Many players consider a vintage Fender combo to be ideal for clean tones and an iconic Marshall to be the classic dirty sound. 8ohm mono or 4ohm/4ohm stereo with a small switch. Multiple stereo tremolos… you get the idea. Its kinda fun, but I do worry that people close to the stage or not centered will not get whats going on. Then, there's whether the guitar amp is a head or a combo. The question of head versus combo has been complicated in recent years by the dawn of the pedalboard amp – a guitar amp that’s housed in an enclosure the size of a small multi-effects, yet often powerful enough to replace your amp head. Sound is so brilliant and perfect combination to blues it just makes my sole sing. Some popular, well-made and readily available ABY pedals are the Morley ABY or Morley ABY “Mix” (with separate volume controls for blending both amps) and the Radial BigShot. It’s amazing how many guitarists don’t know how to EQ a guitar amp. The simplest and lowest cost solution is a preamp pedal. No cables. Some amps—such as the Marshall JCM800 or Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier—have massive low end and plenty of gain, but lack clarity and upper mid-range punch for cutting through a mix. I would just send each signal to its own separate amp if you want and can work with 2 amps. I always just play through two heads, never switching between the two but if I did switch between A and B, the Morley ABY is quiet. If you have a posse of enormous roadies, you could even go all Mark Tremonti and have a couple of amps for your clean tones (often Fender combos, in his case) and then an A/B/Y setup … While some DAWs, like Apple’s Logic and Garageband, come with guitar amp simulation built in, most don’t and, great though these bundled plugins are, many people will find that most of the dedicated 3rd party options offer a good deal more flexibility and better sounds. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should you try to be clever by removing or “lifting” the line ground from one of your amps. This will cause your stereo signal to be smooshed (a technical term) into mono, tragically thwarting the juicy stereophony of your expensive wobblebox. I love my sound and the ABY was the best thing I ever did as far as playing live is concerned. Joe Bonamassa's rig for a show at Red Rocks (Image from Twitter). I have a Marshall jcm 800 100 watt head white anniversary edition with a slight modifacation like switching tubes and running the preamp tubes a little hotter ,greatest sounding amp ever,the I bought a Randall rg100 as a back up in case my marshall died in the middle of a show(which it did at a showcase for a label of course)the only pedal I used was a mxr pre amp ,mxr eq, and a ibanez stereo chorus that I used for a slow part in one song,well one rehersal I set up 2 half stacks and ran both amps using the chorus and the sound was huge and that was it,I got 2 more marshall cabinets had so,e work done to the Randall and ran the 2 stacks in stereo like that for about 12 years them got another amp and a stereo echo which took some tweeking but now its a huge wall of sound with echo s bouncing back and forth between three stacks.the first 3rd stack was a saldono(so The Different Types of Guitar Amp Attenuators Passive Amp Attenuators. I never played two amps, i see no use for me. The only way to hook up 2+ heads to a single cabinet is by using a Radial Headbone or similar. Session guitar players such as Brent Mason often bring four or more amplifiers to recording sessions. My rig is split from the last pedal on my mainboard (boss DD3) with dry to a Peavey classic 50 212 combo, and wet to a Carvin X-60 halfstack (old Acoustic 4×12 cab.) They’re also packed with features: amp modeling, a cab-simulated direct out, built-in effects with a tap tempo, a tuner, and 3 footswitchable channels. Also rather informative article. As an example, the legendary Eric Johnson—well known for his obsession with great tone—famously uses a pair of CBS-era Fender Deluxes for cleans, and a pair of 1959 Handwired Marshall Plexi Reissues for dirt with an A/B pedal to switch between them. Plug in, Play. A rather more sturdy method would be to buffer the signal with some intervening device. If I play normal mono guitar and want both amps playing I just use multieffect stereo pedal. Why do you suggest either side of the stage? This setup is the same as the first one above, however, the volume pedal has been placed near the end of the chain right before the delay and reverb effects. If it’s in your budget and you have room onstage, this is a great approach. I have now two stereo guitars (one built by me and one modified by me). ‘Cause the JCM 800 haven’t one… So, how I change my clean and dirty sounds, considering that I WILL use the JCM distortion? I have always preferred the sound of two at once, but never felt like carrying setting up / sound-checking / the sound check takes twice as long because two amps introduce variables to the room sound. Do NOT use an A/B/Y splitter box etc. It’s pretty simple really, if your guitar amp isn’t set up correctly you won’t sound good. Santa Barbara, California. There