Running (2) amps in stereo - how to?

[Nelskie]

This past weekend, I was mulling over the idea of running (2) Valve Jr. amps in stereo. There are probably a number of ways to accomplish this task using various pieces of gear, but I though I'd first pose this question to my fellow Fret.Net'ers to see what kind of Dr. Frankenstein, mad-scientist kinda' stuff you guys could tip me off to.

Bear in mind that I want to run pedals with this rig, to include my DigiTech "Dynamic Duo", aka Bad Monkey and Tone Driver, and also my Zoom G2 multi-effects processor. A Small Clone chorus pedal is planned down the road.

If you are not familiar with the Valve Jr., it is a stand-alone 5W combo amp that drives an 8", 4 ohm speaker. Basic as basic can be.

I've really been digging the tones I'm getting out of this little amp, and figured that running (2) of them together might be a set-up worth exploring. Then again, maybe using (2) together will change the sound dynamic too much. The simplicity of the tone is perhaps what I dig the most about the Valve Jr., and maybe I'm just off my rocker with this idea.

If a two-speaker set-up is what I crave for that cool Epi tone, maybe I should just wait to get a new Epi Blues Custom when they come out this summer, and be done with it . . .

http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=270&CollectionID=13

Decisions, decisions!

[SuperSwede]

Does the Valve JR have a ext speaker output?

[Nelskie]

Not a separate ext. out, but you can unplug the amp's speaker, and run it to an external source.

[SuperSwede]

I imagine that a 2 x 12" cabinet would sound really good with that amp. Perhaps a bit Fenderish.

[Matt]

I would say to run them in stereo, you would need a 'Y' guitar cable out of your last pedal before the amps, and thats it. Simple! This is assuming you plug the guitar directly into the pedals and then into the amps, none of this fancy effect loops malarky! Of course, you would have to have the amps on the same settings, or you could experiment with having one on clean while the other is breaking up, and get some funky effects from it.

regards

Matt

[Nelskie]

You know Matt, that's just as simple as I'd thought it would be. But I'm not a hardcore tech guy, or an electronics whiz either. I do have a "Y" cable, which I could run right from my G2, or last effects pedal.

Running the amps on slightly different settings is what I thought would be the coolest part of having that particular set-up. Run one VJ at 11 o'clock (good clean, but just barely breaking up), and the other at between 1 and 2 o'clock (the sweet spot for the distortion setting I think), and voila' - it's happenin'!

[Justaguyin_nc]

Nelskie, Don't know if you seen this site before but this guy has did the Stereo to his Juniors.... http://www.coolpick.com/way/cool/about/valvejunior.html

[Nelskie]

Justa' - That very site is what "spawned" my dual VJr. idea in the first place. Thanks for posting it.

[Matt]

Just outta interest, how loud would they be when running together? As in, would they be jamming worthy if they were coupled together in such a way?

regards

Matt

[warren0728]

now i want another epi jr and a y cord!....

if you ran the y cord first you could use different pedals on each amp too....


ww

[Nelskie]

Well, the VJr. is plenty loud by itself, esp. for a little 5W rig. Running (2) in tandem - hmmm . . . that's a good question. I'd have to say that I'd think it would be "jam-worthy". Now don't for an instant think that you'll be going head-to-head with a Marshall Stack, or a big-watt 2x12 combo. If you're bandmates can be attentive to their volume levels, to keep the VJr. in the mix, I'm pretty sure you could pull it off. Another option would be to direct-mic them with a couple of SM-57's into a PA; or, maybe a single SM-57 between the two of them. I've mic'ed my Valve Jr. with a single SM-57 right into a PA before, and it sounded great.

[r_a_smith3530]

This past weekend, I was mulling over the idea of running (2) Valve Jr. amps in stereo. There are probably a number of ways to accomplish this task using various pieces of gear, but I though I'd first pose this question to my fellow Fret.Net'ers to see what kind of Dr. Frankenstein, mad-scientist kinda' stuff you guys could tip me off to.

http://www.epiphone.com/default.asp?ProductID=270&CollectionID=13

Decisions, decisions!

Nothing mad-scientist 'bout it a 'tall. Just put a Boss Stereo Chorus pedal in your line, sending the two outputs to the two amps. Easy, sweet, and done!

[Matt]

Can't say I even thought of that. But isnt one of the outputs designed to go into a mixer? If so, it has a different sound quality to that of the amp designed output, but as the two amps would be on slightly different settings it shouldnt matter.

[SuperSwede]

The Chorus Ensemble CE-5 has A / B outputs, I´ve had one of these before.
"A" output is mono when "B" is not connected. If you connect both it will be in "stereo mode".

http://www.bonnersmusic.co.uk/acatalog/ce5.jpg

[Nelskie]

Thanks for the info, guys. It appears to be a far simpler task than I had originally anticipated. The addition of the pedal into the overall cost might have me backing off of the idea, though, and waiting for the *NEW* Valve Jr. head to come out instead (est. - mid-summer 2006). That is IF I can wait that long.

Still, it's an interesting idea, and I bet it would sound killer, too.

[Justaguyin_nc]

Morely has a pedal for this also...

http://www.music123.com/Morley-ABY-Selector-Combiner-i54383.music

As does Boss

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemPos=1&TempID=2&STRID=02540&Method=3&CategoryID=1039&BrandID=0&PriceRangeID=0&PageNum=0&DepartmentID=1&pagesize=10&SortMethod=3&SearchPhrase=&Contains=&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=#soldout

[r_a_smith3530]

Morely has a pedal for this also...

http://www.music123.com/Morley-ABY-Selector-Combiner-i54383.music

As does Boss

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemPos=1&TempID=2&STRID=02540&Method=3&CategoryID=1039&BrandID=0&PriceRangeID=0&PageNum=0&DepartmentID=1&pagesize=10&SortMethod=3&SearchPhrase=&Contains=&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=#soldout

Those aren't stereo though. They both send the same signal to two different places. A stereo chorus on the other hand SPLITS the sound into two distinct channels. An A-B switch does not.