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04-25-2011, 03:31 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Detroitish | | | Is there any danger in having both my main and backup amps plugged into my cabs?
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I want to use a tube amp as my primary at gigs, with a SS as backup. My cabs have both 1/4" and speakon jacks. I'm thinking of connecting the tube amp to both of the cabs' 1/4" jacks, the SS to the speakon jacks, and just leaving the SS amp powered off unless I need to use it.
Anyone know if there's a danger to the amps or cabs if I hook it up this way?
TIA |
04-25-2011, 03:35 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Nashville, TN | | | Shouldn't be, as long as one head is powered off at all times. |
04-25-2011, 03:43 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Lawton, OK / Ruston, LA | | | I wouldn't |
04-25-2011, 03:44 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Palm Coast, Florida | | | I'm no engineer, but in my opinion it can't be too good for any components to have power sent to them that should not (ie: the SS heads output jacks and all the components connected therein are going to be recieving the power put out by your tube head).
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04-25-2011, 03:48 PM
| | | | I would not do that either. I would worry that the powered down SS head would have a very low impedance and throw off your load, possibly messing up the tube head. Also, if the SS amp did have a low impedance, it will soak up a lot of current and could get destroyed as well. Without hearing from someone who really knows electronics, I would never do this. |
04-25-2011, 03:50 PM
| | Registered User
Owner, Bill Fitzmaurice Loudspeaker Design | | Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: New Hampshire | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Edword 
Anyone know if there's a danger to the amps or cabs if I hook it up this way?
| Only the possibility of toasting both of them. Don't do that. |
04-25-2011, 04:15 PM
|  | Endorsing Curmudgeon: Mal's Kitchen Cruelties ... | | Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Columbia River Gorge | | | sounds like a new way to smell the smell of burning to me ...
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04-25-2011, 04:22 PM
| | Registered User
Artist:TC Electronic RH450 bass system | | Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Fort Madison, IA | | | NO!!!! Don't do it!
Last edited by John Wentzien : 04-26-2011 at 09:32 AM.
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04-25-2011, 04:47 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA | | | Probably a bad idea.
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04-25-2011, 04:50 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Detroitish | | | Thanks guys |
04-25-2011, 05:47 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Mississippi Coast | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Sartori Probably a bad idea. | Bad ideas abound here on TalkBass.
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04-25-2011, 05:53 PM
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Owner/proprietor: Gigmaster Soundworks, Authorized fEARful builder | | Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Hickory Corners, MI | | | That's why we're here to educate and enlighten...
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04-25-2011, 05:56 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Center of The Commonwealth | | Quote:
Originally Posted by lbwdog Bad ideas abound here on TalkBass. | So close to being my new sig! 
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Originally Posted by nutdog Don't worry, somebody will come along and kick you in the nuts pretty soon. | |
04-26-2011, 12:17 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Finland (Northern Europe) | | Hi.
OP, You got to be kidding, right? Quote:
Originally Posted by lbwdog Bad ideas abound here on TalkBass. | The spring time seems to be some sort of catalyst.
Regards
Sam |
04-26-2011, 12:53 AM
| | Registered User
Endorsing: Ampeg | | Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Apopka, FL | | | well at least he asked. think of the poor saps who don't ask and then toast their gear.
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04-26-2011, 05:19 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bristol, Connecticut, USA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyM well at least he asked. think of the poor saps who don't ask and then toast their gear. | I agree. This forum should be about asking all of the questions so the answers are documented. This question got me wondering if a solution could be achieved with some kind of switch. |
04-26-2011, 05:51 AM
|  | The Funkfather
Endorsing Artist: Kohlman Bassworks | | Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Hampton Roads, Virginia | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Edword I want to use a tube amp as my primary at gigs, with a SS as backup. My cabs have both 1/4" and speakon jacks. I'm thinking of connecting the tube amp to both of the cabs' 1/4" jacks, the SS to the speakon jacks, and just leaving the SS amp powered off unless I need to use it.
Anyone know if there's a danger to the amps or cabs if I hook it up this way?
TIA | Really?  Well, as long as both are not powered on at the same time, there should be no issue but I would not do it. I'd be afraid some voltage would be sent back to the other amp frying it! I'd just leave the cables hanging by the jack and when I need to switch, just pull out one set and connect the other. |
04-26-2011, 06:59 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Finland | | | Take for instance the ICEPower power amplifier modules hat are used in many famous micro bass amplifiers. Their output impedance is at milliohms. Therefore, if there is any chance that this load is experienced by the "other" amp in your system, all current will flow through the EMI filter stage and into the output transistors of the power module. Without power connected to the said ICEPower amp, your main amp will try to push all its power into this load, potentially frying both amplifiers at one go. And, you will NOT HEAR IT because your loudspeaker will get no signal.
So, I would definitely not try it.
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04-26-2011, 09:04 AM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Columbus OH | | | Don't do it. The result is the same as if you ran a cord directly between both amps, plugging into the "speaker out" jacks of each directly.
If both get powered up at the same time, even accidentally for a mere second, you'll fry both amps in an instant. The risk of accidentally powering one up while the other is on WAY outweighs any benefit to linking them in the first place.
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04-26-2011, 09:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2006 Location: Liverpool. UK. | | | Is there a problem with this board and some browsers, in that they are not able to view all posts.
I am using I.E.8 and mine shows this question was answered in post #6 with just a few guesses before it. | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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