Axess BS-2 Buffer

[markjazzbassist]

I'm thinking about picking one of these up to use on my pedalboard. i use a 25 ft. coiled cable before my board, all my FX are True Bypass, and then use a 15-20 ft. cable from my board to my amp. So I'm experiencing some signal loss. Will it be overkill or is it worth it?

I've heard I need to put this after my fuzzes. Here is my proposed signal chain

bass -> EB Passive volume -> Mutron Octaver -> Mojohand Cream Pie -> Analogman Sun Face -> big muff -> univox superfuzz -> AXESS BS-2 -> mutron III -> Bassballs -> amp

i use passive fenders (and a gibson).

thoughts?

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

I'm thinking about picking one of these up to use on my pedalboard. i use a 25 ft. coiled cable before my board, all my FX are True Bypass, and then use a 15-20 ft. cable from my board to my amp. So I'm experiencing some signal loss. Will it be overkill or is it worth it?

I've heard I need to put this after my fuzzes. Here is my proposed signal chain

bass -> EB Passive volume -> Mutron Octaver -> Mojohand Cream Pie -> Analogman Sun Face -> big muff -> univox superfuzz -> AXESS BS-2 -> mutron III -> Bassballs -> amp

i use passive fenders (and a gibson).

thoughts?

It's probably a good idea. But are you chaining all those fuzzes? If I were you I'd just get a Boss LS-2 and put them in a couple loops. Chain shortened, buffer added, QED.

[grovest]

You're going to have to experiment.... I have tried all my effects in and out of a GRX4, which has the same buffer circuit as the BS2. In my limited experience, I haven't found any effect that works 'worse' in the buffer than before it. The BS2 has a great following and isn't much dough. Maybe an X2 wireless to your board would be useful to you.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

It's probably a good idea. But are you chaining all those fuzzes? If I were you I'd just get a Boss LS-2 and put them in a couple loops. Chain shortened, buffer added, QED.

i'm not looking to put them in a buffer loop. i'm just looking to add signal back to my chain. plus i don't want my fuzzes in the buffer, hence the buffer afterwards.

Originally Posted by grovest

You're going to have to experiment.... I have tried all my effects in and out of a GRX4, which has the same buffer circuit as the BS2. In my limited experience, I haven't found any effect that works 'worse' in the buffer than before it. The BS2 has a great following and isn't much dough. Maybe an X2 wireless to your board would be useful to you.

interesting. first off, i like using cables and am not a big wireless fan (except for in-ear monitors). second, i've heard that using a buffer before fuzzes (especially germanium) can really squish and greatly change the tone.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

It's probably a good idea. But are you chaining all those fuzzes? If I were you I'd just get a Boss LS-2 and put them in a couple loops. Chain shortened, buffer added, QED.

agreed,

a looper might be a good idea.

but i love my bs-2. the real key is the iso phase switch. on certain stages, its an awesome thing to be able to put what's coming out of your amp in phase w/ what's being shot out of the PA speakers/subs. i just flip it a few times, and stay w/ the setting where i sound the fullest.

again, just make sure you're using the isolated out, not the main out which isnt affected by the phase switch.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i'm not looking to put them in a buffer loop. i'm just looking to add signal back to my chain. plus i don't want my fuzzes in the buffer, hence the buffer afterwards.

fair enough. but if you're putting the buffer relatively late in the chain, my point stands - you could just use a buffered effect pedal

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

fair enough. but if you're putting the buffer relatively late in the chain, my point stands - you could just use a buffered effect pedal

great idea. what are good examples of buffered FX pedals?

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

agreed,

a looper might be a good idea.

but i love my bs-2. the real key is the iso phase switch. on certain stages, its an awesome thing to be able to put what's coming out of your amp in phase w/ what's being shot out of the PA speakers/subs. i just flip it a few times, and stay w/ the setting where i sound the fullest.

again, just make sure you're using the isolated out, not the main out which isnt affected by the phase switch.

interesting. you were one of the main reasons i found the axess. i saw you had it and looked into it more.

so i go input and then go ISO: out? that way i can use the phase switch. is that the only difference between it and the main out?


