Bypass strategy

[kevteop]

Yes I just saw the weird thread about true-bypass. This is something I've been giving some thought to lately.

When using my pedalboard I'm running through two 20ft guitar cables (one to, and one from my board), and my tone clearly suffers when all my effects are bypassed. I've been keeping everything on my board within a mechanical true-bypass loop because I'm paranoid of sudden power failures to the board - so at least I can cut straight to the amp if I ever need to.

I'm wondering if there's an equally-safe but less tone-destructive way of ensuring the bass signal still gets through if the power to the board fails or a buffered pedal in the chain suddenly stops working?

[B.C.]

Eh, not so sure it can be done. Generally your buffers in pedals are active(ie they need power.) Some will have a relay that if power is shut off it goes to bypass, but it is no longer buffered. If I think of anything I'll let you know

[cheapbasslovin]

Were I you I would put some sort of an always on buffer in your first TB loop, then you still have your, "oh, crap, I need to bypass this all" protection but you have a buffer in asap.

The other suggestion would be to get a TBP power booster/ buffer to put at the front of your chain like a barge buffer or even an LPB-2. Same deal as above.

I have my buffered Looper/ Blender at the front of my chain for this reason (pickup loading). If my power goes down, however, I pretty much have to yank my lead from my blender and put it in my amp. At least I will know where the problem is.

[kevteop]

So I suppose the safest option is to have a loop switch containing of those new-fangled buffered bypass circuits with a relay to switch it to a mechanical bypass in the event of a failure, and to run it off a battery?

That sounds pretty good actually. Does anyone make one?

[Chronicle]

I run all my stuff in a BC VFB-2 for just the occasion i want a best tone scenario. I often wondered if I could get a buffer pedal to help the effected tone.

There's some buffer pedals like this one...



I'm unsure if it would help me since the Barge supposedly has a buffer in it though...

[uglybrownshoes]

if you have one effect you leave on at all times it is essentially acting as a buffer no?

ie a Barber Linden or something...

you could put that in your chain before the true bypass looper and just leave it on as a line driver or the like.

no?

[B.C.]

Originally Posted by Chronicle

I run all my stuff in a BC VFB-2 for just the occasion i want a best tone scenario. I often wondered if I could get a buffer pedal to help the effected tone.

There's some buffer pedals like this one...



I'm unsure if it would help me since the Barge supposedly has a buffer in it though...

Yes a line driver def. acts as a buffer, but I believe the buffer gets a bad name. A lot of nice buffers can improve your tone IMHO

Edit Sorry Chron didn't read the post thouroughly

[cheapbasslovin]

Originally Posted by kevteop

So I suppose the safest option is to have a loop switch containing of those new-fangled buffered bypass circuits with a relay to switch it to a mechanical bypass in the event of a failure, and to run it off a battery?

That sounds pretty good actually. Does anyone make one?

You said a lot of things that kind of make sense to me there, but not complete sense.

One of the problems with a mechanical relay (AFAIK) is that it requires a fair chunk of current to operate. The battery scenario would therefore be less desirable, but it wouldn't matter because if your power died the relay would switch to TBP mode anyway.

Does your power supply fail so routinely that you really need a line driver that remains on while the rest of your board is dead?

The digitech hardwire series uses relay switching, fwiw. You may be able to use their tuner at the front of your chain in an always on setup.

[gillento]

What about a buffer (like the Barge) and all your effects in a TBP loop.
The loop is engaged when everything is fine.
In case power should go down on your board, the TBP loop takes the powered buffer and the effcts out of the circuit, straight to your amp.

[kevteop]

Originally Posted by gillento

What about a buffer (like the Barge) and all your effects in a TBP loop.
The loop is engaged when everything is fine.
In case power should go down on your board, the TBP loop takes the powered buffer and the effcts out of the circuit, straight to your amp.

That's what I'm already doing, but I was talking about having some kind of "emergency buffer" always in my chain.

I suppose having one buffered pedal outside the TBP loop (or in another loop) wouldn't hurt. The main reason I'm paranoid about being able to bypass everything is because there's so many things that might fail - patch cables, power, switches, whatever - all under my clumsy feet. I suppose if I had one isolated buffer always running then I'd feel a bit happier.

Might do that.