Against everyone's advice...

I've recently gone all true bypass on my pedal board. Honestly, I think it sounds great with no buffers in the effects chain.

Here's my current line up: Peterson StroboStomp tuner>Big Muff PI NYC RI>Vox 848 wah>Analogman Maxon SD-9>Voodoo Labs Tremolo>Analogman Maxon AD-9

DB:
How'd you do it (go all "true bypass")?
Mik

CanI ask why everyone advised against it? Is there something bad about all true bypass?

"DB:
How'd you do it (go all "true bypass")?
Mik"

Mik/BB, all the pedals listed above are TB. Over on another forum, I suggested that all TB pedals made more sense than adding a buffered pedal to the end or beginning of the chain. I was told that better tone was achieved by adding the buffered pedals. I felt that TB would produce the same tone as plugging straight into the amp. After experimenting with the pedals listed, I feel that I was right. I can hear no difference between all the pedals bypassed and plugging directly into my amp. I AB'd the board and the amp tones with a Keeley looper, btw.

The reason some people suggested that you put at least ONE buffered pedal in your chain is because of cable capacitance. In an all TB rig it is exactly like pluging straight into the amp....but with a 50' cord(depending on how much cable you actually use it could be more or less). Above 20' or so cable capacitance tends to roll the treble and bass response from your guitar. By adding one buffer (aka "line driver") to your rig it removes the effect of cable capacitance entirely from any cable downstream of the buffer. If you installed a buffer in your guitar it would be like you had one enormous George L plugged into your amp except that this cable would have negligible capacitance.

I've recently gone all true bypass on my pedal board. Honestly, I think it sounds great with no buffers in the effects chain.

Here's my current line up: Peterson StroboStomp tuner>Big Muff PI NYC RI>Vox 848 wah>Analog man Maxon SD-9>Voodoo Labs Tremolo>Analogman Maxon AD-9

If the true bypass is made the right way you won't have any trouble. Check this out.

http://members01.chello.se/pastorn/fx/mods/bypass2.htm


BTW I just ordered a Analogman SD-9, how does it compare to a stock?

...I'm running two 10' George L's on either end of the board and one 6" George L between between each pedal. So, that's another 30" or 2 1/2' of cable. With my Tele or mini humbucker equipped Strat, I can tell of no loss in highs or lows.

"BTW I just ordered a Analogman SD-9, how does it compare to a stock?"

Couldn't tell you. I ordered mine new directly from Analogman. It sounds great. It seems to *firm up the attack and each note is well *defined and *crisp. Like adding starch to a nice dress shirt. :D

(I guess I should explain *firm, *defined and *crisp. I use the SD-9 more like a clean boost. I don't get any break-up until I dig into the strings. I prefer it that way. I set the level and distortion 1/4 of the way up. I crank the tone to suit the guitar.)

I guess I use the SD-9 more like a mild OD/boost. It's the best mild OD I've yet to find.

...I'm running two 10' George L's on either end of the board and one 6" George L between between each pedal. So, that's another 30" or 2 1/2' of cable. With my Tele or mini humbucker equipped Strat, I can tell of no loss in highs or lows.

Well in your case you've got a minimal cable run and your already using low capacitance cables so I wouldn't expect any noticable signal loss. A buffer really wouldn't improve your rig. Enjoy.

Exactly, fender bender, the George L's seem to make all the difference in the world for this set-up. I've tried to find the shortest possible routes for my cables on the board. There may be room for improvement still in that endeavor.