The Vein-Tap.com Noose True Bypass Looper is a small switching pedal that adds true bypass switching to any effects pedal without having to modify the pedal itself. You connect the pedal to the Noose's send and return loop, and the Noose switches it in and out of your signal path with its own footswitch. That means a pedal can be left switched on all the time, with the Noose doing the bypassing, which is handy for pedals whose bypass tone or switching you would rather not have in the chain1.
It is a previously released product from Vein-Tap.com, released before the company's SEPARATOR A/B/Y switch2.
How the send and return loop works
The idea is simple: the pedal you want to bypass sits in the Noose's loop. Vein-Tap.com puts it this way:
"Simply drop it into the Noose True Bypass Looper's send and return loop and you're away. You can leave the pedal on constantly."
Because the loop carries the audio and the footswitch only moves the switching, the looped pedal is removed from the signal path entirely when the Noose is off. This is a common fix for pedals with buffered or tone-draining bypass, and it works the same way whether the pedal in the loop is an overdrive, a delay or anything else. For more switching tools, see the site's Switching Pedals page.
Hard Click and Soft Touch
The Noose comes in two versions, and the difference is the footswitch action and what is inside1:
| Hard Click | Soft Touch | |
|---|---|---|
| Footswitch action | Hard click | Completely silent footswitch |
| Switching | Mechanical footswitch | Relay-driven, silent true-bypass loopering |
| Footswitch rating | At least 10,000 strikes (manufacturer rating) | At least 1,000,000, with the mechanical relays rated for even more |
| Power | Not stated as required | Requires 9vDC power |
| Size | Standard | Made larger to accommodate the active circuitry |
The Soft Touch version needs 9vDC power to work, because it houses active circuitry and a relay. The Hard Click version is the simpler mechanical arrangement.
Size, price and warranty
Vein-Tap.com lists the Noose at 92 x 38 x 32 mm and 0.25 kg, so it is a compact addition to a board1. The price range is £29.95 through £39.95 GBP, presumably reflecting the two versions1. The pedal is covered by the Vein-Tap.com Lifetime Guarantee1.
The maker's product page lists the Noose at £29.95 through £39.95 GBP, with a weight of 0.25 kg1.
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Questions
Does the Vein-Tap.com Noose need power?
The Soft Touch version does. Vein-Tap.com says the Soft Touch Noose is made larger to accommodate the active circuitry involved and requires 9vDC power to work. The Hard Click version is a simpler mechanical switch arrangement, so the power requirement applies specifically to the Soft Touch model with its relay and silent footswitch.
What is the difference between Hard Click and Soft Touch?
The Noose comes in two versions, Hard Click and Soft Touch. The Soft Touch version uses a completely silent footswitch and a relay for silent true-bypass loopering, and needs 9vDC power. Its footswitches are rated for at least 1,000,000 presses, with the mechanical relays rated for even more. The Hard Click footswitches are rated by the manufacturer for at least 10,000 strikes.
Can the Noose add true bypass to a pedal without modifying it?
Yes. Vein-Tap.com says the Noose adds true bypass switching to any effects pedal without having to make a single alteration. You connect the pedal to the Noose's send and return loop, and the pedal can be left switched on all the time while the Noose switches it in and out of your signal path.
How big is the Vein-Tap.com Noose?
Vein-Tap.com lists the Noose at 92 x 38 x 32 mm and a weight of 0.25 kg, so it takes up little room on a pedalboard. Note that the Soft Touch version is made larger than the Hard Click version to house its active circuitry.
What warranty does the Vein-Tap.com Noose have?
The Noose is covered by the Vein-Tap.com Lifetime Guarantee, according to the maker's product page.
Sources (2)
- True Bypass Looper, Vein-Tap.com, 2026-09-01
- Announcing: The SEPARATOR AB/Y Switch, Vein-Tap.com, 2012-08-09