Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

['59]

So back before channel jumping and all that was invented, why did they find the need to put two inputs on amps? Couldn't a simple "Bright" switch do the same thing without all the noise and hassle of unplugging the guitar?

[Blille]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

One used to be for a mic and the other for the instrument.

[some_dude]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

A switch would’ve cost more and been more prone to failure.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

was one for lead and one for rhythm?

[ItsaBass]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

It was simply a more primitive form of bright switch, I'd think. Perhaps cheaper, perhaps lazier. Perhaps amp designers hadn't considered that a bright switch might be preferable by some players, and they just figured someone could easily plug in to the other channel.

Some makers used different input resistors on different inputs too, without calling one "normal" and the other "bright."

Ampeg famously used "guitar" and "accordion" on their two inputs.

I find bright channels and bright switches great for humbucker guitars.

[NecroPolo]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

They are separated inputs for normal people and bright people.

[vinnie1971]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

So back before channel jumping and all that was invented, why did they find the need to put two inputs on amps? Couldn't a simple "Bright" switch do the same thing without all the noise and hassle of unplugging the guitar?

According to Fender manuals on the fender amps I’ve had, input 1 is for regular guitars ( bright) input 2 for high output or active pickups


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[Chistopher]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

According to Fender manuals on the fender amps I’ve had, input 1 is for regular guitars ( bright) input 2 for high output or active pickups


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Some amps have a second channel with 6 to 15 dB of attenuation so that higher output pickups don't hit the preamp so hard. That might be what this is in reference to.

[GuitarStv]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

The first time I got a stereo chorus pedal I was very excited because I could plug into both channels at the same time.




Turns out I should not have been using the 'bright' channel. :P

[Chickenwings]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

On a stock tweed deluxe, the only difference is a bright cap between the channels, but on a lot of other amps there is scope to have a completely different voice in each channel. It is really like having two amps in one and is the predecessor to today's modern channel switching amps. It also allowed for two separate instruments to use the amp at once. Take the blackface bassmans: they are designed to have a bass into one channel and a guitar into the other! Not many people do that these days but people like elvis used to run his mic into scotty Moores guitar amp, and buck Owen's and don rich both plugged into a tweed bassman for years.
It can even save your skin. Once at a gig the house pa crapped out, so the singer/harp player in the band I was in ran a vocal mic all night into the unused channel of my twin reverb. Sure it didnt sound amazing, but it certainly had an old skool character lol. It is important to remember that these amps were built in a different era that had different needs and priorities to today. Also the needs and priorities we have today are a direct result of all of the innovations and experimentation of the past.

[Blille]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

According to Fender manuals on the fender amps I’ve had, input 1 is for regular guitars ( bright) input 2 for high output or active pickups

Some amps have a second channel with 6 to 15 dB of attenuation so that higher output pickups don't hit the preamp so hard. That might be what this is in reference to.

Yes. There's the output difference between 1 and 2 but in other amps there are inputs with different voicings altogether.

So the Tweed Deluxe for example has two bright inputs (1 and 2 depending on high or low volume pickups) and two normal inputs (1 and 2) for a total of 4 inputs.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

My Laney has high and low inputs
Like some above said
I believe it was high and low z outputs, ie, active/passive pickups

[beaubrummels]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

So back before channel jumping and all that was invented, why did they find the need to put two inputs on amps? Couldn't a simple "Bright" switch do the same thing without all the noise and hassle of unplugging the guitar?

Who switches inputs on the same guitar in the middle of a set?

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

Who switches inputs on the same guitar in the middle of a set?

Some theoretical guitarist from the 50s or 60s who likes the sound of one input for some songs and the other input on other songs.

He didn't say it happened. He was just giving an example of how you could use it.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Why Do Some Amps Have A "Normal" And A "Bright" Input?

One is for days of depression, the other when the coffee has kicked in...