Do you run 2 amps simultaneously?

JonnyAngle · #1 12-11-2010, 06:56 AM

If so, do you try to get the same sound out of both amps or do you have one set with a bass heavy eq and the other for hi mids?

What about volume? Do you try to get them to the exact same volume?

I am not referring to bi-amping.

Mr. Foxen · #2 12-11-2010, 07:13 AM

I used two amps, and eq the bass out of one. Really, I use the 'clean' one for top and bottom, and the driven one for mids, as I still want the clunk in the top but the grrr in the mids. The Fender style tone stack in my preamp sorts the mid scoop pretty well. I did find that cutting lows from the drive stack actually gave more bottom, due to interference weirdness. Also that both together had a punch that neither on its own did. I don't totally understand why, but want to.

madmatt · #3 12-11-2010, 07:21 AM

I modded my American P-Deluxe with passive circuits and two output jacks so I can send the P-PuP to one amp and the Dual-Jazz PuP to another. So now I can run distortion on the P-PuP and run the Humbucker plain, or vice-versa. One goes to a 2x10, the other to a 1x15. The P PuP does the overdrive/distortion sound better to me.
I do try to keep volume levels the same and I will run one pickup low freq. and the other high freq.

nysbob · #4 12-11-2010, 08:06 AM

I run two amps when playing with certain bands. One is set to do the heavy lifting on the bottom, and I run a 100W marshall into two twelves for mids and articulation.

That's really overkill - I could probably get away with a 30W amp for that, but you use what you have.

midichlorine · #5 12-11-2010, 10:09 AM

like this?

SactoBass · #6 12-11-2010, 10:13 AM

This may be slightly off topic, but very related. For those interested in running your bass into two separate amps, in order to avoid ground loop hum, the best splitter I know of is made by Lehle. They are a bit pricy, but if you want the best, with no ground loop problems, go with Lehle.

I have no affiliation.

bassteban · #7 12-11-2010, 10:13 AM

I sometimes run a second rig(usually a combo), pointing at my drummer- at his request. Nice, eh? Anyway, I don't fiddle w/EQ on the #2 amp- it's just for him to hear me better. I have also placed a combo at my feet to act as a monitor- IIRC I ran the EQ close to the main rig.

JoshuaTSP · #8 12-11-2010, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Foxen

I used two amps, and eq the bass out of one. Really, I use the 'clean' one for top and bottom, and the driven one for mids, as I still want the clunk in the top but the grrr in the mids. The Fender style tone stack in my preamp sorts the mid scoop pretty well. I did find that cutting lows from the drive stack actually gave more bottom, due to interference weirdness. Also that both together had a punch that neither on its own did. I don't totally understand why, but want to.

Did you use an ABY or something
For clean tones do you just mute the dirty amp?

Or do you run an always on sort of thing?

I'm thinking about doing the same thing.
I'm hoping of the tone of two amps into two cabs is better that doing the clean blending with a Line Selector.

Adam Bomb · #9 12-11-2010, 11:42 AM

Twin GK MB210s. Bass => pedalboard => each amp. The board's got 2 outs. Sometimes I have lofty plans about EQing the bottom one for pillowy doom and the top one for mix-slicing mids, or maybe the clean/dirty thing. But once the drummer starts pounding away I just want max volume and crank 'em both the same. Maybe I've got a little stereo going, though.

--Bomb

Mr. Foxen · #10 12-11-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

Did you use an ABY or something
For clean tones do you just mute the dirty amp?

Or do you run an always on sort of thing?

I'm thinking about doing the same thing.
I'm hoping of the tone of two amps into two cabs is better that doing the clean blending with a Line Selector.

