True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
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JMP/HBE
Well-known member
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
I mean, it exists... it’s not like the wolfman or something.
The thing that always gets ignored is the crappy half bypass of old MXRs, EHXs, Crybabies and Voxes, etc. True Bypass is infinitely better than that. As for buffered bypass vs true bypass, there are places for both depending on the application.
I mean, it exists... it’s not like the wolfman or something.
The thing that always gets ignored is the crappy half bypass of old MXRs, EHXs, Crybabies and Voxes, etc. True Bypass is infinitely better than that. As for buffered bypass vs true bypass, there are places for both depending on the application.
devastone
Well-known member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Like everything, it's fine in moderation, string a bunch of TB pedals together without a buffer and you'll get tone suck.
And yes, the "hardwire" bypass (I think that's what they call it) on old Crybabies and others in PFD's list is very noticeable.
Like everything, it's fine in moderation, string a bunch of TB pedals together without a buffer and you'll get tone suck.
And yes, the "hardwire" bypass (I think that's what they call it) on old Crybabies and others in PFD's list is very noticeable.
Jacew
New member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Personally I think too many buffered bypass does induce their own problems down the line, so I keep mine all TB, and keep buffered pedal first and last in chain. That way you get the best of both.
I think it should be standard feature in pedals to switch between buffered and TB. At least ones that are more likely to be first in chain.
Effects loops (good ones) are already buffered anyway.
Personally I think too many buffered bypass does induce their own problems down the line, so I keep mine all TB, and keep buffered pedal first and last in chain. That way you get the best of both.
I think it should be standard feature in pedals to switch between buffered and TB. At least ones that are more likely to be first in chain.
Effects loops (good ones) are already buffered anyway.
dpaterson
New member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
My contribution:
No idea whether it's fact or fiction.
Only because I've read up on this numerous times: I make sure that my last pedals (stereo) going to each amp. are buffered bypass whether they're in use or not. Cannot say I've actually heard any difference though with or without them.
My first pedal in the chain is true bypass (compressor) but my second pedal is buffered bypass (EQ).
Only pedal I have that is switchable is this darn TC Electronic MIMIQ (which I don't use). But yeh: assuming it makes SOME type of difference it would be nice if all pedals were switchable (maybe it's just with my setup that there's no audible difference i.e. maybe with more pristine hardware i.e. amps. it's more noticeable).
Regards,
Dale.
My contribution:
No idea whether it's fact or fiction.
Only because I've read up on this numerous times: I make sure that my last pedals (stereo) going to each amp. are buffered bypass whether they're in use or not. Cannot say I've actually heard any difference though with or without them.
My first pedal in the chain is true bypass (compressor) but my second pedal is buffered bypass (EQ).
Only pedal I have that is switchable is this darn TC Electronic MIMIQ (which I don't use). But yeh: assuming it makes SOME type of difference it would be nice if all pedals were switchable (maybe it's just with my setup that there's no audible difference i.e. maybe with more pristine hardware i.e. amps. it's more noticeable).
Regards,
Dale.
Jacew
New member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
It doesn't really matter if your buffer is first in chain or after a TB pedal, as long as there isn't too many of them. When you switch your compressor on, it's the first buffer in chain. If it works fine there with EQ that's not a problem. Since comressor essentailly changes your entire signal I don't think it matters it switches your chain buffered even if you hadn't the EQ there.
I said it earlier too, I think EQ should be buffered, because you want it usually be transparent only changing parts of your signal you want to change. True bypass EQ could do funny things to your tone when switching it on/off in a mid playing.
It doesn't really matter if your buffer is first in chain or after a TB pedal, as long as there isn't too many of them. When you switch your compressor on, it's the first buffer in chain. If it works fine there with EQ that's not a problem. Since comressor essentailly changes your entire signal I don't think it matters it switches your chain buffered even if you hadn't the EQ there.
I said it earlier too, I think EQ should be buffered, because you want it usually be transparent only changing parts of your signal you want to change. True bypass EQ could do funny things to your tone when switching it on/off in a mid playing.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
That’s it right there.
Some older pedals left the input of the circuit connected and just switched the output. This was to save money on the foot switch, and they probably figured it worked fine.
If the effect, like a typical wah, didn’t have a very high input impedance it altered your guitar’s tone.
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That’s it right there.
Some older pedals left the input of the circuit connected and just switched the output. This was to save money on the foot switch, and they probably figured it worked fine.
If the effect, like a typical wah, didn’t have a very high input impedance it altered your guitar’s tone.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Ideally you want no pedals in your signal chain. If you need to use one or two pedals, you want them to be true bypass. If you need to use much more than that, you want a single buffered at the start followed by a bunch of true bypass pedals. Half assed bypass pedals will be worse than buffered or true bypass, and should be removed from your signal chain until you've soldered in a fix to correct the problem. At least this has been the result of my experiments trying to use pedals and keep as close to the original tone of the guitar as possible.
