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November Birthdays
Playing through 2 amps at the same time
Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11046 Berkeley, CA 
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Posted on Nov 05 2006 12:39 PM
How many of you out there play through two amps at the same time when performing? Can you elaborate on pros and cons and your own experiences? Thanks —Danny Snyder Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 12159 Seattle
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Posted on Nov 05 2006 01:18 PM
I want to, but we are a five piece so we don't really have the room. Technically we are a six piece gear wise since our utility guy doubles up on lead guitar and organ. |
Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3797 North Atlantic 
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Posted on Nov 05 2006 03:29 PM
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Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX |
Posted on Nov 05 2006 03:49 PM
Pro: Expands the sound. —<img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> |
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Joined: Nov 10, 2000 Posts: -180 |
Posted on Nov 05 2006 04:52 PM
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Joined: Jul 29, 2006 Posts: 110 Menomonie, Wisconsin USA
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Posted on Nov 05 2006 04:59 PM
In the early 80s I used two amps on stage for the tonal options and increased volume (And candidly, I thought it looked waaay cool). I can't imagine that I'd do that if I were gigging today. There are much easier ways to obtain similar tonal options and I don't need to reproduce those earlier volume levels. Plus, the extra weight, space, time, wear & tear on the equipment and my back makes the second amp lose some appeal. Why do you ask, Danny? Do you have something in mind? Chuck |
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Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11046 Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Nov 05 2006 09:14 PM
I ask partly because I'm unhappy with my setup right now, and partly out of seeing Wronski and others I admire playing through 2 amps. I'd really like to have a tone that cuts through the onslaught of my fellow bandmates, that just skates the edge between clean and dirty. A complex tone, but without special effects processors. I was fooling with the idea of actually having the clean and dirty on seperate amps as opposed to dialing that sweet spot on one amp. I haven't tried it yet, just started thinking about it. —Danny Snyder Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF |
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Joined: Apr 21, 2006 Posts: 265 San Antonio, TX |
Posted on Nov 05 2006 09:42 PM
Treble Booster! —<img src="klzzwxh:0000"></img> |
Joined: Mar 05, 2006 Posts: 289 Detroit
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Posted on Nov 06 2006 08:34 AM
I've used a 2 amp set-up with a similar aim and have found it can work well. I've got a small Airline amp that I've used with a Fender Twin or Pro. You get the sweet warmth of the dirty amp supported by the clarity, presence and low-end of the clean amp. |
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Joined: Aug 14, 2006 Posts: 270
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Posted on Nov 06 2006 09:31 AM
I've been using 2 amps live ever since I could afford a second one, so it's been a couple of decades now. I like to cover a wide tonal range and if I'm trying to keep the tone clean I've found that I can use 2 amps at a lower volume, get the same overall sound pressure level and not have to deal with any unwanted dirt in the signal. I've used all kinds of combinations, Hiwatts with Super Reverbs, Roland JC amps with Pro Reverbs, Hiwatt combos with Princeton Reverbs, Tremolux with Pro Reverb, Musicman with Hiwatt, etc, and never had any issues with getting a tone I could gig with. It's more to haul around but I'd take it as a back up anyhow so I figure I might as well plug it in. —There is Surf east of Sepulveda. |
Joined: Jun 14, 2006 Posts: 203
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Posted on Nov 06 2006 11:42 AM
I have a Voodoo Labs Sparkle Drive that I like a lot for that "skating the edge" sound. It lets you blend a crunchy sound with a clean sound so you get a touch of drive without loosing definition. Or having to drag around a second amp. But that's just me playing in my attic. Your mileage may vary. |
Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 236 Plantation, FL
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Posted on Nov 07 2006 02:33 PM
When I have room at a gig, I'll bring two amps, one totally clean and one with a lot of reverb and play through both at once. That way I get a really wet sound and can "dial-in" the articulation, especially for faster tremelo passages. I also recorded that way too.
