Running two amps at once

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:59 am

Question is pretty much in the title. I have been thinking about running two amps at once, how would i go about doing this? I want to use my one pedal board and have the same sounds come out of two separate amps. I just want to run my fender Princeton and my gibson minute man at the same time. Halp shortscale!

Will · Post by **Will** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:21 am

Easiest: Does one amp have 2 inputs on the same channel? If so, run a short patch cable from input 2 of the first amp (you're guitar is plugged into input 1) to input 1 of the second amp. DONE.

If both only have 1 input, you can use a standard mono Y cable to split the signal. Or an A/B/Y box if you want to get fancy.

Electronically, both these methods will load the signal somewhat. Not enough to matter IMO, but if you're bothered by that you'd have to get some sort of active splitter. There are standard active splitters, or you could get a stereo chorus, phase, reverb, etc. pedal.

light rail coyote · Post by **light rail coyote** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:49 am

FUCK YEAh. come to the dark side

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:51 am

hahaha I dont think im gonna be going as crazy as you lrc. Just running some old combos together for fun.

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 8:01 am

the morley ABY box seems like a good way to go, anybody have any experience with these? I think mike has one.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 8:23 am

I would just get a pedal will 2 outputs like Will suggests.
I've done this with my TU-2 and my Super Hard On on occasion.

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 8:33 am

I do have a couple pedals with 2 outs. Might have to rearrange my board around a little but ill try it out tomorrow.

light rail coyote · Post by **light rail coyote** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 9:11 am

My memory man works great for that. no problems at all

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 10:31 am

if you just use a stereo pedal you can get excessive hum from the two amps if you're using the same power source, and they can sometimes go out of phase with each other (depends on the amps, i think). i used to use a stereo chorus as a splitter, and turned up to do a gig at a venue, and once all the lights and shizz were on the noise was pretty bad, enough for the sound guy to ask me WTF i was playing at. after that i got a splitter with isolated outs, now the noise is minimal. depends on your application, i suppose.

Post by **Mike** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 11:56 am

People have also not mentioned Ground Loop issues, which you can sometimes get while running two amps at the same time. You can sometimes get away with it with a stereo pedal or simple A/B box but if you're unlucky you'll have to get something more spendy.

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 12:39 pm

that's what i was trying to say without knowing the technical term. that's why i opted for a more expensive splitter in the end.

the isaac eaton · Post by **the isaac eaton** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:30 pm

what splitter do you recommend then?

stewart · Post by **stewart** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 5:41 pm

mine's a handbuilt thing with three outs. i got it from this guy-

http://www.electrolead.co.uk

i think he only builds to order at the moment, and it might work out costly, what with exchange rates and all.

you could probably get something cheaper, eg:

http://www.pedalspluseffectswarehouse.c ... -psplt.htm

or build one-

http://www.muzique.com/lab/splitter.htm

you might not even need a buffered jobby, it depends what you're after. i just wanted one because i was sick of sound engineers sneering at me at gigs. try using a pedal with two outs and see how you get on before coughing up more cash.

riotshield · Post by **riotshield** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:41 pm

used the morley ABY box for that reason with no problems.
lehle is also an other option