who runs 2 amps at once?

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

I don't, and unfortunately I don't have the cash to do that yet. However, if I did, I'd just get two Fender Deluxe Reverbs (those are the single 12" and 45 watts, right? I forget...) and run stereo. The main temptation with two amps is true stereo. For now, if I wanted stereo, the two jacks on my Twin Reverb (one is +6 from the other, pardon my ignorance, like "high" or "low" gain I think) should work almost well enough.

I did try Line Out stereo into dual 1/4" mono to two small roland keyboard amps, and it was almost a worthy sound. This was when I was thinking about selling my amp for $650 and buying two $200 roland keyboard amps. Looking back, I'm glad I didn't do that.

 

[Stratman]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Two (Edana and Franklin) on all the time, with the third (Bassman AB165 circuit) driving a Vibratone.

And when I really want to get the drummer back, I kick in the pedals. (Carl Martin Plexi and ToneBone) just to watch them beat those drum skins harder.

 

[J Moose]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

For now, if I wanted stereo, the two jacks on my Twin Reverb (one is +6 from the other, pardon my ignorance, like "high" or "low" gain I think) should work almost well enough.

That's not stereo.

Not even close...

You need two amps running together for stereo.

All plugging into both inputs would do is load the guitar down... rob tone.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

for ages i used a mid 1980's Marshall SS combo in stereo with a late 80's Fender Princton Chorus... The Marshall had the bass and cleaner tone that when added to the Princton Chorus's mid range fuzz sound made one amazing tone... i still try that stereo stuff with some of my amps... when i gig i always have a mono set up

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

That's not stereo.

Not even close...

You need two amps running together for stereo.

All plugging into both inputs would do is load the guitar down... rob tone.

Nah on mine it seems to sound more lush than before. Still, I know it's not truly stereo.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

I think it's similar to bridging the normal and vibrato channels on a Fender, the extra half tube of gain puts the signal out of phase.

Exactly. The Reverb channel and the normal channel are out of phase with each other in a blackface or silverface Fender. (unlike the channels in a plexi Marshall or tweed Bassman)

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Exactly. The Reverb channel and the normal channel are out of phase with each other in a blackface or silverface Fender. (unlike the channels in a plexi Marshall or tweed Bassman)

So I shouldn't run left channel to normal and right channel to vibrato from my ME-50 to the front of my amp?

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Two amps? Too much work for me.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

So I shouldn't run left channel to normal and right channel to vibrato from my ME-50 to the front of my amp?

I dunno. My comments apply to Fender blackface and silverface amps with one vibrato/reverb channel and one normal channel without vibrato/reverb. If you bridge those two channels they will be out of phase and instead of sounding "fatter" (as they would in a Marshall Plexi) they'll sound thinner.

The same out of phase thing will result if you use two Fender amps and one has reverb and the other doesn't. Like one blackface Deluxe and one blackface Deluxe Reverb...they'll be out of phase and the resulting tone will be thin and not full.

You should just try it with your amp and see what the results are.


Lew

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

I dunno. My comments apply to Fender blackface and silverface amps with one vibrato/reverb channel and one normal channel without vibrato/reverb. If you bridge those two channels they will be out of phase and instead of sounding "fatter" (as they would in a Marshall Plexi) they'll sound thinner.
The same out of phase thing will result if you use two Fender amps and one has reverb and the other doesn't. Like one blackface Deluxe and one blackface Deluxe Reverb...they'll be out of phase and the resulting tone will be thin and not full.
You should just try it with your amp and see what the results are.
Lew

Well mine has a Vibrato and a Normal, two inputs each. Should I instead put both inputs to the Vibrato channel, so that there's a contrast between the channels in hotness, or should I avoid that? I'm trying to get as close to stereo as I can, even though I know I can't do true stereo with one amp.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Well mine has a Vibrato and a Normal, two inputs each. Should I instead put both inputs to the Vibrato channel, so that there's a contrast between the channels in hotness, or should I avoid that? I'm trying to get as close to stereo as I can, even though I know I can't do true stereo with one amp.

