True Bypass – Nobels

A true bypass was often requested for the ODR Overdrive and we have implemented this wish in the ODR-mini.

A true bypass pedal allows the tone and signal of your guitar to flow through unaffected when the pedal is off. This means that all the tone of your guitar is preserved – the pedal does not colour it at all when it’s not being used.

However, due to the fact the true bypass pedal does nothing to boost or enhance the signal, the more pedals you have and the longer the signal cable from board to Amp/Instrument (over 18.5ft), the more degradation and tone loss will occur. This is great for tone snobs and those who use smaller length cables.

It all has its pros and cons.

It’s also a question of manufacturing costs. A buffered bypass is significantly more expensive in terms of effort.

A buffered pedal strengthens your tone and drives it through the chain, restoring the signal and tone to what it should be. A buffer does this at all times, whether the pedal is on or off. If you are using longer cables over 18.5ft on both sides of the pedal i.e. guitar to pedal to amp, then a buffered pedal will preserve the signal and push it to the amp. Imagine it as someone cheering you on. You have the tone, but there’s something supporting it and helping you get there safely. Some guitarists will argue that a buffered pedal will add too much high end, when in reality it provides a far more pronounced and responsive signal.
It’s also often a philosophical question, and everything has its pros and cons.

Why does the ODR-mini have a true bypass?

Why does the ODR-1 have a buffered bypass?

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