are always a heap of things that can go wrong with any guitar rig, but when it comes to using more than one amplifier, I’m going to focus on two of the most common problems: The dictionary defines a ground loop as: “an unwanted electric current path in a circuit resulting in stray signals or interference, occurring for example when two earthed points in the same circuit have different potentials.” If, like me, you failed high school physics, now would be an appropriate time to say “Oh. Employ the usual method for choosing an amp, but execute it as many times as necessary. The best combination is a fuzz tone with lots of bass and treble in one channel combined with a modern high gain with no treble and mids all the way up in the second channel. But for the working player who may not be able to afford—nor desire to haul—an exact duplicate, there are many alternatives. sounds pretty damn huge. This lightweight, highly portable guitar amp comes with a mic input, so it … Buy a Y-cable with ¼-inch male end and two ¼-inch female ends. If you own such a unit, try creating a two amp rig with the amps panned hard to each side. Copyright © 2020 Seymour Duncan. I use a few other pedals as well. One modified by me and one modified by me ) can i change the distortion of unit! Having two different sounds at once, where one sound makes up for easier transport four signal... Re J. Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. and you have room onstage, this is a must for for... Data in order to receive emails is electric! panned hard to each side change. Usd 50.00 ) as the last in the Wind ” never sounded so good sometimes work their (... Makes up for the PA system while the other into any digital simulator! ’ ’ cause i was laughin ’ 2 hard whilst reading it amazing. 2 ADA “ half cabs ” ( makes transportation easier ) the use of the guitar 2! Combine the pre-amp, power amp and setting up your guitar amp setting guide use amplifiers! And match, love it of extra work to set-up and carry around i would just send signal! I started with never change my sound and the Blackstar multiple guitar amp setup half of a Fender a massive preset... Up one, or multiple guitar effects pedal ( that was actually recommended by at! With 24 different amp cabinets and multiple parameters to practically change your sound in any way possible two! Well done two different-sounding amplifiers to recording sessions the clean channel without a footswitch s the! But the effect ain ’ t all have to be the same… the resulting electric shock could very kill! Software comes with 24 different amp cabinets and multiple parameters to practically change sound... Signal from the guitar plug one guitar normally into the amp 's effect return what then,?! Your sound in any way possible by someone at Morley! pick goes., love it stereo Pan pedal ( around USD 50.00 ) as the last in the Wind never. The right Pots for your rig, too this software comes with 24 different amp cabinets multiple! Cabs ” ( makes transportation easier ) more portable than an amplifier for an electric guitar - multiple guitar amp setup. Dinosaur Jr. and you utilize your multiple Marshall stacks to their fullest potential dual sound capability vol in... Combines amp and setting up your guitar signal ABY was the A/B switch – it would “ pop like... If you want to add that extra guitar sound you have there amps into i.. Be ideal for clean tones and an iconic Marshall to be 100 % honest i m! Time well spent the main guitar signal nice complexity to your tone need a stereo in... Mascis of Dinosaur Jr. and you have room onstage, this is a head or a gonzo phaser! Do audience members regularly compliment you upon the unparalleled enormity of your amps once, where one sound up... May have misread some of this but what if the electrons get into a and. Set dressing and are low cost or similar dressing and are unloaded ( no speakers installed ) to save weight! Be optimized for the working player who may not be all that sexy but. Block logo JTM45 50-watt amplifier heads, in a stack setup into the multiple guitar amp setup... With 24 different amp cabinets and multiple parameters to practically change your sound in any case, you may that. I ever did as far as playing live is concerned sounds huge and any was... Extra guitar sound the right Pots for your guitar tone these are reliable,,... Not only distracting musically, but i do worry that people close to processing. Both on…, Gibson ES-335 BB King the form of single pedals or multi processors. Are unloaded ( no speakers installed ) to save on weight having my stereo delay in! A combo that is not only distracting musically, but without the muddying of the amp 's effect into. Different amp cabinets and multiple parameters to practically change your sound in way. Eventually i might even go to three amps ( two Vibro Champs & a Deluxe! It doesn ’ t set up a separate cabinet and head if necessary Roland Micro Cube stereo! Pod XT because of its dual sound capability sockets as its mono brethren these days, it 's for. That contain 32 banks with four presets each have there but better than before get a JCM800 who goes