I thought I was retired but I seem to keep getting calls for short gigs - especially daytime and it's hard to say no. My question is I am using a small markbass amp for everything in these shows and I would like an easy way to switch quickly between my fender jazz and my stagg upright. I am thinking of an ab switch but they get mixed reviews and of course one bass is active and the other passive. I am considering the one control brand ab switch but wondering if anyone has experience or observations? I can't have one that pops when I change it and don't want to load up on other gear or I'd carry a small mixer. Thoughts?
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AB boxes
- Thread starter ptooner
- Start date
I have been using a $40 Rapco A/B box for the same reason for years. My elec. bass is usually much hotter than the stand up, so I either turn it down, or quickly adjust the master on the amp, it's not a big deal. I doesn't pop when activated, has a LED for which channel is active (that's ALL the battery does, so it doesn't effect it if the battery dies). I believe Rapco still makes them, and I've seen them used on Ebay and reverb.
Back in the day when I need one I used a Boss AB-2 (I don't recall whether there was any popping noise with it, or not).
BOSS - AB-2 | 2-Way Selector
BOSS - AB-2 | 2-Way Selector
I use one made by DOD, but it's the same thing as most passive A/B boxes, dead silent switching
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I got one somewhere... hang on... brb
Morley. IIRC, there's no pop, but pressing the switch is loud enough it might drown out whatever else is going on
Morley. IIRC, there's no pop, but pressing the switch is loud enough it might drown out whatever else is going on
The Rapcos are still made. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G47751A/ref=nav_timeline_asin?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
What I want to know is how (and/or when) do you use the Aux I/O?
What I'd like to be able to do with a single box is bypass or engage an external pre-amp. Can it be done with a single box? Will the extra I/O on the Rapco allow for that?
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Are you able to use the same volume and EQ settings with the Stagg as the Jazz? If not, you may want to get something dedicated to that particular task. The Radial Bassbone is a common solution for doublers that won't break the bank. One channel has EQ and volume, the other is straight through to amp. There are plenty of similar 2-channel boxes for that purpose, but I don't know much about them since I use usually a Tech 21 VT Deluxe when I'm doubling, and not everyone likes Ampeg sounds on upright. I do, though 
If you can use the same settings on the amp for each, though, any old AB or ABY switch will work.
If you can use the same settings on the amp for each, though, any old AB or ABY switch will work.
i'd be scared i'd have two instrument cables tangled into a big knot by the end of the set 
i use two guitars when i play electric gigs (les paul and tele) and what works for me is just muting my pedal tuner, unplugging and swapping. i can swap in easily ten seconds no problem.
alternately, my line 6 G75 has a cool feature in that it has an aux in that's bypassed if the wireless pack is on; with a different band where i play electric and lap steel, i run the tele wireless and plug the lap steel into the aux input. if i switch on the beltpack the tele is active, if i switch off the beltpack the lap steel becomes active.
i use two guitars when i play electric gigs (les paul and tele) and what works for me is just muting my pedal tuner, unplugging and swapping. i can swap in easily ten seconds no problem.
alternately, my line 6 G75 has a cool feature in that it has an aux in that's bypassed if the wireless pack is on; with a different band where i play electric and lap steel, i run the tele wireless and plug the lap steel into the aux input. if i switch on the beltpack the tele is active, if i switch off the beltpack the lap steel becomes active.
I'm with you on that because I've had more than my share of tangled knotsi'd be scared i'd have two instrument cables tangled into a big knot by the end of the set
i use two guitars when i play electric gigs (les paul and tele) and what works for me is just muting my pedal tuner, unplugging and swapping. i can swap in easily ten seconds no problem.
alternately, my line 6 G75 has a cool feature in that it has an aux in that's bypassed if the wireless pack is on; with a different band where i play electric and lap steel, i run the tele wireless and plug the lap steel into the aux input. if i switch on the beltpack the tele is active, if i switch off the beltpack the lap steel becomes active.
But I went even a step further than you and got two transmitters and I program each into the G70. You still need an EQ of some sort if you want your EQ's on two wildly different instruments to match up, but not a big deal in today's day and age.
Nice!
I don’t recall if the G70 has EQ settings but it does have level settings so one could at least gain-match two different instruments
