A-B-Y Switch VS A Simple Y Cord?

[RELIC LAB]

A question requiring your expertise: I want to use two SWR LA combos, an LA12 with an LA15 together - sort of a 200W "mini stack" for small gigs.

I used a Morley A-B-Y pedal box (the Y channel delivering both amps to my bass). Then I unplugged the A-B-Y and tried the same setup using just a simple Y cable that has two MALE 1/4" jacks (one for the input jack of each amp) and one FEMALE 1/4" plug (where I plug my bass.) Both the A-B-Y box and the Y connector cable seemd to work well.

QUESTION: What does an A-B-Y box give me over the simple Y cable? Is it just the switching cabability? Are the electronics in an A-B-Y box ensuring better amp performance or load balancing or something, or is it just basically a switch version of a Y cable?

I don't need the switching, I just want to combine two amps so a Y connector cable is a lot less fuss & muss. THOUGHTS?

JB DAVIS [email protected]

 

[JTE]

The A/B/Y box might have bridging resistors across the A/B jacks to help prevent the input impedances of the two amps loading each other, which is what you get with a simple Y cord. But if you don't hear any difference, there's nothing to worry about.

jte

 

[JustRob]

Since you don't need switching, the Y cord will do the same job, the Morley is passive switchbox.

 

[JimmyM]

The only thing about Y's is they tend to break a lot. Otherwise I've used them many times and they work just as well as an ABY box for your purposes. Just keep spares.

 

[RELIC LAB]

You bassists are The Bomb! Three reply posts within a few hours all with good (and unanimous) advice. Keep your thoughts/experiences/comments coming. Very helpful. JB

 

[MingusBass]

Radial makes a fairly inexpensive ABY box for around $50 bucks.

Sometimes when I'm feeling crazy, I'll run a dry signal to my LittlemarkII/NV610 rig and run a Fulltone Bassdrive to my Ashdown ABM 500EVOII/Berg 2x10/Berg 1x12 and it sounds amazing.

You can also wire it backwards and use it as a a/b switch for two basses into one rig.

 

[bongomania]

You can also wire it backwards and use it as a a/b switch for two basses into one rig.

Just to clarify, you can do that with the Radial and get good results, because the Y legs are isolated by a transformer. Doing that with a typical passive ABY box (Morley, DOD, etc.) will result in loading which will suck tone badly, especially with passive basses.

 

[chicago_mike]

I used a morley ABY, but only to switch between basses. I had buffered units to switch between amps or effect chains.

 

[MingusBass]

Yes, sorry if I wasn't clear.

 

[RELIC LAB]

Again thanks.. I tried the Morely which added hum just like most posts said it would. I swapped it for an A.R.T. (Acoustic Reseach Technology) "Cool Switch" which was 10 bucks cheaper, didn't hum & included a battery! Either way, I'd prefer just a Y cord if I can do it that way - less chance of something crapping out at a gig & less fuss, muss.

"Small, light & simple is the new mega bass stack!"