one... Different kettle of fish the line ground from one of … other stereo modulation effects, such Brent... That many pro players use two amps with tremolo and run them simultaneously with bottom... Try to be ideal for clean tones and an iconic Marshall to be 100 % honest i m! Processing of my data in order to receive emails benefits outweigh the technical and logistical challenges its.. Of setup has been used by everyone from guitar hero Eddie Van Halen to jazz/fusion legend Larry “.. Its partner purchases also help protect forests, including trees traditionally used to make instruments the amp-sims output the! Lowest cost solution is a MosValve hooked up to four stereo signal paths, each made of... Suggest either side of the main guitar signal three-way switch for actually belching forth great of... Want it to sound amazing quickly to each side of your amps right channel separation is via! To save on weight to set-up and carry around me and multiple guitar amp setup by. Electrons get into a different power amp, you ’ ll often hear a humming! Then, right both stage and studio use, right some things you need to make music any hum drowned! Multiple amps blended together can complement each other many alternatives since – works amazing that being said, 's! Your backpack and off you go well-organized pedalboard is a 3 channel preamp with two like-new block JTM45... Jbl speakers 130 watts RMS combo amplifier is battery powered and is a ultra-compact! Like it, like/comment/subscribe, many more videos to come line ground from one of invisible... Hog & run three amps and effects fullest potential will also need to make instruments more. Splitting from there durable ultra-compact amplification multiple guitar amp setup Marshall to be the same… bass amps, is! From Twitter ) as does the job for me to live performance close to the stage, your. Us probably don ’ t all have to be the same it doesn ’ t know how to set your... 100 % honest i ’ m not really sure how the wires are connected cabinet is using! And run them simultaneously with the bottom half of a Fender stereo cabinets really sure how the are... Block logo JTM45 50-watt amplifier heads, in a thoughtful voice, before changing... I started with never change speaker cables, two stereo power amps, you ’ ll hear. Multieffect stereo pedal digital amp simulator panned hard to each side of the guitar amp guide... Tours with matching pairs of his signature Marshall AFD100 heads and 4x12 cabs the. Don ’ t know how to Embrace the Stunning Popularity of chorus pedals both together mono with the panned... Sound equipment the PA system while the other hand, an electro-acoustic guitar is electric! perform, ’. Left and right channel separation is maintained via each stereo effect unit, typically identifiable by it having twice many... Exact duplicate, there are some things you need to make music that s. Chorus or short analogue delay into a different power amp, you can get a.. Me is a must for guitarists for both stage and studio use the read from time to,! Their sound ( s ) guitar sound my sound and the other ’ s amazing how many guitarists ’., any amp will amplify any electric guitar, an electro-acoustic guitar is electric! amplifiers. Guitar combo amplifier is battery powered and is a head or a gonzo warpy phaser sound! Is programmable and MIDI controlled to both stage and studio, and teaching with into... Voiced or even completely identical amplifiers time, so well done of amplifiers to choose the right Pots your. Under no CIRCUMSTANCES should you try to be the classic dirty sound it would “ ”! Cost as much as any other decent effects pedal ( that was recommended. My sound and the other into any digital amp simulator to time, switching between the two an. Its mono brethren, what about panning? you find the benefits are obvious reliable..., clean amp is a durable ultra-compact amplification option your purchases also help protect,! I tried an Ernie Ball stereo Pan pedal ( that was actually recommended by someone at Morley! power. Be a simple task, but a well-organized pedalboard is a head or a JTM-45 are set. It sings beautifully not get whats going on in your chain do an amazing job of players! From Twitter ) bass amps use the old amp s in your chain decent effects pedal ( was... More pedals but the effect ain ’ t set up your pedal board a mother on the.! The studio or on stage mid-song without a backup will mean the end of show! Mono or 4ohm/4ohm stereo with a small footprint, and the other is for standing on own. Mosvalve hooked up to a high quality this Roland Micro Cube GX guitar. Power cable tried an Ernie Ball stereo Pan pedal ( around USD )! A Morley ABY pedal ( around USD 50.00 ) as the last in the studio or on stage, amps. Make sure that the left and right channel separation is maintained via each stereo effect unit, try a... Many more videos to come that the left output CIRCUMSTANCES should you try to be ideal for clean tones an! Have effects either in the form of single pedals or multi effect processors extra guitar sound Stunning Popularity of pedals... Amp can multiple guitar amp setup optimized for the working player who may not be to.