Zoom ultra fuzz - buffered or true bypass?

ThePrettyDamned

Genuine question - I'd like my volume pedal (fv500l) to go right after it but it works best with a buffered signal.

The manual doesn't clear it up really - mechanical bypass is the wording, but it doesn't say if it's buffered or not.

Does anyone know? It doesn't mind a buffer in front but it does work differently.

ThePrettyDamned

I could test but I've torn the rig right up so I do t want to set up a load of experiments...

Some reports online suggest it's buffered. But many more say true bypass.

monquixote

Does it pass signal when it's switched off?

Sporky

A quick multimeter test suggests it's not TB - input impedance is around 1.4M whether it's bypassed or not, output impedance varies between about 35k and 50k.

Dodge

Can't speak for that pedal specifically, but the PD-01 definitely wasn't true bypass.

ThePrettyDamned

monquixote;1143398" said:

Does it pass signal when it's switched off?

It does not - but I have been informed that that doesn't always mean it's buffered, but maybe uses an alternative method to achieve true bypass.

Sporky;1143402" said:

A quick multimeter test suggests it's not TB - input impedance is around 1.4M whether it's bypassed or not, output impedance varies between about 35k and 50k.

Aces, that's what I wanted to hear. Pedalboard building can resume.

monquixote

ThePrettyDamned said:

monquixote;1143398" said:

Does it pass signal when it's switched off?

It does not - but I have been informed that that doesn't always mean it's buffered, but maybe uses an alternative method to achieve true bypass.

Sporky;1143402" said:

A quick multimeter test suggests it's not TB - input impedance is around 1.4M whether it's bypassed or not, output impedance varies between about 35k and 50k.

Aces, that's what I wanted to hear. Pedalboard building can resume.

Yeah some stuff is relay bypass.

Sporky

ThePrettyDamned said:

monquixote;1143398" said:

Does it pass signal when it's switched off?

It does not - but I have been informed that that doesn't always mean it's buffered, but maybe uses an alternative method to achieve true bypass.

You have been informed correctly. It could be true bypass via relays, and the non-energised state is "engage". Which is questionable from a design point of view, but not completely improbable.

Equally, if it does pass signal when off that could still be half-arsed bypass.

ThePrettyDamned

Sporky said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

monquixote;1143398" said:

Does it pass signal when it's switched off?

It does not - but I have been informed that that doesn't always mean it's buffered, but maybe uses an alternative method to achieve true bypass.

You have been informed correctly. It could be true bypass via relays, and the non-energised state is "engage". Which is questionable from a design point of view, but not completely improbable.

Equally, if it does pass signal when off that could still be half-arsed bypass.

I think it was you who told me many yonks ago on ye olde forumme musicradar. Nice to know for sure though. Just need a tuner and a delay/reverb and I'm set. Phew. This pedalboard stuff is kinda annoying, I wish I had a helix.

ThePrettyDamned

Well buffer me but as much as I love it it's just not as useful as the juansolo pedal. It goes back in the box of rejection.

Which means I have space for a wah. Hooray!

ICBM

I could be wrong but I thought it was buffered.

If you want to find out you can send it to me and I'll check it.

I should be able to let you know in about ten years.

ThePrettyDamned

ICBM;1143610" said:

I could be wrong but I thought it was buffered.

If you want to find out you can send it to me and I'll check it.





























I should be able to let you know in about ten years.

Haha it's a great pedal. Surprisingly versatile.

It actually does a really good, very not-amp-like overdrive that's got a lot of dynamics I discovered today. I just don't really need that - I tried hard to get it to sound vaguely like a boss df-2 or ds-2 but they're basically the only sounds it won't do! To be fair, I already have two muffs, a distortion and a super hard on on the board. I should be able to do okay with that

I won't let it go I'm afraid. But if ever I change my mind you'll be the first I ask

Sporky

ICBM said:

I could be wrong but I thought it was buffered.

If you want to find out you can send it to me and I'll check it.

I should be able to let you know in about ten years.

Sounds sensible to me, I'll just need a £90 deposit and interest in the loan. Let's say 1000% APR representative, compounded.