What is the architecture of a two-channel amp compared to one?
- Thread starter jmcorey
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Lake Placid Blues
New member
Re: What is the architecture of a two-channel amp compared to one?
In most cases they don't have two pre-amps. To illustrate the typical design, we could compare a Soldano SLO 100 channel switching, to a Marshall JCM800 2203 single channel amp.
In the JCM800, the guitar signal runs through the first preamp tube's two triodes in series, with the gain control in between the triodes, then on to the second pre-amp tube, then through the tone stack (EQ), then to the master volume, then on to the power amp section.
With the SLO, the dirt channel runs the same way, but there's an additional preamp tube (two additional triodes) that are overdriven. A clean channel is provided, by taking the signal right after the first triode of the first tube, and by passing all these additional overdriven triodes, and running it to same point as what would be the second tube on JCM800. When you switch from high gain to clean, you simply have the dirt signal dead ended.
It possible to provide seperate tone stacks for both high gain and clean signal paths, but that makes for a more complicated design. Sometimes, additional Eq's are provided for the a third or fourth channel.
In most cases they don't have two pre-amps. To illustrate the typical design, we could compare a Soldano SLO 100 channel switching, to a Marshall JCM800 2203 single channel amp.
In the JCM800, the guitar signal runs through the first preamp tube's two triodes in series, with the gain control in between the triodes, then on to the second pre-amp tube, then through the tone stack (EQ), then to the master volume, then on to the power amp section.
With the SLO, the dirt channel runs the same way, but there's an additional preamp tube (two additional triodes) that are overdriven. A clean channel is provided, by taking the signal right after the first triode of the first tube, and by passing all these additional overdriven triodes, and running it to same point as what would be the second tube on JCM800. When you switch from high gain to clean, you simply have the dirt signal dead ended.
It possible to provide seperate tone stacks for both high gain and clean signal paths, but that makes for a more complicated design. Sometimes, additional Eq's are provided for the a third or fourth channel.
some_dude
Raging BB Gunologist
Re: What is the architecture of a two-channel amp compared to one?
It depends on the amp.
Some run shared EQs. Some have different tone stacks and a shared EQ. Some have partially separate EQs. Some have totally separate EQs. Some have totaly separate preamp circuits.
It depends on the amp.
Some run shared EQs. Some have different tone stacks and a shared EQ. Some have partially separate EQs. Some have totally separate EQs. Some have totaly separate preamp circuits.
HolyDirt
New member
Re: What is the architecture of a two-channel amp compared to one?
It's a joke hahaha.
Great Explanation Lake.
It's a joke hahaha.
Great Explanation Lake.
Top Jimmy
New member
Re: What is the architecture of a two-channel amp compared to one?
I meant more in regards to Lake Placid Blues post, but I guess the joke didn't translate well without quoting. :smack:
I meant more in regards to Lake Placid Blues post, but I guess the joke didn't translate well without quoting. :smack:
