Theoretical question - ABY boxes in front of your pedalboard

[DarkAxel]

Say you have a bit bigger rig and you want to run multiple instruments through your pedalboard.

In my case, that would be a guitar, a drone box and a lapsteel (again - i'm talking very theoretically)

But then, you find yourself in a conundrum - because you have a certain pedal that needs to be right behind your instrument and is very sensitive to impedance changes etc. In my case, that would be my Secret Destroyer, but it can be any oscillating fuzz

do A/B/Y splitters create issues in these situations?

[skullservant]

It seems like with the Destroyers that ANYTHING can really change how they work, whether it be the guitar you use, the cable you use, the pickups, etc etc. So putting the splitter in front would probably change how it reacts as well

[Pugie]

My experience with TGD is the same as what skullservant said. It always reacts a bit different when I change something up.

[DarkAxel]

Okay, thanks

main question is though - would I lose the possibility of controlling it via my guitar knobs? I'm not sure whether those splitters prevent you from doing that such as an overdrive would do for example (or many other pedals in general)

[skullservant]

An ABY is passive, so you'd be fine to still use your volume knob

[osbornkt]

Not quite the same situation, but maybe it's helpful.
I run a 8 channel mixer before my board for guitar, saw, telephone and radio...Having a few oscillating fuzzes and other pedals that are sensitive to volume knob changes on the guitar, I've not seen any difference in response between using the mixer and not using it. Plus, having the gain of the mixer can make them more/less responsive depending on how you're running the mix.
So ultimately, I'd assume that if something as potentially tone/response changing as a mixer doesn't affect the control of the effect via guitar knobs, then an A/B/Y box would not either...Just my 2cents.

[DarkAxel]

good thinking, skully!

and thanks, osbornkt! I hoped someone who is running multiple instruments could respond

[Msstringthing]

As long as the bos isn't buffered (like a boss line selector) you should still get control

these self-osc deals are basically a circuit bend routing the input back upstream and your guitar guts become part of an RLC circuit.

The only one I can think of that is a little different is the H2SO4, but good luck finding one of those

[Seedy]

Axel, for your benefit I took my Phantom Octave and ABSynth, which are both input-sensitive to get the full effect, and put my Morley ABY (a passive box) in front of them to see if I got the same responsiveness and the answer is...yes its all good.

Alternately, I put my Alesis mini mixer in front (an active battery powered box) and could not get good oscillation under the same circumstances. The 4 channel mixer would theoretically be better for multi-input level control, but I know that Fuzz Rules Everything Around Me (FREAM)

[DarkAxel]

cheers! appreciate your help!

[Derelict78]

Here is a fun fact for ya,
If you were to turn that ABY box around, use one instrument and two amps
than turn on TGD both amps would be fuzzed up!