Piggy Backing a Blues Jr to a Twin Reverb

[Just-Jim]

Hello,

I have seen a lot of similar posts, but using other amps as an example. I thought I would repost this question as to not hi-jack someone elses thread.

Basically I was just asking how to piggy back a Blues Jr to a Twin Reverb. I am concerned about plugging in something where it does not belong and blow something up. The original question as posted in another thread is listed below.

Thanks,
Jim

What about putting the Twin on the ground, and piggyback the Blues Jr. Then jump from your dual input up to the Jr.

I was going to give this a try. I did a search and noticed you can do damage to your amp by plugging two together the wrong way. A few questions came to mind.

1. I am a little confused on the dual input to Blues Jr part. I am guessing you mean the dual input on the front of the Twin Reverb, where the guitars plug in.

2. Where does the cord from the Twin Reverb go to? I am guessing to the back of the Blues Jr, where I could unplug the Blues Jr speaker to plug into that Jack.

3. Does the guitar plug into the Blues Jr?

Sorry for all the questions. This is new territory for me, and I am nervous about plugging something in where I shouldn't.

Thanks,
Jim

[Just-Jim]

Is this one so I obvious I need to continue to search, or is my question too vague? Was hoping for any kind of feedback.
Thanks,
Jim

[studebaker hawk]

Plug into the left jack on the Twin, run a jumper cord from the right jack to the input on the jr. (Use the side by side jacks).

[Big Steve]

Or you can put a line out in the Blues Jr. and then run from the line out straight into the front of the Twin. That is what I do with a small Valco amp. Doing that give you the sound of the little amp only much louder.

[Just-Jim]

Thanks guys!

Was just worried about blowing up something up.

Jim

[marshman]

DO NOT Plug anything other than a speaker into a speaker jack--running a tube amp without a speaker can blow up the transformer quick (though not instantly), and feeding that power into the input of a second amp would probably have similarly detritious effect to that amp.

If I remember correctly, the BJr only has one input, so you cannot, as I think of it in my head, piggyback it to anything else. It could be the piggy-back-ee, but that's semantics as they work in my goofy cranium. As said--plug your guitar into your TR. Then, plug a second cable in next to the jack you just plugged your guitar into and run that cable to the input of the BJr...voila!

Now, I'm just wondering why you'd want to do that. Most people are simply looking for 'louder' by connecting several amps using the same guitar signal to drivethem all. But, it generally doesn't get much louder than a Twin (and if you need that I don't wanna be around), which is what raises the question. "Piggybacking" will run both amps at once--maybe what you really need/want is an A/B/Y box of some sort?

[Just-Jim]

DO NOT Plug anything other than a speaker into a speaker jack--running a tube amp without a speaker can blow up the transformer quick (though not instantly), and feeding that power into the input of a second amp would probably have similarly detritious effect to that amp.

If I remember correctly, the BJr only has one input, so you cannot, as I think of it in my head, piggyback it to anything else. It could be the piggy-back-ee, but that's semantics as they work in my goofy cranium. As said--plug your guitar into your TR. Then, plug a second cable in next to the jack you just plugged your guitar into and run that cable to the input of the BJr...voila!

Now, I'm just wondering why you'd want to do that. Most people are simply looking for 'louder' by connecting several amps using the same guitar signal to drivethem all. But, it generally doesn't get much louder than a Twin (and if you need that I don't wanna be around), which is what raises the question. "Piggybacking" will run both amps at once--maybe what you really need/want is an A/B/Y box of some sort?

Thank you!
To answer your question, about why do this. It is just an atempt to see if I can run both together, and get a great TR sound, and get dirty as well with the BJ. In the process, hoping to dump some pedals. I am really findding I am using my pedals less, and enjoying the straight sounds that come right out of the amp. Not sure how this wall all end up when said and done.

[marshman]

Well, you can indeed run those just like I said, but that would get you a situation in which both amps are on all the time. If you want to be able to use the TR for cleans only and the BJr for dirty only, you'll need what's referred to as an A/B switch (which allows you to play amp a OR amp B), or if you're really adventurous, an A/B/Y (which allows you to select amp A, amp B or BOTH)

http://www.framptone.com/
http://www.tonebone.com/re-bigshot-aby.htm

A couple samples of A/B/Y, though a simple, passive A/B is a reasonably simple build if you're inclined. This may not alleviate your pedal problem, though.

[JKjr]

Kinda late to this thread, sorry.
The best amp I've ever heard has almost always been TWO amps. I regularly plug into the #1 input of a clean Fender amp with reverb, and jumper from the #2 input to an overdriven non reverb amp. This will give you the clarity and definition of the clean amp and the harmonic complexity and attitude of the second amp...the best of both worlds.
Another option is to split your signal with your favorite stereo delay...the original note into the clean amp, the delayed signal fed into the overdriven amp.Salt and pepper to taste.
I find running into an A/B/Y box extremely versatile. It enables me to switch between completely different tones or to combine them, and it opens up the possibility of having two effect chains as well. Try this with both amps set up clean and use different overdrives into each amp. Or one of my personal faves, a heavily phased signal or a wah into one amp, clarity provided by the uneffected amp. This works pretty well with the delay trick too...
I have a few home made passive boxes, and as long as you use quality components and shield they work fine. This having been said, the Framptone is well worth the price. Low impedance outs, ZERO noise, no popping noise when switching, and no ground or phase problems.
Sorry to be so long winded...hope this helps.

[Billm]

Since this thread resurfaced....

Definitely the ToneBone ABY switch. It even has the ground lift and phase reversal built in if you need them.

[JKjr]

as does the framptone. I haven't had a chance to try the ToneBone...why do you prefer it to the Framptone?

[Billm]

Heh--I haven't tried the Framptone. If anybody's shopping for an ABY, however, they should spend the extra money to get ground lift and phase reversal. You never know when a ground loop problem is going to occur and if you have phase cancellation, throwing a switch on the ABY is a whole lot easier than digging around inside the cab to change speaker polarity.

[JimiBryant]

for a while I was gigging with a pair of Blues Jrs using a Morley ABY splitter.
I think that I only a had 60-cycle hum problem at one gig and that was
probably the club's electrical system or the lights.

[JKjr]

Amen to Billm

[FrankB]

So, you want to SLAVE the BJ? Keef, used to Slave a champ into a Twin or super or ampeg, from what I've read. I have read that "with a Champ" you run into the left input of the amp and out of the right input into another amp.... I've never done it, and don;t see how it could work, being both are inputs...
I's suggest contacting an amp repair shop about this one.