The benefits of two amps...

[the_jester]

Initially, I originally thought owning two amps would be of a utility, to use as a backup, but WAS I IN FOR A SURPRISE!  
 
I been experimenting with connecting both Mesa Boogie M-2000 amps, into one matrix amp, and was blown away with the multitude of sound variances.
 
Each amp, comes with a 6 channel foot switch remote controller, (2) 9 ban graphical EQ's, (2) 5-knob (Master, Treble, Middle, Bass Gain) on Tubes and Solid State channels, compression and with the additional amp, it doubles everything, including converting my foot switch channels from 6, to 12.
 
Thus, the combination yields 1 to 4095 foot switch combinations (on the fly), and with the pickup selector switches, that's 12,285 (4095 x 3) on the fly tone combinations without touching a knob.
 
Also when recording, I can capture multiple amp channels deferentially, and dynamically record  separate tracks, with one play.
 
With the Alembic F-1X, and F-2B added to the mix -- my S1 sound variations, are at laboratory and research levels.  
 
I thought this would be interesting to note...
 
If Mesa Boogies Amps, not your brand, BigShot? ABY True Bypass Switcher can integrate any 2 amps together to your customization.
 
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
     
 
 

 
(Message edited by the_jester on January 05, 2010)

[crobbins]

I use a Bigshot ABY switch with my Boogie Stack.  

[the_jester]

Craig, I am glad this works for you too. By the way (BTW) I love your guitar strap, it's gorgeous!
 
Hal-

[tom_z]

I like to use two amps together in a live situation when I have the luxury of space and set-up time. I'll run a guitar into a stereo reverb unit and out to my Mesa Lonestar combo and an old Bandmster head and 2X12 cab. The Bandmaster is fairly bright sounding and on the tight side - very touch sensitive and begins to break up nicely  when the volume is is past about 5. The Mesa has far more headroom, is a bit darker and notes seem to bloom differently than the Fender. The combination of the two amps together is full and three-dimensional.  
 
The drawbacks are that the Bandmaster is kind of noisy compared to the Lonestar and it's bit of a pain to drag around the extra gear (I realize I won't get much sympathy from many of the bass players here that routinely use hundreds of pounds of cabs and racks). Since they don't stack as nicely as Craig's gear they also double the footprint of my rig (not to mention the depth they create is greater when they are further apart) and the sound is really too much for smaller spaces.  
 
If I recall, Bill P uses a stereo rig sometimes as well.

[the_jester]

Hi Tom, the sound is very much three-dimensional like your playing 2 instruments in 1, and this alone was worth the price of admission for me. What made it nice, was when I discovered this difference for myself. All sirens sounded off in my head and it opens new doors.
 
From a bass playing perspective, one amp alone weighs about as much as a RV battery, and of course lugging two, you'll need wheels for sure.
However, once you've d over come that hurdle, I do believe it's all worth it for me because I had tested the fullness of my perfect setting on one amp, and then connecting the second amp provided a more significant level of clarity. It was like using a microscope, and then changing the magnification to a greater, and more intense magnified setting. It's great!  
 
Also, with a simple click of a foot switch, I could go back to the standard one amp again (on the fly).  
 
 
 
Peace and Love -
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by the_jester on January 06, 2010)

[funkyjazzjunky]

I do not get it; are you running the signal in series thru each amp?

[the_jester]

12,285 on the fly tone combinations without touching a single knob (not counting the pickup selector switch...)
 
As stated, this gives the bass what Guitar players (like myself) always enjoyed. However, with Mesa Boogie's discontinued M-2000 amps and the (hard to find) foot switch accessory makes this all possible. I am very proud to call this my signature rig.  
 
Also, with Alembic DS-5R, F-1X and F-2B components I can assign/leverage each Mesa Amp to a dedicated pickup.  
 
Pure California FUNK! (Where it was originally created (in the first place...))  
 
 
 
 
 
Peace and Love,  
 
Hal-
 
 
 
(Message edited by the_jester on January 07, 2010)

[otis]

Hal,
 
I figured I'd chime in.  I've been using a 2 amp setup for about 5 or 6 years, now.  It was easy to do with my Series I, but I later sold that bass and acquired the 2 Alembic 6's that I ended up, right before my beautiful Series II 6 so I was using a simple mono in/out box that had one input and 4 outputs.
 
The mono way was cool because it was both pickups through both amps.  I love the Series setup, also because of the clarity of tone- I'm soooo excited- I'm finally playing out, tonight with my new Series II.
 
I have 2 Kustom Groove Bass 1200 watt heads, which run my 2 Kustom Groove Bass 4x10's (Live) and 2 2x15's (practice).  I use an Electroharmonix Micro POG (Polyphonic Octave Generator- best octave pedal, ever), the EH Q-Tron, and an EH Bassballs (on the Clean amp- I only kick that on for choruses, and heavier parts).
 
