The Tone City Buzz Bee is a compact buffer and boost pedal from Tone City Audio. The maker describes it as a professional buffer and boost pedal designed to solve signal loss and supercharge your tone, and it does both jobs with a single Gain control: near minimum it buffers your signal, and as you turn it up it becomes a clean boost, then an aggressive one1.
One control, two jobs
The Buzz Bee's whole character sits on its Gain control, and Tone City lays out three zones for it1:
- Gain near minimum: the pedal acts as a high-quality line buffer, restoring clarity and preserving high-end frequencies that long cable runs and pedalboards can dull1
- Up to the 1 o'clock position: a transparent, tight clean boost1
- Past 1 o'clock: the boost becomes much more aggressive, reaching a maximum of 25dB1
That makes it a practical always-on pedal. Leave Gain low and it quietly buffers your chain; roll it up when a solo needs lifting. It sits in the same family as other boost pedals, though most boost pedals do not double as buffers1.
Power, bypass and size
The Buzz Bee runs on a standard 9V DC adapter and Tone City states it is compatible with the Tone City TPS Series isolated power supplies. It draws 8mA, a light load that any isolated supply handles easily1. The maker lists it as true bypass, so the buffer only acts on your signal while the pedal is engaged1.
It is a small unit: 9.4cm long, 4.5cm wide and 4.8cm high, weighing 260g, in what Tone City calls a durable compact chassis built for live performance and daily use1. On the maker's site it appears under the Mini line of pedals1, and gearnews.com reported that Tone City mini pedals go for 54 euros each at Thomann2.
The Buzz Bee takes a 9V DC adapter only. There is no battery option in the maker's power specification, so plan a power supply slot for it on your board1.
Questions
Is the Tone City Buzz Bee true bypass?
Yes. Tone City Audio lists the Buzz Bee as true bypass, so when the pedal is off your guitar's signal passes straight through without going through the buffer circuit. That matters if you plan to leave it always on as a buffer, since the buffering only happens while the pedal is engaged.
How much boost does the Buzz Bee give?
Tone City says the Buzz Bee delivers a transparent, tight clean boost up to the 1 o'clock position of the Gain control. Past 1 o'clock the boost becomes much more aggressive, reaching a maximum of 25dB. Near minimum, it works as a line buffer instead.
What does the Buzz Bee do with Gain at minimum?
With the Gain set near minimum, Tone City describes the Buzz Bee as acting as a high-quality line buffer that restores clarity and preserves your high-end frequencies. That makes it a two-in-one pedal: a buffer for always-on use and a boost when you turn Gain up.
Is there a Mini version of the Buzz Bee?
The Buzz Bee appears on Tone City Audio's site under the Mini line of pedals, and it is a compact unit: 9.4cm long, 4.5cm wide and 4.8cm high, weighing 260g. Tone City mini pedals have been listed at 54 euros each at Thomann, according to gearnews.com.
Can the Buzz Bee run from a Tone City TPS power supply?
Yes. Tone City says the Buzz Bee is powered by a standard 9V DC supply and is compatible with the Tone City TPS Series of isolated power supplies. It draws 8mA, which is a light load on any isolated supply.
Sources (2)
- TONE CITY® Buzz Bee Buffer & Boost Guitar Effect Pedal-TONE CITY ▏Analog Pedals & Power supplies, Tone City Audio, 2026
- Tone City Releases 7 Distortion Pedals: Meet the Loong Preamp, New Legend Series, and more!, gearnews.com, 2026-09-18
