2 amps and trying to avoid ground loops...

[JDW3]

I have read that when running two amps, both of them earth grounded, that unsoldering the shielding from ONE end of the cable feeding ONE amp, will keep a ground loop from happening.

Is this true? It would save me a bit of money on buying an amp a/b box with buffer/transformer installed.

What exactly is the transformer doing inside the switch box?

[clothwiring]

That would be true, but you could also just get a cheap plug to lift the ground at your local hardware store for 59 cents probably. I've done it and it's worked fine. Many others will rightfully say there's a huge benefit to geting an expensive system because it still protects your amp grounding wise. And they are probably right, but I personally don't know the tech inside the boxes that are doing that.

[gtrfinder]

I used to lift the ground on one of my amps and it worked great. I never had any noise issues when i did it, though I had terrible ground-loop hum when I didnt.
Some people told me that this was dangerous, and some said it was fine. I just always made sure both amps were powered from the same source.

[JDW3]

I would think that breaking the shielding at one end would be better than ungrounding the whole amp.

Would either way have an effect on the tone?

I realize all amps/rooms are different, with different bugs in the wiring.

I have used the plug/ground lift before. I was going to have a designated cord to use for this to do away with plugging amps into different wall sockets, ground lifts etc...

I'm wondering if the effect would be exactly the same.

I also don't like getting shocked when touching the other amp!

[Chuckracer]

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=192941

[disaster]

could ground loops be avoided (in multi amp situations) when one of the amps has a "Ground" switch, a la Mesa?

[schmit]

Had the same problem w/ a Loooper ABY....the 3 to 2 ground adapter works but it dangerous...I spent $60 on the Loooper and didn't want to toss it and buy a $200-$300 buffered Framptone ABY ect, so I did some research and found this little wonder. It takes care of the ground loop hum *safely*.....$60 w/ free shipping from AMS. Ive got a total of $120 in and get to keep my Loooper.

http://www.americanmusical.com/item--i-EBT-HUMX.html

This thing works! You plug in the amp thats humming into the HumX and plug it into your wall outlet and wa-la.....the hum is gone