Running dual amps = awesome

larry_emder

New member
After reading some of lew's posts about running dual amps, i decided to try it. I ran into my podxt, and only used preamp modeling, no cabinet modeling. Then the two outputs went to my 1 x 12 Mesa's effects return and my 40 watt bass amp.

Sounds beautiful. The bass amp adds the oomph to my sound that i needed.
I think i've found my setup/sound. And as a bonus stereo effects actually do something for a change!

To summise, thanks lew!!!
 
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Re: Running dual amps = awesome

Ever since reading about SRV doing it, then Lew talking so much about it, I got an A/B/Y box a few years ago, and now I hardly ever play without using two amps at once. I've got a Line 6 Vetta, which has the two amps at once feature so that with my A/B/Y and another amp gives me three amps at once, LOL. :laugh2:

I usually will use the effects on the Vetta and just a distortion pedal and delay pedal on the other for a great, tubey, full crunch. I put one on one side of the room and one on the other and it feels like I'm being surrounded by a swirl of tone.
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

Awesome. I find it works best when you have two different-styled amps of the same approx. wattage. I did it with a Mesa DC-3 (EL84's) and a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe (6L6). The tone was MASSIVE. There is no single amp that can duplicate that.
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

OlinMusic said:
Now try it with a couple of Marshalls or a couple of wicked tube amps and you will be praising the lord

Absolutely.......... I have been doing this for over 12 years. I use a 50W Marshall 900 2 12" combo and a '68 SF Super Reverb. I have a few effects in the Fender (a CE2, a DD3, and a tubescreamer) and I have Chorus and Delay running thru the effects loop on my Marshall. What I really like is I can set up one amp while I am playing thry another. Switch to the amp I need and continue to setup the other. I use a Morley A/B/Y as well and it works OK. Not the best A/B but i see not reason to change it at this time. The major drawback is....... its a lot of crap to carry. I did this mainly because at the time I could not find one amp that would do what I was doing with these 2. The 900 may not be the best Marshall, but I like the drive channel. I can get everything to soft blues to full throttle metal ( I am no metal player) just by working the volume control and adjusting my attack. The clean channel leaves a lot to be desired............... but I have a Super Reverb so I use this for most of my clean stuff. IMO its the best of both worlds Marshall and Fender at the flick of a footswitch. If I could have found one amp that could do all of this I would have bought it 12 years ago.................... Now I have it though I bought a Bogner Shiva and the cleans are to die for from the Shiva, and the Drive is legendary. I am still getting used to the drive channel. It is very touch responsive, but I only play thru it about once a week. I should probably bring it home and practice with it a little more. So far this has been the only amp I have played thru that can do what bot my Fender and Marshall cand do.
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

The Edana (JTM-45 w/KT66s) & a Fuchs ODS-20 (w/6V6s) running in tandem is.............

:32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32:


CONGRATS !!! :D
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

It's something I wish I could afford to do!

I'd love to pair a Soldano with an ENGL for some metal meltdown madness....
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

I agree - awesome!

Question: Do you separate the speakers? Or do you stack them?

Why?
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

I've got the Fuchs going thru 2 Marshall 4x10s(1965A/B), 1 open/1 closed back on the left side of the room & the Edana going through a Marshall 2x12(1966A) on the right side of the room....

A/B'd with a Startouch A/B/Y

Sounds amazing :32:
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

I seperated them so i could hear the difference (surprisingly not much at low volumes)......but i'd say i will usually stack them when practicing at home. When playing live i'll put one on either side of the stage and see how it goes
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

back in the late 80's i never had any money but i managed to get my hands on 2 small combos.... a new Fender Princton Chorus amp and a Marshall Lead 30... both SS.... i got a chorus pedal oneday and hooked them both up and that was one amazing discovery... the Marshall added the missing bottom end that the Fender lacked.... and the Fender added the fuzzier Sustain the Marshall lacked.... Plus the amps used together allowed me to get some higher volume without the amps and speakers cracking up. together it was a winner

I've come a long way since then and have had many different set ups over the years... but part of me wishes i had hung onto those 2 amps from my teenage years....
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

This is funny....I was just musing about what it would sound like to play my Crate Vintage 20 alongside a Marshall DSL 401. The mushy, touch-sensitivity of the Crate combined with the pointy "bark" of the Marshall........

Of course, I don't have the $1100 to drop on the Marshall, so I may have to settle for one of their low-watt hybrid combos.

The inspiration came from running the Crate Vintage Club 20 through a chorus pedal alongside my Marshall Lead 12, which sounded amazing, even though the Lead 12 sounds like a**.
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

I run a stereo rig with a Hotrod 1x12 and Hotrod 2x12, based on an MXR stereo chorus. Have been a stereo rig guy for about 25 years -- huge sound without being overly loud. It's the greatest thing when you're the only instrument outside the rhythm section.
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

PUCKBOY99 said:
The Edana (JTM-45 w/KT66s) & a Fuchs ODS-20 (w/6V6s) running in tandem is.............

:32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32: :32:


CONGRATS !!! :D

You offically SUCK! :bowdown: :bowdown:
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

Zhangliqun said:
I run a stereo rig with a Hotrod 1x12 and Hotrod 2x12, based on an MXR stereo chorus.
The easiest way to split a signal for 2 amps... stereo chorus- and it sounds cool to boot!
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

I've been using a two amp setup recently as well. Not so much a true stereo setup, but it's a great setup. I've been running through my effects and using the dry out of my DD-3 delay to go to my Fender Blues Jr. and using my wet out of my DD-3 to go to my Mesa Boogie DC-2 and it's a freakin amazing setup. My strat tones are amazing now :)
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

2 amps rule! I hardly ever get the chance anymore to crank both half stacks up (pesky neighbors) but in my gigging days the Marshall JCM-900 w/standard 1960a cab and Boogie trem-o-verb w/ 2 custom 2x12's (one w vintage 30's, one with a 90watt celestion and a 300w EV) SCREAMED!!!

hmm the neighbors just might have an earthquake drill this weekend ;)
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

Majestic said:
This is funny....I was just musing about what it would sound like to play my Crate Vintage 20 alongside a Marshall DSL 401. The mushy, touch-sensitivity of the Crate combined with the pointy "bark" of the Marshall........

Of course, I don't have the $1100 to drop on the Marshall, so I may have to settle for one of their low-watt hybrid combos.

The inspiration came from running the Crate Vintage Club 20 through a chorus pedal alongside my Marshall Lead 12, which sounded amazing, even though the Lead 12 sounds like a**.
So buy a used one for 400 like i did a few months back (then sold). Of course I never thought of running it and my Laney in stereo.. i kinda feel like an idiot now.
 
Re: Running dual amps = awesome

Mesa MkIII and Orange Rocker 30, split with various pedals, but currently with an EHX Polychorus.

Sounds great. I prefer to run both amps side by side and close together for maximum blend. Separating them also sounds cool (very 3D with a chorus pedal), but I get too much of a change in tone as I move around. As the tone changes I find myself adjusting my technique to compliment the amp, so keeping them close together means I can hear both and make both sound good, rather than one or the other as would happen if I ran them at opposite ends of the stage. That said, if I were running a pair of similar amps I'd definatly run them apart for the wider sound.

+1 to the above about two complimentary amps making you sound bigger without adding much volume.
 
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