True Bypass question

It all matters--length of cord, number of effects, the specific circuits in question, the way they are being powered (individually and as a group), the grounding system in your amp, whether there are any ground loops anywhere in your rig, and for all I know, the phase of the moon too.

Here's the test: Plug into your pedal chain, and listen, with various fx engaged and disengaged. Occasionally unplug the chain and plug bass straight to amp. Then go back to the chain, with more listening and on/off switching.

Are your highs "dull" or attenuated? How's the noise level? Do you have to adjust the input gain on your amp to get similar "strength" of signal/tone?

If the answer to any of those is "yeah I hear something I don't like" then start experimenting with different numbers and arrangements of pedals in the chain, until you no longer hear something you don't like.

One side note: those non-cable couplers seem like a great idea for cable length reduction, but they tend to cause damage to the jacks if you accidentally kick, drop, or push the pedal chain around.

 

I'd say you're fine then.

 

The VT Bass is a buffered bypass so it will counteract any tone suck along the line of pedals.

 

well, that depends where you place it


i'm happy to see some discussion of this topic that doesn't turn flamewar. for more opinions on the subject, check out the current "what's your bypass ratio" thread

 

I just quit worrying about true bypass, tone suck, all that stuff. Fact is, it never has really been an issue for me in a band, performance, or recording session, that a halfway qualified sound man or engineer could not take care of.