ABY Help/Discussion

[Deleted member 26052]

Hello, was hoping for some help. I need an ABY but I don't know much about them.

I want one that can do two half stacks at the same time or each one separately with the click of a button.

What should I be looking at? Active? Passive? Nkt sure what to look for.

 

[Findthetone1]

I've only used passives but have had no problems. I can't remember what kind mine is but it wasn't much and works fine. The Radial stuff is usually held in high regard but I have no experience with it so hopefully some others will chime in.

 

[Deleted member 26052]

I've only used passives but have had no problems. I can't remember what kind mine is but it wasn't much and works fine. The Radial stuff is usually held in high regard but I have no experience with it so hopefully some others will chime in.

Thanks.

 

[creep66]

I used a passive for years and finally got a fulltone. There was a huge differrence that I didnt notice. Passives do give tone loss/volume drop.

 

[Findthetone1]

I used a passive for years and finally got a fulltone. There was a huge differrence that I didnt notice. Passives do give tone loss/volume drop.

Good to know!

 

[Deleted member 26052]

I used a passive for years and finally got a fulltone. There was a huge differrence that I didnt notice. Passives do give tone loss/volume drop.

So active is the way to go then. Are fulltone the most common brand?

 

[ZEEGLER]

A passive ABY will split your signal, which means that each amp is only getting half the input gain. This will result in lower overall gain. Whether or not it is noticeable will depend on other variables. So you ideally want a buffered ABY box.

You also want isolated outputs. If they aren't isolated, you will have some pretty bad 60 cycle hum going on.

Another indispensable feature is a phase switch (if you're going to be running two amps at the same time). Two amps that are out of phase with each other will usually sound like ass.

I have a Lehle 1@3 which can switch between 3 amps, but unfortunately only one at a time.

 

[311boogieman]

Hey there. Just saw your Avatar 4x12. Really good cabs for the money. I can barely see that 'streak' as you call it. Wouldn't be enough to bother me but I don't gig either. Is this for your Fortin and Peavey? Should sound huge. Tell us more about that Fortin. Let us know how it goes too.

Yeah the Radial stuff is the real deal but I have no direct experience. My ABY pedal is a MXR. I have no idea if it is passive or not. I run the '3rd out' to a 3rd amp for even more craziness. But I mainly use it between my Splawn and Recto. The thing you will need to watch out for most is ground loops. I use a ground lift now but there are more sophisticated ways of taking care of it.

Have fun and keep us posted.

 

[Deleted member 26052]

A passive ABY will split your signal, which means that each amp is only getting half the input gain. This will result in lower overall gain. Whether or not it is noticeable will depend on other variables. So you ideally want a buffered ABY box.

You also want isolated outputs. If they aren't isolated, you will have some pretty bad 60 cycle hum going on.

Another indispensable feature is a phase switch (if you're going to be running two amps at the same time). Two amps that are out of phase with each other will usually sound like ass.

I have a Lehle 1@3 which can switch between 3 amps, but unfortunately only one at a time.

Is the Radial Bigshot active? I can't find that info, seems to have all the other features you mentioned as long as their "polarity switch" is a phase switch.

 

[ZEEGLER]

I would recommend looking at the Radial stuff or the Lehle Dual SGOS.

The Lehle stuff is super high quality, and absolutely silent.

 

[ZEEGLER]

Is the Radial Bigshot active? I can't find that info, seems to have all the other features you mentioned as long as their "polarity switch" is a phase switch.

No, the Bigshot is passive. It is isolated and yes the polarity switch corrects the phase of the amps, but you will get a drop in input gain because it's not buffered.

 

[ZEEGLER]

I believe the Radial Headlight is buffered and allows you to switch up to 4 amps. The outputs are isolated, but I'm not sure if it has a polarity switch.

 

[creep66]

So active is the way to go then. Are fulltone the most common brand?

After alot of research I tried the fulltone. It's been excellent is all I can really say. I run 3 amps. I use the fulltone to split my main 2. I had tone loss I wasnt aware of until I tried the active aby. It really does make a differrence. Plus the fulltone has a switchable buffer.

 

[ZEEGLER]

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LittleDual2--lehle-little-dual-ii-amp-switcher
This one is perfect for two amps. It ticks all the boxes and is very reasonably priced.

 

[Deleted member 26052]

Yes but if there is tone loss in passive then I want active.

 

[ZEEGLER]

Yes but if there is tone loss in passive then I want active.

I'm pretty sure that it is buffered.

 

[Deleted member 26052]

I'm pretty sure that it is buffered.

So being buffered compensates for being active?

Sorry I'm a noob.

 

[ZEEGLER]

So being buffered compensates for being active?

Sorry I'm a noob.

Yes, in layman's terms, buffered means that the unit is amplifying each signal to account for the loss due to splitting the signal.

If you want to be 100% certain, then contact Lehle and ask them if it's buffered. You can contact them through their website.

 

[Deleted member 26052]

Yes, in layman's terms, buffered means that the unit is amplifying each signal to account for the loss due to splitting the signal.

If you want to be 100% certain, then contact Lehle and ask them if it's buffered. You can contact them through their website.

Great, thank you so much for your help.

 

[Racerxrated]

Lehle and Radial both have nice pro stuff. If you are going to play out better to not mess with going cheap and get the Lehle. I had one long ago and it was great.
But, just playing at home these days and I went with a cheaper option; it is a Chinese clone for like 35 bucks. Active and does the job for home use at least. I’ll try and paste a link later.