Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and dist.

G

grungeman55

New member
Alright guys so a lot of songs I play go from either clean to distortion, clean with chorus to just distortion and vice versa. Such examples are Angry Chair from Alice in Chains: starts with clean chorus to just distortion and back. Smells like Teen Spirit by Nirvana: Clean to distortion, then from distortion to clean with chorus. My most recent song learnt has been Slipknot's Devil in I and that song goes from distortion to clean with chorus.
I have a boss DS-1 and a Digitech whammy and only one amplifier. basically what I would like to do is with an ABY selector go between the ds-1 distortion, the digitech clean (that I use for chorus), and use them together in case of a solo or something with distortion and chorus.
My problem is though if i run my guitar into an ABY selector and then use the A for distortion and B for the chorus then I have two cables running but only one amp. the digitech has a wet and dry output so I thought maybe using that to help but I can't wrap my head around it.
Please help.
I would like it to be: Guitar-> ABY selector: A-Distortion, B- Chorus only ONE output in my amp.
Thank you for taking your time to help me, I really appreciate it.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

Start wearing clown shoes, you might be able to step on two pedals at once.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

You're overthinking it. Run into the clean channel, get a good clean sound. Step on your distortion for distortion. Turn it off and step on your chorus for clean. Two quick taps.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

For your application, I believe you can step on two pedals... However if you have more changes than that (clean w/chorus -> distortion + delay + phaser for example) you'll want something like this:

ls2_gal.jpg


This allows two loops of pedals (Loop A & Loop B) and allows you to switch between them.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

PFDarkside said:
For your application, I believe you can step on two pedals... However if you have more changes than that (clean w/chorus -> distortion + delay + phaser for example) you'll want something like this:

ls2_gal.jpg


This allows two loops of pedals (Loop A & Loop B) and allows you to switch between them.
Click to expand...

And both loops together.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

You DEFINITELY don't want an ABY switcher. The LS-2 works great, I've been using one for 6 or 7 years now with no problems. You can have as many pedals in each loop as you want and though it has many switching options, it does have limitations...there are only 2 loops available. As your pedalboard expands, you will want this Octobus:

http://www.palmer-germany.com/mi/en/OCTOBUS-8-channel-Programmable-Loop-Switcher-PEOCT.htm

It has 8 banks with 4 presets per bank giving you 32 available loops (put the LS-2 in one of those loops to increase the possibilities even more). Each loop can be programmed to use any combination of any number of effects (up to 8 each). This can give you 256 possible effects combinations. This is extremely versatile, easy to program, and easy to use. If you play in a cover band, this is an absolute must to put an end to tap dancing on your stomps.

For example: you could program preset 1A for clean, 1B for chorus only, 1C for distortion only, 1D for chorus + distortion. You just step on one button to choose which combination of effects you want. Let's say that later you get more pedals...a delay, overdrive, compressor, tremolo, and tuner. You could, for example, program a preset (say, "2A") to include overdrive + compressor + reverb for rhythm. Then for your lead, step on one button to switch to preset "2B" to go to distortion + compressor + chorus + reverb + delay. Then you could switch to "2C" to your tuner to silently tune your guitar between songs.
 
Last edited:
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

Loopswitch

And watch a few Eric Johnson live vids - to see how it is done.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

Aceman said:
Loopswitch

And watch a few Eric Johnson live vids - to see how it is done.
Click to expand...

Excuse the ignorance mighty Ace, but is Loopswitch the brand you are recommending?
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

PFDarkside said:
For your application, I believe you can step on two pedals... However if you have more changes than that (clean w/chorus -> distortion + delay + phaser for example) you'll want something like this:

ls2_gal.jpg


This allows two loops of pedals (Loop A & Loop B) and allows you to switch between them.
Click to expand...

Okay I get that. However, let's say I have my guitar into the pedal, Loop A is my distortion and Loop B is my "chorus". So I can go from distortion (or turn it off for clean), to a clean chorus, but how do I get it chorus and distortion together? There's the AB mix option but I don't always want distortion and chorus on together.
With this pedal Angry Chair would be easy to play: B for clean chorus, then A for distortion, and back again. Smells like Teen Spirit: loop A with the distortion off then turn it on, then B for the clean chorus, then back to A but for the solo how would I be able to have the chorus come back on with the distortion?

