4 Amp Heads, One Speaker Cab - I Need a "Head Switcher&

ltemma74 · Post by **ltemma74** » Thu Feb 28, 2008 10:52 am

I have a bunch of great tube amps. When I record them, I run them through a Palmer PDI-03 Speaker simulator instead of a real speaker cabinet because I can't crank my amps in my apartment. They are just way too loud.

The Palmer accepts speaker cable from just one amp at a time. So if I want to go from one amp to another, I need to unplug and replug. It's a little bit of a hassle.

I'm wondering if there's a rackmountable "Amp Head Switcher" that I can run between my amp heads and the Palmer so I don't have to plug things in and out when I switch from amp to amp. The only product I know of is by Radial Engineering, it's called the Headbone. But that only allows for switching between 2 amp heads. Ideally, I'd like to be able to switch between 4 heads (or more).

If anyone knows of such a product, I'd greatly appreciate some info. Thanks!

timriley · Post by **timriley** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 1:26 pm

An exact answer to your question is NO! I cannot find a 4 way version of what you are looking....

I did find something called the Toadworks Roundabout (again only two channels im afraid) which does a very similar thing to the Tonebone but at half the price...

Im not sure it's exactly what you're looking for either but here is the link anyway!

http://www.pedalgeek.com/cgi-bin/new_sh ... link--twrb

timriley · Post by **timriley** » Fri Feb 29, 2008 6:26 pm

Also have you looked at 'voodoo labs' pedals?

http://www.voodoolab.com/products.htm

Their GCX audio switcher and amp selector might be of use.... Hope this helps!

oldguitars · Post by **oldguitars** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:34 am

you need this:

http://www.tonebone.com/tb-headbone-vt.htm

radial makes good stuff...

Pappy725 · Post by **Pappy725** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 10:37 am

Ditto on the Radial stuff. Just got my Bassbone, can't wait to check it out this evening after work.
Stephen

ltemma74 · Post by **ltemma74** » Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:05 pm

Thanks for the tips!

I'm looking for an alternative to the Radial headbone because I would ideally be able to switch more than 2 heads. Apparently custom audio electronics (Bradshaw) makes an amp switcher that allows you to switch 4 heads. But it's about $1500 new...kind of expensive. But it does provide a dummy load and enables you to keep all heads on at the same time for fast A/B tone comparisons. Seems like more of a live tool than what I need. I don't need a load box necessarily. I could deal with only having the amp on that I intend to record. I would just need to be sure that I turned off any amps without a load attached. I can deal with that.

Anyway, unless there's something affordable out there (under $500), I think I'll just reach behind my amps and switch the speaker cable manually for the time being.

ltemma74 · Post by **ltemma74** » Fri Mar 07, 2008 7:53 am

I found two other amp selector / switching devices for those who might be interested -- the Brunetti Matrix and the Sound Sculpture Head Trip. Google searches will take you right there.

matticus · Post by **matticus** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:48 pm

Hey Itemma, how does the dummy load thing work? I was going to ask how you're not going into a cab and also not burning up your amp. And if you had a switcher, how would you not need a dummy load? I'm uneducated, sorry.

ltemma74 · Post by **ltemma74** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:48 pm

A dummy load simulates the load of a speaker and prevents your amp's output transformer (or whatever the thing is called) from frying. The Palmer is both a load box and a filter (EQ, basically). The filter section of the Palmer simulates the frequency response and other artifacts of a traditional guitar cabinet speaker. So, with the Palmer you end up getting something that sounds very much like your amp through a speaker cab instead of that fizzy and unpleasant direct recording sound that we've all heard before.

I'm trying to find a way to switch between 4 amps, all using the same Palmer load box/filter. I am tired of manually plugging and unplugging each amp to Palmer whenever I want a different amp because I need to move the amp from the wall, unplug, move another amp from the wall, plug. It gets old really quickly, believe me! So I wanted a switcher so everything can stay plugged in and ready to go. I have two options: I can get a 'Head Switcher' or a 'regular' switcher. With a head switcher, any amp that's on but not connected to the Palmer will be safe because the head switcher itself also has a built-in load for the inactive head. Check out the Radial Headbone product for more information on that. If I get an ordinary switcher without a load built-in, then I can leave everything plugged in but I shouldn't turn both heads on because the one that isn't routed to the Palmer won't have a load attached. Does that make sense?

matticus · Post by **matticus** » Wed Mar 19, 2008 3:21 pm

Yes! Thanks for the explanation. I've been playing guitar live for a while but haven't done much recording on electric yet. That's good stuff to know. Thanks.