Two Amp Stereo vs W/D/W

[journeyman73]

I posted this elsewhere but thought i might try here also...

Im getting a rack rig together and sort of torn between two different setups...

#1 would allow me to run stereo effects thru two different amps - i would be using each amp as a completely dedicated L/R channel, including their preamps..going out from fx into stereo effects and back into each amp's return and out to cabs...so, the main advantage here is i get to mix and match amp sounds, coloring etc (a la someone like Bonamassa, Mayer, etc). im figuring i could also run this set-up with two identical heads (going fx send of first head into fx that split into stereo, one return into first head and one return into second head, bypassing second head preamp) for true stereo of one amp sound - or mix and match amp heads.

one disadvantage to this set-up is all things being equal i notice a very slight change in feel when using fx loops that i dont notice when using the line out below.

#2 would be running into a single amp (preamp), taking line out into stereo effects, into SS stereo power amp and out to cabs. the main advantage here is i get the dedicated dry cab and a lot of clarity but still get stereo effects into the two wet cabs (which i can also mix dry with)....obviously, disadvtage is i only get one amp's sound...and whatever downside to using a SS poweramp vs keeping things all tube like i would in #1.

does anyone have any good experienced in both these set-ups? and additional pros/cons or thoughts on what im already thinking about?

lets set aside logistical aspects of hauling gear, set-up time etc.

thanks for any thoughts - just looking to finalize the rig and am torn lol

 

[Oblivion DC]

The w/d/w has always been the dream rig for me. However, my way of running it would have been with an actual tube head for the dry and a stereo power amp for the wet. Then depending on whether I went line out or power out (w/an attenuators) I'd either use a tube power amp or a solid state.

The problem I see with the two amp blending rig is even if you can convince the sound guy to mic both cabs, you can't guarantee he'll blend them to your liking at the board.

 

[journeyman73]

The w/d/w has always been the dream rig for me. However, my way of running it would have been with an actual tube head for the dry and a stereo power amp for the wet. Then depending on whether I went line out or power out (w/an attenuators) I'd either use a tube power amp or a solid state.

The problem I see with the two amp blending rig is even if you can convince the sound guy to mic both cabs, you can't guarantee he'll blend them to your liking at the board.

yeah, just to clarify the w/d/w configuration is as you described (ie dry amp some sort of tube amp (plexi, slo, etc), line out to stereo fx, out to matrix poweramp)

 

[sytharnia1560]

I would only run stereo if you are setting the 2 amps up with different tones, to give a really wide tone across the spectrum. That is kind of the point of a stereo rig, if you have say one amp dialled for high gain and then the second one is set with less gain etc (just as an example)

if you have an tone from one amp that really is perfect for you then W/D/W would be the way to go

 

[journeyman73]

I would only run stereo if you are setting the 2 amps up with different tones, to give a really wide tone across the spectrum. That is kind of the point of a stereo rig, if you have say one amp dialled for high gain and then the second one is set with less gain etc (just as an example)

if you have an tone from one amp that really is perfect for you then W/D/W would be the way to go

yep i think thats fundamentally the conundrum for me - have the ability to mix and match amp tones/sounds and/or be able to keep everything tube based even if only using two identical amp heads (dual-amp stereo) OR optimize one amp sound with stereo fx (w/d/w)

 

[CP5150]

I would only run stereo if you are setting the 2 amps up with different tones, to give a really wide tone across the spectrum. That is kind of the point of a stereo rig, if you have say one amp dialled for high gain and then the second one is set with less gain etc (just as an example)

if you have an tone from one amp that really is perfect for you then W/D/W would be the way to go

I'm using my two PV 5150 half stacks with an H9 in stereo. Close to a ping pong type delay with the H3000 and H910/H949 algorithms. It is killer! I wouldn't like two different amp sounds. It's about the stereo spread and a big full sound.

 

[sytharnia1560]

I'm using my two PV 5150 half stacks with an H9 in stereo. Close to a ping pong type delay with the H3000 and H910/H949 algorithms. It is killer! I wouldn't like two different amp sounds. It's about the stereo spread and a big full sound.

I bet that sounds awesome ....... you'd get a big stereo spread with W/D/W as well..

If you want an example of mixing amps with different gain structures Jerry Cantrell is a master at it