Buffered vs True Bypass Pedals

[Pastasauce]

Really interesting Pete Thorn video here...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOWeoizp4y0&feature=plcp[/youtube]

Of course, my pedalboard is a mish-mash of buffered and true bypass pedals... not sure what that does to the tone.

[sizzlingbadger]

nothing wrong with a good buffer, it can improve tone by reducing impedance mis-match losses etc. A good buffer at the start of the pedal chain is good in IMHO.

[Scooter13]

Yeah, what that vid fails to mention is the effect of stacking too many buffered pedals in a line. I'd like to hear 5 buffered pedals in a row versus 1 buffered and 4 TB.
And then there's fuzz and active pickups, which don't like buffers....just to add to the confusion.

[AmpShop]

Yeah, what that vid fails to mention is the effect of stacking too many buffered pedals in a line. I'd like to hear 5 buffered pedals in a row versus 1 buffered and 4 TB.
And then there's fuzz and active pickups, which don't like buffers....just to add to the confusion.

+1

A good buffer is indeed a good thing, but like most things in guitarland, there's many exceptions to the rule.

[Single coil]

Yeah, what that vid fails to mention is the effect of stacking too many buffered pedals in a line. I'd like to hear 5 buffered pedals in a row versus 1 buffered and 4 TB.

I used to run about 5 buffered pedals and maybe one or two TB pedals with no negative effects.


On another note, I have a strong feeling this is going to quickly become a heated debate thread.

[jeremyb]

HD500.

[Pastasauce]

Quick dumb question... do buffered pedals add or amplify the highs in your signal? Does that mean if you have 4 in your chain (like me) you will be getting more treble in your signal than you would plugging straight into the amp?

[badmotor]

Well, what do your ears tell you?

[sizzlingbadger]

Quick dumb question... do buffered pedals add or amplify the highs in your signal? Does that mean if you have 4 in your chain (like me) you will be getting more treble in your signal than you would plugging straight into the amp?

A good buffer will not add or subtract EQ but not all buffers are good. You may perceive to get more treble out of a good buffer as it is reducing treble losses as clearly audible in the video. If the first pedal in the chain is buffered it can really help reduce losses due to cable capacitance which is what that video is showing specifically.

The age-old argument that buffers are bad or true bypass is good/bad is just nonsense, as usual it depends on the quality of the buffer and where in the chain they are placed. For example its good to have a buffered pedal in front of a pedal with a low input impedance as it reduces the losses you would otherwise experience.

[rickenbackerkid]

I just buy pedals that sound good. Only one of the them is TB, so I surmise that I prefer the buffered way of things.

[sizzlingbadger]

Some don't like True Bypass due the fact they often pop / click when you press the foot-switch.

[Single coil]

The age-old argument that buffers are bad or true bypass is good/bad is just nonsense

YES!
Bad input impendance causes the thing all the real uppity people (cork sniffers?) call "tone suck". Bad input impendance I have found to be unheard of with Boss pedals. Funny, cuz they get whinged about the most.
Oh, and crybaby pedals. But they're supposed to be notorious for it.

I just buy pedals that sound good. Only one of the them is TB, so I surmise that I prefer the buffered way of things.

And a pint for you too.



Buffers help. They push your signal along. Too much true bypass = you lose signal.

[MogwaiBoy]

That video rules (though the old guy mumbles a bit). I'm glad they used a humble and much maligned DS-1 too. Point proven - except as stated there are exceptions (Fuzzfaces with buffers before them etc) and not all buffers are created equal.

[rickenbackerkid]

the more I play guitar, the more I realize that Boss just gets it right. They do NOT 'suck tone', the form and case design is better that anything else, and they sound really good.

[sizzlingbadger]

My Boss DD20 was a great pedal, very well built and didn't suck tone.