HOW TO CONNECT 2 BASS COMBO TOGETHER

[patpol44]

I have two 60W combos- fender and Marshall- that I would like to connect together using one for distortion and effects and the other one will always stay clean and punchy.

I know I can buy a aby box but I would prefer to use the xlr out or effect loop out from one amp to the other and run my bass through both amp. Has anyone ever tried it ??

 

[RickenBoogie]

Just use a stereo pedal, or AB/Y box. Otherwise, one wrong connection will fry both amps. Especially if you want to seperate the clean and dirt.

 

[Charles Fields]

Use a Y jack and run from your bass to the amp's leaving one clean the other put the distortion pedal before the other amp think about it,it's not that hard, i was going to do the same with my two microbass amp's.

 

[mlwarriner]

get a microPOG, and run the "wet" through the rest of your effects to combo #1 and the "dry" straight to combo #b

 

[KramerBassFan]

Do not use a Y cable. If you turn the volume down on one of the amps, then it will appear the other amp's volume is being turned down also.

Electricity flows in the path of least resistance.

The "BEST" way to run multiple amplifiers is with an Audio distribution amp.


I presume you do not wish to do so.

In your case, plug the "Effects send" from the amp you are running clean into the input of the amp you are running dirty/whatever.

Problem solved.

 

[Ric5]

Get a small mixer with 1/4" inputs and outputs.

 

[JimmyM]

Do not use a Y cable. If you turn the volume down on one of the amps, then it will appear the other amp's volume is being turned down also.

Electricity flows in the path of least resistance.

The "BEST" way to run multiple amplifiers is with an Audio distribution amp.


I presume you do not wish to do so.

In your case, plug the "Effects send" from the amp you are running clean into the input of the amp you are running dirty/whatever.

Problem solved.

Sounds like a winner to me, too. But don't run your effects in the amp's loop. Blecch! Effects send of amp 1 > effects > input of amp 2. I hate effects loops for effects.

 

[Charles Fields]

I use a Y jack all the time it just sends a signal to both amp's it's up to you witch one has more volume,the turning the volume down on one amp does just that and does not effect the other that like saying if you turn one amp off the other turn's off as well what?

 

[Revelation64]

I once plugged an effect out into another combo's normal input and fried the preamp in the second amp. beware the consequences. it is safe to run into the other amp's effect in but i'm not sure how you'd get the effects in the middle since distortion doesn't usually work so well through the effect loop.

 

[KramerBassFan]

I use a Y jack all the time it just sends a signal to both amp's it's up to you witch one has more volume,the turning the volume down on one amp does just that and does not effect the other that like saying if you turn one amp off the other turn's off as well what?

Try using the cable into two amps again, and turn one of the amps all the way down.
When you use a Regular Y cable, and plug into two different amps, the Y cable is still one signal. The same signal that just so happens to be going to two different places. If you "turn the volume down" on one of the amp, then part of the signal goes to ground. So, it doesnt "actually" turn the "volume down" on the amp, it is just that, if your turn the volume down on one amp, then the basses signal is sent to ground. This will cause the other amp to have less of a input signal, and appear to be turned down.

If there are Y cables out there that duplicate your signal, and sends it to two different places, i've never heard of one. (not that it doesn't necessarily exist however)

 

[rawls]

As a cost savings, we are looking to run two identical 50W bass combos. The intent is not to switch from one to the other for effects, but simply utilize both together for more volume and air movement. In this case, is a the simple Y-cable from the bass to the input on each amp going to be ok. I keep seeing ground loop issues in the forums, but it seems to be result of different amps or different power supply circuits. Or issues of amplified output feeding the input and damaging the amplifiers- we are not hooking up this way. Is this a case where I need to get a shielded splitter A-B-Y box, or will the Y cable work fine.

My son wants the option of carrying both amps (for combined volume and power) should the situation warrant, other wise he will just use one amp. the two identical amps will give a nice tidy and balanced look when they are stacked. the outlay of cash for this second amp is far below the cost of a proper larger combo or small stack. So, unless it is flat out a no-no, we want to attempt it.

Also, is there degradation in the bass signal being split like this? Will we be getting substantially increased volume and air movement or will it be somewhat diminished over a proper higher powered set-up. Is hooking both combo amps together in this fashion going to damage the amps or pick-ups?

 

[newbold]

You won't damage your amps or basses if you do that.

If there's a line out rather than effects send that will work to send signal to both amps.

Plug into one amp's input and then run a cable from the line out to the input of the second amp.

You'll be just fine.

 

[craig.p]

Some of the replies here are... um... interesting.

Let me bring up another issue: You need to verify each amp's polarity from instrument input to speaker output. An amp can be either inverting or non-inverting. The amps must be the same, or else you'll get severe cancellations when both amps are running. No manufacturer I know of specifies amp polarity. You can kludge around the issue with a proper listening test and a wire-crossed DPDT switch wired into the speaker out of one of the amps.

If you're running only one amp at a time, polarity is not a concern.

 

[gfaulkner]

Radial Big Shot A/B/Y Box has polarity flip,isolation and ground lift switches on them.

 

[rawls]

both of the amps are Crate BT50's, from the same design 'era' (probably built within 1-4 years of each other).

I was talking with the electrical engineers at work, and they explained about ground loops, they basically told me to keep the loop as small as possible and it should be fine. Use minimal cable lengths from the Y to the amps, and do not run individual extension cords on the amps, but rather pair them together and run a single extension cord to the 120V power. All in the interest of keeping the ground loop footprint as small as absolutely possible.

does this all sound correct?

My next question, is 100W (or likely slightly lower) with 2 x 12's going to be sufficient for my son with his friends, if they are using two 25W-40W guitar amps and a drummer. I assume no PA will be used either, and a singer will be run through one of the amps. Music style will be typical rock, punk, or some screamo stuff. Locations will likely be small parties, houses, maybe church or school group functions in larger low ceiling rooms.

A new $300-$500, proper amp with 200W or so, is just out of our reach right now, and I am always leary of used stuff. But if we invest minimal cash for this second Crate BT50, we can hopefully be in business and its sort of a modular system, in that he can carry what he needs. and each amp only ways around 45lbs.

Is this still sounding ok?

thanks

 

[carl h.]

Link Removed

Either get a 2nd 8ohm cab, or trade it for something bigger + cash. A splitter will be your cheapest option, but why monkey around with rigging up something complicated and fragile when there are good cheap amps available on the 2nd hand market.

Hit up craigslist and the local music stores to see what you can do. KISS also applies to upgrades. Don't saddle your kid with a joke.

 

[countrybass007]

An A/B box is relatively cheap, an a much better way to use multiple amps. I think they were made by someone who knew the Y-cord could be a problem. Any cord that runs from input to input can be a disaster waiting to happen, and could damage both amps.

 

[filibertin]

I was thinking to use my little mark 250 bass combo together with an Ampeg Ba108 combo but maybe I'll buy a second 1x15 bass cabinet for the Markbass (little mark 250)

 

[abarson]

Rawls
Let me understand: you already own two 50 watt combos? Leave one at home for practice, sell the other, and buy a more powerful setup for live. Shop used to make your funds go further. Something like a TC Electronics BG250 with built in Toneprint might fit your needs. I understand being leery of used, but lots of times people are trading up or just gave up, and they need to sell as much as you need to buy. Always test how it works before handing over the cash.

Your EE friends are looking at the problem from an electrical perspective, which isn't the same as an audio solution.

Patpol44
I hope you got this sorted out back in 2009, as no one answered your original question.

 

[RBASS930]

Lehle P-Split