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Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 1:02 pm
by PeteeBee
I don't quite understand why the pressing issue of which footswitch is "bypass" and which footswitch is "tap/preset/boost/whatever" hasn't been standardized in some way. I know this ins't a huge problem, but there are moments, especially after a fresh pedalboard setup, when I have to pause and remember which switch I'm supposed to be stomping.

I for one, am firmly in the camp of bypass on the right, tap on the left, but this is by no means standardized. On my board at the moment of typing, I have three left bypass, two right bypass, and a couple pedals that just have a single switch. :idk:

Is there a reason for doing one over the other, related to the guts of pedals, that I am unaware of?

Don't even get me started on pedals with three or more :animal:

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 2:03 pm
by Ghost Hip
It honestly doesnt fuck me up wither way. If anything it causes me to think more setting up a pedalboard for the lowest chance of accidentally hitting a footswitch of an adjacent pedal.

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 2:08 pm
by D.o.S.
This is nothing compared to the atrocity that is unlabelled input/output jacks.

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 2:11 pm
by PeteeBee
Ghost Hip wrote:It honestly doesnt fuck me up wither way. If anything it causes me to think more setting up a pedalboard for the lowest chance of accidentally hitting a footswitch of an adjacent pedal.
Yeah, it's definitely not a huge problem, just something I've been thinking about as I swap around pedals.

Alternatively: maybe putting pedals with alternate placement could be used beneficially. For instance, I've been running avalanche run into TAFM. Those bypass switches are left and right, respectively, so they can potentially be about a centimeter apart. I normally think of this as annoying, but maybe I could just treat it as instant, accidental shoegaze :lol:

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 2:13 pm
by tremolo3
Just make sure to put them all in a small sized enclosure ;)

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 3:04 pm
by infamousalien
I agree with it being standardized and on the right. Now I just put a barefoot button on the on/off so I don't have to think about it.

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 3:23 pm
by popvulture
D.o.S. wrote:This is nothing compared to the atrocity that is unlabelled input/output jacks.
I'm ok with unlabeled as long as they're in/R out/L... otherwise I kinda hate the pedal even if it is labeled.

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 3:46 pm
by ThurberMingus
It’s cool when you have two pedals with opposing tap tempo switches next to each other and you can get a two-for-one-tap-discount!

I don’t really care though. I usually expect tap to be on the right because the first run of big pedals all did that. DL4, DD20, etc.

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 5:31 pm
by Ghost Hip
popvulture wrote:
D.o.S. wrote:This is nothing compared to the atrocity that is unlabelled input/output jacks.
I'm ok with unlabeled as long as they're in/R out/L... otherwise I kinda hate the pedal even if it is labeled.
I've definitely plugged my Count to Five in wrong a few times thinking "top in, bottom out."

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 6:02 pm
by greyscales
PeteeBee wrote: Is there a reason for doing one over the other, related to the guts of pedals, that I am unaware of?
Generally no. Assuming the in and out jacks are not in an odd configuration, wiring should be the same distance to reach the footswitch for either jack.

Most of the time it is just going to be the preference of the builder. When I used to build pedals, I would always put the bypass switch on the right because of how the signal flow goes in my mind. Input jack, gain knob, and bypass switch on the right; level and output jack on the left.
But now I think about it as a player, and pedals like the Boss DD-20 and L6 DL4 kind of set a precedent as the opposite. So my EQD Avalanche Run doesn't bother me because I'm used to that setup.

So I guess I can roll with either but my preference probably changes based on if it is a dirt or delay.

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 7:55 pm
by JonnyAngle
Omg I’m not buying your stupid pedal if bypass is on the left

Well, I might. But I’m going to flip them

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 8:07 pm
by adamajah
Ghost Hip wrote:I've definitely plugged my Count to Five in wrong a few times thinking "top in, bottom out."
Lol... yeah CT5 can can be a doozy

(Also, TWSS)

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 8:16 pm
by neonblack
I prefer bypass on the right but I don't really know why

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 8:25 pm
by Jero
popvulture wrote:
D.o.S. wrote:This is nothing compared to the atrocity that is unlabelled input/output jacks.
I'm ok with unlabeled as long as they're in/R out/L... otherwise I kinda hate the pedal even if it is labeled.
So much this.
greyscales wrote:
PeteeBee wrote: Is there a reason for doing one over the other, related to the guts of pedals, that I am unaware of?
Generally no. Assuming the in and out jacks are not in an odd configuration, wiring should be the same distance to reach the footswitch for either jack.

When I used to build pedals, I would always put the bypass switch on the right because of how the signal flow goes in my mind. Input jack, gain knob, and bypass switch on the right; level and output jack on the left.
:thumb: same

Re: Bypass switch on the right or left??

Posted: Tue May 22, 2018 8:48 pm
by Benn Roe
Most of my pedals bypass on the right, so that's what my brain is now wired for. My Meteore throws me off every single time. I also have a DL4, but that having four switches makes it less of a problem somehow. From left to right, it's just preset 1, preset 2, preset 3, and the switch that doesn't do anything, since I have all my tap tempo centralized through a Quartz Timer.