My main objective is to stop trying to stomp on multiple pedals between sound changes, I'm trying to have one stomp to do it all.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

grungeman55 said:
Okay I get that. However, let's say I have my guitar into the pedal, Loop A is my distortion and Loop B is my "chorus". So I can go from distortion (or turn it off for clean), to a clean chorus, but how do I get it chorus and distortion together? There's the AB mix option but I don't always want distortion and chorus on together.
With this pedal Angry Chair would be easy to play: B for clean chorus, then A for distortion, and back again. Smells like Teen Spirit: loop A with the distortion off then turn it on, then B for the clean chorus, then back to A but for the solo how would I be able to have the chorus come back on with the distortion?

My main objective is to stop trying to stomp on multiple pedals between sound changes, I'm trying to have one stomp to do it all.
Click to expand...

Then you need GuitarDoc's gadget. (Or the Voodoo Lab Pedal Switcher and Commander. Disaster Area makes something similar as well.) I'd advise learning the Guitarist Tap Dance Routine though, that's a lot of dough to spend just to minimize one stomp. In your example (Smells like Teen Spirit) you'd need 4 patches (clean, distortion, clean + chorus, distortion + chorus) It seems needlessly complicated to me, you'd have to make sure you are going to the right patch for each section of the song.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

PFDarkside said:
Then you need GuitarDoc's gadget. (Or the Voodoo Lab Pedal Switcher and Commander. Disaster Area makes something similar as well.) I'd advise learning the Guitarist Tap Dance Routine though, that's a lot of dough to spend just to minimize one stomp. In your example (Smells like Teen Spirit) you'd need 4 patches (clean, distortion, clean + chorus, distortion + chorus) It seems needlessly complicated to me, you'd have to make sure you are going to the right patch for each section of the song.
Click to expand...
There are multiple ways to skin that particular cat besides the switchers you mentions. Lehle D.Loop (though you would need more than one and they are EXPENSIVE) and Carl Martin Octa Switch are also great ... you can also keep all your switching at your amp, including effects, and do the switching (including amp channels) with a MIDI controller, provided you have the right amp/switch/MIDI controller combination. Did did this for a while (about 2 years), but in the end went down to a single Road Rage dual loop switcher.

Doing anything like this goes way beyond the point of diminishing returns, however, as you said ... at one point you have to ask yourself 'is it worth it' just to prevent stepping on a chorus pedal now and then ...
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

Ah, sorry... I didn't mean to imply those were the only way, more that you need something of that complexity.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

PFDarkside said:
Ah, sorry... I didn't mean to imply those were the only way, more that you need something of that complexity.
Click to expand...
No need to apologize, your post was great, and I was agreeing and just adding a couple of extra bits. :)
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

Another config you might look into (depending on your gear) is having an amp that allows you to go from clean to distorted with a twist of the guitar's volume knob.

So you use the guitar's vol knob to adjust the amount of gain going to the amp, and stomp on the chorus when needed.

A different take (need a good amp as above) would be to have (at least) two pickups on the guitar; each with their own separate volumes. Set one volume low for the clean parts and the other volume high for the distorted parts... toggle between the two pickups and stomp on the chorus when needed.

No looper necessary either way.
 
Re: Using an ABY selector for distortion, clean chorus, just clean, and chorus and di

LLL said:
Another config you might look into (depending on your gear) is having an amp that allows you to go from clean to distorted with a twist of the guitar's volume knob.

So you use the guitar's vol knob to adjust the amount of gain going to the amp, and stomp on the chorus when needed.

A different take (need a good amp as above) would be to have (at least) two pickups on the guitar; each with their own separate volumes. Set one volume low for the clean parts and the other volume high for the distorted parts... toggle between the two pickups and stomp on the chorus when needed.

No looper necessary either way.
Click to expand...
Both good ideas. I only have 1 dual channel amp these days and much prefer using single channel amps. The neck/clea,n bridge/crunch scenario works great with a Les Paul or SG style control setup.
 
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