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Just About Doable – The ‘Glass-A’ Triode Buffer

Today I’ve been cutting out the metalwork for the Glass-A tube buffer. I was determined to fit the tube and and all the high voltage electronics into a tiny Hammond 1590B diecast aluminium enclosure. This was only just about doable and made more difficult by the fact that I always like to have all the sockets on the back panel to keep wiring between effects pedals as tidy as possible on the pedalboard. It really is worth putting all the planning and effort in at the design stage.

With it’s chunky, brick-like proportions the Glass-A is turning out to be a very tidy little pedal and the specifications are truely audiophile. The tube electronics ensure a very wide, flat frequency response, exceptional line-drive capability, and a dynamic range (over 50V peak-to-peak!) that simply cannot be matched by solid-state opamp or transistor technology. This tiny little tube buffer will handle anything you throw at from instrument to line-level and more. It will effortessly handle electric, acoustic and bass guitars and even ‘difficult’ instruments such as lutes, harpischords and dulcimers. It’s a fantastic tone enhancer and will add more depth, clarity and definition to any instrument.

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24 COMMENTS

Chuck Garvey July 19, 2015 at 11:03:36 Log in to Reply

Greetings folks at Effectrode!I recently got a Tube Vibe TV-5A and it sounds amazing! This thing has a really 3 dimensional awesomeness that is addictive. One thing I noticed is when the speed and intensity are set to zero, with the Volume at unity and the vibrato engaged, it has the most lively, buffered tube pre sound. That alone was a great discovery - and I think there are many more secrets to uncover in this gem.Is the new Glass A buffer going to be capable of imparting this same magic, or is it a completely different beast than the pre section in the Tube Vibe? Would the Fire Bottle also do this?Thanks for a great product in the Tube Vibe and keep up the fantastic work!chuck garvey

Phil July 27, 2015 at 02:50:02 Log in to Reply

Hi Chuck,There are similarites between the buffer output stage in the Tube-Vibe, Fire Bottle and Glass-A. They are all triode cathode follower buffers, however utilise different tubes. The Tube-Vibe uses a 12AU7; the Fire Bottle, a NOS Philips 6112; and the Glass-A, a NOS Philips 6111. What this means is that there will be some differences in sonic character, but they should all sound pretty good :)

Wolfgang von Bockenheim July 7, 2015 at 05:16:40 Log in to Reply

Hello?

Phil July 27, 2015 at 09:37:24 Log in to Reply

Hi Wolfgang,Sorry for the delayed response. For some reason your message wasn't automatically forwarded to us. The 'Glass-A' buffer is in production and should be available in 3 to 4 weeks.

Wolfgang von Bockenheim June 26, 2015 at 08:40:48 Log in to Reply

Hi Phil,what's the status on the development of this buffer, please?Thx in advance!WvB

John Bruns February 18, 2015 at 08:59:02 Log in to Reply

Phil,Would you provide a description of how I would record myself using the Blackbird's 600 ohm balanced output?How would I connect this output to my powered monitor speakers?Thanks, JohnnyB

Phil February 18, 2015 at 09:09:36 Log in to Reply

Hi John, To record direct just use a stereo TRS jack-to-jack cable to connect the DI out from the Blackbird to your sound capture device 1/4" balanced input. I'm not sure about how to connect to your monitors - do they have balanced inputs?

Andrew February 16, 2015 at 02:46:35 Log in to Reply

Hey Phil, What are the power requirements going to be for this unit. 12v? how many mA? Thanks.

Phil February 16, 2015 at 05:19:29 Log in to Reply

Hi Andrew, Power supply requirements are 12VDC @ 350mA center positive.

Wolfgang von Bockenheim February 4, 2015 at 04:34:14 Log in to Reply

Hi Phil,What are the expected input and output impedances of this buffer, please?Best regards

Phil February 4, 2015 at 04:41:08 Log in to Reply

Hi Wolfgang, The input impedance is greater than IMOhm (and is capacitively coupled) and the output impedance is less than 500Ohm (capacitively coupled - which is normally the case)

Berkay February 2, 2015 at 03:42:14 Log in to Reply

Hey Phil ; I wonder that some of your pedals (like mercury) have holes on their sides Doesnt this cause dust to get in?I have a mercury and it sometimes smells when i Am using do i have to worry i woried about the holes cause knobs are hairy and hairs can get off easily and pedal is hot that can burn the hairs of knobI also wonder do i have to wait untill it gets cold or can i take it off before it gets cold

Phil February 3, 2015 at 10:16:05 Log in to Reply

Hi Berkay,We've been building pedals since 1996 and I'm not aware of any technical problems with dust getting into Effectrode pedals, or other tube equipment with ventilation holes in either. If you think there's a fault with your Mercury would you like us to create returns authorisation paperwork so that you can ship it to Effectrode for inspection and possible repair.

Berkay February 14, 2015 at 11:35:18 Log in to Reply

Thank you for your reply i think i found the problem also i bought it from europe and i came back home it is almost impossible the ship so i could only send you when i went out of borders if i can The local engineer says it is not a big deal so i think its okay

John Bruns February 1, 2015 at 11:46:12 Log in to Reply

Phil,Where should I place my Roger Mayer WAH within my Effectrode pedals?First in line or after my Helios/Mercury and TubeDrive/Blackbird.This is an much discussed topic but would love your opinion as Effectrode pedals do not react the same as non-tube pedals.Thanks, John Bruns

Phil February 1, 2015 at 01:16:41 Log in to Reply

Hi John,I'm not enitrely sure about this as I don't use a wah. The only thing I can adivse is that you experiment a little with your wah pre and post the Mercury fuzz. My guess is that the most useable sounds might be with the wah before the Mercury if the Mercury doesn't mind this. Other Effectrode drive pedals are less fuzzy and I recommend placing wah before them.

Matthias January 28, 2015 at 08:42:47 Log in to Reply

Hi Phil, Is there any benefit in putting two Glass-A buffers in the chain. At the begining and at the end? Thanks in advance Matthias

Phil January 28, 2015 at 09:15:00 Log in to Reply

Hi Matthias, It depends on cable lengths and the gear you are using. There are some situations where a buffer is not recommended at all, say between a guitar and tube amp with a relatively short guitar cable. Situations where you might employ buffers include long cable runs, certain effects that can load the guitar pickup or where there are adverse interactions between certain effects pedals such as wah pedals that oscillate, that kind of thing. A second buffer sounds like overkill, however might be useful if the last pedal in your chain has a poor quality buffer.

Ryan January 28, 2015 at 04:08:31 Log in to Reply

Would this go before or after the Mercury, in my chain. Example buffer-booster,mercury...

Phil January 28, 2015 at 04:17:43 Log in to Reply

Hi Ryan, In general, I would place it after the 'Mercury'.

Brian January 27, 2015 at 11:35:28 Log in to Reply

Phil,Will there be any kind of adjustable db for the input; for example to switch between active and passive pickup instruments?Thanks

Phil January 28, 2015 at 09:27:32 Log in to Reply

Hi Brian, No there won't - this is a, 'what goes in comes out exactly the same without no signal modification buffer'. I'm keeping the component count as low as possible to keep the tone as pure as possible.

John Bruns January 27, 2015 at 07:01:07 Log in to Reply

Phil,Would you please address how the Tube Buffer would be used on the pedalboard. Seems it would only be needed if I was not running any of your other tube pedals.So, being an amateur I'm ignorant of how it would improve my sound.Thanks,John Bruns

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