A/B Switching Safe?

[CliftonBonney]

I think I'll have no issues but wanted to get some feedback.

I use a MarkBass 4 x 10 cabinet. It's the 8ohm version. I have two heads that I use - the MarkBass TA501 and the Orange Terror Bass.

I'd like to switch back and forth between the two heads because I like the sound of each for different songs. I intend to get an A/B box to do this. I definitely don't want an A/B/Y box for fear of engaging both heads and blowing the amp.

I shouldn't have any issues, right?

 

[JerBo]

Do you mean plugging Speaker level through the A/B switch?

Most of those are meant for line level audio, not speaker level. I think you could possibly damage one or both of your amps without a proper switch!

Make sure you get all the right info from an expert here before you try that.

 

[nysbob]

I shouldn't have any issues, right?

If you say so.

I wouldn't do it.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

I would not try this either, for two reasons:

1. What JerBo said about damaging the A/B box.

2. Possibly damaging either or both amps during the switching process. You don't know whether the switch would momentarily connect A and B during the switchover.

 

[Stereo Joe]

I know a guy who used an A/B switch between his head and two cabs in order to compare the sound. I have no idea if it was just a normal A/B switch or if it was damaging the head at all.
In his particular situation, it worked fine and didn't release any magic smoke, so I guess an A/B box switching speaker loads is possible, but I don't know how wise.

 

[Munjibunga]

I think Radial makes something for that purpose. In fact they make three: one each for tube, solid state, or both types of heads.

Radial ToneBone HeadBone

 

[CliftonBonney]

Do you mean plugging Speaker level through the A/B switch?

Most of those are meant for line level audio, not speaker level. I think you could possibly damage one or both of your amps without a proper switch!

Make sure you get all the right info from an expert here before you try that.

Glad I asked the question. This is what I thought about doing. My bass would be plugged into the input of the A/B box. The two outputs from the A/B box would go to the input of the MarkBass TA501 and the input of the Orange Terror Bass. My cabinet has two inputs on the back. Both inputs can accept either 1/4 inch speaker cables or the Neutrix (sp?) cables. I would then plug each head into one of the inputs on the cabinet.

So why wouldn't this work?

 

[CliftonBonney]

I would not try this either, for two reasons:

1. What JerBo said about damaging the A/B box.

2. Possibly damaging either or both amps during the switching process. You don't know whether the switch would momentarily connect A and B during the switchover.

Number 2 does concern me somewhat. anyone?

 

[CliftonBonney]

I think Radial makes something for that purpose. In fact they make three: one each for tube, solid state, or both types of heads.

Radial ToneBone HeadBone

Nice. I'll read up on this. Thanks.

 

[coreyfyfe]

In that scenario (plugging both into the parallel ins on the cab) you'd essentially be plugging each head's outputs into each other. Don't cross the streams................

 

[Stereo Joe]

Glad I asked the question. This is what I thought about doing. My bass would be plugged into the input of the A/B box. The two outputs from the A/B box would go to the input of the MarkBass TA501 and the input of the Orange Terror Bass. My cabinet has two inputs on the back. Both inputs can accept either 1/4 inch speaker cables or the Neutrix (sp?) cables. I would then plug each head into one of the inputs on the cabinet.

So why wouldn't this work?

Those are parallel jacks on your cab. They are designed for daisy chaining cabs together, so they pass signal. I'm pretty sure if you had your Markbass pumping into one cab input, the other jack would be sending speaker-level signals right into your Orange amp. Not a good thing...

 

[Stereo Joe]

Don't cross the streams................

Sword fight!!

 

[smeet]

Yes, even without putting any signal into either amp, if you have both amps feeding into the same speaker, something bad will probably happen.

 

[Bass_Pounder]

My cabinet has two inputs on the back. Both inputs can accept either 1/4 inch speaker cables or the Neutrix (sp?) cables. I would then plug each head into one of the inputs on the cabinet.
So why wouldn't this work?

DO NOT DO THAT

You run a very good risk of blowing BOTH heads

 

[CliftonBonney]

Thanks for all the help. Definitely glad I asked. The Headbone looks promising. Anyone with any experience with it?

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Both of your amps are solid-state, so you should choose the Radial SS switcher.

Radial makes high-quality gear.

 

[RickenBoogie]

Just get another 4x10, so each head has it's own speaker cab. Running 2 amps into one cab is a sure fire way to fry them both. Those Radial switchers are amp switchers, but they assume each amp has it's own speaker load. What you want to do is very dangerous to your equipment, be safe, get another 410.

 

[Rick Auricchio]

Not true. The Radial boxes switch two heads to one cabinet, exactly what the OP needs.

 

[Bubba Ghanoosh]

My bass would be plugged into the input of the A/B box. The two outputs from the A/B box would go to the input of the MarkBass TA501 and the input of the Orange Terror Bass. My cabinet has two inputs on the back. Both inputs can accept either 1/4 inch speaker cables or the Neutrix (sp?) cables. I would then plug each head into one of the inputs on the cabinet.

So why wouldn't this work?

The way you want to do it, you are simultaneously connecting two heads into one cabinet. Not good. Also, what they said:

In that scenario (plugging both into the parallel ins on the cab) you'd essentially be plugging each head's outputs into each other. Don't cross the streams................

Those are parallel jacks on your cab. They are designed for daisy chaining cabs together, so they pass signal. I'm pretty sure if you had your Markbass pumping into one cab input, the other jack would be sending speaker-level signals right into your Orange amp. Not a good thing...

Yes, even without putting any signal into either amp, if you have both amps feeding into the same speaker, something bad will probably happen.

DO NOT DO THAT

You run a very good risk of blowing BOTH heads

However, like Rick said above, when using the Headbone properly (http://www.tonebone.com/tb-headbone-ss-using.htm), you plug everything into the splitter, then only one signal is sent to the cabinet.


I would go that route.

 

[Nadja]

My Markbass 2x10 also has two inputs, and the label warns against using two amp channels into them. Even with switching it's not wise, as has been said.