Pedals that stack with the Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster

JHS Smiley

The transparent tone has headroom to spare — JHS Smiley gives it fuzzy to fill it with

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas

EarthQuaker Devices Hizumitas's high gain fills in what this transparent tone doesn't make on its own

Boss BF-2 Flanger

Run Boss BF-2 Flanger after Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster in the signal chain, clear of Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster's own gain stage

Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive

What Vox Valvenergy Silk Drive brings here leans toward smooth — that's worth building a pairing around

Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay

Keep Malekko Electro-Harmonix Memory Toy Analog Delay after Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster in the signal chain, clear of Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)

JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay

Run JHS 3 Series Oil Can Delay after Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster in the signal chain, clear of Empress buffer+ Buffer/Booster's own gain stage — goes in the amp's FX loop (or last, into a clean amp)