So you have a Twin Reverb? The one in the photo?

You know, again: just try it a couple of differant ways and see for yourself what sounds right to you!

BB King used to play his stereo ES-355 through a Twin Reverb and he plugged one pickup into the vibrato channel and one pickup into the normal channel.

BUT: his pickups were out of phase in the guitar itself! That may have made for both pickups being IN PHASE when the sound came out of the speakers.

I'm not sure...just a guess.

But again: it's so simple to just plug your guitar into your amp and see for yourself what you like best.

Everything I know about guitars and amps was learned through trial and error.

So try it and see...then you'll know and you can let us know the results.

Lew

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

So you have a Twin Reverb? The one in the photo?
You know, again: just try it a couple of differant ways and see for yourself what sounds right to you!
BB King used to play his stereo ES-355 through a Twin Reverb and he plugged one pickup into the vibrato channel and one pickup into the normal channel.
BUT: his pickups were out of phase in the guitar itself! That may have made for both pickups being IN PHASE when the sound came out of the speakers.
I'm not sure...just a guess.
But again: it's so simple to just plug your guitar into your amp and see for yourself what you like best.
Everything I know about guitars and amps was learned through trial and error.
So try it and see...then you'll know.
Lew

Ok, thanks. Yeah, silver face '72 twin reverb, original electronics, no mods done except if you count replacing broken speakers with Celestion Vintage Leads.

 

[The Golden Boy]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Well mine has a Vibrato and a Normal, two inputs each. Should I instead put both inputs to the Vibrato channel, so that there's a contrast between the channels in hotness, or should I avoid that? I'm trying to get as close to stereo as I can, even though I know I can't do true stereo with one amp.

This is making my head hurt.

Your amp has 2 preamp sections- the normal and vibrato.

It is feeding to one poweramp section.

That poweramp section is feeding two speakers through the same output.

There's not the capability to do anything remotely close to "stereo" about it.

You can do "true stereo" with one amp, it just has to be a stereo amp.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

This is making my head hurt.
Your amp has 2 preamp sections- the normal and vibrato.
It is feeding to one poweramp section.
That poweramp section is feeding two speakers through the same output.
There's not the capability to do anything remotely close to "stereo" about it.
You can do "true stereo" with one amp, it just has to be a stereo amp.

Oh. Thanks for helping me understand!

 

[disturb]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

I brought 2 half stacks to 2 or 3 gigs. Was a pain in he ass, and not worth the trouble. Bring your favorite, and be content. I brought a full stack to a gig or two also. Equally a bad idea.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

I brought 2 half stacks to 2 or 3 gigs. Was a pain in he ass, and not worth the trouble. Bring your favorite, and be content. I brought a full stack to a gig or two also. Equally a bad idea.

I disagree...although respectfully.

With one loud 50 watt amp, it's like the sound shooting out of a firehose and I get more complaints about volume.

With two 18-22 watt amps set at lower volumes it's gentler on the ears and more like a spray.

I find that the sound surrounds me and that I can get great sustain with lower volume and less directionality. (Is that real word???)

Lew

 

[Reckless Abandon]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

I use my 2 marshalls. Sometine I just switch back and forth but they sound grea together. I do it less now that I have a hotplate, since it fills my 900 out more

 

[ponch]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Yeah, ill run two different amps when I can, stereo chorus! But they have to be tubed and same watts, because then you push one harder than the other.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Yeah, ill run two different amps when I can, stereo chorus! But they have to be tubed and same watts, because then you push one harder than the other.

Splitting the signal between two amps with a stereo chorus sounds HUGE!

I love that tone.

Good call.

Lew

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: who runs 2 amps at once?

Splitting the signal between two amps with a stereo chorus sounds HUGE!

I love that tone.

Good call.

I've got a vintage MXR I bought used in '82. It's definitely a huge, room-spinning sound.

I find that the sound surrounds me and that I can get great sustain with lower volume and less directionality. (Is that real word???)

If it ain't, it oughta be...