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Running Two bass heads

#41
Resurrecting this thread because I've got some questions that relate to what has been discussed previously.

I want to run 2 heads, each with their own cab/s to do some tone blending and fatten up the sound of the band. We're a three piece, and the guitarist will be doing the same thing, the idea being it will (hopefully) sound like we have 2x bassists and 2x guitarists.

There's a lot of talk about ground loop hum and dual mono boxes etc however I found this vid where the guy uses a cheap y-splitter off his guitar cable and appears to have no problem - would this work or is this inviting disaster?

Also, at about 04:55 he claims you can run successive splitters off the first one to feed even more heads. Cool or not?

 
#42
Over the years have occasionally ran 2 set ups on stage, I simply connected both heads with an instrument cable and set each amp as desired. I ran my bass into channel #1 of amp #1. Then ran another Guitar cable out of INPUT Channel #2 on Amp #1 and into INPUT of AMP #2. Never had a problem, worked fine. the input jacks work BOTH ways.
 
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#44
Billy C. said:
Over the years have occasionally ran 2 set ups on stage, I simply connected both heads with an instrument cable and set each amp as desired. I ran my bass into channel #1 of amp #1. Then ran another Guitar cable out of INPUT Channel #2 on Amp #1 and into INPUT of AMP #2. Never had a problem, worked fine. the input jacks work BOTH ways.
Click to expand...

Good grief! Seriously, I never would have thought that would work. Is it like using the effects loop in that the first amp puts the EQ/tone settings on the outgoing signal? That's what I want to avoid, I want to go for two very different tone profiles.
 
#45
My 0.02:
More trouble than it's worth. I had 2 cabs with two different heads with different signal chains and... it was a lot of hassle for very little benefit. Simplify your life. Unless you have a whole crew to do your bidding, then make it as complex as you wish.

Not saying it can't be done or you absolutely shouldn't. But you'll save yourself a lot of time/hassle if you simplify rather than complicate your rig.
 
#46
I have successfully done this at home using a "cool switch pro". It is an a/b/y with a ground lift and a 180 phase switch. I think it was around $30 on sale.
It worked fine, and I never had to use the ground or phase switches. I was running clean to first amp, then pedal board to second.

Fun experiment, but to echo others, so far would not consider using live due to complexities and marginal added benefit.

That said, with work could probably dial in a Royal Blood sound.
 
#47
Steamtronic said:
Good grief! Seriously, I never would have thought that would work. Is it like using the effects loop in that the first amp puts the EQ/tone settings on the outgoing signal? That's what I want to avoid, I want to go for two very different tone profiles.
Click to expand...
NO, ONLY the signal from your bass is passed on, it's the same as a passive DI. I don't understand why this is so involved with so many. Very simple to do. I have done this using 2 Ampegs, an Ampeg to an ACOUSTIC Control Amplifier, A KROSSROAD To an AMPEG AMP AND A Fender "68 Bass Man to an Ampeg. NEVER had any issues. The input at the INPUT stage has not yet been passed thru any further, only your input bass signal. JUST TO BE CLEAR, I am explaining how to run TWO COMPLETE (HEAD w/CAB) rigs such as Fender Bassman amp & 2-12" Cab along with say an Ampeg B-15. Plug your Bass into the Fender Head. THEN run a guitar cable from INPUT #2 of the Fender into input #1 (or 2) of the Ampeg B-15, makes no difference. You will set up EACH amp as you may desire for volume & desired tone from that rig. That simple. REMEMBER, INPUT JACKS can NOT distinguish which way your signal is going! That's a COOL THING!!
 
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#48
Tony Hanks said:
I trying to find a way to run Two bass heads without running two full 4x10 cabs. as of right now i have a 2x10 200w and 4x10 300w. being that both heads are 400w i'm not really able to run either head into the 2x10 by itself safely. I tried running into the first heads input the out of the pre amp out into the input of the second head but after reading some forums its my understanding that when doing that you bypass the second amps preamps so the tone aren't blending.
Click to expand...
You need an A/B/Y box. I do what you are trying to do, with great success. Independent volume is the best way to tame mismatched cabs.
 

