Combining Solid state and Tube amp amps into one cabinet - options thread

[Fab Savage]

Hi all

I have the desire to be able to switch between a 600w solid state head and a 400w Tube head with each connected to one 4 ohm cabinet.

The reason: I love the clean from the ss and the dirty from the Tube amp. Either amp can do both tones, but neither does both as gloriously as I would like.

I have done some digging and looked at the following possible amp switchers:

Radial Head TS headbone
Palmer Tino
Weber Head amp switcher

Unfortunately none of the above systems are able to handle the wattage's of my setup (as stated via email from the service technicians of the respective manufacturers).

Has anyone been in the same situation and found a way around this without adding in a second cabinet? I would be most interested.

Cheers

ps aware of the dangers of having 2 amps and one cab connected

 

[CL400Peavey]

Probably cheaper, easier, and safer to just buy a second matching cab, and a signal splitter.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Last first: Two amps to one cabinet equals at least one destroyed amp and most likely two.

A tube amp MUST have a load at all times whilst in operation.

Your plan is feasible BUT requires two cabinets. If your switcher cannot handle the power of your amps then it is useless to you.

if you are intending to use the switcher on the amplifiers outputs be aware that should the switch fail you could well be in the position of sentence one.

 

[texbassist]

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone have any more info on this? I want to run an solid state head and tube amp through the same cabinet.

 

[Coot]

I use a Radial A/B/Y switcher ..Each (separate )head into two appropriately rated cabs .You can toggle head A,B or A and B . nothing gets fried by accident , hope it works out.

 

[agedhorse]

Another complication is that many newer solid state amps use internally bridged output stages and most switchers do not provide the necessary isolation.

Not a good idea unless you are cool damaging your gear.

 

[JimmyM]

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone have any more info on this? I want to run an solid state head and tube amp through the same cabinet.

Nothing has changed since this thread started, so the old rules still apply. Just don't.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I want to run an solid state head and tube amp through the same cabinet.

Certainly not at the same time unless you have a cabinet such as an Ampeg SVT-810E or equivalent that can isolate the top and bottom, essentially creating two 410 cabinets.