True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

[PFDarkside]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

The problem with the "standard" Phase 90 is that it isn't true bypase, it's what MXR calls "True Hardwire Bypass", which is misleading, and not TB. I always prefer Phase and Flange in front of the amp FWIW, but as always, YMMV.

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/more-on-bypassing-the-hype-1

Yes, exactly. True Bypass is far better than that. I also prefer Phaser and Flanger in front of the amp as well. I guess it’s the sound of the albums I grew up listening to.

I love this article; posted it here before:

http://screaminfx.com/tech/why-and-when-to-use-a-guitar-buffer-pedal.htm

General rule of thumb: the higher the input imp. and the lower the output imp. - the better. Then the signal passes through strong.

You can’t say that as a blanket statement. That precludes the Fuzz Face and it’s awesome pickup/pedal interaction, as well as some other pedals that use this (like the Mad Professor Royal Blue). Also, too high of an input impedance can be perceived as too bright. The TU-3 is an example of this. You’ll find people that upgraded from a TU-2 to a TU-3 and found their tone got brighter. The TU-3w actually has lower input impedance than the TU-3.





In the end, there’s no right or wrong, just preferences. Know how it all works so you can choose what works best for your situation.

 

[LLL]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

You can’t say that as a blanket statement. That precludes the Fuzz Face and it’s awesome pickup/pedal interaction, as well as some other pedals that use this (like the Mad Professor Royal Blue). Also, too high of an input impedance can be perceived as too bright. The TU-3 is an example of this. You’ll find people that upgraded from a TU-2 to a TU-3 and found their tone got brighter. The TU-3w actually has lower input impedance than the TU-3.

In the end, there’s no right or wrong, just preferences. Know how it all works so you can choose what works best for your situation.

If you read the article, there are concessions regarding fuzz faces, wahs and the like due to their interaction with the guitar.

 

[dpaterson]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Whats wrong with talking about it ?

Yeh. What's wrong with talking about it???

For what it's worth:

I for one have learned more in the last month or so thanks to these forums than I have in the past thirty years or so and it's BECAUSE of threads like this and ongoing discussions (some stuff that I didn't know about and some stuff that I didn't care about until now not realising just how important it is).

But thanks for all the info. everyone.

I'd indeed read one or two of those same articles previously. But all sort of "comes together" on this thread.

Cannot help but get the feeling that this is all somehow related to gain staging (or gain staging is related to all of this)???

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

The problem with the "standard" Phase 90 is that it isn't true bypase, it's what MXR calls "True Hardwire Bypass", which is misleading, and not TB. I always prefer Phase and Flange in front of the amp FWIW, but as always, YMMV.

https://www.premierguitar.com/articles/more-on-bypassing-the-hype-1

In Dunlop/MXR lingo, "hardwire bypass" is the old MXR tone-sucking bypass where the input of the circuit is still connected when in bypass, "true hardwire bypass" is real true bypass where the signal goes from the input to the output without the circuit connected when in bypass. Dunlop has updated the bypass on some pedals and wahs to real true bypass over the years, but many still have the half-ass "hardwire bypass" that causes tone suck.
Al

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

If you read the article, there are concessions regarding fuzz faces, wahs and the like due to their interaction with the guitar.

In fairness, those are pretty niche cases. In the big picture, the development of FET switching and consistent input/output impedance was a huge step forward for guitarists.

 

[Zombiwoof]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

In fairness, those are pretty niche cases. In the big picture, the development of FET switching and consistent input/output impedance was a huge step forward for guitarists.

Fuzz Faces have had true bypass switching since the beginning, one of the few vintage pedals that did have it.
Al

 

[Francois]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

A terrible tone sucker (even when the pedal switch is not engaged) is the Whammy second version (the black one).

 

[Securb]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Get a pedal, plug it in. If you like it keep it, if it sucks get rid of it. I never factor in true bypass when buying a pedal. It either sounds great or it is gone.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

As long as you never turn your pedal off, the type of bypass doesn't matter at all.

 

[JMP/HBE]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

 

[Jacew]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

I recently bought EHX Micro Pog. I might post some kind of review about it in future, but I'm still wrapping my head around what it can do and how to use it.

I use right after Big Muff in my chain. Trying it after buffered Korg DT-10 it started to make hideous wailing noises when upper octave anywhere over 0. Playing it before seemed to work.

Being buffered it did made annoying plasticky sheen on my tone. It was subtle enough to take some time to figure out what was wrong exactly tonewise.

I was already looking how to mod it true bypass when decided to try to switch Korg for true bypass (I installed switch for that when I bought it). It fixed it right up. Apparently those two just don't work together.

Example of why you don't want multiple buffered pedals in your chain.

 

[IMENATOR]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

It makes your tone come alive, more sustain, you push the amp harder while still retaining your instrument real character, it is a talent booster on its own. And it helps digital modelers too, I modded a friend's Helix and put true bypass switches, I think everybody out there should try it.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Can we talk about Abortion, Religion, Tonewoods or Politics next?

:lmao:

 

[Jacew]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

It makes your tone come alive, more sustain, you push the amp harder while still retaining your instrument real character, it is a talent booster on its own. And it helps digital modelers too, I modded a friend's Helix and put true bypass switches, I think everybody out there should try it.

Unless the non-true bypass pedal you're refering to actually has good transparent buffer with boost ability... which turns that other way around.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Can we talk about Abortion, Religion, Tonewoods or Politics next?

:lmao:

Tone woods had been done to death but the other 3 topics should be fresh. Lol

 

[Chistopher]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

It makes your tone come alive, more sustain, you push the amp harder while still retaining your instrument real character, it is a talent booster on its own. And it helps digital modelers too, I modded a friend's Helix and put true bypass switches, I think everybody out there should try it.

Maybe 10 years ago that was true, but nowadays you've got it backwards. Most buffered pedals these days are extremely transparent outside of a few budget brands (Behringer is a big culprit in my experience).

 

[Chistopher]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Can we talk about Abortion, Religion, Tonewoods or Politics next?

:lmao:

Can we Talk about Proper Capitalization next?

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Can we Talk about Proper Capitalization next?

too Risky -that One Might bring The forum Down.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Can we Talk about Proper Capitalization next?

Also -topic, subject or course titles are capitalized in the English language.

Start a new thread and we can battle.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: True Bypass .... fact or fiction ?

Oh sh*t!!!

IT’S ON