Multiple heads into multiple cabs

[hawaiianbass]

I've done a search and that really didn't help me that much.

How do you connect 4 heads to 4 cabs with one input? The situation I'm interested in is each cab has its own head and two of the heads are clean and the other two are dirty. Think Les Claypool.

Thanks
CK

 

[JGR]

you just need something to split the signal from your bass into four outputs. most boxes are two or three... however, voodoo labs make an amp selector that splits your signal into four outputs, and there are separate volumes for each output to balance the overall signals however you like. i think that would be just the ticket for you.


JR

 

[hawaiianbass]

What about splitting the wet and dry signals?

CK

 

[Vic Winters]

If you want the 2 clean channels to sound the same, and the 2 dirty channels to sound the same, all you have to do is:

Split the signal in 2 with an A/B/Y box.

For clean:

Run one of the signals from the splitter directly to amp 1's input, then daisy chain amp 2 by sending the signal from amp 1's tuner send or effect out into amp 2's input or effect return.

For dirty:

Run the other signal from the splitter into your effects, then into amp 3's input. Then proceed to daisy chain amp 4 in the same way you did for the clean signal.

 

[hawaiianbass]

If you want the 2 clean channels to sound the same, and the 2 dirty channels to sound the same, all you have to do is:

Split the signal in 2 with an A/B/Y box.

For clean:

Run one of the signals from the splitter directly to amp 1's input, then daisy chain amp 2 by sending the signal from amp 1's tuner send or effect out into amp 2's input or effect return.

For dirty:

Run the other signal from the splitter into your effects, then into amp 3's input. Then proceed to daisy chain amp 4 in the same way you did for the clean signal.

So each cab would still have its amp right? Thats easier then I thought.

What if I have one pre amp and 4 power amps? Would I stil be able to connect them the same way and be able to have one cab per power amp?

Thanks guys.

CK

 

[Vic Winters]

If you went preamp/power amp route, you'd only need 2 power amps, since most are stereo (2 amps in 1). Unless you wanted to bridge all 4 of them.

I'm not sure how well you'd pull it off with only one preamp. I guess you could split the output signal from the preamp and run 1 signal to the "clean" power amp with a y cable into both channel 1 and 2, or bridge 2 "clean" amps and then send the signal via y cable into "clean amp 1's designated bridged input and same with "clean amp 2".

For the dirty, after the first split, run your effects in the designated "dirty" signal, then split that signal via y cable, same as the clean one.

You could use a y cable instead of an a/b/y box to split the original signal, but the box gives you the ability to turn off either of the channels should you have the desire.

 

[hawaiianbass]

Would it be easier to use two preamps? I would input my bass into an A/B/Y box and then run the clean channel into one preamp then route the dirty channel through the other preamp and then make all the power amp connections. It seems that would probably be a little easier.

CK

 

[Vic Winters]

Yes I think this would be easier and sound better as well since you can fine tune both the clean and dirty separately.

 

[hawaiianbass]

Cool. Thanks for the help.

CK