| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Steel Guitar Black Box: Is there no substitute?
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Steel Guitar Black Box: Is there no substitute?
Chris Tarrow


From:
Maplewood, NJ
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2023 3:15 pm    
Reply with quote

I love my Steel Guitar Black Box but am trying to lighten the load on travel gigs. Anybody found anything more compact that does a similar job?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 4 Aug 2023 5:46 pm    
Reply with quote

Brad's Freeloader. It's a solid-state buffer with a variable input impedance knob. It's small, sounds great, adds a lot of tonal diversity to the sound, attaches to the leg of a pedal steel, and a battery lasts a real long time. Oh, and it's not expensive and has no tubes to replace.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John Ducsai


From:
New Hampshire, USA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2023 4:16 am     Sgbb
Reply with quote

Have a look at this:

https://empresseffects.com/products/buffer-1?variant=261352594

I have one of these on my pedal board and find it extremely useful - lots of options. Not cheap... Look here if you don't mind "Scratch & Dent" items:

https://empresseffects.com/products/s-d-buffer-1

The input loading adjustment is the equivalent of the SGBB's Vari-Z

The SGBB's tube circuit does sound a bit sweeter though Smile
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Danny Letz

 

From:
Old Glory,Texas, USA 79540
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2023 7:14 am    
Reply with quote

The later SGBBs are much more compact than my old one is. You might check that if yours is an older one.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2023 7:21 am    
Reply with quote

Doesn't the Goodrich Matchbox do the same thing?
Plus you have a volume and tone control right at your finger tips.
You can hang that on one of your guitar legs.
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Lee Baucum


From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2023 7:30 am    
Reply with quote

Dave Mudgett wrote:
Brad's Freeloader. It's a solid-state buffer with a variable input impedance knob. It's small, sounds great, adds a lot of tonal diversity to the sound, attaches to the leg of a pedal steel, and a battery lasts a real long time. Oh, and it's not expensive and has no tubes to replace.


I agree, wholeheartedly.

There is something almost magical in that little Red Box.

I've owned several buffer/impedance matching devices over the years and this is my favorite. Read about it here:

https://www.sarnomusicsolutions.com/products/freeloader-buffer.html
_________________
Lee, from South Texas - Down On The Rio Grande

There are only two options as I see it.
Either I'm right, or there is a sinister conspiracy to conceal the fact that I'm right.


Williams Keyless S-10, BMI S-10, Evans FET-500LV, Fender Steel King, 2 Roland Cube 80XL's,
Sarno FreeLoader, Goodrich Passive Volume Pedals, Vintage ACE Pack-A-Seat
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Jon Light


From:
Saugerties, NY
Post  Posted 5 Aug 2023 7:57 am    
Reply with quote

You don't specify if you are looking for a smaller buffer (with the super versatile variable impedance) or if you are looking for a smaller tube device.

I am another Freeloader user. I don't leave home without it. It is lightweight. Solid state.

I doubt that you could find a tube device that is smaller and lighter than the BB. Not one that runs tubes at honest voltage vs. some gimmicky fx pedals that run the signal in the vicinity of a lo-voltage glowing tube and call it "tubey goodness!!"
I assume the weight & mass of the BB (not all that big of a deal but something that also deters me from carrying it) is an essential part of its robustness and quiet hi-fi level of signal massaging.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Fred


From:
Amesbury, MA
Post  Posted 7 Aug 2023 3:39 am    
Reply with quote

Another vote for the Freeloader!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Tim Harr


From:
Dunlap, Illinois
Post  Posted 8 Aug 2023 4:14 pm    
Reply with quote

Erv Niehaus wrote:
Doesn't the Goodrich Matchbox do the same thing?
Plus you have a volume and tone control right at your finger tips.
You can hang that on one of your guitar legs.
Erv


Not with an actual vacuum tube. Not the same thing.
_________________
Tim Harr

Mullen G2 D-10 (9p/5k)
Retired, US Army Band (Steel/Dobro/Guitar)
Kemper Profiler / LW 89
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Brett Lanier

 

From:
Madison, TN
Post  Posted 9 Aug 2023 9:34 am    
Reply with quote

Here's a couple more to put on your radar.

https://www.believableaudio.com/products/29-pedals-euna
https://toddsharpamps.com/products/vtld1/

The Euna is super cool. You can use it to run your steel through rack mount line level gear. For my touring gig, the signal post pedalboard goes through a loom and a matrix of cabling... Putting the Euna in the chain gave back that snappy sound and feel that I was missing.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Chris Tarrow


From:
Maplewood, NJ
Post  Posted 9 Aug 2023 8:05 pm    
Reply with quote

Thanks all! Sorry should have specified happy to try solid state. I don’t think there’s a smaller or better tube unit than the SGBB and yes I have the newer one but it’s still pretty big and heavy. Will try the freeloader!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron