2 Amps Simultaneously vs. 1 Amp?

[Marshall Freak]

Depends on the application IMO. Live with one guitar player? Sure, that can work well and definitely thicken up your sound. With two guitar players? Generally doesn't work very easily and IME more trouble than it's worth but if you're playing big enough venues with a good soundman then sure. Recording with two different amps? Can definitely work.

+1 IMHO, it's only really workable if you're the only guitar player in the band.

 

[Shask]

For those running 2 amps, how are you doing it? If you are not slaving, what are you using to split the signal?

I have always wanted to try my Ric360's 2 outputs into 2 amps just for kicks....

$20 DOD Stereo Chorus pedal...

 

[blackba]

For those running 2 amps, how are you doing it?

My particular solution is a bit complicated for a couple of reasons:

I use a multi-amp/wd/d/wd setup, and the effects are driven by the selected amp via the amp selector and switching system and the way that they're routed together/separated from each other, utilizing a Line mixer...

Each amp utilizes the same cabinet

All pedals are routed to the front of whichever amp is selected, and the rack gear is driven by the selected amp, then passed to a stereo power amp--which runs 2 separate cabs. I setup the rig for versatility and flexibility so as to be able to run several configurations

Mono
Dual Mono w/d
Stereo
w/d/w
wd/d/wd
d/d/d

CAE Amp Selector, CAE Audio Switcher, CAE Stereo Line Mixer

That setup is very complicated as you say and over my head. Do you have any recommendations for a good spliter that is inexpensive for me to mess around with a W/D setup with 2 vintage amps (like Fender Bandmaster Reverb / Fender Brown Super) with no loops?

 

[Zachman]

For those running 2 amps, how are you doing it?

My particular solution is a bit complicated for a couple of reasons:

I use a multi-amp/wd/d/wd setup, and the effects are driven by the selected amp via the amp selector and switching system and the way that they're routed together/separated from each other, utilizing a Line mixer...

Each amp utilizes the same cabinet

All pedals are routed to the front of whichever amp is selected, and the rack gear is driven by the selected amp, then passed to a stereo power amp--which runs 2 separate cabs. I setup the rig for versatility and flexibility so as to be able to run several configurations

Mono
Dual Mono w/d
Stereo
w/d/w
wd/d/wd
d/d/d

CAE Amp Selector, CAE Audio Switcher, CAE Stereo Line Mixer

That setup is very complicated as you say and over my head. Do you have any recommendations for a good spliter that is inexpensive for me to mess around with a W/D setup with 2 vintage amps (like Fender Bandmaster Reverb / Fender Brown Super) with no loops?

To preface, I would prefer to use each of the two amps you have as the driver and be able to select between them (to have the benefit of the tone core of each amp in play and have that drive the wet section of the rig), and use a stereo power amp for the wet side of the rig (or mono bridged for w/d, instead of w/d/w), as opposed to using just one of them just to drive the dry, and having the other drive the wet-- mainly because I prefer-- if using 2 amps (heads) to run the wet through a loop return of the wet amp, instead of through the front.

Suhr Line out box, is the 1st thing that I would consider, if it were for me-- (one on each amp), then there is the matter of addressing the effects being fed from each amp (as it's-- the amp-- selected). For that, a "Good" amp selector, is the next thing. Then perhaps, as has already been suggested a Suhr MiniMix2.

Egnater, CAE, and Skrydstrup R&D are the one's I prefer, but not cheap (unfortunately), but they are the only ones which allow for each amp to have a load on it while NOT in use. (Safer than some of the alternatives, and they have individual line level controls for each amp)-- (Unlike most/any of the others).


Then there is the power amp for the "Wet" side of the rig... My favorite is the Mesa Simul395, there are others.

http://www.suhrguitars.com/tonetools.aspx

Hope this made sense, caffeine hasn't kicked in yet. lol

Gotta agree w/ Mike, re: the RJM gear being great too.

 

[blackba]

To preface, I would prefer to use each of the two amps you have as the driver and be able to select between them (to have the benefit of the tone core of each amp in play and have that drive the wet section of the rig), and use a stereo power amp for the wet side of the rig (or mono bridged for w/d, instead of w/d/w), as opposed to using just one of them just to drive the dry, and having the other drive the wet-- mainly because I prefer-- if using 2 amps (heads) to run the wet through a loop return of the wet amp, instead of through the front.

Suhr Line out box, is the 1st thing that I would consider, if it were for me-- (one on each amp), then there is the matter of addressing the effects being fed from each amp (as it's-- the amp-- selected). For that, a "Good" amp selector, is the next thing. Then perhaps, as has already been suggested a Suhr MiniMix2.

Egnater, CAE, and Skrydstrup R&D are the one's I prefer, but not cheap (unfortunately), but they are the only ones which allow for each amp to have a load on it while NOT in use. (Safer than some of the alternatives, and they have individual line level controls for each amp)-- (Unlike most/any of the others).


Then there is the power amp for the "Wet" side of the rig... My favorite is the Mesa Simul395, there are others.

http://www.suhrguitars.com/tonetools.aspx

Hope this made sense, caffeine hasn't kicked in yet. lol

Gotta agree w/ Mike, re: the RJM gear being great too.

I got what you are saying Zachman, thanks for the help. So its not worth bothering with what I was thinking, which is running 1 amp wet and 1 amp dry?

What you are describing, I thought was slaving. Only real difference is that in the setup you describe, those suhr boxes wouldn't be able to mute the signal like an attenuator would. Since I am not gigging right now and my gear fund is pretty low, getting another power amp is more than I want to do at this point. I was hoping to just play around with the gear I have. I do have a passive AB box, so I can switch between the amps right now. It sounds like that if I wanted to incorporate what you are saying, I could use the suhr box on the output on my Fender Bandmaster reverb and then run the line out from that box into the loop of my Mesa mark IV. In between there I would put the time based 'wet' effects.

 

[vchizzle]

If you're the only guitar player, 2 is better than 1. I've been running a dual amp setup for several years. I've run 2 heads/cabs. Ran 1 amp slaved to power amp and currently run 1 head and Axe+power amp. I use the Axe/2502 to add whatever I want to hear on top of my core tone. Whether it be just FX or crazy synth stuff, whatever. I normally have that being the more wet side while the core amp is mostly dry. I get the Axe preamp to have characteristics that my Bad cat head doesn't.

The Suhr ISO line out is great for slaving.

 

[Zachman]

To preface, I would prefer to use each of the two amps you have as the driver and be able to select between them (to have the benefit of the tone core of each amp in play and have that drive the wet section of the rig), and use a stereo power amp for the wet side of the rig (or mono bridged for w/d, instead of w/d/w), as opposed to using just one of them just to drive the dry, and having the other drive the wet-- mainly because I prefer-- if using 2 amps (heads) to run the wet through a loop return of the wet amp, instead of through the front.

Suhr Line out box, is the 1st thing that I would consider, if it were for me-- (one on each amp), then there is the matter of addressing the effects being fed from each amp (as it's-- the amp-- selected). For that, a "Good" amp selector, is the next thing. Then perhaps, as has already been suggested a Suhr MiniMix2.

Egnater, CAE, and Skrydstrup R&D are the one's I prefer, but not cheap (unfortunately), but they are the only ones which allow for each amp to have a load on it while NOT in use. (Safer than some of the alternatives, and they have individual line level controls for each amp)-- (Unlike most/any of the others).


Then there is the power amp for the "Wet" side of the rig... My favorite is the Mesa Simul395, there are others.

http://www.suhrguitars.com/tonetools.aspx

Hope this made sense, caffeine hasn't kicked in yet. lol

Gotta agree w/ Mike, re: the RJM gear being great too.

I got what you are saying Zachman, thanks for the help. So its not worth bothering with what I was thinking, which is running 1 amp wet and 1 amp dry?

What you are describing, I thought was slaving. Only real difference is that in the setup you describe, those suhr boxes wouldn't be able to mute the signal like an attenuator would. Since I am not gigging right now and my gear fund is pretty low, getting another power amp is more than I want to do at this point. I was hoping to just play around with the gear I have. I do have a passive AB box, so I can switch between the amps right now. It sounds like that if I wanted to incorporate what you are saying, I could use the suhr box on the output on my Fender Bandmaster reverb and then run the line out from that box into the loop of my Mesa mark IV. In between there I would put the time based 'wet' effects.

You have an fx loop in the MKIV, so I would go:

Guitar to Boogie
Boogie loop send to fx input (ex. delay)
FX out to Bandmaster input

That is one w/d setup, that you don't need any additional gear.

OR for a stereo rig, w/ no extra gear:

Guitar to Boogie
Boogie loop send to fx input (ex. stereo delay)
FX out Left to Boogie loop return
FX out Right to Bandmaster input

 

[blackba]

You have an fx loop in the MKIV, so I would go:

Guitar to Boogie
Boogie loop send to fx input (ex. delay)
FX out to Bandmaster input

That is one w/d setup, that you don't need any additional gear.

OR for a stereo rig, w/ no extra gear:

Guitar to Boogie
Boogie loop send to fx input (ex. stereo delay)
FX out Left to Boogie loop return
FX out Right to Bandmaster input

Got is Zachman, thanks for the help. I will give it a try soon (probably going to try the W/D setup you outlined 1st)....

 

[Zachman]

You have an fx loop in the MKIV, so I would go:

Guitar to Boogie
Boogie loop send to fx input (ex. delay)
FX out to Bandmaster input

That is one w/d setup, that you don't need any additional gear.

OR for a stereo rig, w/ no extra gear:

Guitar to Boogie
Boogie loop send to fx input (ex. stereo delay)
FX out Left to Boogie loop return
FX out Right to Bandmaster input

Got is Zachman, thanks for the help. I will give it a try soon (probably going to try the W/D setup you outlined 1st)....

Let me know how it goes