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Help needed regarding ABY boxes


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Hello peoples.

I am going to be buying another head (a Randall if interested) to go with my Powerball. I was going to maybe run them both through just one cab (Marshall 1960A). A guy I work with told me that if I want to do this then I need this load bearing ABY box. Reason being that the signal from the amp that isn't going through the cab has to go somewhere, that being the 'load bearing box'.

I'm not totally clued up on all of this so I'm not totally sure what I'm looking for!

Alternatively I could just buy another cab aswell but I was partially thinking convenience for gigging.

Thanks for any help :)

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Hence the 'load bearer'. That's the whole point of it!

It would be plugged in. This load bearing box being where it's directed to when not through the cab...

:up:

I was pointing out why you needed it, as in you can't just switch to nothing (you did say you weren't very clued up). I've put a link in to something which will do the job for valves (I had a solid state head switcher to begin with, which is why the post seemed a bit incomplete)

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Yeah I knew that much! Sorry that I took what ya said the wrong way! o_O

I was more referring to not being clued up as to what's available and the differences between what are!

The one problem I have - with regards to THAT one - is that one of the heads is valve and the other is solid state. Having read the page, the 'TS' would be the one good for that.

These are all AB boxes I see. Are there any that are ABY you know of?

Thanks for the link though!

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Guest lime ruined my life
Yeah I knew that much! Sorry that I took what ya said the wrong way! o_O

I was more referring to not being clued up as to what's available and the differences between what are!

The one problem I have - with regards to THAT one - is that one of the heads is valve and the other is solid state. Having read the page, the 'TS' would be the one good for that.

These are all AB boxes I see. Are there any that are ABY you know of?

Thanks for the link though!

You could plug both amps into the cab and then switch the guitar from amp1>amp2 using a normal AB?

If your cab only has one input you could easily diy another input.

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You could plug both amps into the cab and then switch the guitar from amp1>amp2 using a normal AB?

If your cab only has one input you could easily diy another input.

In theory, yes. The 1960A is a stereo cab so essentially I could switch it to stereo and plug both heads in, giving what would be 2 2x12s in one enclosure.

I, however, love the fullness and depth to my sound with the 4x12 at my back.

I could always try the 2 2x12 when I get the Randall and then decide from there if I need the load bearing AB instead. :up:

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You could plug both amps into the cab and then switch the guitar from amp1>amp2 using a normal AB?

If your cab only has one input you could easily diy another input.

That won't work, not only will the impedance of the unused amp affect the impedance that the amp your using "sees" but you're effectively trying to shove the output signal of one amp into the output of the other. I'm not sure what that would do, but I'm guessing it's not good.

EDIT: I have inadvertently wired two power amps to the same cab before, the sound crapped up something awful. Luckily I figured out what the problem was before any damage was caused. I wouldn't like to bet on a valve amp surviving the experience though.

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Yeah I knew that much! Sorry that I took what ya said the wrong way! o_O

I was more referring to not being clued up as to what's available and the differences between what are!

The one problem I have - with regards to THAT one - is that one of the heads is valve and the other is solid state. Having read the page, the 'TS' would be the one good for that.

These are all AB boxes I see. Are there any that are ABY you know of?

Thanks for the link though!

ABY, you mean a choice of either amp or both? That would be tricky (see above post) and I'm not sure there is such a thing commercially available.

Using the cab as 2 2x12's is definitely the cheapest option, although you'll need two mics on the cab.

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ABY, you mean a choice of either amp or both? That would be tricky (see above post) and I'm not sure there is such a thing commercially available.

Using the cab as 2 2x12's is definitely the cheapest option, although you'll need two mics on the cab.

there are things called lehle switchers from soundsgreatmusic.com and they allow switching between heads or running 2 or 3 heads together but i think they have to go into separate cabs.

The one i use has to have each amp into its own cab.

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Guest inc18457

so it's going to be left to me...really...no-one else is gonna say it...?

is there really any need to have 2 hi-quality amps at the same gig at the moorings or whereever?

i understand you might want different sounds for different songs, but c ome on! you're not actually dimebag darrel...surely this powerball thing (i read up, they're expensive, meaning probably relatively good) should be able to satisfy both/all your tone needs?

if you were palying massive arenas and needed different sounds for certain solos to carry to the back of the hall or whatever then fine, but i don't think youy're at that level, are you? (please correct me if i'm mistaken!!!)

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Guest lime ruined my life
That won't work, not only will the impedance of the unused amp affect the impedance that the amp your using "sees" but you're effectively trying to shove the output signal of one amp into the output of the other. I'm not sure what that would do, but I'm guessing it's not good.

EDIT: I have inadvertently wired two power amps to the same cab before, the sound crapped up something awful. Luckily I figured out what the problem was before any damage was caused. I wouldn't like to bet on a valve amp surviving the experience though.

i meant diy an extra input, ie split a 4x12 into 2 2x12's. although its only useful if u dont mind using 2 speakers instead of 4.

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Guest lime ruined my life
so it's going to be left to me...really...no-one else is gonna say it...?

is there really any need to have 2 hi-quality amps at the same gig at the moorings or whereever?

i understand you might want different sounds for different songs, but c ome on! you're not actually dimebag darrel...surely this powerball thing (i read up, they're expensive, meaning probably relatively good) should be able to satisfy both/all your tone needs?

if you were palying massive arenas and needed different sounds for certain solos to carry to the back of the hall or whatever then fine, but i don't think youy're at that level, are you? (please correct me if i'm mistaken!!!)

wheres the fun in using one amp??

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wheres the fun in using one amp??

yeah

nothing wrong in using 2 amps at the same time, You can blend sounds or have one amp set for rhythm and another for lead or one for clean sounds.

Comes down to personal taste and just cos someone wants to use 2 amps aint breaking an unwritten rule!

I use a 5150 for leads and a Deizel Herbert for Rhythm through separate cabs

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so it's going to be left to me...really...no-one else is gonna say it...?

is there really any need to have 2 hi-quality amps at the same gig at the moorings or whereever?

i understand you might want different sounds for different songs, but c ome on! you're not actually dimebag darrel...surely this powerball thing (i read up, they're expensive, meaning probably relatively good) should be able to satisfy both/all your tone needs?

if you were palying massive arenas and needed different sounds for certain solos to carry to the back of the hall or whatever then fine, but i don't think youy're at that level, are you? (please correct me if i'm mistaken!!!)

It's to have 2 sounds at the same time. When you mix them up you can get a killer heavy sound - it's what you do in the studio - blend different amp tones.

I sometimes run 2 amps together if I can be assed. Always better than just one.

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your man angel of death only has one speaker cabinet though...so can only use one head a time...

thus my thinking it's pointless...

Like Lime said, the 1960 is a stereo speaker cabinet that can be run as a mono 4x12 or, effectively, as two mono 2x12s with separate inputs. I used to run a Fender Bassman and a Burman head in stereo through a 1936 2X12. It sounded great but my back and car boot disagreed.

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Guitars and amps are very much a part of Angel of Death's life, he is certainly not trying to be Dimebag, he is just passionate about guitar stuff.

Absolutely :up:

Some folks collect stamps, others that Capo De Monte shite. some folks even collect matchbooks.

Me and AOD collect gear :up:

Easy peasy lemon squeezy

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