Amp selector/switcher

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Guitarman18
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Amp selector/switcher

Post by Guitarman18 »

Hi guys,

Hopefully this is a quickie for someone.

I've now built several of the D'clone amps and would like to be able to switch from one amp to another with a footswitch without ground loop hum issues. Does anyone know of a schem/web link, so that I can build my own buffered amp switcher. I've tried the search facility, but it comes up with 10000+ results, depending on how you phrase it!!!

Many thanks for any help you can offer, and apologies for the off topic post, but I would only use it to switch D style amps(promise :? )!

Cheers,

Paul.
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alvarezh
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by alvarezh »

Horacio

Play in tune and B#!
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Structo
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by Structo »

Just to clarify, are you wanting to switch between amps but use the same speaker enclosure?
Or are do you just want to switch the input (your guitar) between amps that have their own speakers?
Tom

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Guitarman18
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by Guitarman18 »

Hi alvarezh,

Thanks, I'll look into those.


Hi Tom,

I'm hoping to be able to switch between a amps in a multi amp setup, so each amp will have it's own speaker, so switching speakers is not necessary.

I've seen designs where you can have 2 amps at the same time like the Humdinger from Gigrig, which I seem to recall, uses an isolation transformer design.
http://www.thegigrig.com/acatalog/MAS_Humdinger.html
but I want to be able to switch between amps, without hum.

Cheers,

Paul.
Last edited by Guitarman18 on Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
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alvarezh
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by alvarezh »

Check out what Joe Bonamassa uses. His 2550 is always on, the rest are switched in as necessary:

http://www.uberproaudio.com/who-plays-w ... -equipment

The switchers are the "Whirlwind selector" and a "Lehle". Lehle has about three or four different switchers, better check their site.

But, I think you want to make your own. If that's the case, then the previously posted links are the best I could find.
Horacio

Play in tune and B#!
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sonicmojo
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by sonicmojo »

Here are a couple of fairly cheap options that may make you rethink DIY. I have not tried either yet but I have the same need.

http://www.tonebone.com/re-bigshot-aby.htm

http://www.delisleguitar.com/index.php/pedals#ABC
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selloutrr
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by selloutrr »

a/b/y
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Guitarman18
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by Guitarman18 »

Thanks for the replies. I have an A/B box just like the one selloutrr mentions, but it hums more than I would like. The radial BigShot that sonicmojo mentions, looks good and at a price that will be hard to beat, by making my own, so I'm going to look out for one.

Thanks once again for all the responses.


cheers,

Paul.
backpack
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by backpack »

Just wire an isolated ground to eliminate the hum with diodes. I think it was suhr that had a schematic for a summing amp before. you could use some of that to boost the signal up. You will lose signal normaly. Running relays would seperate them but you will need to deal with the mechanical noise in the line if pops and clicks bothers you. If you are buying one the lehle dual or radial jx2 are the better options.
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M Fowler
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by M Fowler »

I use the radial Big Shot box for my stereo rig and it works well.

Mark
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67plexi
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by 67plexi »

Tonebone JX2 Switchbone,
http://www.tonebone.com/tb-switchbone.htm

I use the tuner out for the main amp and switch amps #2 & #3

Works great for me. Has the best mid boost ever. :D
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M Fowler
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by M Fowler »

That Tonebone JX2 Switch bone looks like a great unit and notes the second output is transformer equipped for 100% isolation.

Mark
husky
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by husky »

Guitarman18 wrote:Hi guys,

Hopefully this is a quickie for someone.

I've now built several of the D'clone amps and would like to be able to switch from one amp to another with a footswitch without ground loop hum issues. Does anyone know of a schem/web link, so that I can build my own buffered amp switcher. I've tried the search facility, but it comes up with 10000+ results, depending on how you phrase it!!!

Many thanks for any help you can offer, and apologies for the off topic post, but I would only use it to switch D style amps(promise :? )!

Cheers,

Paul.
This is if you want to switch the speakers but you could use the same approach if you didn't need both on and switch the grounds as well.
This had no ground loops, no buffers or transformers.
It also has loads so effects trailing in the loop are not a problem.
It wasn't easy to make it quiet as well as make sure there is protection everywhere. You also have to be careful of the proximity of the input and output switching or it can feedback on itself at higher volumes. I have seen this happen with other products. We have a separate enclosure for the speaker relays. We will probably do an assignable to different speakers 4 channel version as well. This uses relay and vactrols that are timed to switch the inputs and input grounds. Once switching is complete it is all relay. The speaker outputs are heavy duty relays. Carlos is using 2 of these currently. Only problem is to do it correct, guarantee safety for very expensive amps it isn't really an inexpensive project if you want speakers switching as well

You dont need transformers to eliminate the ground loops, just switch the grounds as well.
[img:1024:399]http://gallery.me.com/suhrguitars/10104 ... 04/web.jpg[/img]
[img:1024:406]http://gallery.me.com/suhrguitars/10104 ... 03/web.jpg[/img]
T Wilcox
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by T Wilcox »

BYOC has announced an ABY that will be out next month as well.
Below is the announcement. Does not mention phase shift although!

UpcomingKits:

The next kit to be released will be our Amp Selector/Stereo FX Router.

*Dual transformer isolation
*Popless switching
*Independent ground lift switches
*A/B/Y mode when there's only one input cable
*Stereo FX routing mode when there's 2 input cables so you can safely run your stereo effects or stereo guitars with two amps

This kit will be released in September and is expected to retail for $89.99. After this we'll be working on releasing the Divided Octave, a clone of the Mutron Octave Divider. We're hoping to have that released in October and expect it to retail for $119.99.
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hans-jörg
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Re: Amp selector/switcher

Post by hans-jörg »

Hi,
sorry for the late answer, but I build this one and works perfect for switching between two amps.
Very easy and cheap!
No hum at all!

Hans-Jörg
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