Playing two amps - dumb question
- Thread starter RW James
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Bludave
New member
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
You want a A/B/Y box. Morely makes one for about 40$. Its the best way to go. I do the same thing. I use a Fender Super Reverb and I A/B this with a Marshall 900. I built my own pedalboard mainly because the Marshall uses an effects loop and the Fender does not. I have a CE2, a DD3 and a TS9 running into the Fender. I have DOD TR3 running thru the loop in my Marshall. The B side of my Morley switchs to the Marshall the A side switches to the Fender. I plug my guitar into the instrument and I can play thru either amp or bothe if I choose. IF you copy my gear in my sig to your browser you will see a photo of my board. The A/B switch is in the upper right corner. Its a good pedal and I have had no problems with it. It even has lights on it so you can see what amp is on.
Here is a link to what I am talking about
http://www.zzounds.com/prodsearch?form=prodsearch&cat=2604&cat2=3565
You want a A/B/Y box. Morely makes one for about 40$. Its the best way to go. I do the same thing. I use a Fender Super Reverb and I A/B this with a Marshall 900. I built my own pedalboard mainly because the Marshall uses an effects loop and the Fender does not. I have a CE2, a DD3 and a TS9 running into the Fender. I have DOD TR3 running thru the loop in my Marshall. The B side of my Morley switchs to the Marshall the A side switches to the Fender. I plug my guitar into the instrument and I can play thru either amp or bothe if I choose. IF you copy my gear in my sig to your browser you will see a photo of my board. The A/B switch is in the upper right corner. Its a good pedal and I have had no problems with it. It even has lights on it so you can see what amp is on.
Here is a link to what I am talking about
http://www.zzounds.com/prodsearch?form=prodsearch&cat=2604&cat2=3565
Last edited:
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
Generally speaking, using a "y" should be ok. Here's some things you need to be aware of. A "y" cable will connect the two "grounds" of the amps together. I put "ground" in quotes because depending on the way the amps are built, one may have a true ground, one may have a virtual ground. If the voltage potential of the two amps is different, you'll have a "ground loop", which equals noise. Bad noise.
The simplest thing to do is just try it. If it works out ok, you're good to go. If it doesn't, then there are devices to help with step 2.
Artie
Generally speaking, using a "y" should be ok. Here's some things you need to be aware of. A "y" cable will connect the two "grounds" of the amps together. I put "ground" in quotes because depending on the way the amps are built, one may have a true ground, one may have a virtual ground. If the voltage potential of the two amps is different, you'll have a "ground loop", which equals noise. Bad noise.
The simplest thing to do is just try it. If it works out ok, you're good to go. If it doesn't, then there are devices to help with step 2.
Artie
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
I've used my CS-9 Stereo Chorus for that. When the effect is off it's two amps pushing the same signal, when the effect is on, it's a chorused signal... in... stereo.
I think you can also do the same thing with a Boss TU-2, but one channel won't mute...
I've used my CS-9 Stereo Chorus for that. When the effect is off it's two amps pushing the same signal, when the effect is on, it's a chorused signal... in... stereo.
I think you can also do the same thing with a Boss TU-2, but one channel won't mute...
CapoFirstFret
New member
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
These amps have inputs on the top...those amps are stacked just for looks, they're not all on
But yes, those probably just use an A/B/Y if they did use something to be connected
Cesar Diaz (SRV's guitar tech at one time) created a switch box that let you plug one guitar signal into the center, and send it into up to 6 or 7 amps because stevie liked to run so many amps on stage.
RW James said:Okay... all good answers... but I've seen performers stack amps, like this:
How do they do this? It can't be a bunch of ABY switches
These amps have inputs on the top...those amps are stacked just for looks, they're not all on
But yes, those probably just use an A/B/Y if they did use something to be connected
Cesar Diaz (SRV's guitar tech at one time) created a switch box that let you plug one guitar signal into the center, and send it into up to 6 or 7 amps because stevie liked to run so many amps on stage.
drew_half_empty
Looking for Real Life
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
run your guitar cable to input 1 of one amp. Then run another cable from the 2nd input jack of the amp you're plugged into to an input jack on the 2nd amp
cool trick
run your guitar cable to input 1 of one amp. Then run another cable from the 2nd input jack of the amp you're plugged into to an input jack on the 2nd amp
cool trick
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
Remember the pros like Billy Gibbons have access to tons of Techs and Companies fighting to do work for them... they can pretty much think up any rig and someone will make it for them..... This guy Mario here at this site has built some quality rigs for some artists and makes products that work great.... www.axess-electronics.com
Running 2 amps togther can be amazing once you get a system that works.... when i was a teenager back in the 80's i had a Marshall 1x12 Lead 30 combo, and a Fender Princton Chorus amp hooked up together..... those 2 amps together rocked! a few older players i knew were left stunned at the sound i was getting from those 2 amps....
WhoFan
Remember the pros like Billy Gibbons have access to tons of Techs and Companies fighting to do work for them... they can pretty much think up any rig and someone will make it for them..... This guy Mario here at this site has built some quality rigs for some artists and makes products that work great.... www.axess-electronics.com
Running 2 amps togther can be amazing once you get a system that works.... when i was a teenager back in the 80's i had a Marshall 1x12 Lead 30 combo, and a Fender Princton Chorus amp hooked up together..... those 2 amps together rocked! a few older players i knew were left stunned at the sound i was getting from those 2 amps....
WhoFan
The Golden Boy
Fleecy Sweaterologist
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
That'll work with some amps and not others. Only one jack at a time will work on my Marshall and Park.drew_half_empty said:
DesertRose
New member
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
get a mixer
Some EQ does have afew outputs for severals amp plug-ins
get a mixer
Some EQ does have afew outputs for severals amp plug-ins
RW James
New member
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
Thanks
Well, that's what I thought. But not all amps have two input jacks. Is there special circuitry behind these two input jacks that allow this sort of thing? Or are they just wired in parallel with each other? -- which would be (in my mind) the same as simple wye.drew_half_empty said:
That's actually doable for me, I might try it if the wye doesn't work.DesertRose said:
Thanks
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
I like to use a stereo effects pedal (like a Boss Stereo Reverb or Delay) and plug the left output into one amp and the right output into the other amp. If you're not using identical amps you might have to reverse the wires on the speaker of one amp to get it in phase with the other. Matchless provides a switch on the back of thier amps to allow for this. Lew
I like to use a stereo effects pedal (like a Boss Stereo Reverb or Delay) and plug the left output into one amp and the right output into the other amp. If you're not using identical amps you might have to reverse the wires on the speaker of one amp to get it in phase with the other. Matchless provides a switch on the back of thier amps to allow for this. Lew
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
I like the sereo pedals too, even two of them to get a 3 amp setup (center-dry, left/right wet)
I like the sereo pedals too, even two of them to get a 3 amp setup (center-dry, left/right wet)
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: Playing two amps - dumb question
That'll work...but because there's a grid load resistor and input resistors connected to the inputs behind the panel the tone is compromised a bit. That'll work though...Hendrix did it. Lew
drew_half_empty said:
That'll work...but because there's a grid load resistor and input resistors connected to the inputs behind the panel the tone is compromised a bit. That'll work though...Hendrix did it. Lew
