Using Y connectors for 2 amps send/return effect?

[dreamert]

Hey guys,


I'm designing a pedalboard for myself and I'd like it to be as easy to use as possible once everything is plugged in.

I switch from electric to acoustic amps and guitars so I'd like to wire everything in so I only have to switch guitars and hit an A/B switcher.

My setup looks like that:
Instrument -> tuner, volume, wah -> AMP -> effect loop send -> chorus, delay, looper -> effect loop return.

My question here is, each amp has an effect loop, can I build a Y connector on my pedal board like this:

AMP1 SEND ---\
AMP2 SEND ---/ Pedals


And same thing for the return path.

With both amps turned on (say only one amp is turned on or unmuted at the time), would that be 'electricaly wise' or is there any major down side to this ?

[ashcatlt]

I don't see any good reason this wouldn't work. There's a potential for ground loops. The only way to know for sure about that part is to plug it all in and listen for unusuals buzzing. The best chance to avoid this is to make sure that everything is plugged into one power strip. If you still get ground loop buzz, we'll have to look at other options.

You won't want to use a straight Y cable for the sends. These are likely lowish output impedance and might load each other down a bit. A resistor in series with each of the sends will help there.

But how are you turning the amps off when you're not using them? A standard A/B will still leave the unused amp running. The split return signal will still hit both power amp sections and you'll hear your effects through both amps. It would be possible to build your A/B to switch the loop as well, but we start to want multiple poles on the stomp switch, which might get expensive if not impossible to find.

BTW - This is an interesting question, but really belongs in the Effects section.

[dreamert]

Well, I can't really move it to the other section so anybody how can: feel free to do it.

About muting/amp off. I'm planning this pedalboard mostly for my home usage. So at anytime it is more than likely that only one amp will be powered on. I know it's not the nicest layout for any live use but that's not my main goal. Since my amps are all neatly placed around the room I don't want to have to deal with switching cables every time I want to use my pedals on my acoustic and such so if I can figure out a layout that allows me the least number of swaps that'd be ideal.

I thought about some kind of AB for the effect loop as well but I couldn't find any that switches 2ins and 2 outs at the same time.

In the best of worlds, I'd build myself some custom switcher that'd switch the send, return and amp at the same time.... I just don't know how to build such a device properly so it switches silently and doesn't get in the signal noticeably.

If anybody knows, I'm all ears

[sumgai]

dreamer,

What you want is easy to do, and wouldn't you know it, the work's already been done.

Visit ♭eric's A/B-X/Y stompbox circuit.

HTH




sumgai

[ashcatlt]

Nice find, sg!

If one would like to avoid having two switches, and could live without the LEDs, he could take the leftmost pole of the left (A/B) switch, and the two right hand poles of the X/Y switch and accomplish both functions on a single 3PDT stomp switch.