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cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:37 am
by llllllllllllllllllllllll_Archive
Can I just run an instrument cable from the tuner out of my volume pedal to another amp?

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:46 am
by ubercat_Archive
A/B/Y box. Problem solved.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 10:58 am
by Benny_Archive
buy a cheap chorus pedal with stereo outputs.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:08 am
by ubercat_Archive
A delay with a dry out.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 11:39 am
by steve_Archive
If you need to isolate one amp from the other to prevent ground loops, here's a trick: Use an active DI box in-line with amp #1 to send a balanced. low-impedance signal to a transformer (passive) DI box (connect to the "output" or low-impedance side of the transformer), then connect the high impedance side of the transformer (the "input") to amp #2.

Make sure the ground is lifted on one or both of the DI boxes. You often get a few dB of gain from this setup as well.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:41 pm
by otisroom_Archive
I bought a Radial Bigshot for this purpose. It's actually a true-bypass amp switcher but it has a split output with a ground lift, phase switch and iso transformer switch. I use it sometimes as an A/B box but mostly to split a signal out of a bass guitar into an amp and into the avalon DI or Summit DI I use for bass direct injection. This box was only $80 and it works well. I like the radial product line I plan to buy more of their stuff in the future. They gots the fancy stuffs.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 5:22 pm
by chrisc_Archive
llllllllllllllllllllllll wrote:Can I just run an instrument cable from the tuner out of my volume pedal to another amp?


I'm pretty sure this won't blow anything up but don't know if it will work. Y adapter's are pretty cheap.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:09 pm
by llllllllllllllllllllllll_Archive
Just got back from practice. Running another amp from the tuner output of the volume pedal worked fine, though I think I'll try steve or otisroom's suggestions in the future. I thought about borrowing a delay or chorus as well, but would rather not. I didn't try to switch which amps were coming out of what inputs, so i honestly couldn't tell you if the tuner out had any effect on the sound.

i've tried to run an a/b/y box before when I had a mesa-boogie d-180 and a gk 800rb, but for some reason the mesa would always lose power after some time. Only did that when running two amps at the same time. really doesn't change my opinion on a/b boxes for the worse---that mesa boogie wasn't that great anyways, except when amplifying acoustic guitar, which sounded absolutely beautiful.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 6:42 pm
by Rodabod_Archive
llllllllllllllllllllllll wrote:Just got back from practice. Running another amp from the tuner output of the volume pedal worked fine


Should be fine assuming your tuner's output is buffered which is most likely.

cheap ways to split signal into two amps?

Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 8:04 pm
by A vs B_Archive
yeah that works totally fine. The only issue is that you'll get ground loops which will give you an audible and obnoxious hum, especially with distortion. That's where steve's suggestion is important.