Two Heads one Cab

[TheEnthBass]

I have seen some similar posts about this and done a little research into head switching but im still a little befuddled. I have a Carvin B1500 solid state head and an Ampeg V4b all tube. I would like to switch between them running both into an ampeg 8x10. The only switching devices I've found seem to work for either solid state or tube for exaple the radial headbone vs the headone vt. Is this in any way possible without compromising the heads? In case it matters the effects loop on the ampeg had been removed and bypassed prior to my aquiring it. I'm looking to get the cleans from the carvin and the grit from the ampeg which it acheives at volumes which are two low for stage. By the time i get loud enough to compete with the rest of the band I get that great overdriven sound which works on half the tunes but not all. No forseeable need for both at the same time just want one or the other. Anythoughts?

 

[nysbob]

Quit "competing" with your own band?

 

[bongomania]

Much easier solution: ditch the Ampeg and get a nice OD pedal.

 

[nysbob]

Much easier solution: ditch the Ampeg and get a nice OD pedal.

That's the obvious answer.

I know there are devices available that would purport to do what you want...but I think it's asking for big and expensive trouble.

 

[RickenBoogie]

The Ampeg MUST have a load connected, (speaker cab), and the Carvin doesn't. But with only the one cab, what you want to do seems totally un-do-able, without major pains and expenses. The answer about getting a dirt pedal instead of using the Ampeg head makes perfect sense.

 

[gumtown]

Split the speaker wiring into 2 lots of 4x10's? and run both amps into each lot of 4x10's. Not exactly the ideal situation, but might have interesting results.

 

[SpamBot]

Ampeg --> Speaker DI --> Dummy load
|
|
V
Effect loop/line in of Carvin (Something with blend capability)--> 810

 

[MAMMOTHvolume]

wouldn't recomend running an amp that powerful into a dummy load for long peroids of time specially on a hot stage.

 

[nysbob]

wouldn't recomend running an amp that powerful into a dummy load for long peroids of time specially on a hot stage.

It's roughly the equivalent of driving your loaded van down the highway at 60+ and occaisionally shifting into neutral. How many times can you get away with it?

 

[TheEnthBass]

Definitely thanks for the suggestions. I should add in larger venues where I'm in the PA this is never an issue but smaller clubs and lame engineers who think mics are for guitar cabs only are forcing my hand here. I emailed Voodoo labs who make some amp switchers and they were nice enough to direct me to Radial Engineering's Tonbone TS which is specifically for running a tube and solid state and switching between them but it is a little costly (350msrp) but sounds like it may be best for keeping my gear intact. I have yet to find a peddle that can come close to the tone I get from that Ampeg but I suppose that may be an option as well. Time to try some stuff out and bust out the wallet I guess.

Thanks for the help and many thanks to John Ayock @ Voodoo Lab who was cool enough to get back to me in like 5hrs just to recommend another companies product. Def don't see that too often! Thanks for looking out.

www.tonebone.com/tb-headbone-ts.htm is what I'm looking at for anyone else looking for the same application.

 

[kesslari]

If you like that Ampeg tone, have you tried the Tech21 VT Bass pedal?

 

[mrkreuzschlitz]

If you like that Ampeg tone, have you tried the Tech21 VT Bass pedal?

+1. I was going to say the same thing.

 

[TheEnthBass]

I havent tried that. I've used some other sans amp stuff in recording but never live. I wasnt impressed with it's recording vs the actual amp but this looks like its about 200 cheaper than the a/b switching options and live vs recording a peddle might stand a fair shot on stage. Thanks I'll give one a swing.

 

[Munjibunga]

I don't know. It just seems to me that hauling and worrying about two heads would be a royal pain in the butt. If it were me, I'd go out of my way to find a rig that could produce what I wanted without all the complicated, finicky, arcane and baroque setups.

 

[justabass]

The Headbone TS for sure. Made for exactly what you're trying to do...

 

[Matt Dean]

If you get a dirt pedal, try the Catalinbread SFT... it does a very good Ampeg.