V:25 FX loop tone degradation in bypass mode?

[j20056]

Does the FX loop degrade the tone even if the effects are true bypass and in bypass mode?

 

[barryswanson]

I can't speak for the 25 but in the big V it does.

 

[Monstercastle]

Hasn't been my experience on either my Mark V or Mark V:25. Depends on the quality of the effects and cables, and having the loop engaged on the big V adds circuitry. But to my ears it's very neutral.

 

[screamingdaisy]

Using the effects loop adds circuitry to the amp. That additional circuitry affects the sound. On the big Mark V it's possible to minimize the impact, I don't know about the smaller V however.

With the big V long cable runs have an impact. My delay has the option of true bypass or buffed bypass modes and I found I had better sound in buffered bypass with a pair of 20 foot cables. Buffered also kept the sound more consistent between when turning the delay on and off.

With shorter cables (1 foot) I found the buffer didn't matter as much, but that's only useful if you can rack your pedals and/or set them on your amp and control them remotely.

 

[Dreamtheaterrules]

This is something I intend to start testing carefully. I was in the habit of getting a new amp, listening to it "straight in" for a few days just to get a feel, then throwing my loop pedals in the loop, and my "front" pedals in front. I always really liked my Mini Rec but was loving the V25 so much I decided I'd sell the Mini. I had it boxed up, ready to ship. This is not a good time of year to sell gear, and it sat, so the other day I got it out and was just like "WOW that thing sounds great. I had plugged my pedalboard out into it but hadn't put the loop pedals in since they were attached to a different amp. I played it for three days last week and basically decided I wasn't selling it. Then we had family over for Christmas this weekend and I plugged the loop, pedals into it and was playing and it just didn't sound as good, I figured, because I wasn't turning it up very loud because there were 20 other people at the house. Tonight though, I'm going to crank it back where it was last week, and plug and unplug the loop pedals to see what I hear. Maybe it was the volume... but maybe it's the loop pedals.

(FYI- The only things in the loop pedal setup right now are TC Dreamscape>TC Flashback>TC Arena. At one point I had an MXR 10 band at the end, but it was rarely used so I unplugged it. Also, I intend to through a buffered boost pedal in there and try it in front and behind the other loop pedals).

 

[screamingdaisy]

One other thing I'll add is that I had difficulty using two Strymons in the loop.

Long story short, I wanted a dual delay setup. One El Capistan sounded great, but the second I added the second one my dry tone took a sh*t. I didn't pick up on it immediately and it took me a bit to figure out what was wrong.

Best I can figure out the double buffer was the problem (El Capistans are analog dry through, so it wasn't due to multiple AD/DA conversions).

Based on that experience if I ever have a requirement for a more complex delay/reverb/modulation setup I'll be using a rack multi in the loop so there's only one buffer and one AD/DA conversion.

I currently use a single El Capistan in the loop. It sits on top of the amp and I use the amp's footswitch to bypass it. If I had a Mini Recto or V:25 I'd use the El Cap's remote on/off function.