Ideally you want no pedals in your signal chain. If you need to use one or two pedals, you want them to be true bypass. If you need to use much more than that, you want a single buffered at the start followed by a bunch of true bypass pedals. Half assed bypass pedals will be worse than buffered or true bypass, and should be removed from your signal chain until you've soldered in a fix to correct the problem. At least this has been the result of my experiments trying to use pedals and keep as close to the original tone of the guitar as possible.
Jacew
New member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Unless one doesn't want to keep the guitar sounding exactly as it does...
Ideally you want no pedals in your signal chain. If you need to use one or two pedals, you want them to be true bypass. If you need to use much more than that, you want a single buffered at the start followed by a bunch of true bypass pedals. Half assed bypass pedals will be worse than buffered or true bypass, and should be removed from your signal chain until you've soldered in a fix to correct the problem. At least this has been the result of my experiments trying to use pedals and keep as close to the original tone of the guitar as possible.
Unless one doesn't want to keep the guitar sounding exactly as it does...
Jacew
New member
devastone
Well-known member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Unless you use 2 pedals and 40' of cable, then a buffer is nice, unless you like the high end roll off. That wasn't sarcasm, Hendrix used half bypass pedals and high capacitance curly cords his tone is still worshiped by many.
Ideally you want no pedals in your signal chain. If you need to use one or two pedals, you want them to be true bypass. If you need to use much more than that, you want a single buffered at the start followed by a bunch of true bypass pedals. Half assed bypass pedals will be worse than buffered or true bypass, and should be removed from your signal chain until you've soldered in a fix to correct the problem. At least this has been the result of my experiments trying to use pedals and keep as close to the original tone of the guitar as possible.
Unless you use 2 pedals and 40' of cable, then a buffer is nice, unless you like the high end roll off. That wasn't sarcasm, Hendrix used half bypass pedals and high capacitance curly cords his tone is still worshiped by many.
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Just a theory, but I think a lot of the true bypass fans are people that are used to playing through a tube amp turned up loud and use a volume control for cleanup. They are used to the interaction of the guitar pickups and the amp’s front end and a buffer can completely interrupt that. They would use pedals rarely, only for specific effects once in a while. Just a thought.
Good point on the trails.
Just a theory, but I think a lot of the true bypass fans are people that are used to playing through a tube amp turned up loud and use a volume control for cleanup. They are used to the interaction of the guitar pickups and the amp’s front end and a buffer can completely interrupt that. They would use pedals rarely, only for specific effects once in a while. Just a thought.
Good point on the trails.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Have no problem cleaning up my guitar with buffered only pedals....
The TB horrors and their DC pops and mechanical noise on the other hand....
Have no problem cleaning up my guitar with buffered only pedals....
The TB horrors and their DC pops and mechanical noise on the other hand....
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
Buffers sort of mess with a fuzzface. Also the Blackstone OD, which wants to interact with your pickups directly. So those like to be in line before any buffers.
But if you're running more than two or three pedals (which many do nowadays), or if you have a long cable run to the amp, buffers are a tonesaver. There's a reason why so many pedals have a buffer built in.
Buffers sort of mess with a fuzzface. Also the Blackstone OD, which wants to interact with your pickups directly. So those like to be in line before any buffers.
But if you're running more than two or three pedals (which many do nowadays), or if you have a long cable run to the amp, buffers are a tonesaver. There's a reason why so many pedals have a buffer built in.
DavidRavenMoon
New member
True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
That’s because the Fuzzface and its clones have a terribly low input impedance. Wasn’t done for any other reason than no one was thinking about how it would work with another pedal in front of it. It’s just an old, poor design.
Properly designed pedals have a high input impedance and a low output impedance. So in that aspect they are already buffering the signal. Pedals with electronic switching, like Boss, act as buffers in bypass just as a side effect to the switching system.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That’s because the Fuzzface and its clones have a terribly low input impedance. Wasn’t done for any other reason than no one was thinking about how it would work with another pedal in front of it. It’s just an old, poor design.
Properly designed pedals have a high input impedance and a low output impedance. So in that aspect they are already buffering the signal. Pedals with electronic switching, like Boss, act as buffers in bypass just as a side effect to the switching system.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Jacew
New member
Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?
So is that why my attempt at building electronic TB switching system failed...? It did worked, but I never got rid of horrible switching noise caused by supposedly "low noise" operation audio relays.
So is that why my attempt at building electronic TB switching system failed...? It did worked, but I never got rid of horrible switching noise caused by supposedly "low noise" operation audio relays.
