Combining two amps without the ab/y pedal

[shibby]

Hello!
Need some help from the experts. I googled this but got various answers.
Basically I just wanna use two amps at the same time.
Google told me
1) can use this ab/y pedal
2) use the line out of the amp

Since dont have a ab/y pedal. Im going to use method two. But im not sure if it will work.
The website i googled said that i could plug my guitar into say AMP A. Then use a another cable to plug into AMP A line out and into AMP B normal input.

WILL THIS work? will it cause like any damages?

Thank you for reading. Any advice woud be helpful.

 

[an2]

For clean, nothing will happen, just keep watch of the volume. Distortion, only the 2nd amp can distort, it might spoil if you set gain high on both amps

 

[shibby]

Hey thanks for the reply!

Meaning if i put both amps to clean settings, and i will be using pedals for the dist, will it work fine? or am i still at risk of spoiling my amps?

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

the purpose of the line out from amp is not meant to go to the input of another guitar amp. Even though it prolly wont damaged anything as long kept within sensible volume, the sound is going to be sterile/harsh or just plain bad.

Line out from amp is meant to go to mixer/PA system etc.

The reason why most using 2 amps setup and with an a/b/y box, is such that the geetar signal is being send to 2 amps in parallel, so that one can be used to run clean and the other amp for gain purpose OR simply just getting a mixture of 2 different amps voicing for distortion/clean purpose.

If taking the signal from line out of 1st amp and going into input of 2nd amp, thats still in a series connection, which actually kinda defeat the purpose of using both amps.

 

[Godspeed64]

Do you have any pedals with stereo outputs? Say your delay or reverb or multi-effects.

 

[tyzjames]

Yup you would need a stereo splitter. Pedals with stereo outs such as the Flashback delay can do this

 

[shibby]

PatheinRaindropMoe, thanks bro for the explanation. Now i understand how the line out works. Yup i was afraid it will sound bad too.
Godspeed64 & tyzjames, unfortunately i only have a multieffects which has this additional jack where it says "PEDAL". Im not sure if this is the stereo output u guys are talking about. =x

 

[CyanideJunkie]

I recall reading somewhere about Billy Corgan chaining like 10 amp heads together to get this really evil buzzsaw-type distortion.

Anyway, go have a readup on W/D/W amp setups as well to find out what else an amp's line out can be used for.

 

[tyzjames]

hmm, what mfx are you using?

 

[cheesedaele]

i only have a multieffects which has this additional jack where it says "PEDAL". Im not sure if this is the stereo output u guys are talking about. =x

Sounds like an an expression pedal.

 

[shibby]

woah i googled W/D/W amp setups.. oh myy.. dats like some professional setup.. The mfx i have is the damn old korg ax3g. It has 3jacks, input/output/pedal. I also dont think its the stereo output dat u guys were saying. =x I think the only option im left is the line out of the amp.

 

[cheesedaele]

TYMC can build loopers for pretty cheap. The line out tone isn't meant to feed other amps, if it's a crappy sound, might as well not have sound. Defeats the purpose of biamping.

 

[PatheinRaindropMoe]

any effect with a stereo out will have jacks that are labeled clearly for left and right output. If only for mono output connection(which incidentally, all geetar/effect ouput is mono in general unless stated otherwise)

the pedal jack mentioned, a quick check online for ax3g manual mentioned its for expresson pedal.

Other then the line out option, the next easiest way, others has already mentioned, get a pedal with stereo out to connect to 2 amps.

If not getting the pedal, then just go try the line out method and see if its working for you. The connection has got no danger involved as its only audio signal being routed. As per any audio testing, start it with low volume and proceed from there.

And if you do wanna get an effect pedal with stereo out, one thing to take note, which not much has mentioned is that the stereo output for that particular pedal, is it wired to be a full stereo output which consist of the dry signal mixed with wet signal or that of the 2 stereo output, one is actually dry signal output and the other a wet signal out.

Hehe, of course, the easiest way out, will still be an aby box with isolated transformer to fully separate signal paths and prevent ground loop etc.

 

[Cavett]

I will offer you a different solution. Not an ideal solution to get the best signal out but something more budget conscious when getting an audio splitter is not an option.

or this:

 

[shibby]

Thanks pathein for the advice again. i shall look into the a/b/y pedal. =)
Cavett! i think i have the first adaptor that u show. So where do i plug this thing into? into my guitar ar? then use two cable put one into amp A and the other to amp B?

 

[carboxymoron]

Into the last thing in your signal chain before your amp... meaning your effects if you're using it.

If split direct from guitar, the signal might be very weak.

 

[shibby]

thnks carboxymoron!
will try that too! =)

 

[JMguitars]

assuming we are talking about plugging in 2 heads or combos (rather than for a split into a mixer or poweramp), why not invest in the ABY pedal, purely because it usually has inbuilt transformer that eliminates ground loops and allows you to toggle polarity .... nothing worse than an audible hum sound all the time. At least that was what i could remember with a 2 amp setup.

 

[theunknown]

why not just sell that korg and get a podhd instead! so many types of outputs, can make stereo. simper!

grab it at the city music sale!

(nope, not a shameless advert here! just a user of the podhd recommending to a fellow guitarer)

 

[Vax]

I will offer you a different solution. Not an ideal solution to get the best signal out but something more budget conscious when getting an audio splitter is not an option.

or this:

I remember seeing that on Andy Timmons' pedalboard, at the end of his Tubeworks Tube Driver to split into two of his amps.