Multi Amp Setup with Pedals

[themeansr]

I am trying to find some info on how to hook up 2 heads, 2 cabs with effects pedals. I have not been able to find anything visually showing how to do it. I have a JCM 2000 DSL 2000, Mesa Roadster, Marshall 1960av 4x12 and Mesa 2x12. I have 13 pedals with the dirt going in the front of the amp and the time based effects in my Marshall FX Loop. I purchased an ABY box. Can someone explain how this would work? Do the pedals go to one amp or both? If you have any links or videos that would be helpful

 

[stratjacket]

What are you trying to do?
Playing both amps at the same time, same or different pedals for each amp, Wet/dry setup?
Switch between amps using same pedals for each and in the loop? Or just switch between 2 rigs, each with their own pedals?
Or some other endgame?

 

[nightlight]

If you want to play both amps together, you need more than just a simple ABY pedal, or the first problem you're going to run into is a horrendous group loop.

Assuming you have something like a Lehle, you should be able to run either amp or both simultaneously.

You can have all your fx in the signal chain after your splitter box in any way you like. If you have any stereo delay or reverb pedals, try sending the FX out of each amp into the left and right inputs and then send each out from the pedals to the returns on your amps.

Good luck! I am working on a wet/dry/wet setup of my own and it's awesome to meet someone else who's not afraid of lugging around a bit of gear to get the perfect sound!

 

[themeansr]

Thanks for the replies. I would like to run both amps at the same time with the Pedals running through both.

 

[ChurchHill]

I am working on a wet/dry/wet setup of my own and it's awesome to meet someone else who's not afraid of lugging around a bit of gear to get the perfect sound!

You are DEFINITELY in the right place!!

 

[nightlight]

I am working on a wet/dry/wet setup of my own and it's awesome to meet someone else who's not afraid of lugging around a bit of gear to get the perfect sound!

You are DEFINITELY in the right place!!

That's what I was thinking. Can't believe I hadn't come across this forum before. On TGP, it's like every thread there is someone will start talking about how his Helix setup simplified things

 

[diocide]

As long as you don’t plan on using your fix loops, then I’d just run everything out front, then to an ABY.

Not all ABY's are created equal. Some are very inexpensive and are nothing more than jacks and switches on the inside. The more expensive ones will have fully isolated transformers for each loop/output. Those are the way to go. They’ll be quieter and have less likeleyhood of ground noise.

Here’s how I run my dual amp setup. All pedals out front, then to my ABY switch (2nd pedal from left in the bottom row). Then out to each amp. Set each amp for a complimentary EQ and volume.

 

[reverymike]

The 'easy' way is to put ALL the pedals in front of the amps. Then, make sure the amps are in phase with each other. Don't change channels on the amps, and let the pedals out front effect both amps.

The reason being, that every time you change a gain stage on an amp, the phase will flip. So, if you are changing channels on one amp, it's going to flip, and you'll be out of phase.

 

[mchn13]

There are so many ways to do this, it can be a little weird figuring it out. Like others have said, to use both effects loops and preamps of the heads, you’re gonna need a real a/b/y, head switcher with ground and polarity switches. I went a simple route with my w/d/w rig and went preamp out to a stereo chorus, into a stereo power amp. Power amp runs two wet cabs, and one dry from the Evh.
3D979530-DBE6-437B-A2A2-9E0223F873CB by steve moore, on Flickr

Before that I ran an overdrive into a stereo chorus, into two jcm800’s, but had to use a 3 into 2 ground adapter to get rid of the ground hum. Supposedly not safe, but worked like a charm for a couple years.

 

[themeansr]

I will try to run them in front of the amp like Diocide does. Diocide, do the effects run through both cabs or just one? My new cab comes in today so I will give it a try this weekend. I also purchased the 40 AB box which might be crap. I will go out and buy the radial twin city AB Switch. I am having a hard time visualizing how the setup goes. is it Guitar to pedalboard to A/B/Y switch to amps?

 

[themeansr]

The 'easy' way is to put ALL the pedals in front of the amps. Then, make sure the amps are in phase with each other. Don't change channels on the amps, and let the pedals out front effect both amps.

The reason being, that every time you change a gain stage on an amp, the phase will flip. So, if you are changing channels on one amp, it's going to flip, and you'll be out of phase.

Good info thank you.

 

[nightlight]

I use a really simple box for my stereo rig: It's by DS Custom, has a Lehle transformer in there. Works really well.



Has a phase reversal and grounding switch too.

 

[diocide]

I will try to run them in front of the amp like Diocide does. Diocide, do the effects run through both cabs or just one? My new cab comes in today so I will give it a try this weekend. I also purchased the 40 AB box which might be crap. I will go out and buy the radial twin city AB Switch. I am having a hard time visualizing how the setup goes. is it Guitar to pedalboard to A/B/Y switch to amps?

Yep. All pedals go through both amps at the same time.

 

[themeansr]

I will try to run them in front of the amp like Diocide does. Diocide, do the effects run through both cabs or just one? My new cab comes in today so I will give it a try this weekend. I also purchased the 40 AB box which might be crap. I will go out and buy the radial twin city AB Switch. I am having a hard time visualizing how the setup goes. is it Guitar to pedalboard to A/B/Y switch to amps?

Yep. All pedals go through both amps at the same time.

Thanks man.