I am currently running the bbe bmax into a power amp. I would like to purchase the sansamp rbi rack mounted version to add to my rig. Is there any way to run my one bass signal to both preamps and having the option to toggle between the preamps without making a mess? I understand the an a/b/y box could be used; however, i prefer to keep all of my gear in the rack. Thank you in advance.
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Two preamps with one power amp
- Thread starter martarmetal
- Start date
Rackmount the a/b/y switch? Those are fairly simple things and should be easy to pull out of it's housing. Then you take a rack blank and have someone cut it out for you, screw in the components and enjoy. Depending on how it's put together, you might want a hobby box or something to cover the back. Just a thought. If you have any soldering skills, I'd say make one. I feel fairly sure you could find plans on the good old interwebz.
or:
Use a small console. A little 4 channel would be fine. The cheap ones aren't really great but you aren't using the preamps anyway.
Another method:
Put in a patch bay. Since you don't want pedals (and I can understand not wanting to have a bunch of cables running all over the place) a patchbay would allow you to swap at your leisure. You'd want to mute your amp's output while you swap.
Last sort of option:
Buy something similar to a DBX Driverack or a studio routing matrix.
How do you plan on swapping the signals? Manually? Like to turn around and do it? Flip a switch or plug a cable? You said "having the option to toggle between the preamps". Now, it seems to me that a pedal in front of you would be a great way to do that. As far as the cable mess that could be born of that goes, you can get a loom built in some TechFlex or use a 4 pair cable or something that would keep it neat. I'd suggest getting a loom with 50% more cable than you need. Spares are really cool.
or:
Use a small console. A little 4 channel would be fine. The cheap ones aren't really great but you aren't using the preamps anyway.
Another method:
Put in a patch bay. Since you don't want pedals (and I can understand not wanting to have a bunch of cables running all over the place) a patchbay would allow you to swap at your leisure. You'd want to mute your amp's output while you swap.
Last sort of option:
Buy something similar to a DBX Driverack or a studio routing matrix.
How do you plan on swapping the signals? Manually? Like to turn around and do it? Flip a switch or plug a cable? You said "having the option to toggle between the preamps". Now, it seems to me that a pedal in front of you would be a great way to do that. As far as the cable mess that could be born of that goes, you can get a loom built in some TechFlex or use a 4 pair cable or something that would keep it neat. I'd suggest getting a loom with 50% more cable than you need. Spares are really cool.
The Boss LS-2 worked best for me. I use it in A>B mode, and can switch it from the front panel or a simple momentary
foot switch.
It switches totally silently between My M6's preamp and my RBI. It's the aluminum rack unit in the middle, all the other
toggle switches are for the M6's mute and the lights.
Here's a link to my preamp selector rehouse/build thread if you haven't already seen it. Might give some ideas:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/rack-preamp-selector-rehouse-build-827564/
I started the thread on it because when I was looking to do this, I couldn't find much info.
There's other ways, but this has been working great for me for almost 2 years now.
Every passive box I tried when experimenting popped when switching like a mutha when in the FX loop,
so active IMO is the way to go.
Hope this helps some.
foot switch.
It switches totally silently between My M6's preamp and my RBI. It's the aluminum rack unit in the middle, all the other
toggle switches are for the M6's mute and the lights.
Here's a link to my preamp selector rehouse/build thread if you haven't already seen it. Might give some ideas:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/rack-preamp-selector-rehouse-build-827564/
I started the thread on it because when I was looking to do this, I couldn't find much info.
There's other ways, but this has been working great for me for almost 2 years now.
Every passive box I tried when experimenting popped when switching like a mutha when in the FX loop,
so active IMO is the way to go.
Hope this helps some.
If I can remember, the RBI has an unaffected out.
I can't remember if it was a true bypass or not. I never tried it.
I can't remember if it was a true bypass or not. I never tried it.
There's nothing true bypass about the RBI, not that it matters, but that's a good point about
the uneffected out, in the OP's case with the two separate preamps.
He could plug his bass into the RBI's input,
then the 1/4" uneffected out (on the RBI) into the other preamps input (that's the way i do it on mine),
then that part would be sorted (both preamps are getting an uneffected signal from the bass).
But then you need away to switch between the preamps output's to the power amps input.
That's where the A/B box would come in.
With the LS-2 (or any A/B box, I think).
You then could take preamp #1's output to the A/B box's A input (return),
then preamp #2's output to the A/B box's B input (return),
and finally the A/B box's output to the power amps input.
I'm not familiar with the OP's power amp, or if he needs it to switch quietly on the fly.
So like I said before there may be other ways to do it with his gear.
Also a passive A/B may work with his gear, not sure, he'd have to experiment with that.
I'm just trying to help.
I'm about to fall asleep, catch ya on the flipside.
the uneffected out, in the OP's case with the two separate preamps.
He could plug his bass into the RBI's input,
then the 1/4" uneffected out (on the RBI) into the other preamps input (that's the way i do it on mine),
then that part would be sorted (both preamps are getting an uneffected signal from the bass).
But then you need away to switch between the preamps output's to the power amps input.
That's where the A/B box would come in.
With the LS-2 (or any A/B box, I think).
You then could take preamp #1's output to the A/B box's A input (return),
then preamp #2's output to the A/B box's B input (return),
and finally the A/B box's output to the power amps input.
I'm not familiar with the OP's power amp, or if he needs it to switch quietly on the fly.
So like I said before there may be other ways to do it with his gear.
Also a passive A/B may work with his gear, not sure, he'd have to experiment with that.
I'm just trying to help.
I'm about to fall asleep, catch ya on the flipside.
The Boss LS-2 worked best for me. I use it in A>B mode, and can switch it from the front panel or a simple momentary
foot switch.
It switches totally silently between My M6's preamp and my RBI. It's the aluminum rack unit in the middle, all the other
toggle switches are for the M6's mute and the lights.
Here's a link to my preamp selector rehouse/build thread if you haven't already seen it. Might give some ideas:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f15/rack-preamp-selector-rehouse-build-827564/
I started the thread on it because when I was looking to do this, I couldn't find much info.
There's other ways, but this has been working great for me for almost 2 years now.
Every passive box I tried when experimenting popped when switching like a mutha when in the FX loop,
so active IMO is the way to go.
Hope this helps some.
Wow man, very nice work there!!!!
I use two RBI's with one power amp so I can have a clean and dirty sound at the push of a button. Very versatile.
