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View Full Version : What's a good A/B box for ground issues between two amps?


jackevorkian
05-15-2012, 11:47 AM
I'd like to run them in stereo, but one is extremely noisy when the other is on.

michael.e
05-15-2012, 11:53 AM
Don't know one for ground issues, but for polarity issues (hollow sound), the passive Radial a/b/y is the unit I used to use. Or, you can flip the polarity on a speaker cable. White to tip on one side, then white to sleeve on the other end. Of course, black gets the same thing.

guitardustin
05-15-2012, 11:54 AM
I've been looking at this one lately:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/radial-engineering-bones-r800-7115-twin-city-a-b-y-footswitch

Buffered for long cable runs
Isolated output so no ground hum
Polarity Switch for proper phasing

What's no to love other than the price ;)

rmconner80
05-15-2012, 11:54 AM
Mayer Crossroads is good; Lehle Dual is great. What you need is transformer isolation.

jackevorkian
05-15-2012, 11:55 AM
I'm assuming it's a ground issue. The amp is silent when used alone, but when run in stereo there is a lot of hum.

warplanegrey
05-15-2012, 11:58 AM
Radial BigShot ABY
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/radial-engineering-bigshot-aby-passive-switcher


The only downside is that there aren't LED's to indicate which amp you're on.

zenas
05-15-2012, 11:58 AM
What kind of amps? Two or three prong cords?

jackevorkian
05-15-2012, 11:59 AM
What kind of amps? Two or three prong cords?

Victoria 20112 and TR Studio Pro 35. The TR is always very quiet, but the Victoria gets really noisy in stereo.

iggs
05-15-2012, 12:02 PM
http://lehle.com

"P-Split II" or "Little Dual" will do.

jackevorkian
05-15-2012, 12:03 PM
The noise does go away when I have the amps plugged into separate power sources.

RGB
05-15-2012, 12:04 PM
I've used 3 different ones over the years. A Whirlwind ABY, Lehle ABY and an Axess Bs2 (which does not switch, but splits). The Whirlwind buzzed with the ground loop, so I used a ground lift on one amp, which solved the buzz but isn't safe. The other two worked great. The Lehle has an internal switch and the BS2 has an external polarity switch, but both solved the problem.

I stuck with the BS2 since I didn't need to switch and I wanted the buffer anyway.

GrecoVee
05-15-2012, 12:05 PM
I'd like to run them in stereo, but one is extremely noisy when the other is on.
A Tonebone Radial JX-2 Pro, just what you need, and the built in switchable mid boost is awesome as well!

zenas
05-15-2012, 12:05 PM
Ok so thay have grounded cords. Then a good ABY is the best bet. I have a Blue Vodoo amp switcher ordered that lets you use 4 amps.
Like an idiot I ordered it from the store in town a MONTH ago! Could have had it in a few days if I would have ordered it online.

ClickTrack
05-15-2012, 12:29 PM
There's a youtube video put out by Taylor Guitars that recommends using a 3-prong to 2-prong adapter on ONE of the amps. Hum is caused by the 2 amps having 2 different grounds. Keep one 3 prong amp plugged in and use a 2 prong adapter on the other. Both amps will share the 1 ground, and the hum will go away.

AGAIN, I DON'T recommend lifting the ground on BOTH - that would be dangerous.

alivegy
05-15-2012, 12:49 PM
The radial switchbone would fix the ground loop but its features may be overkill for you. If you are running in stereo and you use a passive switch you will need some sort of buffer in front of the switch to maintain your tone.

BluesLou
05-15-2012, 12:53 PM
Here is another place to check out A/B/Y pedals.

He makes good stuff. I'm not affiliated!

http://www.startouchpedals.com/SFNT.html

XmasTree
05-15-2012, 01:17 PM
I have the Radial Bigshot and it works great IF you have a buffer before Output B. (Output A is fine)

It sounds pretty bad without a buffer.
..but if you stick any old Boss pedal or anything w/ a buffer before Output B, then everything will sound nice and dandy.

For this reason I am wishing I bought the Radial Twin Cities!
You absolutely NEED the ground lift and a buffer for an ABY to function without any issues.

aflynt
05-15-2012, 01:59 PM
Put an Ebtech Hum X on one of the amps:

http://www.ebtechaudio.com/humxdes.html

It accomplishes what a ground lift would, but in a safe way.

Then just use a passive a/b box.

-Aaron

riffmeister
05-15-2012, 02:06 PM
I'd like to run them in stereo, but one is extremely noisy when the other is on.

Framptone
Lehle
Radial Tonebone

These are all transformer isolated so no ground loop hum. And they are buffered so both amps will be receiving full strength guitar signal.

smolder
05-15-2012, 02:11 PM
lehle

I tried a bunch and this one finally works consistently and takes the wear. They are expensive, but if I hadn't tried to go cheaper with others, I'd be money ahead.

riscado
05-15-2012, 02:12 PM
lehle!

Cottage
05-15-2012, 02:15 PM
Any buffered pedal is good. I have a Voodoo labs amp swithcher that can do up to 4 dif. amps. If anyone wants to trade me something for it, I'm not using it anymore.

zenas
05-15-2012, 03:29 PM
Any buffered pedal is good. I have a Voodoo labs amp swithcher that can do up to 4 dif. amps. If anyone wants to trade me something for it, I'm not using it anymore.


I'd be intrested but I have one on order.
Should be here some time in the next few years.
And we wonder why all the little music stores are going broke!

Lespaulsignature 74
05-15-2012, 04:12 PM
Features include:



Ground loop exclusion - highest quality transformer is used, electronically isolating the ground
Custom buffer circuit designed to convert the instrument input to a low impedance signal, allowing the instrument signal to be fed to many amplifiers simultaneously without signal loss or degredation
Soft touch momentary switches for click-less, noise free switching
Phase reversal switch to eliminate any out of phase amp situation
'Last Amp On' feature - flashing LED's allow you to know which amp will be activated when you stop using both amps combined
CHECK OUT THE REVIEWS OF THIS FRAMPTONE PRODUCT AT

www.guitar.com (http://www.guitar.com)
www.guitar.com (http://www.guitar.com/)
http://www.frampton.com/reartone.jpg http://www.frampton.com/trans.gif http://www.frampton.com/toptone.jpg http://www.frampton.com/trans.gif http://www.frampton.com/toneinpt.jpg