3 Cord Hookup with 2 Amps (Mike Brown?)

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 28 Jul 2002 5:54 pm

Using 2 Nashville 400's, running one "clean" and one "dirty", what would be the best way to use the 3 cord configuration. "Y" cords?[This message was edited by George Kimery on 28 July 2002 at 06:56 PM.][This message was edited by George Kimery on 28 July 2002 at 07:28 PM.]

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 28 Jul 2002 7:43 pm

George; One good clean way, if you do not have two outputs on your volume pedal, is to get two outputs. One simple way is go to Radio Shack and purchase a plastic (Y) ADAPTOR. This is a little black plastic caseing with a male 1/4" plug on one end, and two female jacks on the other and plug it in to the output of your vol. pedal. Then plug one cord into it, and run the cord to your dry amp. Then run a short cord from the other female jack to your effects unit. Then run the output cord from your effects unit to the 2nd.(dirty) amp. And then balance (blend) the volumes of the two amps. by ear. Incodently, of course, your two cords plug in to the front of each amp. like you normally would. If your effects unit includes reverb,then you would only want amp reverb on your "dry" amp! And your effects unit will supply your (dirty) amp. with reverb. Hope this helps and don't confuse you. "Big John" 1 of 100 ways I guess!

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 29 Jul 2002 3:00 am

John:

Thanks for the reply, but I think you misunderstood my question. I think you were counting the cord from the guitar to volume pedal one cord and the two coming out of the volume pedal as 2 more, to make a total of three cords. I should have been more specific in my question. With a 3 cord hookup with a single amp, you do not go from the guitar to the volume pedal, but straight to the imput of the amp. Since you are going to 2 amps, then a Y cord would be required, or a small box wired with the proper jacks to do the same thing, or a small mixer. Also, you do not go out of the volume pedal to the imput of the amp, but instead you go to pre EQ send/return. Now, you have to get back from 2 EQ returns from 2 amps to the 1 imput on the volume pedal. This would require a Y cord. Since I have 2 outputs on the volume pedal, I can use 2 cords to go back to the returns on the amps with no problem. I know how to hook up everything using Y cords, a custom made "Y" box, or a small mixer, I just thought that there might be a different, or maybe better, or easier way of doing it.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 29 Jul 2002 5:05 am

George, call me toll free at 1-877-732-8391. Is there more info pertaining to what you are trying to achieve?

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 29 Jul 2002 5:52 am

Mike:

I have been using the 3 cord hookup with my Sessions 500 for some time, you know, taking the guitar straight into the imput of the amp and the volume pedal into the pedal in/out on the amp. I was just asking when you go to 2 amps, it complicates this set-up and if there was some "magic" way of doing it other than the 3 solutions in my post. If there is, then let me know and I will call you. I don't want to waste your time if I have pretty much covered the solutions. Thanks, Mike as always.

Mike Brown · Post by **Mike Brown** » 30 Jul 2002 4:52 am

George, the reason that I wanted you to call was that some short questions that consumers ask turns out that there is "more to the story" that is not included in the question the first time. But, no, there is not an "easy" way to accomplish the hookup that you have described. If it would work, mono "Y" cords would be the way to do it. It would require the use of three mono 'Y' cables, ie; one from the output of the guitar to the input both amps, the second one connected from both SEND jacks to the input of the volume pedal, and the third cable from both RETURN jacks to the volume pedal. In theory it should work, but I can't really say that I've ever been in one room with 3 MONO Y CABLES at one time! Let us know if this works after you've tried it.

Jim Florence · Post by **Jim Florence** » 1 Aug 2002 2:47 pm

George, You won't believe this till you try it. At least on My 2000 it is great. I use a Goodrich pedal{Brand not important as long as it has two outputs}I Plug from the guitar to amp input on the 2000, and go ahead and plug it up as three wire, then from the other output from the volume pedal plug it into the other amp input. They interact {I don't know how} but if I turn the 2000 off the other amp has nothing. With it on the sound is great. Best stereo you ever heard.

George Kimery · Post by **George Kimery** » 1 Aug 2002 7:09 pm

Jim:

I tried your set-up and found a problem with it. I am running some effects from the guitar before going into the input of the 1st amp. With your set-up, the effects show up in BOTH amps. The solution is to run the effects after the volume pedal and into the first amp, which I would prefer not to do. This was the kind of thing I was looking for, though. Something clever. Good thinking on your part and I am glad it works for you. It is sort of amazing when you turn the volume on the 1st amp up or down, the 2nd amp acts as a slave and does the same thing. I think when you plug the cord into the 2nd output of the volume pedal (that is hooked into the pre eq in/out on the 1st amp), it creates a patch into the pre eq in/out on the first amp. It would be interesting for the electronic guru's to explain what is happening. Gotta be simple!