True Bypass Guitar Effects and Signal Buffers

True bypass guitar pedals are all the anger. The theory behind their popularity is that when a true bypass effect is off, it is out of the loop with respect to it is electronics. This leads to a purer signal path and reduces tone loss. I would argue, however, that this only holds true for simple pedalboard setups (i.e. fewer than three or four effects). You see, there's other factors to think about. First is the quality of the patch cables that are used to serially connect each effect. Second is the input impedance of the guitar amp and last is the output impedance of your guitar pickups. The combination of plenty of patch cables increases capacitance, which fundamentally will suck the highs from your signal. A guitar amp with a comparatively low input impedance will magnify this effect. On the guitar finish, high output impedance pickups won't match well with the load they are introduced with from the plenty of patch cables and the guitar amp input. As a result, the upper harmonics of the pickups will be suppressed and the general signal level will decrease. Bottom line, your tone will be affected and noise will be introduced.
Enter the signal buffer. A signal buffer circuit has a high input impedance as well as a low output impedance suitable for driving long cable runs or low impedance pedal inputs. A signal buffer is usually used between your guitar and pedalboard (my recommended placement) and sometimes between the pedalboard and guitar amp. The high input impedance lots your guitar pickups well. The low output impedance shields your guitar from any effects of the plenty of cables and provides a better match to your guitar amp. The final result is a better tone and less noise.
So, where does discover a signal buffer? You may be surprised by the answer. You see, most BOSS effects have buffers in them. So, a simple solution would be to have a BOSS effect at the front of the effects chain. This would only work if it was an effect you always wanted engaged, however. The quality of the buffer might not be up to the task of dealing with all of the above factors as well. The optimal solution is to buy a signal buffer pedal. Well designed signal buffer pedals do not add any character of their own, they perform their impedance matching magic and stay out of the way. There's a few manufacturers of signal buffers on the market - do your home-work to find the for you.