How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

I'm modestly bumping my own post...

Just very curious:

Didn't know about the phase and hum problems... Can it be avoided if I find out that the amps work together or use the same amp? or is the hum problem is always present?

And what about placing them on stage - how far away from each other do you need to place the amps to get the best results? does using stereo amp still matters if you mic them or does it loose the effect?

[sonnyblu]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

I mean my stereo setup is more for my own enjoyment I suppose...
Seriously doubt if the audience could give a rats @ss...
I do it only for my own sonic vibration...
Like Santana say's "12 feet out it doesn't matter" but he's running four amps also!
Including a little Motion Sound SR-112 Leslie...
.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

If more than one amp is running at the same time...you guys need a splitter box with separeted outputs(that usually include coils, and is not cheap by any means)
Any selfrespecting tech can build one of those!

[Lazarus1140]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

I don't normally run two because of the hassle of moving my stuff twice a week ..... but I really like the sound I get when I do. My main amp is a 1-12 combo Class A/B with 6L6s and I route the dry signal out of my Deluxe Memory Man to a 1-10 Class A combo with EL-84s. I have the gain up on the Palomino so it's right on the edge of OD. The way the two amps respond differently to being hit with pedals ............... well the combination is awesome, and the amps are only a few inches apart on the floor. I'm not going for stereo separation like you might want for chorus or ping pong delay. I just like the blended sound that is unique and sweeter than either amp alone. No hum, by the way.

[James Rock]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

I think a few AB boxes (radial maybe) have ground and phase switchs to fix the above problems).

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

If more than one amp is running at the same time...you guys need a splitter box with separeted outputs(that usually include coils, and is not cheap by any means)
Any selfrespecting tech can build one of those!

Would you build one, Niels? Seriously.

[Bludave]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

I've played through 2 amps for many years, and still do today. However I rarely play through both at the same time. I am currently using a Morley A/B/Y to achieve this. The Morley is on its way out and very soon I will replace it with a Lehle Amp switcher.

My rig is pretty simple. For years I used a Marshall 900 A/B'd with a Fender Super Reverb. The Fender was for cleans & the Marshall for my heavier louder stuff. The Super also had a TS9 in front for a solo boost & to add some sustain whenI needed it.

I still have both of those amps and use them occasionally but now I am using a Bogner Shiva for the cleans & drive (the drive channel is pretty darn good once you spend some time dialing in.) My other amp is a Komet 60. The Komet is an amazingly articulate amp & the cleans are to die for. I have a really nice OD pedal that I use to solo with the Komet as well & I have a TS9 for the Bogner.

The real way I use this is to play my chord or rhythm through the amp of choice & setup the other to switch to for solos. This works quite well, but you really need a good a/b/y to isolate the channels completely. My Morley does bleed from a to b a bit. Its tolerable..... the Lehle will stop it completely. The Morley can run both amps at the same time... it has A or B or A & B. A lot of people use this approach.

Guys like Jimi Hendrix & Eric Clapton back in the 60's just daisy chained their 100 W Marshalls to each other. They plugged into one & had as many as 5 other amps plugged into each other. At Woodstock Jimi had 6 full stacks Daisy chained together. 600Watts & 48 12" speakers...... Whoa!!!!!!!!!

Eric Johnson uses 2 amps as you mentioned, but he rarely plays through both at the same time. he uses certain amps & effects in some cases for just one note. If you ever see him live his foot work is almost as impressive as his hands.

Playing with 2 smaller amps is a really cool idea. Like Lew does. You get a really sweet tone out of a smaller powered amp, but when you play through 2 it just makes the sound bigger.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

Would you build one, Niels? Seriously.

I am not building anything these days
My last projects has hit the streets.......the rest will be Thomas only.
I had it!

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

I am not building anything these days
My last projects has hit the streets.......the rest will be Thomas only.
I had it!

So of you're not building anymore, what are you up to now?

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

Soldering everyday stuff at the factory, and repairing guitars
Just not developing anything for anybody right now....
If anything happends further down the line...I dunno right now....I am just working with assembly and preperations these days.

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

Soldering everyday stuff at the factory, and repairing guitars
Just not developing anything for anybody right now....
If anything happends further down the line...I dunno right now....I am just working with assembly and preperations these days.

I guess it is your choice but I think it's a waste...

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

Well I rather like it this way

[Curly]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

besides the ABY pedals mentioned, there are also the Framptone, and a newer one from Radial's Bone series

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

Well my 4X12 has a stereo option for two inputs, and I have Ibanez CS9 that can be a stereo splitter, will I experience that same, big, open, lots of charachter two amp sound if I use CS9 to split into two heads that are gonna go into the same 4X12.

[Stratman]

Re: How To Use Two Amps At The Same Time?

besides the ABY pedals mentioned, there are also the Framptone, and a newer one from Radial's Bone series

I have a Radial Bone Switcher and it is not what I would recommend because of noise.

I found (By accident) a Lehle Dual Amp Switcher, which works very well, has no noise, and controls ground loop noise via isolation transformers.