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True bypass

B

bassman_2_1

Dec 31, 2005
90
0
#1
hi peeps i thought i would start a thread about true bypass, i just added a thread about efeects troubles i have encountered. i have six tone sucking pedals which are boss bass synth--- digitech whammy----- boss octave---- boss distortion-----boss chorus----boss delay. i was advised that a true bypass strip would sort this out. here is a list of the strips

http://www.loop-master.com/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=135bc181b3b5032a183581a7bd6d09b7

does any other bassist use true bypass strips? also would this totally clear all my tone loss through the damm effects! the sweet sound of modulus straight in my svt4 is to good to lose :(

any thought reply's on this would be great :)
 
#2
I use a three channel one from Loopmaster. I use it to turn on effects that I will need later in a song then when I need them I just turn on the channel I need. Its also nice to cut down on cable length between your bass and amp. And it does help with the tone sucking.

CK
 
#3
cheers, as i only use 6 pedals do i need to get a strip with 5 loops on or would 2 or a 3 bypass strip be suitable? i have never seen one of these strips before, but too many pedals can be the worst enemy :) i live in the UK also, on the web it looks like they are not as common to use over here :)
 
#4
Well it depends. You can get anywhere between 1 and 6 loops.

1 loop with all your pedals in it and you turn each effect on as needed within the main loop and have the loop on when you need said effect (song needs only whammy, turn on whammy and loop) Advantages Cheapest! Disadvantages Two buttons to hit (pedal and loop)

6 loops with a pedal in each. This way you leave all your effects on always and then instead of turning the footswitch on your pedal on you use the looper on. This also gives you complete control over your pedals and if you get a master bypass you can turn all your pedals on/off at once (as if you had all pedals on in a 1 loop and turned the loop off) Advantages: Complete control over pedals, only 1 button to hit per pedal. Disadvantages: Most $$

Option 3 would be to get somewhere between 2 and 5 loops. The advantage of this is combining pedals in loops. Say you only use your chorus and delay together. Stick them in a loop and have each effect always on, not you only hit one button to put them in/take them out of your signal. This also allows you to have extra loops for whatever say you have a 3 loop box with 2 of your pedals in each that you always use in conjunction. then you can leave all your pedals on and control them with the 3 loops for everything you need. Advantages: Cheaper than the 6, still customizable. Disadvantages: still more than just 1 loop and not quite as flexible as 6 if you need all the pedals separate.

Having said all this, I have all my pedals save a tuner and a looping pedal in 1 loop which I leave on all the time. But my pedals are not sucking tone from me seeing as they are all true bypass themselves. I use my looper as a master on/off switch for when I need to cut all my effects on/off at a moments notice. (I also have my BMS in a separate 1 loop because the bypass on that really does suck). Sorry this was all long, hope it makes sense.
 
#5
I have 6 pedals that I split between 3 loops.

I put my Korg AX3000B, Line 6 DM4, and soon to be MXR M-80 in the first loop. I have my Line 6 FM4 in a loop by itself and the I have my Line 6 DL4 and Boss RC-20XL in a loop.

If I were you I would figure out groups for your pedals (distortions, delays, modulations, synths, etc.) that would work for you and then see how many channels you would need. I would say you would be good with 2 or 3 loops.

CK
 
#6
cheers guys, i think true bypass is probably over looked by alot of players and it doesnt seem to bother, i know loads of guitar players with countless pedals and never mentioned anything about tone sucking! i think because i noticed the tone drift away bass i did miss that plugged straight in sound :) but i will test the problem again tonight in practice and compare the sound going straight in and thru my pedals, just to make sure sure. thanks for your veiws, i thought boss where prolly the best in effects pedals last week, this week i am thinking i have spent money on effects that have riuned some of my tone :) cheers
 
#7
You could even have a single loop and just bypass your pedals all at once which you'd be able to do for very cheap.

Since your in the uk check out www.monkeyfx.co.uk I'd still say go with Loop Master as I haven't seen any particularly impressive work from Monkey FX but they do work he just tends to make them look like crap.

If you true bypass all your pedals you will be getting closer to your bass straight into your amp tone but you do have to bare in mind that previously I asume you were using a 20ft cable and with the pedal board you'll most likely use 20ft to board 20ft from board to amp and how ever much cable is between the pedals so this will affect tone a little bit as well.

Hope this helps
 
#8
I LOVE mine!!! Works awesome...

new_board.jpg
 
#9
Nice 1 eric that looks great. might get myself a 5 loop bypass!!

you guys get it easy in the US. here in the UK seems to be a serious lack of quality music shops to even see the goods you are interested in:( i bought an ampeg amp 9months ago, there is only about 1 bog standard ampeg amp i have seen in my city!(i had to buy before i tried) what makes it worse this city is also down for the european capital of culture they have ment to have pumped £10.000000(that is million i think) into the music industry here! what a scam!
thansk for the replys :D
 
#10
bassman_2_1 said:
Nice 1 eric that looks great. might get myself a 5 loop bypass!!

you guys get it easy in the US. here in the UK seems to be a serious lack of quality music shops to even see the goods you are interested in:( i bought an ampeg amp 9months ago, there is only about 1 bog standard ampeg amp i have seen in my city!(i had to buy before i tried) what makes it worse this city is also down for the european capital of culture they have ment to have pumped £10.000000(that is million i think) into the music industry here! what a scam!
thansk for the replys :D
Click to expand...
I got mine right from loop-master.com. I don't think that's an off-the-shelf item anywhere. I am pretty sure they will ship overseas. He was always quick to get back to me when I was trying to decide options. Shoot him an e-mail. :)
 
#18
Just finished a lenthy rehearsal session, i really need to get a loop master true bypass box so badly now! The tone sucking effects are so bad! cant wait to get one now! fingers crossed it will give me 100% tone back! i couldnt belive the difference when going straight in the amp. ill have to leave a post when i get my bypass switch , they seem a must have for all bass players that use effects.

thanks for the earlier posting on the matter :hiding:
 
#20
Hey nice article toasted. it looks like i cant win!!!! just to update, i am going through 6 pedals in this order.. boss bass synth---- digitech whammy---- boss octave---- boss---overdrive/distortion----- boss bass chorus---- boss dd3 delay. it is not like i am going through 20 pedals! i am using an ampeg svt4-pro into 1x15" BXThl and 4x10BXThl cabs, also using a modulus flea bass, my leads are both only15ft from amp to pedal-pedals to bass, the tone and power is great! when plugged straight in, to sound is sweet music to my ears:D as proved tonight i recon i lost about15% meat in my sound, i wish i could get that full powered sound when in my effects as the effects sound awsome thru the amp too!!

cheers for the article
 

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