TC Electronic BonaFide Mini Buffer Pedal Reviews

I wasn't sure if I needed this device but after reading what this device can do I ordered one. It has helped cleaning up my signal by restoring the treble. This isn't a problem generally if you're not using a bunch of pedals or long cables. Since I'm doing both I thought I would try this device out and have been very pleased with the results.

I had tried just about everything to get rid of the noise issues I was having. The Rig Doctor recommended it on the You Tubes so I said what the hell, it's about the only thing I haven't tried. I didn't have high hopes but now I'm a believer. So quiet! I don't know what mojo they put in this tiny little box but it works.

great addition to my pedal board, cleaned up my sound, no longer muddy, works wonders on a large pedal board with 20 plus pedals get one you will love your amp again!

I love these, they're simple and small and they do exactly what they say, I'm a big a fan (2 full boards and 3 out of 4 of my buffers are Bonafide). I'm constantly expanding my set-up, between two half-stacks that I'm running biamp and an ever expanding sea of pedals between them for balance and variety, these buffers give me confidence in the integrity of my signal—a massive difference in high end and volume, using an INPUT buffer, and an OUTPUT buffer (using two is KEY—but going from a long signal chain without buffering to buffering both ends is like adding a boost—if you're rocking a half dozen pedals or more, these are a great addition to the chain. Using loud amps, it's easy to overlook that lost signal and thinking you don't need this kind of stuff but once you try it you'll never NOT want them in your line-up.

Does exactly what I need it to do. input and output values are spot-on. I run a TC tuner with built in BONA FIDE buffer on the front end of my pedalboard, and this stand alone BONA FIDE buffer before the amp. When the pedals are all off, it sounds the same as a 10ft cord going straight into the amp. Tone suck is gone! Not a sexy pedal but most appreciated!

After watching a Mason Maringella Rig Doctor video in which he recommends several different buffers and explains why these are needed, I purchased 2 of these buffers and placed one in front of my pedal chain and one as the final output of my pedal board. With the wah pedal immediately following the first buffer, the tone improvement to the wah is significant, and the tone improvement across the entire board is noticeable too. These buffers are designed to mimic the impedance of a guitar amp on the input side, and mimic the impedance of a guitar pickup on the output side. The buffers adjust dynamically as the voltage changes, depending on which pedals are turned on or off in your pedalboard, and this maintains proper signal voltage across the whole pedal chain. I have an EarthQuaker Swiss Things switch in the middle of my pedals and the whole board remains dead silent into a Fender tube amp when I'm not playing but the guitar volume is up, even at rehearsal volumes. I used a multimeter to test the output of the buffers and compared them against the buffer in the Swiss Things as well as the buffer built into in my TC Electronic tuner. The BonaFide buffer output measured 100 Ohms as designed -- neither the Swiss Things nor the tuner output was in the ballpark of 100 ohms. I highly recommend these buffers at this price point.

Great buffer in a tiny package. Almost forget that it is there, but glad it is.

It delivers as it should. Not much else I can say about it. Just made simple. Very nice.

Exactly what I need with the usual Sweetwater service! As usual, you guys are amazing.

Last couple of weeks had been my first time putting together a pedal board, and already having a Polytune3, thought that was enough. After watching a couple of vertex effects videos I went ahead and bought this after noticing a volume difference when plugged into my 5 pedals vs. not. Instant difference! Would definitely recommend this at the end of your board bare minimum.

Purchased 2 of these due to the Vertex Effects' Mason Maringella recommendation to have an input and exit buffer. Totally changed the tone!

If you're running several pedals and using lots of cable then you really need this pedal. It immediately restores all the tone suck cause by long cables and brightens your signal and adds so much clarity. If your tone sounds a little muddy or is suffering a lack of response, this buffer pedal will fix that. As for it affecting a wah or fuzz, I run my buffer before both and it doesn't bother either in the slightest, I think it's mostly with the germanium style pedals not the silicone ones. So much thanks to Sweetwater and Tiberius Huiu for their great products and super customer service. Tiberius is always there with the answers you're needing and helping you get the right music gear that you want. No other place but Sweetwater for me!

This helped finally finish my pedal board. No more loss of tone! I have buffer/volume (Mission) pedal at the front of my chain and this buffer at the end.

i guess you are never too old to learn something new...
the bonafide buffer has broght back the crisp sparkle of my stratocaster and i did not know it was missing
all these years i put up with a slightly muddy tone and did not have to

never had a buffer before...... never will be without one again

Just got this in today, hooked it up and I can truly say now my pedalboard is complete.

I use a loop switcher with a en eq in the fx loop that is always on and two other pedals programmed for specific presets. Then my signal goes thru about twenty feet of cable back to the amp and this is where a pedal like this shines, as it cleared up and strengthened my signal.

Just a quick note my switcher has an input buffer that's great. It also an output buffer that's just okay (not all buffers are created equal) it's output is at 400 ohms which is too high, ideally you want 100 ohms. This pedal puts out 100 ohms which is right where you want to be.

It needs power via a 9V DC 40mA and the imprint of this is very small. If you have a tone suckage then a buffer is an essential tool that must be placed at the beginning of your chain and after your pedals. Trust me you probably will realize how much this truly affects your tone.

