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How to output to 2 Amps?

Rebmo

Rebmo

Aug 19, 2006
346
21
Wisconsin
#1
I often see big stage players with duplicate amp setups and wonder how you run your output to 2 amps? Do you use a spliter before the amps? Or do you use the DI output from one amp to get a signal to the other? I dont use pedals usually, but may use one for tube warmth effect soon.

I ask, because I have 2 amps, GK800RBs with Hartke 410, and 115 bottoms and if playing an ourside gig might want to try using both. If anything, the spare is right there but it would be nice to have the sound spread too.

Any advice on the best way to use both amps in a mono output balanced setup would be appreciated. Any thoughts on the value of 2 amps on a large stage setup would also be appreciated.

By the way, the music format I am playing is pop alt. rock 80s & 90s mostly with 2 guitarists with lots of Marshall/Fender sound on each side and a hard hitting drummer with a huge kick drum.

Thanks, Reb
 
#5
Radial Engineering has a nice ABY box that can do this - or you can use a Tonebone with and ABY. There are several others that have A/B boxes that can achieve what you are looking to do.

Running both rigs can give you more presence and you can adjust each to accentuate different tonal spectrums as well. I expect your setup would sound great as everything is in duplicate.

Rebmo said:
I often see big stage players with duplicate amp setups and wonder how you run your output to 2 amps? Do you use a spliter before the amps? Or do you use the DI output from one amp to get a signal to the other? I dont use pedals usually, but may use one for tube warmth effect soon.

I ask, because I have 2 amps, GK800RBs with Hartke 410, and 115 bottoms and if playing an ourside gig might want to try using both. If anything, the spare is right there but it would be nice to have the sound spread too.

Any advice on the best way to use both amps in a mono output balanced setup would be appreciated. Any thoughts on the value of 2 amps on a large stage setup would also be appreciated.

By the way, the music format I am playing is pop alt. rock 80s & 90s mostly with 2 guitarists with lots of Marshall/Fender sound on each side and a hard hitting drummer with a huge kick drum.

Thanks, Reb
Click to expand...
 
#7
There is a much simpler answer here.... You take the preamp output of one amp and connect it to the power amp in of the other. You don't need fancy splitter boxes or any of that in this case although they are useful in other situations.
 
#8
Thanks for the great replies. As far as running a pre-out, the GK800RB does not have that feature. That is where my question started since I have seen other musicians running the same heads in dual setups. The closest I could come to a pre-out is the DI output and not sure if you can go DI to 1/4" shielded to another amp input. My concern with a splitter is that I would want the input signal strength to be the same as a single input which is what I believe the spltter boxes achieve. I could just use a Y-cable but cut my signal I believe and that would not be good. BTW I am using passive pickup Basses.
 
#9
I looked at the specs on the splitter boxes and that seems to be the way to go. I'll see what kind of summer gigs we do and maybe give one a shot. It would be nice to see what kind of presence that would achieve. I have to believe it would be awesome as I already love the sound of each amp by itself.

Thanks for the info,

Reb
 
#10
Rebmo said:
Thanks for the great replies. As far as running a pre-out, the GK800RB does not have that feature. That is where my question started since I have seen other musicians running the same heads in dual setups. The closest I could come to a pre-out is the DI output and not sure if you can go DI to 1/4" shielded to another amp input. My concern with a splitter is that I would want the input signal strength to be the same as a single input which is what I believe the spltter boxes achieve. I could just use a Y-cable but cut my signal I believe and that would not be good. BTW I am using passive pickup Basses.
Click to expand...

The send and return of effects loop are the same as a pre out and in.

All you need to do is "slave" the second head off of the first.

Run a line from the FX send of head one into the FX return of the second head.

It will completely bypass the preamp section of your second head, and only use the power output section.

Any EQ adjustments you do on head #1 will carry over to head #2
 
#13
I'm not arguing against any of the solutions proposed above, but don't overlook the possibility of a simple metal box with three phone jacks wired in parallel. I've seen this work well in some cases and I've used it many times in the past. It'll depend on the output impedance of your bass's pickup(s) or electronics, and the input impedance of the amps. You might lose some punch and/or highs, "depending." You may or may not be able to compensate for it at the amp, "depending." You may get more noise than you'd like, "depending." Each case will be different. Call me cheap, I don't care. I like fifteen-dollar solutions.
 
