Connecting 2 heads into 1 cab

[PARGO]

Hi there,

I have SV20H and SC20H with SV212 cab.

I want to know if there is a speaker cable that splits from the cab to these heads.

I dont want to run both at the same time.

I'm just tired of change the cable every time I want to play the other amp. (The amplifiers close to the wall and this quite annoying)

English is not my main language. I'm sorry for the mistakes.

Thank you!

 

[Dogs of Doom]

Hi, to the forum...

no, do not do it like this. I mean, you can, but you might end up w/ catastrophic results, damaging an amp, &/or speakers...

They make devices that switch between amp's/cab's, that will add a load on the amp, but disconnect it from the speaker.

Headbone VT - Radial Engineering

The Headbone VT is a specially designed switching device that lets you toggle between two different tube amp heads while using a single speaker cabinet.

www.radialeng.com

 

[marshallmellowed]

Agree, use a switcher.

 

[Petri358]

Here is one:

https://www.palmer-germany.com/en/products/signal-splitter-switcher/5242/tino-system

 

[Gutch220]

you can also get a 1960 cabinet, put it in stereo mode, then hook up each head to one half of the cabinet.
Otherwise you need the switcher above.
With the switcher above, I believe the amp that is not playing through the cabinet......BUT IS STILL ON........ still needs to have a speaker load as far as I know. This is why I like splitting up a 4x12, or 2x12 cabinet. For peace of mind.

maybe I'm wrong about this.


In order to have both amps ON AT ONCE, you'll need to provide a load to the non-playing amp, yo ucan buy one of these: https://www.tedweber.com/gadgets/two-head-amp-switcher/
It's a switcher AND a dummy load in one box.

 

[Old Punker]

Personally, I would never do this.

With the cost of tube amps/tube amp repairs I just wouldn't take the chance of seriously damaging one of the heads. I know the switchers probably work ok but they are electrical/mechanical devices and therefore prone to failure. IMO it's probably a bad idea to place a device that breaks and then makes a connection in between your amps and cab.

I have 4 amps and 6 cabs and I often manually change connections (while everything is shut off) and I think the extra effort is a small price to pay for the added safety.

 

[Conghaille]

Personally, I would never do this.

With the cost of tube amps/tube amp repairs I just wouldn't take the chance of seriously damaging one of the heads. I know the switchers probably work ok but they are electrical/mechanical devices and therefore prone to failure. IMO it's probably a bad idea to place a device that breaks and then makes a connection in between your amps and cab.

I have 4 amps and 6 cabs and I often manually change connections (while everything is shut off) and I think the extra effort is a small price to pay for the added safety.

The Radial stuff is studio quality. I have a Headbone and an effects loop switcher. They’re both great.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

The other thing you can do is take the heads off the cabinet. Set em closer where you have access to the back and use a long enough cable.
Otherwise a switcher, yes.

 

[JBA]

Here is one:

https://www.palmer-germany.com/en/products/signal-splitter-switcher/5242/tino-system

Ya, but shit.. he might as well consider another 2x12 for the price.

 

[TXOldRedRocker]

Hi there,

I have SV20H and SC20H with SV212 cab.

I want to know if there is a speaker cable that splits from the cab to these heads.

I dont want to run both at the same time.

I'm just tired of change the cable every time I want to play the other amp. (The amplifiers close to the wall and this quite annoying)

English is not my main language. I'm sorry for the mistakes.

Thank you!

Hi, to the forum...

no, do not do it like this. I mean, you can, but you might end up w/ catastrophic results, damaging an amp, &/or speakers...

They make devices that switch between amp's/cab's, that will add a load on the amp, but disconnect it from the speaker.

Headbone VT - Radial Engineering

The Headbone VT is a specially designed switching device that lets you toggle between two different tube amp heads while using a single speaker cabinet.

www.radialeng.com

I agree with Dogs. This is exactly what I use. Mine looks different because it's years old and has never failed or caused a problem. Just do it.

 

[JBA]

It’s just problematic..

 

[Petri358]

Ya, but shit.. he might as well consider another 2x12 for the price.

Friend of mine went wirh this Palmer as the space was the issue.
I'd go with several 4X12" cabs

 

[Matthews Guitars]

Use a cabinet switcher. You do NOT want to feed the output of one amp into the output of another amp.

Better yet, just don't be THAT lazy. Unplug the speaker cable going to the amp you're not using. And be sure that amp is in standby or turned off.

Alternatively, use one cabinet per amplifier.

 

[Eric'45]

That's a risky thing to do. I'm in a similar situation. One of my Heads is always connected to an Attenuator, that should be safe enough as a Dummy Load. If I experiment with Cabs and Heads, I always pull the Power Plug when I remove the Speaker Cable from an Amp. That way I can't accidentally switch it on.

But the solution of a professional musician would be to get a good Amp switcher.
The solution of a good Marshall Forum Member would be to get a second Cab, or four of them.

 

[Old Punker]

I went out and bought a good quality 25 ft. long speaker cable and now I never have to move heads/cabs around. Maybe the cheapest solution?