Most of my basses have two outputs, from either each magnetic pickup, of mag and piezo. If not I just use the second out on my TU2 or Sansamp. For clean I just shut off the drive into my dirty amp, or turn down the volume on the appropriate pcikup. the idea is do have plenty of dynamic response depending on how hard I am playing, because I like being able to slowly sneak in more and more drive to build intensity.

s_mcsleazy · #11 12-11-2010, 11:55 AM

my guitar player does so i usually have to to keep up

i keep one pretty clean and the other one FILTHY

Clammy · #12 12-11-2010, 02:24 PM

Yup! The head running the 2x15 (on the left) has KT88s and the head running the 4x12 (on the right) has EL-34s. I plug my bass into the low channel 2 input of the EL-34 head, then daisy chain the high channel 2 input to the low channel 2 input of the KT88 head. They're eq'ed pretty similarly, but the KT88 head has a bit more headroom, and doesn't break up as much as the EL-34 head. This was my setup in the studio, while recording our latest CD, but I normally stack the 4x12 on top of the 2x15.

Cheers!

Johnny Crab · #13 12-11-2010, 03:13 PM

Pioneer.
How about 3 amps?
Ask Amy of Clatter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6HbKRkPnpA
http://clatter.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/clattermo
When I've seen them she had SWR Henry clean, Mesa Triple rectifier dirty, SWR Redhead for effects.
Worked very nicely, best use of multiple amps I've ever heard.

deaf pea · #14 12-11-2010, 04:08 PM

Yes . . . I run (2) Ampeg SVT-3PRO, one driving an Ampeg PR-410HLF ("clean") and the other driving an Ampeg SVT-210HE ("distorted") . . .
I switch the distorted sound in (and out) to emphasize certain bass lines . . .

. . .

the signal chain is bass > Trace Elliot Dual Compressor pedal > (2)Ampeg SVT-3PRO > speakers . . .

countrybass007 · #15 12-11-2010, 07:24 PM

I use an Orange rig and a Phil Jones rig at all the big venues and outdoor gigs. The PJB gives me great all around tone and the Orange gives me thumping bass with a bit of grit. I have two PJB rigs, a BG800 and a Suitcase with a 4B extension cab. My Orange rig is a 500 watt Tiny Terror with an SP212 and an OBC115. My guitar player goes out into the middle area at each gig and tells me what needs adjustment so the bass sounds full and clear to the crowd.

Waterpilot · #16 12-11-2010, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clammy

Yup! The head running the 2x15 (on the left) has KT88s and the head running the 4x12 (on the right) has EL-34s. I plug my bass into the low channel 2 input of the EL-34 head, then daisy chain the high channel 2 input to the low channel 2 input of the KT88 head. They're eq'ed pretty similarly, but the KT88 head has a bit more headroom, and doesn't break up as much as the EL-34 head. This was my setup in the studio, while recording our latest CD, but I normally stack the 4x12 on top of the 2x15.

Cheers!

Love that rig! That bass is bad *** too.

StereoPlayer · #17 12-11-2010, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonnyAngle

If so, do you try to get the same sound out of both amps or do you have one set with a bass heavy eq and the other for hi mids?

What about volume? Do you try to get them to the exact same volume?

I am not referring to bi-amping.

Two amps?.....of course! Effects only on the bridge/treble PU.

Volumes/EQ are set to complement each other.
Typically the treble PU is set for mid punch/treble and short delay(for a great fretless sound) and the bass PU set for a warm, full bass sound with a hint of highs.
Warwick has ben re-wired stereo.

canshaker · #18 12-11-2010, 08:46 PM

Top amp/cab is more high end, and effects.
Bottom is more low end, clean.

AwkwardLoudness · #19 12-12-2010, 11:05 AM

I often run two amps. The Hiwatt 400 is clean and bassy and the Hiwatt Custom 100 is dialed in for more mids and sometime slight overdrive. Both cabs are Ampeg PR-410HLFs.

Jon R · #20 12-12-2010, 02:25 PM

I always run two amps... they are mostly set the same, although I use the one through the Aguilars to push the bottom end a bit more than the one through the AccuGroove.

The benefits are: added volume if needed, more flexibility of tone and mid-presence, and reliability. I could have an amp or speaker failure with little affect on my ability to perform.