For someone who knows a lot about effects: are the following true bypass or buffered

[almix12]

Okayyy so I'm still putting together the pedalboard buying pedals from all over N.A. and I need to know if the following pedals are true bypass:

Sovtek bass balls
USA bass balls
nano bass balls
all three for small stone

digitech BSW (i gather its not but just wanted to be sure)
BBE sonic stomp maximizer
moog ring modulator

thanks very much
-Alex

[JanusZarate]

None of the EHX pedals you listed are buffered. The Nano versions of the Bassballs and Small Stone are true bypass. The Sovtek versions are not. The USA versions, I'm not sure.

The Digitech BSW has a buffered bypass. So does the Moog Moogerfooger Ring Modulator. The Sonic Stomp pedal is true bypass, I believe.

[almix12]

thanks a lot for the reply, i guess i'm just missing one small thing
if it's not true bypass and it's not buffered, what is it? Is it tone sucking? i guess that depends on the circuit right?
i'm going with my crazy bypass looper idea that everyone's putting me down on and was just wondering how many loops i NEED vs practicality

[JanusZarate]

There are other odd kinds... but honestly, I wouldn't stress about the bypass. Plug it in and see if it impacts your tone when bypassed. Chances are it's minor enough to forgive, but if it's not, then a true bypass loop can help.

Besides, true bypass isn't a cure-all. Ever heard a switch "pop"? It's an unfortunate drawback of true bypass, although it fortunately only happens once in a while (it'll vary from switch to switch).

As far as loops go... you don't need one for every pedal. I would just plan according to the combos you might use. Say, for example, you wanted to use the Bassballs and Small Stone together often. You would only need one loop; turn both on and activate the loop when needed. And what if you wanted to use just one of those pedals at a time? Again, just one loop, and turn on only the pedal you plan to engage for the next song. The impact of the other bypass on the effect is minimal at best, and it won't be an issue on you clean sound at all when you've bypassed the loop.

[almix12]

hm thanks a lot for the great info!

[selfblessed]

From what I understand...Since the end of 2005 the USA Bassballs were true bypass.

On another note...After seeing many top players boards and learning what pedals are true bypass and what not, Some have pedals with questionable bypasses. Doesn't seem to bug them.

[Vic Winters]

If the Sonic Stomp is like the Opto Stomp, which I assume it is, then yes it true bypass.

[almix12]

also, i'm trying to avoid starting a new thread on this but if i dont get an answer here i guess i will:

to power a buncha 9v pedals, i know some ppl daisy chain, taking a power out from a tuner or line selector etc. I have a boss adapter, but not one of those, i'm thinkina splicing a daisy chain cable onto it (along with one 9v battery clip for my big muff)
would that work just as is?
sorry for the short form typing, its lateee

[JanusZarate]

You could just do the easy approach: buy a daisy-chain cable, plug your adapter into it, and use the plugs on the daisy chain to power all of your pedals. You can plug a 9V battery clip adapter plug onto any of the plugs on the chain, to power your Big Muff (I assume it must be a Sovtek or Russian?).

Most of us do NOT use the DC-Out jacks on some tuners and the like, because most pedals don't have those output jacks. We just start the daisy chain directly from the adapter, or use other solutions besides daisy-chaining (like isolated output supplies, special adapters for non-9V pedals, etc.).

You can buy the daisy chain cable used for the Visual Sound One Spot or Godlyke Powerall by itself, anywhere online and at some shops. You don't need a One Spot or similar adapter, because the barrel plugs are the same. The daisy chain will work on any adapter with the proper barrel plug (like the one on your Boss adapter). The major difference, however, is available current (300mA on the Boss, 1700mA on the One Spot, etc.). But if you don't need the extra power, you're fine. Most of the pedals you're considering will be fine, but if you do get a Digitech BSW, consider an upgrade. For the Moog, you'll definitely need a separate supply to power it alone (it comes with its own adapter), or consider a more expensive power-all solution.

You don't need to break out the wire cutters to power your pedals.

[almix12]

right ya i have a seperate adapter for the moog and bass micro synth which i've come to accept ill need to use. So the daisy chain cables have one female plug and the rest cable male to power all the pedals? I guess that was the missing link there.
yes its the green sovtek one. The only problem is the 9v battery adapters i have just have electrical cables on the other end so I figure ill just splice one onto one of the daisy chain cable power outlets

edit: really think i'll need an upgrade for the BSW?

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by almix12

right ya i have a seperate adapter for the moog and bass micro synth which i've come to accept ill need to use.

If you get an isolated-output supply (i.e., a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+ or the like), you wouldn't need the adapters.

Originally Posted by almix12

So the daisy chain cables have one female plug and the rest cable male to power all the pedals? I guess that was the missing link there.

Yep.

The exception is with the Boss brand daisy-chain - that one has only male plugs, because it's intended to be used through a DC output jack.

Other daisy chains skip that requirement by having that jack on the daisy-chain itself (as a female plug).

Originally Posted by almix12

yes its the green sovtek one. The only problem is the 9v battery adapters i have just have electrical cables on the other end so I figure ill just splice one onto one of the daisy chain cable power outlets

Originally Posted by almix12

edit: really think i'll need an upgrade for the BSW?

It depends on the rest of your chain. I'm not sure how close you're coming to maxxing out the 300mA mark, but the BSW would take out a huge chunk of available power.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by almix12

thanks a lot for the reply, i guess i'm just missing one small thing
if it's not true bypass and it's not buffered, what is it? Is it tone sucking? i guess that depends on the circuit right?
i'm going with my crazy bypass looper idea that everyone's putting me down on and was just wondering how many loops i NEED vs practicality

There are a lot of pedals out there that use a non-buffered mechanical bypass for their pedals. IIRC many MXR/Dunlop pedals use this type of bypass. I suspect this is the same with the EHX pedals mentioned previously that were neither true or buffered bypass.

[almix12]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

If you get an isolated-output supply (i.e., a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2+ or the like), you wouldn't need the adapters.

Hm yes, but those would be a lot more money than a daisy chain adapter.

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

The exception is with the Boss brand daisy-chain - that one has only male plugs, because it's intended to be used through a DC output jack.

Other daisy chains skip that requirement by having that jack on the daisy-chain itself (as a female plug).

what brands would you suggest for cheap non-boss ones then?

thanks,
Alex

[LuvMusic]

Originally Posted by almix12

Hm yes, but those would be a lot more money than a daisy chain adapter.


what brands would you suggest for cheap non-boss ones then?

thanks,
Alex

I have a Boss PS120 and use a OneSpot daisy chain. I'm using it to power a Loop-Master Mini Looper, VT Bass, CEB Chorus, AW-3 and Aphex Bass Exciter.

Works fine!

[almix12]

hm okay thanks very much for the heads up