That's all for now!
Hal, I hope the Tomahawk is complete soon for you to begin your journey together and I hope to meet you soon.
 
Peace;)
 
Frank

[jbybj]

Hal, I'm so glad you are enjoying your newfound sound palette with two amps. When I was in college in 1978, I wired my 69 jazz bass in stereo, with the neck pup feeding a Traynor Bassmaster and single EVM-15L clean, and the bridge pup feeding a Peavey SS head and EVM-15L  through the little muff and Small Stone phaser. Huge and fun!
 
In case you ever wondered, it's statements like this one
 
Pure California FUNK! (Where it was originally created (in the first place...))  
 
that make you a magnet.
 
Peace, James

[the_jester]

Frank,  
 
I known deep down inside, I was not alone in using two amps. But I must admit, if there was anyone who would run two amps, I'd guested it be you. This is a great thing to try if others are on the fence. For me, Bi-Amps adds so much more depth and focus, and best of all, its a real treat for the listener(s) too.
 
Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if Bi-Amps becomes a standard. It's that good!  
 
I absolutely can't wait until my Toma_Hawk hits the Funk scene. The excitement is building daily, and people from next door and across the globe had sent their love and blessings. This bass is about Love and sharing. Hey, and when I am done with it, I am moving on...  
 
James, that's been a long time ago... do you still Bi-Amp?
 
As for me, I am sold.
 
I will never go back to a single amp thing again.
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
(Message edited by the_jester on January 07, 2010)

[jacko]

Hey Hal.  
I've also been using 2 amps for a while. I'm running my 4x10 from an ampeg svp and either a 4x10 or a 2x12 (depending on my mood) from a fender tbp1 preamp. I have enough kit to run a pair of 4x10 + 2x12 stacks if needed. At the minute I'm taking the tuner out from the ampeg into the fender input but I'm thinking I'll probably get some form of ABY switch to make sure the same signal goes to both amps (the ampeg tuner out is supposed to be identical to the input but it's buffered so I'm probably losing something).  The preamps drive either side of a QSC PLX2402 power amp which is capable of producing 1200 watts at 2 ohms per channel. Should be enough to put even the most aggressive guitarist in his place ;-)
 
here's a pic..
 

 
The only problem I have is balancing the 2 amp levels, especially when the effects loop is being used on one of them.
 
Graeme

[mike1762]

On the flip side... one of my favorite tones is our own Jimmy Johnson's.  My recollection (from am older post) is that he just runs straight into the board!!!  Do you guys use different tones for different songs, or is all this required to get your signature tone???

[jacko]

Mike, I'd love to be able to run straight into the board like Jimmy. Unfortunately, I don't play bass for james taylor (or any other big name performer for that matter) so It's unlikley that I'll ever be lucky enough to be in that position. I'm in a part time covers band playing pubs and clubs mostly so I need to be able to get a good tone from my amps in a great variety of venues - the more flexibility I have, the easier that becomes. As far as altering the tone for different songs goes, I tend to do that on the bass once I have a workable tone at the amp end. One song that goes against the grain is 'Hysteria' by muse where I can get the perfect overdriven sound by hitting the bright button on the ampeg and turning drive up to full. (I've previously tried a raft of stomp boxes to get the right sound for this song but failed miserably - I believe Chris Wolstenholme uses at least three amp setups on stage with all sorts of effects pedals but he has roadies and trucks)
 
Graeme

[mike1762]

It's been years since I played live, so all my tone shaping is for recording.  Fortunately, my POD X3 gives me all the flexibility I need for that purpose.  One thing I've noticed is that I use a VERY different tone when recording one of my Alembics as opposed to my Jazz or Stingray.  My Signature Tone had always been very clean and punchy with a frown dialed in on the EQ.  As I've moved towards using my Alembics in the studio, my tone has migrated towards a growl with just a bit of overdrive (I was a little shocked just how dirty the tone was when I soloed a track).  I had always hated that type of tone before I got my Alembics, but they just do it better.

[the_jester]

I was having a Family Guy moment imagining going everywhere with this huge mixing board...  
 
The best way to describe Bi-Amp sound for me, is like listening to 2 distinct whistles from a singly skilled person in one breath; or 2 singers singing the same song, in the same key.  
 
What's nice about the MB-M-2000, both amps comes with FX Loop with adjustable crossover frequency allowing me an added choice of effects where I choose to send them, while keeping the rest of the spectrum pure and clean.  Even without the Bigshot ABY, I could doubles or (with two M-2000's) quadruple the output source for bi-amping (times) 2.  
 
As beautiful as Alembics are, it's an inspiration to pull as much sound out (sound mining) of them as possible.  
 
Peace and Love,
 
Hal-
 
 
(Message edited by the_jester on January 08, 2010)