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Best A/B/Y for least dinero?

Shroom

Shroom

Dec 12, 2006
340
4
#1
I wanna start by apologizing for bringing up a topic thats probably been run into the ground. The search won't let me look up "A/B/Y" though. :hmm:

On to the point! I've been planning on buying a Boss LS-2 for a long time, but I recently found out that it has problems like bleeding, and more importantly, it can't do A<>B<>A+B, which is a must for me. So now I'm interested in finding out about the world of less talked-about A/B/Y boxes to find something that'll do what I need! Also, it's not necessary, but I'm hoping for something with individual volume knobs for each channel like on the LS-2

One pedal thats got me interested is this one, which for the price seems great but it lacks the volume knobs and I feel kind of uneasy about ordering something that I haven't heard much about. A couple Lehle products look good too, and they have the knobbehs, but I hear they're expensive.

So what do you guys think?
 
#2
Why do you need a volume control on each of your channels? Wouldn't it just be easier to set the volume of your effects within the channels to unity/gain/whatever?
Also, the Loop-Master products are great! I've got a micro A/B coming to me in a few weeks. :D

Other companies you might look into:
Loooper (yes with 3 o's)
Radial Engineering
Morley
EHX switchblade (it's not an amazing pedal, but it works I'd assume)

Barge Concepts makes a blend pedal. but you can easily use it as an A/B or have them make a custom A/B with volume control.
 
#6
Basshappi said:
Loooper is no longer making pedals
Click to expand...

And yet they're still recommended about every other day here at TalkBass :D

Passive ABY boxes can potentially be problematic depending on the amps, etc. I have a passive ABY from Loop-Master that worked great when I used it, as both of my amps were the same, but I'd probably use an active one again if I wasn't use similar heads. I used to own a Radial Switchbone, and it's a fantastic product- not the cheapest though.
 
#7
check out pedalboard junction. i had him make me a custom a/b box that can do either a or b, or a and b. he can customize your led's and where you want the power and switches and such. i think mine was less than $70 shipped. and it was true bypass. it took about less than a week to get it once i asked him what i wanted
 
#10
I guess I can live without the individual volume controls, but it's a nice perk :) . So far, for the price, the one I originally posted is in the lead, but what were you talking about when you said this stuff?:
Bryan R. Tyler said:
Passive ABY boxes can potentially be problematic depending on the amps, etc. I have a passive ABY from Loop-Master that worked great when I used it, as both of my amps were the same, but I'd probably use an active one again if I wasn't use similar heads. I used to own a Radial Switchbone, and it's a fantastic product- not the cheapest though.
Click to expand...

Also, how do I tell a passive pedal from an active one? Do passives work without a power supply or something?
 
#12
A passive ABY has no buffers in it. The problem that most passive ABYs have is there's no polarity reversal switch if you need it or no transformer to help isolate the outputs. You may not need either- kinda depends on the stuff you're using. Radial's Bigshot ABY is a good, inexpensive ABY to get if you want a passive box with those options for little money. Again though, you may not need them, and Loop-Master makes great products (I've purchase a half-dozen items from Brian at this point). Individual volume pots would be pretty redundant on an ABY in theory, but if you find yourself changing your amp volume regularly or your amp is usually far away, I suppose it could be helpful.
 
#13
So I hate to revive a dead thread, but it's better than making a new one.

I was just wondering, are there any A/B/Y boxes that, instead of having a switch for "A or B" and a switch for "A and B," have a switch for A, and a switch for B and either one or both can be activated at any time?
 
#15
I know the Morley ABY can.

There is an A/B switch and a A+B switch. A/B switches between the two while A+B activates both. So you can go A to B, B to A, A to A+B, B to A+B, A+B to A, A+B to B. Also if you can keep your switching straight you can go A to A+B to B or B to A+B to A.
 

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