knob | Controls the gain effect across 0 to 12dB1 |
| Buffer toggle switch | Turns the Buffer function on or off1 |
| Footswitch | Switches the pedal on and off1 |
An indicator light shows the pedal's state: it lights red when the pedal is ON.1
The buffer in bypass
The useful detail for pedalboard planning is that the buffer does not have to follow the boost. Sonicake states that the pedal will "Activate the buffer function when the pedal is OFF (bypass status),"1 so with the Buffer switch engaged you can leave the pedal switched out and still get the buffer's benefit. That makes it a candidate for a fixed slot at the end of a chain, with the boost called up only when needed.
Power and size
The Sonic Super Master runs on a DC9V center-negative supply and draws 6mA.1 That draw is low enough that nearly any pedalboard power supply output can carry it, but the specifications list no battery option, so a DC adapter or supply tap is required.
The pedal needs its own 9V DC center-negative supply at 6mA; the maker's specifications list no battery power option.1
It is a mini-format pedal: 93.5mm wide, 42mm deep and 52mm high, weighing 230.5g.1 For comparison, Sonicake's own Pocket Master multi-effects unit is a different format altogether, at 103.5mm (W) x 85mm (D) x 28.5mm (H) and 194g, powered by USB Type-C at DC 5V rather than a 9V supply.34 The two sit in different parts of Sonicake's range: the Sonic Super Master is a single-purpose boost and buffer, while the Pocket Master is a multi-effects unit.
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Questions
How much boost does the Sonicake Sonic Super Master give?
It is a clean boost pedal with a maximum of +12dB of gain. A single knob controls the gain effect across a range of 0 to 12dB, so you can set anything from a slight lift to the full 12dB. Sonicake describes it as a Mini Clean Boost Pedal with a Buffer.
What does the Buffer switch do on the Sonic Super Master?
The Buffer toggle switch turns the pedal's buffer function on or off. A buffer drives your signal through long cable runs and pedal chains to keep high frequencies from dulling. With the switch on, the buffer works alongside the boost; you can also leave it working on its own.
What power supply does the Sonic Super Master need?
It needs a 9V DC center-negative power supply and draws 6mA. That low draw means almost any pedalboard supply can handle it, though the maker's specifications list no battery option, so plan on a DC adapter or supply output.
Is the buffer active when the pedal is off?
Yes. Sonicake states the buffer function is active when the pedal is OFF, in bypass status, as long as the Buffer switch is engaged. That means the pedal can serve purely as a buffer at the end of a chain while leaving your boost out of the signal.
What is the model code of the Sonic Super Master?
The model code is QSS-22, as listed on Sonicake's product page for the pedal.
How big is the Sonicake Sonic Super Master?
Sonicake lists the size as 93.5mm wide by 42mm deep by 52mm high, with a weight of 230.5g. It is a mini-format pedal, so it takes up little room on a pedalboard.