Active guitars

[docbop]

I am back playing guitar after a LONG time away from music and then playing bass for awhile.   In bass world it's common to have active electronics.  I have a Sadowsky pre in my Fender Jbass and of course in my amazing Sadowsky Modern 5 is active.   Now playing guitar I thinking possibly a pre-amp but mainly a "buffer"?  I don't know the right term, what I would like is a bit of electronics so when I change the volume of my guitar the tone doesn't change with it.  I was wondering if Sadowsky has experimented in this area?   I don't have a Sadowsky guitar yet, but love the archtops.

[IntenseJim]

what I would like is a bit of electronics so when I change the volume of my guitar the tone doesn't change with it.

On many guitars this can be accomplished with different yet simple wiring changes and perhaps introducing a capacitor in the circuit.  I've done this on my Les Pauls. I don't think you need an onboard preamp for this.

On a guitar, I think but I'm not sure that the OBP can act as a buffer. One goal of a buffer is to preserve your signal or tone when you run long cables from your guitar to your amp, run a long cable from your guitar to floor effects and another long cable to the amp,  or run several true-bypass effects in a row (in series).

That's my general understanding and experience but I'm not a guru like Roger and Rob.

[Sadowsky]

With the guitar preamp switch in the middle position (mid boost) and the mid boost gain control at zero, the preamp, is indeed, a buffer.

Roger

[docbop]

oops my mistake, I didn't realize you have a pre-amp in your guitars.  Been checking out the archtops too much.   

[Gerard Burick]

so does buffer mean that your volume knob changes without changing your tone, or does it mean you can throw a good signal with a longer cable?  I hadn't heard of this before.

[Sadowsky]

An active output removes the cable as a capacitor, so you can use longer lengths without any loss of signal, especially high end. 

[IntenseJim]

Buffer/on board Sadowsky preamp:

so does buffer mean that your volume knob changes without changing your tone,

No, I don't think so.  That preservation of tone or high end when rolling down your volume knob is a function of the way the guitar is wired with regard to it's pots and capacitors.  It is not related to the preamp or buffer from what I understand.

does it mean you can throw a good signal with a longer cable?  I hadn't heard of this before.

Yes.

[P. Bass]

Buffer/on board Sadowsky preamp:

......That preservation of tone or high end when rolling down your volume knob is a function of the way the guitar is wired with regard to it's pots and capacitors.  It is not related to the preamp or buffer from what I understand.

Is this consistent with all Sadowsky instruments?

[Gerard Burick]

An active output removes the cable as a capacitor, so you can use longer lengths without any loss of signal, especially high end. 

Excellent!  That's one factor of active output instruments that I was never sure I understood before.  I appreciate the clarity!

[IntenseJim]

Buffer/on board Sadowsky preamp:

......That preservation of tone or high end when rolling down your volume knob is a function of the way the guitar is wired with regard to it's pots and capacitors.  It is not related to the preamp or buffer from what I understand.

Is this consistent with all Sadowsky instruments?

It is with my four Sadowsky electric solidbody guitars and my electric nylon.

The archtops and semihollowbody guitars do not have a preamp.