Peavey Rage hates buffers - ???

[greigoroth]

I recently finished redoing me pedalboard and included AMZ's JFET input buffer and a GGG output buffer. When running through a H&K Cream Machine and 1x12 the rig sounded great. But running through a Peavey Rage 158 it distorted extremely unpleasantly when digging in and using higher output pickups. The buffers have plenty of headroom, and the distortion is only present in the Peavey. I noticed no apparent volume increase when I bypassed the buffers.

What could be going on here? Is there a mod I can perform on the Rage to make it, um, rage less?

The Peavey Rage schematic can be found here http://www.freeinfosociety.com/electron ... age158.gif and the buffer is at AMZ http://www.muzique.com/schem/eagle.htm

[phatt]

At a guess your signal swing is now rather large and the Rage was not meant for really big signal input.

Some series resistance at the input might help to tame the situation. Other here might have more experience with such stuff.
Phil.

[Prostheta]

Odd. No apparent volume difference implies no change in signal swing. Could it be DC offset?

[phatt]

Odd. No apparent volume difference implies no change in signal swing. Could it be DC offset?

Good point,,,I missed that
but I tend to think these little Amps struggle with anything big at the input.
Phil.

[greigoroth]

Yeah, it's really, really odd. Especially considering the FET buffer is slightly less than unity.

[phatt]

Maybe checking the pinout on the fet might shed light on the problem,, that can easy happen.
Phil.

[greigoroth]

I'm pretty sure it's not the buffer as it happens with my IC buffer, and even when using the Cream Machine as a preamp. ??
No great problem, I'm just using it as a practice amp, but I'm really intrigued as to what's going on!