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Post by Don on Oct 22, 2006 10:38:05 GMT -7
I interested in hearing from those of you that are using a Radial Headbone for using multiple heads with one cab. Any problems? quirks? blown amps? problems switching back and forth? How reliable and safe is this device? Thanks.
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Post by dongiesen on Oct 22, 2006 11:31:32 GMT -7
Likewise, I too would be interested in such a product as I plan on getting a Carmen Gia head down the road and want to utilize the 2-10's in my 18jr safely. I wouldn't want to accidently end up with a no load situation during a head switch with both on
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 22, 2006 11:48:01 GMT -7
I have one here and I have mixed results. It does work. But there are some quirks and you COULD blow something up if you're not paying strict attention. First, I bought mine to A/B between two THD Flexi-50's here. Both amps were tubed identically. So I was somewhat surprised that the Headbone was sensitive to which head went into which side of the box. If I put it in one way, it worked fine, but if I switched the heads to the opposite connections, I got a parasitic oscillation. I probably should have taken it back, but I didn't discover all of this until a while after I bought the thing. So I had to put numbers on the two amps so that I always got them hooked in the same way. Not that big a deal, but it shouldn't have been so, especially with two identical amps. The other thing is this: If you use loop effects on both amps, you have to take pains to make absolutely sure you're not using any delay type effects when you switch heads. The reason is that the way this deal works is that it switches your guitar between inputs while it's switching the amp's outputs from your speaker to an internal load resistor, which is quite small. If your amp doesn't have anything coming in the input, it doesn't need a 100 watt resistor on its output. It only needs something to keep the system stable (tube amps don't like to drive an open circuit). But if you have a delay or reverb running on that head, when you switch to the other head, the delay is still driving the power amp of the first head, meaning you now have the full power of that amp driving those echos into that tiny load resistor. It will burn up quick! So if you plan to switch heads, no delays or reverb allowed! Well that kind of sucks! But that's a hard and fast rule. Now if you put your delays in front of the amps, that's ok. It all has to do with driving a loop return with a delay. But it is a condition of operation that I wasn't really aware of when I bought mine. In the end, I bought a Radial JX-2 A/B/Y and haul two cabs to the gig. It's more work, but it's safer. As always YMMV! Steve
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Post by deltone on Oct 22, 2006 18:59:56 GMT -7
I also use the Headbone switcher for running a head and the amp portion of a combo into one Zbest cab. One is set for clean and one is set for dirty. I use delay (as well as other effects) into the front end of the amp, at times switching back and forth between the two amps while delay is engaged. It works like a charm for me--have never had a single problem with it. Just as Steve warned above, the instructions as well warn you of potential damage resulting from using time-based effects in the effects loop of a head when switching between heads. Switching happens seamlessly and a green and red led indicate which amp is currently on. As I understand it, the amp that is not on is pretty much like your amp with the standby switch on. The box seems very well made (sturdy). However, there are six to seven connections that have to be made into the box to make it all work; nothing complicated though. I recommend it. I hope this helps.
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Post by Don on Oct 22, 2006 19:10:45 GMT -7
Thanks for the info Steve. Seeing as my Ghia and Mazerati have no effects loops, this just may work for my purposes.
Anyone else encountering any gremlins using this switch?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Oct 22, 2006 19:20:09 GMT -7
Thanks for the info Steve. Seeing as my Ghia and Mazerati have no effects loops, this just may work for my purposes. Anyone else encountering any gremlins using this switch? No loops, you're good to go!
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Post by skydog958 on Nov 2, 2006 4:39:45 GMT -7
Are there any other devices that do this same operation? I'm waiting on a LTD SRZ-65, but don't have the $$ to buy a cab with it, so I will have to use the speakers in my combo. For live playing I'd like to be able to switch between amps using that one cab (no loops involved). Any suggestion?
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Post by dock66 on Nov 2, 2006 14:10:26 GMT -7
Hey Skydog, You might want to check into Lehle Switcher 1@3 ,that might do the trick.Hope that helps.
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