How important is true bypass?

Jayhell

So I have bad GAS for a new overdrive pedal. I'm looking for something tubey. My eyes are drawn towards the Digitech Bad Monkey, not only is it a good TS clone but for R800.00 it's a steal. The other option is a Digitech Hardwire Tube Overdrive. It is essentially a Bad Monkey on steroids, with true bypass and a mod switch. I'll mostly use it in classic mode so the mod might be redundant. Is it worth it to pay twice the price for true bypass?

AlanRatcliffe

No. The need for true bypass is highly overrated anyway. In fact, a lot of the time it is detrimental and a well-designed, quality buffered bypass will be a better choice.

mtmattan

Yep I agree. True bypass, in my opinion, seems to be more of a mental thing.
The satisfaction of knowing your sound hasn't been touched in any way.

With most new pedals, the buffers are usually designed to be ultra transparent - so I doubt tonally one could tell the difference.
(I haven't A/B tested various buffers and true bypass so I can't say 100% - some people out there have crazy good ears).

Even if tone is altered slightly, it's not necessarily a bad thing - might add that sparkle you're looking for.

So it's essentially:
Advantages: smoother switching, preserves signal with long cables.
Disadvantages: possible tone coloration.

If you just want sound, go for the Bad Monkey.
It might look a bit cheap but for sound it'll be directly on par with the expensive Tube Screamers.

After all, both are recreations of that Ibanez TS sound.

nicovlogg

Jayhell wrote: So I have bad GAS for a new overdrive pedal. I'm looking for something tubey. My eyes are drawn towards the Digitech Bad Monkey, not only is it a good TS clone but for R800.00 it's a steal. The other option is a Digitech Hardwire Tube Overdrive. It is essentially a Bad Monkey on steroids, with true bypass and a mod switch. I'll mostly use it in classic mode so the mod might be redundant. Is it worth it to pay twice the price for true bypass?

Keep an eye out for something like a Blues Boy or other more 'boutique' overdrive - they go for similar prices or slightly more second hand, and are IMO much better choices.

And +1 on the buffering thing - a good buffer first in line is the key to a good clean sound in most live rigs..