I'm thinking about buying an Ampeg BA-115V2 or a Fender Rumble 100, I already own an Orange Crush50BXT and I'd like to know if its possible to link either amp up to the Orange via the line out and inputs without the need of a splitter and get a decent sound without any interference.
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Linking Combos
- Thread starter Punkoid76
- Start date
It's possible to do this if one or both amps have an effects loop. I've done this with a Rumble 100 and a Rumble 40, but I would be wary of mixing brands, as the results are very unpredictable soundwise.
Thanks, I've read elsewhere about someone linking two fender rumble 100s together with good results, I was considering buying the fender rumble 200 but really like the sound and look of the Orange combo and was interested to see if I could incorporate it somehow into a live setup.
Both amps should have effects loops for best results.
It may be possible to use headphone out to Aux in, but that's more of a crapshoot due to unknown levels.
Effects loops are generally more consistent in levels between amps because they are intened to match up with other outboard gear.
If you mean effects loop out (line out?) to instrument input (standard input?) the impedances and levels will be severely mismatched. This could result in overdriving the instrument input significantly without going to a lot if trouble to match things up.
I've used a pair of combos together and discovered that there are some real practical advantages to using some kind of splitter rather than linking them directly. First, unless the two combos are identical, you'll want to be able to adjust their volumes and EQ's separately to get them to play nice with each other. Second, if you use any pedals/effects, you can put them between the splitter and one of the two amps, thereby sending a clean signal to one amp to maintain the bottom end while sending the effected signal to the other. (This is especially useful with "bottom-sucking" effects.) Because I was only doing this a couple of times I didn't want to invest in a dedicated signal splitter, so I just used a Sansamp BDDI that I happened to have around which had two outputs.
Interesting points, think I'll look into a splitter if I decide to go that way.
I used to run 2 combos off a stereo pedal. (Zoom B3). Worked great. There's plenty of cheap used stereo pedals around, chorus, flanger, delay, anything will work, just turn the effect level all the way off.
i've heard people talk about cheap passive splitters robbing signal. I've tried one or two and find this to be true (however, adding more volume can sort of mitigate this effect). an active splitter seems to be immune to any signal loss or tone suck. they are more expensive though. just my .02
There are a few ways to link two combos. Keep in mind that in the cheaper range, the combos often yield the best results with their built in preamp section, so instead of using one preamp and the FX return of the other, it might be better to use the line out of one into the input of the other. If you already have both combos standing around, just try different ways. . .
