List of stock "true bypass" wah pedals

Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 5:13 pm

I don't wanna lug geetars to shows, so I'm upgrading my Whammy IV to a Whammy DT, which just happens to be true bypass. My wah will be by last pedal to upgrade (it's due), I've repaired it a few times....

If I decide to go true bypass on the wah, my entire pedalboard will be true bypass (doesn't hurt, right?!) Very Happy

What stock true bypass wahs are out there Question

- BBE Halo inductor wah
- KH95 Kirk Hammett wah

Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 3463 Location: North Carolina

I know the Joe Bonamassa wah has a switch to make it true bypass or with a buffer.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

I'm just curious and don't want to hijack the thread but don't you want at least one good buffered bypass pedal if you're running a bunch of pedals? I prefer a high quality buffer over a true bypass most times but you only really need one in the chain.

Here are some true bypass wahs'

Modtone Wah
Fulltone Clyde Wah

Joined: 23 Nov 2005 Posts: 8257 Location: Ontario, Canada

What would you recommend for a buffer Lanning?

Tim, not sure what wahs are true bypass but I'm pretty sure you could rewire any way for true bypass.

Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:08 pm

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I'm just curious and don't want to hijack the thread but don't you want at least one good buffered bypass pedal if you're running a bunch of pedals? I prefer a high quality buffer over a true bypass most times but you only really need one in the chain.

Here are some true bypass wahs'

Modtone Wah
Fulltone Clyde Wah

I often play with all the pedals switched off, and just rawk the guitar into the amp..., I figured if everything was true bypass, it would be like plugging right into the amp with a long'ish patch cord.

Right now, it goes:

Soltero with BKP Warpig & SD Phat Cat (hi output passives)-->Hell Babe wah-->Whammy IV-->EHX Small Clone-->EHX PogII-->Malekko Trem-->Blackout Effetctors Seriously Special Twosome Dual Fuzz-->Mark V

The amp has an EHX Memory Boy in the loop, which I can bypass from the amp's footswitch.

If I swap the Whammy IV for a true bypass Whammy DT..., should I keep a buffered wah up front Question

The chain is kinda long, but I use top notch cables, and rarely use more than one effect at a time.

Like I said, if I swap Whammy's, everything will be true bypass except for the wah.

Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 8:09 pm

UPDATED list

- BBE Halo inductor wah
- KH95 Kirk Hammett wah
- Joe Bonamassa wah (switchable buffered/true bypass)
- Modtone Wah
- Fulltone Clyde Wah

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Yes, if you play with all your pedals off then it's like having nothing at all (almost) but you're running your guitar cable, then multiple connections and then another cable... This is going to give you signal loss and some coloring anyway so you might as well run a good buffer. This is the one I would use

http://www.effectsbay.com/2012/04/mxr-mc406-custom-audio-electronics-buffer/

That or some pedals have a good buffer built in. This is also greatly misunderstood at times. There is a difference between true bypass and then buffered bypass as well as hardwire and relay...

Here is a good article from Dunlop which also has a chart showing every pedal they have and what kind of bypass it has.

http://www.jimdunlop.com/blog/what-is-true-bypass/

Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 2:24 am

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I'm just curious and don't want to hijack the thread but don't you want at least one good buffered bypass pedal if you're running a bunch of pedals? I prefer a high quality buffer over a true bypass most times but you only really need one in the chain.

Here are some true bypass wahs'

Modtone Wah
Fulltone Clyde Wah

Lanning is correct. You don't want a pedal board with ALL true bypass. You also don't want one with tons of non true bypass. I good buffered pedal is what you need, for me it's the bad horsie and my wireless, which many people don't realize is also a buffer.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

www.DropD.net wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I'm just curious and don't want to hijack the thread but don't you want at least one good buffered bypass pedal if you're running a bunch of pedals? I prefer a high quality buffer over a true bypass most times but you only really need one in the chain.

Here are some true bypass wahs'

Modtone Wah
Fulltone Clyde Wah

Lanning is correct. You don't want a pedal board with ALL true bypass. You also don't want one with tons of non true bypass. I good buffered pedal is what you need, for me it's the bad horsie and my wireless, which many people don't realize is also a buffer.

Can't you build one too? Something like the CAE one that isn't quite as spendy? The VOX Satriani wah is another good buffered bypass one to look at too.

Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 2740 Location: Southeast MI

www.DropD.net wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I'm just curious and don't want to hijack the thread but don't you want at least one good buffered bypass pedal if you're running a bunch of pedals? I prefer a high quality buffer over a true bypass most times but you only really need one in the chain.

Here are some true bypass wahs'

Modtone Wah
Fulltone Clyde Wah

Lanning is correct. You don't want a pedal board with ALL true bypass. You also don't want one with tons of non true bypass. I good buffered pedal is what you need, for me it's the bad horsie and my wireless, which many people don't realize is also a buffer.

All this is correct. Either get a wah with a good buffer or use a good buffer separate first, or else it'll be like running a long cable and you'll get some tone loss...