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In a recent question, I asked some questions about buffers in guitar effects loops.
One answer that I received which was interesting basically stated that I did not need a buffer for my effects send loop on my amplifier. It was also stated that Boss pedals all have an internal buffer.
My question is: in what circumstances would I want or need a buffer? There seems to be a market for them as major manufacturers build buffer pedals, but I'm looking for the actual use-case in which to use one.
If you have a long cable run from your guitar to your amp, and/or you have a lot of true bypass pedals chained together between your guitar and amp, and you feel like your guitar tone isn’t quite right, then a buffer may help your tone.
If you love the sound of your guitar plugged right into your amp with a short cable, and it doesn’t sound as good when you use a longer cable or put your pedalboard in the signal chain, then a buffer might help get you back to that plugged right in tone over long distance or with all your pedals.
Todd has covered when you would want to use a buffer - just to mention that there are also times when you actively would not want to use a buffer, such as before some wah-wah or fuzz pedals - these often sound better first in your chain, when they "see" the pickups directly.
Standalone buffers are an item with a fairly specific use... I've never had a need for one.
