Send/Return

[cheapbasslovin]

What happened to the days of just going from your bass straight into one amp. I don't get all this mixing and blending amps thing???

I'm aaaaaaaaaaaall about blending signals for different types of effects, but this is just a lot of work to get a basic pre-amp tone.

 

[nnnnnn]

What is this the optimum way to use the tube gain in the front end of the WD for the gain section of the Subway ?

Both amps are part of the Subway range, so saying "the Subway" is a bit confusing.

Anyway, I would just do:

• Bass -> WD800 input
• WD-800 loop send -> D800+ loop return
• WD-800 speaker out -> cab 1
• D800+ speaker out -> cab 2

End result is that your core tone is from the WD preamp, made louder by both amps' power amps. The D800+'s preamp wouldn't be used in this configuration, only its master volume control would be applicable. All of the WD's controls would apply.

The other simple option is just an A/B/Y to switch between the two amp inputs, no loops involved. You'd either be using the WD ("A") on its own, the D800+ ("B") on its own, or both together ("Y").

Or are you wanting to be able to footswitch between the two amps' preamps, but always use both power amp sections and both cabs?

 

[Coot]

It's looking more and more like a solution looking for a problem...

Thanks for all the comments. It was just a thought.. I think both heads are fantastic sounding on their own merit and I wouldn't ever part with the amazing Subway D800+.. I will stick to the A/B/Y of each individual head into a separate cab as I have always done ..or the two combined at the Y . I just wondered if it was safely possible to make use of the new WD-800's tube pre into the Subway 800 + ....thanks for all the input.. i'll stick with the easy non -destructive ABY set-up...lol

 

[Downunderwonder]

Thanks for all the comments. It was just a thought.. I think both heads are fantastic sounding on their own merit and I wouldn't ever part with the amazing Subway D800+.. I will stick to the A/B/Y of each individual head into a separate cab as I have always done ..or the two combined at the Y . I just wondered if it was safely possible to make use of the new WD-800's tube pre into the Subway 800 + ....thanks for all the input.. i'll stick with the easy non -destructive ABY set-up...lol

It is safely possible. It's probably possible to land a man on Mars and return. Just not safe enough to try.

The risk is you mess up the connections and fry your stuff. The risk reward expense ratio is deemed by expert opinion to be not in your favour.

If I had thought of it I would have suggested variable fx loop send and makeup gain capability to allow instrument level pedals in the fx loop like my trusty Trace. Next iteration maybe.

 

[JRA]

It was just a thought..

 

[agedhorse]

Thanks for all the comments. It was just a thought.. I think both heads are fantastic sounding on their own merit and I wouldn't ever part with the amazing Subway D800+.. I will stick to the A/B/Y of each individual head into a separate cab as I have always done ..or the two combined at the Y . I just wondered if it was safely possible to make use of the new WD-800's tube pre into the Subway 800 + ....thanks for all the input.. i'll stick with the easy non -destructive ABY set-up...lol

You can safely do this, effects send of the WD into the effects return of the D, but I don't think it buys you anything additional.

I was addressing the other signal routings that carry additional risk.

An ABY switch into the input is the most effective way to do what you are asking.

 

[Wasnex]

I would not stack the preamps by running the effects send of one amp back into the front end of the other amp. I do think it would be nice to be able to use both power amps simultaneously and switch between the preamps. I can think of a couple of ways to do this. I would be nice to use a remote ABY switcher...which I can't currently find.


Some pedals are designed to split a signal into dual mono, I.E. one input and two outputs. An example is my MXR KFK EQ.KERRY KING TEN BAND EQ   Another example is the JHS Buffered Splitter Invalid Link Removed

So one way to achieve the goal. Split the bass signal to drive both preamps. Connect an ABY in reverse to the Effects Send of both amps so you can select between preamps. Split the Y out of the ABY pedal and connect it to the Effects Return of both power amps.

You could also use a Stereo ABY. Connect the left section of the Stereo ABY to switch the signal between the two preamps and use the right section as described above to switch between the active Effects Send. IMHO, the wiring will be unacceptably messy without remote switching.

Perhaps the most eloquent solution is to use an ABY on the input and run a stereo line mixer in the effects loop of both amps. The ABY allows you to select which preamp is driven. The stereo line mixer allows you to safely combine the two Effects Sends and route the signal to both Effects Returns. This solution will have less messy wiring, but the S/N ratio will not be as good. The mixer will add some noise, and the unused preamp is not switched out of the circuit.