Boss True Bypass

[kurtlives]

I am thinking about buying a Boss BD-2. The thing that holding me back is if I bought it I would have two Boss pedals in my signal chain. That's too much electronic bypass and buffering for me (don't shoot and lets not argue this case).

Anyways I am having a hard finding this BD-2 schem I saw once of just the main circuit (ie. no buffers or switching). Does anyone have a copy or know where I can find one? If anyone has any info on TBing also that would be good. I know how TBing a Boss pedal works but someones own experiences would be nice.

Fine Ill ask.... I have two Boss pedals and a MXR EQ in my chain... I am thinking that may be too much...tone sucking. What do you think?

I am all for buffers, but not too many. I like having one. I have heard people say though "why would you TB a Boss effect? They have the best buffers around"...

Thoughts...

[Dragonfly]

If it will help, I can email you the factory schematic. It's not the one you're referring to, but you should be able to use it to eliminate the buffer

[kurtlives]

I believe I have that one...

Its a big schem right with everything in it right?

[Dragonfly]

I believe I have that one...

Its a big schem right with everything in it right?

yep.

[kurtlives]

Ah I got that one...

Thanks anyways

[Dragonfly]

Ah I got that one...

Thanks anyways

no problem - sorry i couldnt help you out...

[kurtlives]

Ok I figured out how to true bypass it...

Now the question becomes...leave the buffers in or remove them?

[new]

looper

[kurtlives]

Very helpful....

[slacker]

Personally I wouldn't bother true bypassing it, IMHO Boss buffer don't "tone suck" but it's your choice.
I'd leave the buffers in though if you remove the input buffer it might change the sound of the pedal or change how in reacts to changes in the guitar's volume control or whatever.

[petemoore]

  A looper is very helpful.

[kurtlives]

I already have one and I find it useful and all...

Making another looper sees incredible pointless.... 1 box, 1 switch, 4 jack....

Or true bypass the pedal.... 1 switch

Opinions on Boss buffers?

[petemoore]

  Once modded it will be different.
  Boss makes some of the worlds finest buffers.
 

[slacker]

How are you going to true bypass it? Depending on how you do this will help determine whether or not you can remove the buffers.
You'll have to rip out a lot more circuitry to true bypass it and remove the buffers than if you just true bypass it. If you're going to do all that you might as well just build one from scratch, that's what I'd do anyway.

[petemoore]

If you're going to do all that you might as well just build one from scratch, that's what I'd do anyway.
  +1...and numerous other reasons to not 'tear up' the box you like the sound of.
 

[kurtlives]

How are you going to true bypass it? Depending on how you do this will help determine whether or not you can remove the buffers.
You'll have to rip out a lot more circuitry to true bypass it and remove the buffers than if you just true bypass it. If you're going to do all that you might as well just build one from scratch, that's what I'd do anyway.

This is how I plan on true bypassing it...

http://indyguitarist.com/forum/index.php?topic=784.0

[sevenisthenumber]

Im about to try this out. Im gonna re case it with some clipping switches and add a boost circuit up front on a seperate footswitch. Will try and post pics.

[Ben N]

The problem is not what most people think of as "tone sucking," which is loss of highs due to impedance mismatching. Buffers solve that problem, they don't create it. The problem with Boss, Ibanez, etc., is not that their buffers don't work well--they do--but that there are so many of them, and each one inevitably adds a little distortion, which can cumulatively cause a certain dulling or smearing of the sound. My not-so-golden ears do not detect this with three Bosses (my current pedalboard contains a CE-2, DD-3 and BD-2), but much more than that and I do get to a point where something is not quite right. Unlike the tone-sucking situation, this is the case with the effects on or in bypass, although it may be more noticeable when they are bypassed.

BTW, a real unbuffered tone-sucker, like an original MXR or EH pedal with a SPDT switch, and certainly two of them in a row, can affect your bypassed sound more than a whole string of Bosses, IMHO.

[slacker]

I'd agree with Ben, my normal live setup normally contains at least 2 Boss pedals and i can't hear any difference compared with guitar straight to amp. Even with my Shred Master in there with its original bypass wiring I can't hear any ill effects.

Anyway, back to the question i hand. I think the true bypass method linked to is wrong, or theres more than one version of the pedal. if you look at the BD2 schematic theres 3 fets in the signal path Q4, the one between R17 and R22 (Q6?) and the one between R14 and R8?. Q5 appears to be the transistor with R12 at its emitter not one of the switching Fets.
Q4 and Q6 let the signal pass through the effect and the other one cuts the dry signal. If you jumper them all you'll have the effect with the dry signal mixed with it, which isn't what you want. i think you need to jumper Q4 and Q6 and just remove the other one.
There's also no real reason to remove the flipflop transistors as once you've jumpered and removed the switching fets the flipflop won't do anything.

[sevenisthenumber]

i tried the true bypass on the bd2 and all im getting is a buzz? Did it work for you Kurtlives?