Head switcher for multiple heads in one cab

  • Thread starter Thread starter skullfxr
  • Start date Start date
skullfxr

skullfxr

Well-known member
What do you all recommend?

I looked at the radial headbone, but it's pricey and only does two heads.

Is there anything better out there or cheaper? Or one that does three heads.

I have over twenty heads and have no more room for cabs. I keep five plug and play rigs, and have no more room for cabs.
 
I don't know of any cheaper than the radial....you can find them used for about $150.
 
I saw the Mesa too but I don't need the fx loop feature and it is even more expensive.

This is for clean vintage fenders. I have a bassman SF, a BF bassman I am building, and a Bandmaster. I would love to switch all three.
 
I think I will just go radial engineering.

This is odd, but is there any reason not to buy one used?
 
stephen sawall":194q3c95 said:
I don't know of any cheaper than the radial....you can find them used for about $150.
Click to expand...

They are all $200+ on reverb.
 
Looks like the used price is going up. I saw one local at a store used recently. Looks like it sold. Not on their site.
A Sharp Music in Renton WA.
 
stephen sawall":6eiuyeq1 said:
Looks like the used price is going up. I saw one local at a store used recently. Looks like it sold. Not on their site.
A Sharp Music in Renton WA.
Click to expand...

thanks! bummer the price is shooting up. i think i would rather pick up another cab for $250 than a switcher. fudge./
 
I thought about buying one many times. I always end up with a other cab. Like you I ran out of room at home for more gear.
 
If you can find one, might I suggest an AMPEG AMP-SB or AMPEG PBSB system selector? With these contraptions, you can swap between 8 amps and 8 cabs. It has two dedicated "tube amp" inputs, which places a load on the inputs to prevent any "no-load" damage from occurring, however, I never used these inputs and just used the others making sure to use standby switches on my tube heads instead. This is more of a studio solution rather than for use in a live setting, but it sure is nice for recording as all cabs are easily accessible and easier to A/B to get the tone you want to capture. I have the AMP-SB, but it looks like the PBSB is the same thing in a smaller footprint.

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* images acquired from expired Reverb post, not of my AMP-SB

AMP-SB info sheet: https://ampeg.com/support/files/Discont ... 20Selector)/AMP-SB_OM.pdf
 
I own the Ampeg amp switcher above. I would not recommend using anything but the tube inputs. If you use the others wait a minute or more so the voltages are settled before switching standby on or off. These changes don't happen immediately.

I have also seen one modified so there is a load on all eight inputs.
 
stephen sawall":3jvstvdg said:
I own the Ampeg amp switcher above. I would not recommend using anything but the tube inputs. If you use the others wait a minute or more so the voltages are settled before switching standby on or off. These changes don't happen immediately.

I have also seen one modified so there is a load on all eight inputs.
Click to expand...

Interesting - will have to dust mine off as I have not used it since moving 5 years ago or so. I never was in a rush when using it in the studio, so there was never less than a few minutes between switching amps. I emailed with Ampeg support before using it as I described, and they said that it was no problem to use the non-loaded channels, just to be strict with the standby switches and to be always mindful of them ...so I plastered a bunch of stickers to remind myself. I agree that if someone is looking for a live solution, this would NOT be it, but as a studio solution, it's pretty awesome.

Their response:
"From: MISupport@loudtechinc.com
To:
Subject: RE: Ampeg System Selector question
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 15:31:24 +0000

Hi,
Thanks for writing.
This has proved a difficult question to answer. While we were able to find the manual for the AMP-SB, here in tech support, we only have the AMP-SB2.
From reading the manual for the AMP-SB, it appears that there are two tube inputs on the unit, which will put a 20 ohm load on all tube amps in the event that they aren’t switched to a speaker. When it is switched to a speaker, that 20 ohm load will be wired in parallel with the speaker. This is where the problem occurs. For example a 4 ohm cabinet in parallel with the 20 ohm load, will put a 3.3 ohm load on the all tube amp. Typically all tube amps like to see a whole integer impedance, like a 4, 8, or 16 ohm load. In an impedance miss match, if you were to have a catastrophic tube failure it could take out the entire output section. Some amps can tolerate a slight impedance miss match while others can’t
To be on the safe side, the best thing is to make sure that the all tube amp is set to the correct impedance and the proper cabinet is selected to the corresponding all tube amp prior to turning the amp on."



When I emailed Marshall tech support, they actually suggested not using the AMP inputs as it places a 20 ohm resistance in parallel to the load, so the amp sees a non-integer load, which is not good for the amp. When I spoke with them, they suggested *not* to use the AMP loaded channels at all and to use the other non-loaded channels being careful to use the standby switch method.

Sorry to derail the thread a bit, however, it is good info for the OP to make sure of what load the amp will "see" and contact the amp's support reps to make sure it will be safe to use with their amp.
 
Thanks for the inform. I have not used mine in years. I think I'm going to dig it out and sell it with some other stuff.
 
Thanks for all of the info. I trust radial. I have a lot of their stuff and have never had a problem.

Let's see what comes first, headbone or another cab... Lol.
 
The Ampeg AMP-SB sucks serious tone with guitar amps. Stay away from it.

Additionally, the fixed load on the tube inputs is always on and in parallel with whatever cabinet you're running into, so you're never going to get a proper match (an 8 ohms cab becomes 5.7 ohms, 16 ohm cab becomes 8.89 ohms, etc.).
 
LP Freak":pvusidxm said:
Metroamp makes one.
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He stopped making the Head Master two year ago, but I thought I read he is going to start making them again soon.
 
Check out the kahayan amp switchers.,.pretty cool and sound good.
 
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