Sweetwater did take a whole month and some days before they got it in stock but when they shipped it was extremely fast getting here and I didn't mind waiting, i'm a patient person.

Highly recommended.

Great buffer! Works as it should. Put it at the beginning of the board and fixes any problems down the chain

I, too, have suffered from tone suck with multiple pedals regardless of whether they were hard bypass or not. Just as the product claims, your signal makes it to the end of the chain intact. I also found it fantastic for direct recording. I wasn't always enamored of the sound when going direct - this crisps up the sound without any apparent tonal artifacts. Def one of the best investments I have made for my rig!

If you want to have the best result of any pedal you use, then you need this gem.

I was noticing a difference in the tone and clarity of my new Elite Strat as compared to my previous MIM Strats. I assumed it may be just a pickup difference but definitely did not like it. I then soon noticed a YouTube video demonstrating various Buffer Pedals, which I've never heard of in my 30+ years playing, and I said; "That's it"! That's the muddy, tone sucking, clarity robbing sound I'm hearing from my new guitar and new pedalboard rig; which I've never used up until recently, hence never the need for this type of buffer circuitry. This buffer pedal has made a great difference in giving me a punchy, clear, chimey high end from the guitar again. This pedal is simple, no knobs to tweek, just power it and plug in. IF you have a pedalboard such as myself, this simplified buffer pedal is without a doubt essential in keeping your guitar tone pristine through all the cable and connections through your true bypass pedals. I will never again run a pedalboard without one! There are others, but the simplicity, great price, and effective circuitry of this one in sound restoring quality make this buffer pedal a great investment, one that will be on my guitar rig setup for years!

If do not have a buffer on your board you are missing out on what your stuff should sound like.

This thing is excellent, I run stereo rigs with stereo effects. I have one currently before a stereo split. One side goes to an on/off amp, the other side goes to a looper/post on off. I have the buffer right before my signal is split to stereo by a delay. I'm writing this pre- ordering a second so I can place both individually behind the stereo split. Just by having the signal path extended by another pedal or two it's clear where there is signal loss vs, what is actually closer to the buffer either by cable runs or FX boxes. If you run a long chain, or split signal this is definetly a good idea and worth the price. I do have multiple TC products and stand by them.

I have 16 pedals on my board. Forget the hype...it's not hype. No more "tone suck". Put this at the beginning of your pedal chain and each one will sound like it is plugged directly into your amp or interface. And that's the sound you were looking for when you bought each pedal in the first place, right? And it does no coloring of any of your pedal signals. This is not a convenience, it's a must have if you have more than 1 or 2 pedals hooked up together or are using even great long cables, or both. (Only exception on pedal order is if you use fuzz pedals...then put the fuzz pedals first, then this one, then the rest of your pedals) There are very few pieces of audio equipment that are both inexpensive and have a huge positive effect on your final sound. This is one of the best. Worth 3x the price...

Works just like it is supposed to. Very neat and clean. I haven't noticed and color change in my playing other than I'm not constantly adjusting the volume knob.

This is one of those things that I didn't know I needed before I put it on my board. I have a thing for TC Electronic, and seeing how this buffer is so cheap, I decided to pick one up. It was the best decision I've made for my tone since I bought my Mesa Boogie. I run about 80ft of cable since I use a channel switcher, pedals in front, and an FX loop, and the BonaFide Buffer restored the high end I didn't know I was missing. I couldn't recommend it more.

TC Electronic has done it again! Another excellent pedal that improves tone tremendously. I am quite pleased with how much clarity this has added back to my signal chain. My guitar sounds natural and full, as if I'm plugging in direct! This pedal is a must get for guitarists of all playing levels, and is a great add on to any effects chain.

I have several true bypass pedals on my board and usually run a Vox coil cord between guitar and pedals, along with a 15' cable back to the amp from the pedal board. Appears to me the sound is smoother and less noisy, but that could also be the new power supply I bought along with this pedal. Certainly helps restore your treble on longer cable runs.

Simple, small and it works. I have 2 of these on the stereo end of my board. TC electronics bona/tuna on the front end of my pedalboard.

Just making sure that my effects collection doesn't take too much quality from the initial signal. My investigations brought me to this little fella; I don't need the extras that many of the competitors include with their buffer products. I found some "best of" reviews that included this unit... for the money it is the best deal for my needs. I had to wait for a few weeks due to the supply chain issues, so I'm just beginning to understand the results of buffering my signal path. So far so good.

Very quiet.small foot print. Fine job.

wow,what a difference.unreal highs,singing sustain.love it

It's all in the product description. Transparent, lightweight and if you accidentally cut power, it goes into true bypass mode allowing your guitar signal to pass through. I think that's a really cool feature!

A pedal that only some know of it. But it makes the signal alive as it should be.

I no longer gig but I do a lot of recording in my home studio. I mic the amps and used my pedalboard for guitar effects. Presently I run 16 pedals on my main board including the BonaFide. I notice a difference in high end and overall sound quality since adding this buffer to my signal chain. It has proven to be a great addition.

This buffer is pretty cool. If the power should be cut from it, it will still let the signal go through. It's just nice to have one in the chain somewhere if you don't have a buffer combined with another pedal. Great product though.