#14
icango said:
I'm not arguing against any of the solutions proposed above, but don't overlook the possibility of a simple metal box with three phone jacks wired in parallel. I've seen this work well in some cases and I've used it many times in the past. It'll depend on the output impedance of your bass's pickup(s) or electronics, and the input impedance of the amps. You might lose some punch and/or highs, "depending." You may or may not be able to compensate for it at the amp, "depending." You may get more noise than you'd like, "depending." Each case will be different. Call me cheap, I don't care. I like fifteen-dollar solutions.
Click to expand...

Try turning the volume on one of your amps ALL the way down... do tell me what happens? :)
 
#15
The effects send and return loop make sense (dunno why I didn't think of that). I will give it a try next time both amps are together (couple weeks). I had thought that an output had to be followed with an input back to the same amp but it's worth a try. I should know better since I have plugged my tuner in to the output without an return signal. The effects loop solution may also explain why I don't see splitters on some of the concert 2X bass Amp setups and the bassist is only plugged into one amp and no connecting cables visable(that's what always perplexed me). In the case of the GK800RB, using the effects loop would hide any cableing from front view and would seem to be a very elegant solution (cheap too).
Unfortunately I won't be trying if for a bit since the 2nd head won't be here for a week and then I have to haul it all to practice to try. That will scare the 6 wire guys. hehe I will report back when I give it a try to share the knowledge.

Thanks again for the continuing discussion and ideas,

Reb
 
#16
one nice thing about having an a/b/y i didn't see mentioned is most offer the ability to switch between amps, sending the signal to one or the other. not really needed for an alt rock group... but can be a lot of fun to play around with. i enjoy having the option, it can add a little something to a live performance at a small/non P.A. venue.
 
#17
> Try turning the volume on one of your amps ALL the way
> down... do tell me what happens?

I don't get anything out of that amp, and I get the same volume out of the other one.

You might be referring to an input circuit where the input "sees" the volume pot wiper, which would present an impedance to the instrument anywhere from zero to the parallel impedance of the pot itself and the (active) input stage. But such a design, though possible, would be suboptimal in my opinion.

This is why I put so many qualifiers in my reply, especially the "depending on the input impedance of your amps" part. If one of your amp's volume controls somehow reduces the impedance of the input circuit to zero when it's turned all the way down, then of course the input's [edit: instrument's] going to be running into a short circuit and "it ain't gonna work."

But even in the scenario you present, what would be the purpose of "turning the volume on one of [the] amps ALL the way down?" if both amps are needed to get the job done?
 
#18
I have the same issue as the OP. I want to run two heads (a Little Mark Tube plus ?) and two cabs (Ear Candy Sovereigns, 500 watts at 4 ohms each). I can either buy a Lehle P-Split II, use my Snarling Dogs Crossroads ABY box, or run the FX send of amp #1 to the FX return of amp #2.

I have three questions? Which would provide the best sound, which would be the safest, and could I also run the FX send of amp #1 into the input of amp #2?
 
#19
Let's assume any good ABY box will have lil transformers and whatnot inside them to isolate one from the other, not just lamely putting the two outs in parallel with each other.

Regardless, master & slave (all political correctness aside) is most elegant.

I think the point is that with just the heads, all it takes is a patch cable.

With an ABY box, it takes buying a box and the same durn cable.

to quote Slick Willy, "K.I.S.S."
 
#20
mulchor said:
Let's assume any good ABY box will have lil transformers and whatnot inside them to isolate one from the other, not just lamely putting the two outs in parallel with each other.

Regardless, master & slave (all political correctness aside) is most elegant.

I think the point is that with just the heads, all it takes is a patch cable.

With an ABY box, it takes buying a box and the same durn cable.

to quote Slick Willy, "K.I.S.S."
Click to expand...

Exactly............

The only reason I can see for using a splitter is if you want to use each amps tone settings individually.

By using the Master/Slave method, you choose the best sounding amp as the master, and only have to deal with one amp to tweak setting on.
 

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