Majik Box Micro Buff MB-1 Buffer

Effects do not get more simple than this. Just plug in the input, output and 9V power supply (does not take batteries) and there you go. There are no buttons to switch it on/off or any pots to adjust anything because it is just a buffer.

The manual includes lots of useful tips about placement of the buffer to get you started but it suggests nothing will beat experimentation. The manual suggests placing it at the end of the chain and after any distortion or wah effects. for some reason none of these worked as well as having it first in my chain, whether this is due to all my effects being true bypass and between the guitar and the amp (i.e. not in the loop) or just my personal taste I can't say.

What I will say is I can now swear there was nothing between the guitar and the amp, the extra lengths of cables and effects have hardly touched my tone at all.

Here is my gear in order of signal chain.
1. Gibson '08 Les Paul STD with Suhr Aldrich pickups.
2. Majik Box MB-1
3. Hardwire HT-2 Tuner
4. Majik Box RF-1 Boost/Overdrive
5. Keeley 4-knob Compressor
6. Keeley Crybaby Mello Wah Mod
7. Keeley Ibanez AD-9 Anologue Delay
8. Hardwire DL-8 Digital Delay
9. Engl Screamer 50 E330
10. THD Hotplate
11. Engl E212V

All the effects are very noticable (unless they're turned off) and the MB-1 preserves my guitar's tone beautifully. Strangely it has actually made my Wah sound more dynamic with increased range and clarity. I have also noticed a decrease in feedback and signal interference.

I've opened up the back of this thing (my system for attaching pedals to my pedal board used the screws on the bottom with some washers) and there is nothing to it, a very small PCB with an IC and a few other components. The case is made of what looks like cast stainless steel and is quite thick. It is clearly built to take all the rigours of a professional touring musician and if you check out the Majik Box site you will see that several pros do indeed own this little box and it gets very high praise.

Majik Box reply to emails within 24hrs almost guaranteed. they are very very helpful and friendly and do everything they are capable of to help. I've even asked them for advice on other features of effects and they still helped me out. Majik Box seems to be a company made for musicians by musicians.

Considering this thing is only ??85 ($110) the value for money is superb. remember this is a boutique quality peice of equipment so anything under ??100 is amazing value. It has now become a vital part of my rig and i cannot live without it. Chances are if you're reading this (and well done for getting this far) you know about Majik Box and you know about high end equipment and care very much for your tone. Therefore like me you probably play better when you sound better. Trust me this box will make your tone go completely off the planet and is essential if you have long leads or lots of true bypass effects. Check the other reviews (as i write this there are only reviews for the Rocket Fuel) and the ratings for everything is 10/10 in every catagory, this one will be no different.