Barber Electronics forum.

In setting up pedal boards, there are some effects I would have on pretty much all the time, like delays or boosters. In particular I find that the Xotic EP-Boost is an always-on pedal for me. I would also think a B-Buff would fall into the same category. Some of these thoughts echo Pete Cornish's view that extensive pedalboards are better off with high quality buffers to overcome loading. Any thoughts?

well if you don't turn your pedal off then it doesn't matter if the bypass is buffered or true bypass.... it will never be bypassed so why should the bypass matter...

If you have a chain of true bypass pedals, you would still notice some signal loss. Best to put a buffer before or after the chain.

In my opinion (now that I know a lot more about pedals, buffers, etc.), Pete Cornish had it right a long time ago, when the rest of us gearheads were still striving for a 100% true-bypass signal chain. I'm sure true-bypass without buffers is fine if you're running 1-2 pedals and a total of about 15' of high-quality instrument cable. But nowadays, with our mega-pedalboards--no way!

Yeah, Pete Cornish has an amazing response on his web site about this whole thing. I use 2 buffers and the signal sounds pretty much the same as direct plug into the amp.

I've tended to use two of my "always on" pedals at the beginning and end of my board. Tone Press #1, Launch Pad last. Those two pedals have been in those positions on my board since I got them. Until I find a Fuzz pedal I love, that will stay as is. Then I might actually have to move the TP to #1 if the fuzz doesn't like it out front. But it will still be #1 in my heart!