How do I use two amps at once?

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magiclawnchair
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by magiclawnchair »

AstralFeedbackM wrote:

Thanks for the link but please what all do I need. I'm getting lost by people saying use this, or this, or this, and this. I don't know what I would use this adapter here for? One of the amps, a effect pedal?
the adapter above would plug into the last pedal on your board and then you would plug an amp into each out on that adapter. ive never used it but MEC is correct about that being the cheapest way.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by zeravla »

What about jumping inputs? I guess that depends on the amps though.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by GardenoftheDead »

resincum wrote:
GardenoftheDead wrote:ABY box or a stereo effect (delay, chorus and reverb are most common).

Things to keep in mind is that ground loop noise and phase cancellation become concerns when using two or more amps.
I thought phase cancellation was only a thing when recording..?
Two waves meeting at the peak or the trough amplify each other, but waves meeting in the node cancel each other out. The laws of physics do not change just because you're not recording. Using two spaced loudspeakers means you need to consider your phase coherency, otherwise you'll lose volume and bass & treble response.

this is why the guy from Eagle Twin puts phase correction switches in his multi amp splitter boxes.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by frigid midget »

I've been using a Radial BigShot ABY for a while now. Works like a charm, got it super cheap used; Wouldn't want anything else than doesn't haver the ground lift and phase shift options, you're guaranteed to run into hiss/hum issues if you get a generic a/b box without those feautres. So unless you wanna spend a small fortune on something like a Lehle unit (it's the shit, though out of my league), I'd look for a BigShot if I were you, or something similar.

Using a stereo pedal works too ofcourse, but you won't have the same switching options (A/B/both), and if you might have to put the stereo pedal in a different spot in the chain than where youy normally prefer it to be.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by misterstomach »

frigid midget wrote:I've been using a Radial BigShot ABY for a while now. Works like a charm, got it super cheap used; Wouldn't want anything else than doesn't haver the ground lift and phase shift options, you're guaranteed to run into hiss/hum issues if you get a generic a/b box without those feautres. So unless you wanna spend a small fortune on something like a Lehle unit (it's the shit, though out of my league), I'd look for a BigShot if I were you, or something similar.

Using a stereo pedal works too ofcourse, but you won't have the same switching options (A/B/both), and if you might have to put the stereo pedal in a different spot in the chain than where youy normally prefer it to be.
this is pretty much what i was going to post. or something like it. a y-cable splitter is the cheapest option, but does not give you and options for dealing with potential ground loop hum, which can be awful. same with a stereo pedal. often, if you're just playing at home, this may not be a problem, or you can just plug into two different circuits. however, if you're playing out or playing at different places, you may run into some real nasty problems with ground loop hum. a decent ab/y with a ground lift option and phase switching is a nice friend to have in those situations. the radial bigshot is probably the best bang for your buck. another option, if you want to use a stereo pedal or whatever and don't want to get a good ab/y, is the ebtech hum-x. i've never used one, but if it truly works it seems like a great little product.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ ... oCYiPw_wcB

not much cheaper than the bigshot, but it's another choice that may fit your needs. just plug one amp into that and the other straight in and you should be good.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by DannDubbleEwe »

Buy Radial Bigshot ABY

Run last "OUT" of pedalboard into "IN" and use the two outs "OUT A" and "OUT B" with two cables to each amp's input

Turn the amps on

Use the stomp "BOTH" and be pleased by your massive sound.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by beezlebub »

Have you tried a double neck guitar? 2 on 2 is fair teams right?
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by MEC »

magiclawnchair wrote:
AstralFeedbackM wrote:
Thanks for the link but please what all do I need. I'm getting lost by people saying use this, or this, or this, and this. I don't know what I would use this adapter here for? One of the amps, a effect pedal?
the adapter above would plug into the last pedal on your board and then you would plug an amp into each out on that adapter. ive never used it but MEC is correct about that being the cheapest way.
Yep, that's how it works. I used one for years without any problems.
It's worth a shot before dropping $89 on the Radial ABY.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by HeavyXIII »

GardenoftheDead wrote:
resincum wrote:
GardenoftheDead wrote:ABY box or a stereo effect (delay, chorus and reverb are most common).

Things to keep in mind is that ground loop noise and phase cancellation become concerns when using two or more amps.
I thought phase cancellation was only a thing when recording..?
Two waves meeting at the peak or the trough amplify each other, but waves meeting in the node cancel each other out. The laws of physics do not change just because you're not recording. Using two spaced loudspeakers means you need to consider your phase coherency, otherwise you'll lose volume and bass & treble response.

this is why the guy from Eagle Twin puts phase correction switches in his multi amp splitter boxes.
Is it possible to correct this by setting your cabs in different places? I haven't had too many noticeable phase cancellation issues in my setup.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by GardenoftheDead »

HeavyXIII wrote:
GardenoftheDead wrote:
resincum wrote:
GardenoftheDead wrote:ABY box or a stereo effect (delay, chorus and reverb are most common).

Things to keep in mind is that ground loop noise and phase cancellation become concerns when using two or more amps.
I thought phase cancellation was only a thing when recording..?
Two waves meeting at the peak or the trough amplify each other, but waves meeting in the node cancel each other out. The laws of physics do not change just because you're not recording. Using two spaced loudspeakers means you need to consider your phase coherency, otherwise you'll lose volume and bass & treble response.

this is why the guy from Eagle Twin puts phase correction switches in his multi amp splitter boxes.
Is it possible to correct this by setting your cabs in different places? I haven't had too many noticeable phase cancellation issues in my setup.
Totally possible, yes. There's math involved but you can measure it out or "move it till it sounds right".

Typically the problems become more noticeable if you have 3 speaker cabs or 2 spaced apart a certain amount.
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by AstralFeedbackM »

Ok guy's I got it!!!! THanks a shit load for breaking it down for me :)
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by frigid midget »

A decent a/b/y box is too cheap and too much fun NOT to keep around. I like to put my DL8 and EHX Freeze after the BigShot, going to the second amp. So the loops and ambienty background stuff doesn't get fuzzed up by whatever effects I use on the main 'lead' part. Unless I want it to :)

If you tweak your two amps so they compliment each other and sound like a massive solid wall of creamy awesomeness...You'll never want to go back to just one amp :)
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Re: How do I use two amps at once?

Post by PeteeBee »

I really want to build a second cab so I can do this. I already have the proper box to do the splitting, but for now I just use it for feedback loops. Debating between 4x10, 1x15, or 2x12 to go with my current 2x12. Or something totally different...
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