Multiple cabs. Multiple heads. What to do?

[Buggaluggs]

I occasionally use an A/B pedal to switch between two amps, and I also use a patchbay to route stuff around a mixing desk.

How do I attach multiple speakers to multiple heads? Can I use a patchbay? Would it change the impedance that the head sees?

I think eminence have a 'wall of sound' that allows users to try any speaker they want.

I realize that care would need be taken to avoid blasting out from a head into zero ohms no speaker and blown transformer, but there must be a convenient way to do this, eh?

[Colabrador]

You may build a switched network that can take care of that. I would take care that only one cab can be selected at a time.

CoLabrador

[AudioWonderland]

Tonebone makes an amp switcher

[rocknhorse1]

But he wants a speaker switcher, not an amp switcher.

[lp_junkie]

Good question, I remember seeing custom built speaker switching systems in the past.

I run up to 4 cabs and 2 heads, but I am running them as a stereo image so I don't do any switching.

[roodyrocker]

Radial Engineering also makes a pedal called the Cabbone. They make one version of it which is for tube heads. It basically lets you run two heads into one cab. I think it maintains a load on the head not in use as the other head is running through the cab. Then when you switch to the other head it places a load on the other head.
At NAMM 2010 they also released a rack mounted unit that I believe lets you run up to 6 amps. I don't recall whether it was simply an amp switcher or if it allowed you to mix and match heads and cabs. I'd contact Radial Engineering and see what they have to offer. I've used their Switchbone A/B/Y switcher to run two amps live before and its top notch stuff!

[Buggaluggs]

Originally Posted by roodyrocker

Radial Engineering also makes a pedal called the Cabbone. They make one version of it which is for tube heads. It basically lets you run two heads into one cab. I think it maintains a load on the head not in use as the other head is running through the cab. Then when you switch to the other head it places a load on the other head.
At NAMM 2010 they also released a rack mounted unit that I believe lets you run up to 6 amps. I don't recall whether it was simply an amp switcher or if it allowed you to mix and match heads and cabs. I'd contact Radial Engineering and see what they have to offer. I've used their Switchbone A/B/Y switcher to run two amps live before and its top notch stuff!

Thanks. (Two weeks later, what a disgrace!!)

[Big John]

Sound Sculpture Headtrip feeding an Egnater SC-4

This setup gives you a choice of 3 heads, 2 loops, 4 tip-ground jacks (like for changing amp channels), and choice of 4 speaker sends...all under MIDI control.

[rocknhorse1]

Originally Posted by Buggaluggs

Thanks. (Two weeks later, what a disgrace!!)

Nah dude, don't be so hard on yourself. Even if it is true No, No, I am kidding with you.

Seriously,
If you had a stereo cab, you could run one amp to one side of the cab, and the other head to the other side of the cab. Usually a stereo cab is 8 ohms for each side in stereo. That is the most common anyway, there could be different set ups for sure. This way you use the 8 ohm out on each head. Then you just use an A/B/Y switcher, and you don't have to worry about a load on either of the amps, because they both have a load. Is this making sense to you? I don't know if I explained it very well.
So, you could run 4 heads with two 4 X 12 speaker cabs. Each head would get 2 X 12. You would need two A/B/Y switchers...and watch out for ground loops. Use the same wall outlet for everything. Try to find an outlet that is a 20 amp circuit. Rock out, with your "hangy down thing" out!!

[Buggaluggs]

Originally Posted by rocknhorse1

Nah dude, don't be so hard on yourself. Even if it is true No, No, I am kidding with you.

Seriously,
If you had a stereo cab, you could run one amp to one side of the cab, and the other head to the other side of the cab. Usually a stereo cab is 8 ohms for each side in stereo. That is the most common anyway, there could be different set ups for sure. This way you use the 8 ohm out on each head. Then you just use an A/B/Y switcher, and you don't have to worry about a load on either of the amps, because they both have a load. Is this making sense to you? I don't know if I explained it very well.
So, you could run 4 heads with two 4 X 12 speaker cabs. Each head would get 2 X 12. You would need two A/B/Y switchers...and watch out for ground loops. Use the same wall outlet for everything. Try to find an outlet that is a 20 amp circuit. Rock out, with your "hangy down thing" out!!

Most likely scenario is four heads and five cabs. I reckon I could use a patchbay and just make sure any amp that isn't in use is off or on standby.

The Headtrip mentioned above wound do the job, but I'm not too concerned with hot-swapping, as long as I have flexibility and front side convenience. Tepid-swapping, maybe.

[roodyrocker]

Originally Posted by Buggaluggs

Thanks. (Two weeks later, what a disgrace!!)

Don't worry about it