Foxx Tone Machine and buffers

[nils]

Hi there!

While playing around with the pedal order on my pedalboard, at one time I had my newly built Foxx Tone Machine directly after my CryBaby. I noticed that the FTM sounded dull and lifeless, almost like you've rolled down the tone control on the guitar, and the wah sounded like crap together with the FTM. Seems like these pedals definetly need a pedal with (good) buffers between them to sound really great. After I moved my boss tuner between the wah and the FTM, the FTM sounded much brighter, more brilliant and much more pleasant; also the wah did work fine again.

Now I was wondering what's the real problem; is it the wah (stock CryBaby, a newer one w/input buffer, but probably no output buffer), or does the FTM need a buffer in front no matter what? Should I add buffers to the FTM to make sure it works as great when I use it standalone, i.e. when it's off my board (and thus having no buffered pedal in front)?

Opinions?

[John G]

Nils,
I think you have hit the nail on the head. My Dano "French Toast " has an input buffer in the form of a transistor emitter follower. The buffer is in circuit regardless of effect switch state.
John G