PS - thanks for all the help so far guys.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

great idea. what are good examples of buffered FX pedals?

well, pretty much all Boss pedals... but they're kinda hard to find

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

well, pretty much all Boss pedals... but they're kinda hard to find

yeah i know Boss pedals are. but i don't like any of those and realistically won't have room for them either.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

interesting. you were one of the main reasons i found the axess. i saw you had it and looked into it more.

so i go input and then go ISO: out? that way i can use the phase switch. is that the only difference between it and the main out?


PS - thanks for all the help so far guys.

yup!

[markjazzbassist]

i am a moron

so this pedal is a loop. that makes it tricky. will it still work if i have everything after my fuzzes in the loop buffered?

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

i am a moron

so this pedal is a loop. that makes it tricky. will it still work if i have everything after my fuzzes in the loop buffered?

the bs2? nope, its not a loop. its a buffer!

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

yeah i know Boss pedals are. but i don't like any of those and realistically won't have room for them either.

are they any bigger then the axess? because they can't possibly be more embarassing than something called "axess"

for example, you could just go THROUGH whatever the cheapest available boss pedal, and not have to deal with the loop issue you just mentioned.

$25 expense, tops. Achieves exactly what you want to do - in fact, it does it BETTER than Axess's transparently named BS-2!

besides, every household needs a PS-3 (OK that usually goes for more than $25 but you get my point)

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

Axess's transparently named BS-2!

Class.

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

the bs2? nope, its not a loop. its a buffer!

yeah yeah. still a moron. trying to figure out if putting it in the middle of my pedalboard is a good idea or to just get that ps-3.

anyone check out the gigrig humdinger for a buffer?

Originally Posted by RCCollins

besides, every household needs a PS-3 (OK that usually goes for more than $25 but you get my point)

is the ps-3 analogue? i'm an analogue purist

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by markjazzbassist

yeah yeah. still a moron. trying to figure out if putting it in the middle of my pedalboard is a good idea or to just get that ps-3.

anyone check out the gigrig humdinger for a buffer?



is the ps-3 analogue? i'm an analogue purist

no, it couldn't do what it does as well as it does and still be analog. but if you have it switched off, the buffered signal should bypass any AD/DA conversion

[markjazzbassist]

Originally Posted by RCCollins

no, it couldn't do what it does as well as it does and still be analog. but if you have it switched off, the buffered signal should bypass any AD/DA conversion

true.

[AndyLES]

The BS-2 is a great unit. I know a lot of guys who have them in their rigs. A lot of touring pros are even using it in their racks.

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by AndyLES

The BS-2 is a great unit. I know a lot of guys who have them in their rigs. A lot of touring pros are even using it in their racks.

I know it's a pro level piece and all, it just turns out that mjb doesn't really need a looper, and I think his needs can be met for peanuts without compromising space, and possibly even adding a cool effect!

All the Boss pedals that have the familiar stompbox format with the soft switch/battery compartment are buffered. And it's a perfectly good buffer.

If you want a pricey boutique pedal with a buffer I recommend the Malekko delays, which are switchable buffered/TBP. How cool is that?

I guess youd probably want to stick it toward the end of your chain though.

Here are some analog Boss effects that could fill the bill, they're not perfect for everybody but a lot of them can be had for cheap (some less cheap). It is NOT a complete list, just a few that could work late in the chain and hopefully won't offend mjb's taste...

BF-2 and BF-2B
CEB-3 (pink label or serial number starting with P0 or earlier are analog and superior to later ones - there is a similar analog early model of the chorus ensemble, too)
CS-1,2,3
DM-1,2
DS-1,2 (as long as it's not modded for TBP, which goes for ALL of these, and is kinda obvious)
FZ-2,3 (FZ-3 is a discrete circuit fuzz, you modfreaks!)
GEB-7
ODB-3 (haha)