The Truth About True Bypass

The Audio Test: The True Bypass Myth Debunked!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• true bypass
• gig-fx
• gig fx
• true bypass pedal
• true bypass looper
• true bypass wah
• true bypass switch
• wah true bypass
• true bypass loop
• crybaby true bypass
• true bypass switcher

[GigFXPedals]

Check out the full true bypass v buffered bypass report at the gig-fx website.

[jah60025]

So the demo shows this: Adding a loop of 10 gig-fx wahs results in a brighter signal -- that's not PRESERVING anything, that's ALTERING the signal. Your demo proves that. In fact, the demo completely contradicts your description of it. And it's not relevant to the true-bypass problem -- or as you call it, "myth." This is an ad for gig-fx pedals, and shows -- quite nicely -- that a gig-fx wahs brighten your signal in bypass...ok...pretty nice. But it doesn't debunk anything.

[ZachDRUMMOND]

This is dumb.

[jpurchon]

The gig-fx bypass does not brighten the signal or change it in any way. It helps preserve highs through the cable so it sounds brighter. That is because the output impedance of the pedal matches the input impedance of the amp so reduces losses owing to capacitance. A true bypass will of course add nothing or take anything away so intuitively should sound better, but unfortunately a true bypass allows an impedance mismatch between guitar pickup and amp which allows cable losses to propagate.

[HairyFloyd]

/methinks somebody is selling snake-oil

(or needs a basic physics lesson)

ROL

[jpurchon]

I agree all you need is one buffer at the beginning of your pedal chain and your signal will be preserved. The point of this demo was to dispel the myth that a well-designed buffered bypass will degrade the signal. Even ten of them in a row will not. That is the point. I am not recommending you have ten buffered pedals. Ideally one buffered pedal up front and the rest can be mix and match according to need..

[dsarmbrust]

A bunch of crap. how long is the signal cable from the pedals to the amp? its the cable thats degrading the signal, not the true bypass. TB doesn't effect the signal at all just lets it pass on through. The buffered pedals will keep the signal to an extent, but you wouldn't want to have an entire chain of them. The same goes for TB. Having ONE buffered pedal at the input of your pedalboard will help your signal drive all the TB pedals.

[TheGuitarbuilder1]

that is because of the total lenght the signal is going trough. it going trough 10 pedal with 10 patch cabels. thats way longer than going straigt in the amp

[djtrouserfunk]

Agree with some of the other comments: test should have included a reference sound direct to the amp - NOT going through any bypass at all. Perhaps the true bypass tone is "correct" while the buffered signal may be adding highs to the sound. I guess we'll never know...

[jpurchon]

Thats exactly the whole point. Comparing 10 patch cables with 10 gig-fx bypasses to one straight-through true-bypass connection. You would expect the 10 cables and 10 bypasses to be vastly inferior to the true bypass, but it isn't. It is actually just a tad brighter meaning there are less higher frequency losses.

[nicolasrivera]

WOW what a dumb test, man are you for real?? look how many cables, plugs and else and your comparing it to a direct cable...man get real.

[countrydoctor]

ya know, the great thing about foot pedals is that you can press them with your foot, wait for it... at the same time as playing guitar! far out, right?!

[Geepsterr]

The only reason why true bypass got a "superior" reputation is when it is added as a mod to an older effect it removes the load that the effects input transistor imposed .You see older whas , fuzzes, etc leave the input to the effect connected loading the signal with an impedance of about one tenth or lower of what a tube amp's input is . In modern replicas of vintage effects adding true bypass is fine but can produce a switching thump. Gee I wonder why active direct boxes are preferred now.