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one of the purposes of using stereo is to get a bigger sound. And you get a bigger sound by mixing amps of different types. For example a tube amp and a SS amp sound HUGE in stereo. Using the same amp with the same EQ and no stereo effect is no different than just running 2 cabs out of a mono amp.
The biggest sound I ever got was running a roland cube along with a 1x12 tube combo and using a boss RV2/RV3 for the stereo effect.
Even my fractal using stereo power cabinets does not sound as huge. Perhaps the axefx with its ability to use 2 different amp models at a time would give me a bigger sound.
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04-15-2018 05:13 PM
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Exactly. Different amps do better or worse with different parts of the sonic spectrum. Pairing amps so that one's strength covers the other's weakness is a great tone-recipe.
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With my mono-output guitars I also like to use my rackmount stereo reverb unit. I developed a couple of presets with somewhat different characteristics on each channel to give an enhanced stereo image through two amps. I am sure there are pedals available to do the same thing without the rack. Once you split your signal, the possibilities of going from "what a nice rich tone" to "WHOAA! What just happened?" gonzo freakout are limited only by time, budget, and patience.
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One way to get a little bigger sound from two cabinets and a single head might be to use two different types of cabinet and/or driver. Since the speakers will have different frequency responses and phase relationships you’ll get some of the surround sound effect. Of course , you won’t be able to adjust the EQs separately and you might find that the volumes of the two speakers don’t match. You’ll also miss the stereo reverb effect.
Like Jack, I’ve occasionally used the Boss RV3 to feed stereo reverb to two amps, and it’s really nice. It’s more equipment to lug, so I think I’ve only done it at home.
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Just to be clear, there is a difference between a true stereo head and just running two cabs from one head.
Originally Posted by kris
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This system sounds amazing and I love playing around with "ping pong" sounds, but I'd never gig with it. Besides being too much for me to want to haul, I doubt that the audience would get as much appreciation out of it as I do.
Danny W.
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An excellent point. What an audience may appreciate is the melodic or harmonic or rhythmic idea that was born in the practice room in part from the inspirational "immersive" nature of a stereo rig. Originally Posted by Danny W.
This system sounds amazing and I love playing around with "ping pong" sounds, but I'd never gig with it. Besides being too much for me to want to haul, I doubt that the audience would get as much appreciation out of it as I do.
Danny W.
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The stereo thing came up recently in another thread and I had not used my 345 for years in stereo mode, but since then I decided to try it in my Polytone 102V.
The Polytone has separate EQ for both channels I wanted to see what it sounded like using two mono cables, one to each channel.
I frequently use the git middle switch position and in the Polytone with the two mono cables it adds a really nice dimension to the two pup sound. With the pup switch up or down, the stereo is disabled and either one or the other channel is active. Not a bad effect at all.
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I sometimes use two amps with one guitar, just for grins, because it's possible. My Line6 G10 wireless receiver has two outputs, one 1/4" and one XLR. I can run an XLR-to-1/4" to one amp, and the regular instrument cable to the other. It's also possible to use two receivers with one transmitter, and this allows putting the amps as far apart as you like, with no wires between them. I wouldn't try it outside, though, because I have no roadies to tote the amps. It's just a fun effect for home use. But if I were gigging and could afford to do it, I would probably get multiple wireless receivers for multiple amps, and could get really loud. If I wanted to get really loud, which I really don't.
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Radial Engineering has a couple of amp switcher/splitter pedals. Their products are top-notch.
Switchers Archives - Radial Engineering
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In the bad old days, I have gigged with two Fender Twin Reverbs, etc. In recent years, I have gigged fairly extensively with two Tweed Deluxe amps. I like the result.
Just make sure your amps are wired so the speakers are moving in the same direction at the same time, otherwise, you will phase cancel your sound. You will know immediately if this is happening. The sound will sound out of phase--less bass frequency and sort of a hollowed out sound.
With two single-speaker amps it is no big deal...just switch the polarity of one speaker and you are in business--big sound.
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Boy are you ever right. BIG sound. I'm not sure what I was doing wrong when I first rigged my ES-345, but listening to it in the 2 channels of my polytone or the polytone and Marshall JTM 30 it's a shame I never delved into further before now. Originally Posted by Greentone
In the 60's I sometimes used a "Y" cord to 2 amps which kinda sorta gets the effect, but it's only one pup being split and there was some IIRC signal loss / noise problems with this setup. But with a stereo wired git and having the neck pup at one amp and the bridge at another with whatever EQ or doodad you want (if any) on either channel is mind blowing.
I'm wondering why Gibson never pushed the effect.
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i have a princeton now, and i want another one to do this with
or possibly it's time to get solid state to do along with the princeton...
i don't really gig anymore but a princeton and a polytone or something would be awesome and not too heavy
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I have done the true stereo useing 2 diffrent amps not of the same Brand. The sound is something you cant get from a stereo amp. and You can seperate them farther apart for the stereo effect to be really heard. I am going to do it again as soon as I get my saveings up to Buy another amp and reconfigure my Guitar to stereo. I might even change one pickup from a single coil to a humbucker for a more noticeable sound difference.
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