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#50
Billy C. said:
NO, ONLY the signal from your bass is passed on, it's the same as a passive DI. I don't understand why this is so involved with so many. Very simple to do. I have done this using 2 Ampegs, an Ampeg to an ACOUSTIC Control Amplifier, A KROSSROAD To an AMPEG AMP AND A Fender "68 Bass Man to an Ampeg. NEVER had any issues. The input at the INPUT stage has not yet been passed thru any further, only your input bass signal. JUST TO BE CLEAR, I am explaining how to run TWO COMPLETE (HEAD w/CAB) rigs such as Fender Bassman amp & 2-12" Cab along with say an Ampeg B-15. Plug your Bass into the Fender Head. THEN run a guitar cable from INPUT #2 of the Fender into input #1 (or 2) of the Ampeg B-15, makes no difference. You will set up EACH amp as you may desire for volume & desired tone from that rig. That simple. REMEMBER, INPUT JACKS can NOT distinguish which way your signal is going! That's a COOL THING!!
Click to expand...

Thanks Billy! ill give it a go, woul never have thought that would work. Do those amps you refer to have low and high impedance inputs or are they both low? Any differences I should be aware of for a high input? I have both active and passive basses, so would I have to switch the setup around if I change basses?
 
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#51
Steamtronic said:
Thanks Billy! ill give it a go, woul never have thought that would work. Have you tried this with heads with low and high impedance inputs? Any differences I should be aware of? I have both active and passive basses, so would I have to switch the setup around if I change basses?
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Hi, should not make any difference, give it a try and see. you really can't hurt anything, BUT be smart and be sure all volumes are turned DOWN before inserting the cable into the jacks. I also will add that I once tried the Y cord way. Do not recommend that. First, the Y cord & the Female adapter all ADD weight to either the guitar jack or the input jack on the amp. Secondly, most of those Cheaper connecters & Y cords CRAP out quite often or make noise when ever moved around AND I actually found a few of those Y cords were not "honest" in actually "splitting the signal equally. I was shown this "trick" by a very well known ( Phila.) Sound engineer who ran the stage crew for the big rock concerts at the old SPECTRUM back in 1969. I was surprised TOO! ( If memory is correct it was at a DOORS concert and that's how they connected all those "BEAUTIFUL" Acoustic Amps!!!) Good Luck!
 
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#52
Billy C. said:
Hi, should not make any difference, give it a try and see. you really can't hurt anything, BUT be smart and be sure all volumes are turned DOWN before inserting the cable into the jacks. I also will add that I once tried the Y cord way. Do not recommend that. First, the Y cord & the Female adapter all ADD weight to either the guitar jack or the input jack on the amp. Secondly, most of those Cheaper connecters & Y cords CRAP out quite often or make noise when ever moved around AND I actually found a few of those Y cords were not "honest" in actually "splitting the signal equally. I was shown this "trick" by a very well known ( Phila.) Sound engineer who ran the stage crew for the big rock concerts at the old SPECTRUM back in 1969. I was surprised TOO! ( If memory is correct it was at a DOORS concert and that's how they connected all those "BEAUTIFUL" Acoustic Amps!!!) Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Hey Steamtronic! An interesting little side note on this set up is, IF you TURN OFF the POWER of Amplifier #1 that your Bass is plugged into, AMPLIFIER #2 ( with power still turned on ),will still be playable! Though AMP #1 will be DOWN the SIGNAL still will flow through its JACKS and Amp#2 will still receive and carry what your playing!! Try it! PS: So COOL trading info like this with someone on the "OTHER" side of the WORLD from me!!! THANKS!! Best to you!!!
 
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#54
Billy C. said:
Hey Steamtronic! An interesting little side note on this set up is, IF you TURN OFF the POWER of Amplifier #1 that your Bass is plugged into, AMPLIFIER #2 ( with power still turned on ),will still be playable! Though AMP #1 will be DOWN the SIGNAL still will flow through its JACKS and Amp#2 will still receive and carry what your playing!! Try it! PS: So COOL trading info like this with someone on the "OTHER" side of the WORLD from me!!! THANKS!! Best to you!!!
Click to expand...

Brilliant! So no ground loop hum?

And I agree, this kind of collaboration would have been unthought of 20 years ago. You're very cool in your own right too for sharing this, thanks! When I get the setup complete Ill dedicate the first live set to "Billy In New Jersey!"

bradjonesbass said:
How about a stereo chorus pedal? Send one out straight to the clean channel and the second out to the rest of the pedal chain then that chain to the second amp.
Click to expand...

Thanks Brad, great suggestion but I don't own any pedals with a stereo out. If the input linking trick of Billy's doesn't work out for me then I'll look at picking up an A/B/Y box on ebay - less electronics between the bass and the amp.
 
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