Owner’s Manual
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
• Read these instructions.
• Follow these instructions.
• Heed all notes and warnings.
• Do not use this device near water.
• Clean this device only with a dry cloth.
• Keep these instructions for future reference.
• Damage to this device by improperly connected and/
or grounded equipment is not covered under warranty.
• This device contains no user-serviceable parts and in-
cludes components which are susceptible to damage
by electrostatic discharge (ESD).
• Be sure to use only a properly rated “wall-wart” power
adapter or universal pedalboard power supply, with
extra attention paid to the correct polarity, voltage and
current. Applying the wrong polarity, improper voltage
or insufficient current to this device may cause poor
and/or inconsistent tone, performance, and even dam-
age! Refer to the CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS and
SPECIFICATIONS sections for more information.
• Do not defeat an amplifier’s safety ground - which is
provided by the 3-prong AC power-cord plug! Doing
so may not only be ILLEGAL, but it may also pose a
SHOCK or ELECTROCUTION HAZARD.
Congratulations on your choice of MESA/Boogie
®
and wel-
come to the MESA
®
Family! The same passion for excellence,
commitment to quality and dedication to customer satisfaction
is present in each and every product we make in our one-and-
only shop in Petaluma, California, U.S.A. Rest assured that the
very same people that hand-build the finest amplifiers in the
world, also built your HIGH-WIRE™ DUAL BUFFER/OUTPUT
BOOST and you have access to the same resources for help
that all our customers do. Call on us anytime and enjoy!
HIGH-WIRE™ DUAL BUFFER/OUTPUT BOOST
The HIGH-WIRE™ DUAL BUFFER/OUTPUT BOOST re-
solves the deep-rooted signal loss and inconsistent tone
issues faced by guitarists due to; capacitive loading, imped-
ance loading and mismatching, and changes to a pickup’s
resonant frequency/peak, as a result of varying effect pedals
and interconnecting cables. It accomplishes this by providing
the two constants in every guitar rig, the guitar and amplifier,
with a resolute load and source, via its input buffer and output
line-driver, respectively. The two circuits form an effects loop,
which segregates the guitar and amplifier from the variables
on a pedalboard, easily handles many pedals, interconnecting
cables, and effortlessly drives a long cable run to the back-line
amplifier. The input buffer converts the guitar’s high-impedance
signal to low-impedance, which also minimizes its susceptibility
to noise, interference, and even some of the switch “popping”
associated with true-bypass pedals. The output line-driver
targets the inability that many pedals, and even some buffers
have, which is to adequately drive a very long cable run to a
back-line amplifier. As a result, the only variations in sound and
tone will be from the actual effect of the pedals on the pedal-
board, and not from a guitar or amplifier related loading or im-
pedance mismatch issue.
The input buffer is a 100% discrete Class-A circuit with an input
impedance and other finely tuned characteristics which mimic
that of a high quality tube amplifier, and it includes an RFI fil-
ter to minimize the possibility of radio-frequency interference
and noise. It presents a dynamically ideal load to a guitar that
remains steadfast, resulting in a tone that is consistent, while
still allowing the guitar to breathe, live, and react - like plugging
directly into the front of a tube amplifier.
The integrated output line-driver circuit is capable of driving a
long unbalanced cable run, via shielded 1/4” TS instrument
cable. It also incorporates a mini-toggle fixed boost, and a
stomp-switch selected variable boost, to slightly increase the
level reaching a back-line amplifier (making up for any losses
or compensating for different guitars), and to drive the amp’s
input harder!
A dual-function STOMP switch allows selecting the variable
BOOST, or a MUTE for silent tuning and guitar changes. To
activate the variable boost, as set by the BOOST knob, simply
press the STOMP switch, a blue BOOST LED indicate’s when
it’s on. Press the STOMP switch again to turn it off. To activate
the MUTE, hold down the STOMP switch for about 3/4-of-a-
second, a red MUTE LED indicate’s it’s on. Press the STOMP
switch again to exit the MUTE mode, and the HIGH-WIRE™
DUAL BUFFER/OUTPUT BOOST will return to on or off
BOOST state it was in, prior to activating the MUTE.
The HIGH-WIRE™ DUAL BUFFER/OUTPUT BOOST’s stra-
tegic first-in last-out position in the audio signal path also allows
it to provide a compact and convenient consolidation point for
the two most commonly used pedalboard audio connections.
And thanks to its dual-PCB analog-goodness design, it will
stand tall at the “typical” top-right corner of a pedalboard - with-
out the need for a pedal-riser.
CONTROLS & CONNECTIONS
It’s always a good idea to make any audio connections
with every piece of equipment in a guitar rig turned off,
or at least the amplifier volume(s) turned down, to avoid
loud bursts of sound from damaging speakers or other
components.
For optimal results in the preservation of a guitar’s tone, and
allowing it to reach an amplifier with steadfast consistency,
the HIGH-WIRE™ DUAL BUFFER/OUTPUT BOOST
should ideally be the first device the guitar is plugged
into, and the last device connected to the amplifier’s input.
NOTE: A few vintage fuzz pedals will function and sound
differently when connected directly to the guitar because
they are meant to be fed with a high-impedance signal
source, as opposed to a low-impedance signal source,
which is why they need to be used first in the signal path.
It’s recommended that such pedals either be modified
with true-bypass switching, if not already so equipped,
or used in conjunction with a true-bypass loop-box to en-
sure the pedal is completely bypassed when not in use.
IN:
This 1/4” phono jack is the input and accepts the signal
from a guitar. It feeds the discrete Class-A buffer circuit.
SND:
This 1/4” phono jack is an output (SEND) and provides
a buffered low-impedance signal from the discrete Class-A buf-
fer circuit. Connect this jack to the input of the first pedal on a
pedalboard. When the MUTE is on/active, this jack will silence
the pedal inputs, allowing for any time-based effect pedals such
as a delay, echo and/or reverb, to trail-off naturally, instead of
ending abruptly.
RTN:
This 1/4” phono jack is an input (RETURN)
and accepts the signal from the output of the last
pedal on a pedalboard. It feeds the integrated line-
driver circuit. When a 1/4” plug is not inserted, it is
normalled to the SEND jack, and the input signal will
be routed through both circuits to the OUTPUT jack.
OUT:
This 1/4” phono jack is the output and provides a
buffered low-impedance signal from the integrated line-
driver circuit. Connect this jack to the input of an amplifier
using a shielded 1/4” TS instrument cable.
:
This 1/4” phono jack is an output (TUNER), it’s
always on, and provides a buffered low-impedance signal
from the discrete Class-A buffer circuit. Connect this jack
to the input of a tuner - keeping it out of the signal chain.
Note: When using shielded 1/4” TS (tip & sleeve) instru-
ment cables, always aim for the best quality and shortest
length possible.
9VDC IN:
This standard female DC receptacle is the ex-
ternal power supply jack and accepts a 2.1mm x 5.5mm
male barrel connector from a standard 9Volt DC “wall-wart”
power adapter or universal pedalboard power supply, with
a NEGATIVE CENTER polarity plug. Refer to the SPECI-
FICATIONS section for additional information.
Note: An external DC “wall-wart” power adapter is not
included.
WARNING: To avoid immediate damage to this device and
voiding the warranty, do NOT connect an AC-Voltage, or
ANY other DC-Voltage power supply to this jack, other than
that specified above and in the SPECIFICATIONS section!
STOMP SW:
This dual-function STOMP switch allows