www.theFinDicators.com —What day is Surf Rock's birthday? Looks like Surf Rock and I was born the same year. Maybe we are both Libras? |
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Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11046 Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Nov 07 2006 05:12 PM
These are all great replys - thanks! Keep 'em coming. —Danny Snyder Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF |
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Joined: Jul 29, 2006 Posts: 110 Menomonie, Wisconsin USA
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Posted on Nov 08 2006 03:56 PM
As you experiment, here's something you might want to play around with: Run your guitar into a delay pedal. From the delay, run the direct (unprocessed) signal to your clean amp. Then route the delayed signal to your "skates the edge between clean and dirty " amp. Okay? Dial in a very short delay with a single repeat (you can then adjust the delay time to your liking). I used this set-up in a different musical genre to get a pronounced & articulated attack (the clean amp) that was almost imperceptibly followed by a full (& mildly distorted) sustaining tone. I liked it, and it was fun to play around with a big rig. But remember, I wasn't using it to get a Surf sound. If you like the way that sounds, you can start to experiement with the EQ of each amp. For example, you can jack the treble (while cutting mids & bass) of the clean amp for some bite while boosting the mids and some bass (and cutting the highs) in the dirty amp. Oh...it gets fun real quick! I realize you don't want to tie yourself to a lot of processing gear. I suppose you could create the sound organically by splitting the signal and pointing the distorted amp backwards toward a big sheet of Plexiglas or into an elevator shaft or a tiled bathroom... ...or you could try the delay pedal. Have fun! |
Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle 
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Posted on Nov 10 2006 02:50 AM
One difficulty with running two different kinds of amps is one of phase cancellation. The results are often not predictable and most times unwanted; it can be like a harsh, random EQ has been applied to your sound. While it would be tempting to think "I want that kind of tone PLUS this kind so all I have to do is mix them together", that doesn't always work. The root of the problem you are having cutting through the band may be a result of a cancellation effect, I would think, even with just one amp. (That assumes that you are happy with your solo tone, volume, etc.) Sorry to offer no solution and only more problem! EDIT: Hey, maybe a solution...have you tried the BBE sonic maximizer? — |
Joined: Apr 04, 2006 Posts: 498
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Posted on Nov 10 2006 04:09 PM
2 AMPS = Ace hyper-dimensional sonic bliss! (^_^) — |
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Joined: Aug 23, 2006 Posts: 2123 The jungle
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Posted on Nov 10 2006 04:31 PM
kaijusaafu: I am not saying it can't work. Just that sometimes the results can be bizzare and unwanted; where addition of identical frequencies actually results in their complete subtraction. There have been multiple examples of multiple amps in action through the ages, though, so who knows? — |
Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19266 Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 10 2006 04:33 PM
Getting all your speakers in phase is probably important when running 2 amps together (i.e. you want all the cones moving in the same direction). Site dude - S3 Agent #202 "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea |
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Joined: Mar 02, 2006 Posts: 11046 Berkeley, CA
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Posted on Nov 10 2006 05:41 PM
I'm very aware of the phasing issue. The trick I heard was to hold the speaker wires up to a 9volt battery and see which way the cone moves. All speakers should move the same direction. Thanks for everyone's input. —Danny Snyder Playing keys and guitar with Combo Tezeta Formerly a guitarist in The TomorrowMen and Meshugga Beach Party Latest surf project - Now That's What I Call SURF |
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Joined: Feb 25, 2006 Posts: 19266 Des Moines, Iowa, USA
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Posted on Nov 10 2006 05:56 PM
I always used a 9V too, but was later told by Dave Wronski to use an AA or AAA (1.5V). —Site dude - S3 Agent #202 "It starts... when it begins" -- Ralf Kilauea Last edited: Nov 11, 2006 10:52:27 |
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great results if they are the same amp---2 dual showmans or 2 twins or 2 marshalls or 2 whatevers. you get my drift. can be a chore to balance the sound. using a stereo output pedal or even a processer helps alot. the tone is huge too. now 2 different amps like a roland bc 60 and a peavy bandit---not so good. its hard to get them balanced ie. it can end up sounding like mush or worse. you gotta balance the volume and tone---just too damn complicated to muck with for me. it can be done but......never did care for sound checks. sometimes you run into buzzing problems too. i run 2 roland nicro cubes out of a stereo processer in my'sound room' at home. when i played on stage i used a sunn solarus with a 2-15 cab and a couple of 1-15 cabs. loud and proud 
