Tails

The “tails” effect refers to the way that certain guitar effects pedals handle the wet and dry signals when the pedal is bypassed (turned off). Some pedals will allow the wet signal (the signal with the effect applied) to continue to be heard for a brief period after the pedal is bypassed, while others will cut off the wet signal immediately.

The “tails” effect can be an important consideration for guitar players, as it can affect the way that the pedal integrates with the rest of the signal chain. For example, if a pedal has a long “tails” effect and is used in conjunction with a delay pedal, the delays may continue to be heard after the first pedal is bypassed, which may not be the desired result. On the other hand, if a pedal has a short “tails” effect, the wet signal may be cut off too quickly, which can disrupt the flow of the music.