bendoerfel
TDPRI Member
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2012
- Posts
- 47
Is it possible to run a stereo rig with 1 head?
1 head stereo cab
- Thread starter bendoerfel
- Start date
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fauxsuper
Tele-Afflicted
Yes and no. Do you have a desire to run a stereo rig, or do you just have a cab that's set up for stereo, and want to use both speakers??
You can run both speakers in the cab, as long as the impedance load works out correctly for your amp. Do you know the impedance of each side of the cab?. What are the connections on the back of the cab? What sort of amp do you have, how many speaker outputs does it have and how are the marked?
But if you mean having different information sent to each side of the cab, like from a stereo delay, reverb, or chorus, you will need another amp to do that.
Actually, there have been a few Stereo-capable head units manufactured, but you'd probably be aware of that.
And.....stereo cabs have always baffled me. STereo imaging does best with a separation between the two signals...that is, the results of stereo imaging are more sonically profound with at least 6 feet between the output 'images'.
The swider the sonic stage, the more intense the stereo effect is, ime.
The swider the sonic stage, the more intense the stereo effect is, ime.
fauxsuper
Tele-Afflicted
Wire the speakers out of phase. You get an inside-out sort of sound, but stereo delays and reverbs sound huge------if you'e standing right in front of the amp, looking directly at it.
A buddy of mine bought a Vibroluxe Reverb for little cash because it sounded "weird". He brought it to a jam session I used to host, and I instantly noticed the out of phase sound. I switched the wires on one of the speakers and the amp sounded much better.
homesick345
Poster Extraordinaire
there IS some stereo amps out there guys, & I think stereo is interesting in this case - PARTICULARLY with stereo modulation effects, going in the loops of a stereo head, OR through 2 mono amps, then stereo to the cab
that was the idea I think
that was the idea I think
Vizcaster
Poster Extraordinaire
If you're wondering about how to hook up one head to a "stereo" cabinet, there are lots of ways to do it but you'll still only be getting a monaural sound. If the head has multiple speaker taps on the back, you could simply run two cables from the head to the cabinet - however you have to be sure of the impedance of the speakers and read the amp instructions carefully. For example, on a Marshall DSL-15 head (a new model this year) there is one 16-phm speaker jack, and two jacks labeled "8 ohms". The "8" jacks are to be used when the total load is 8 ohms, so actually you run each one out to a 16 ohm speaker!
On the other hand, the speaker cab might have "stereo" and "mono" jacks on the back, and sometimes even a switch. So you might have a 2x12 loaded with 16 ohm speakers, and a switch to run them in parallel for a total 8-ohm "mono" load, or you flip the switch to "stereo" mode where each jack connects independently to a 16 ohm speaker.
OTOH if you want a stereo sound, like for chorus or delay ping pong type sounds, then you'd need to use two amps, and an effect with a stereo output. For instance, you could put a stereo chorus or univibe in front of two amps. Even better, use the effects loop of one amp to to out to the effect, and return A to the first amp, and return B to the second amp (you could even run it into the effects loop return of the second amp, to avoid a different coloration from the preamp or gain stages of that second amp).
On the other hand, the speaker cab might have "stereo" and "mono" jacks on the back, and sometimes even a switch. So you might have a 2x12 loaded with 16 ohm speakers, and a switch to run them in parallel for a total 8-ohm "mono" load, or you flip the switch to "stereo" mode where each jack connects independently to a 16 ohm speaker.
OTOH if you want a stereo sound, like for chorus or delay ping pong type sounds, then you'd need to use two amps, and an effect with a stereo output. For instance, you could put a stereo chorus or univibe in front of two amps. Even better, use the effects loop of one amp to to out to the effect, and return A to the first amp, and return B to the second amp (you could even run it into the effects loop return of the second amp, to avoid a different coloration from the preamp or gain stages of that second amp).
Vizcaster
Poster Extraordinaire
OH, and remember some two-channel Fender amps had the channels out of phase, and Gibson accommodated this by running the stereo output of some varitone-equipped models out of phase (making conversion to mono a little tricky).
neocaster
Poster Extraordinaire
I played a Vox Valvetronix AD120VTH stereo head into an AD412 stereo cab and, like Wally said, nothing jumped out at me. If I had played each channel through a 2x12 with some space, I bet the rotary/leslie emulation and stereo chorus would have been amazing.
Mesa still makes a 20/20, a 50/50, and (when you positively HAVE to kill the front row) a 90/90.
fauxsuper
Tele-Afflicted
I had a Lexicon Signature 284 amp that I used along with a Carvin Stereo Tube power amp in a full stereo rig. It sounded pretty cool, but I got that benefit mainly at rehearsal with both cabs pointed back at me. At the time we had a large enough rehearsal space that I could have the cabs 15 to 20 feet away and spread apart enough that I was staring into a huge sounding and deep image. We had monitors for the PA facing back at us as well.
Playing anywhere one could use all of this only happened one time and it was a lot of stuff to cart around (effects rack with both amps, and two cabs), set up, adjust etc., for very little audible benefit. I also had another rig I used built around a Boogie Studio pre-amp.
I switched to combo amps after this and never really looked back.
Lacking Talent
Tele-Holic
The 284 also had a matching stereo cab -- the Lexicon SB210 (built by Mojotone) -- made with angled-outward baffles that made for a very nicely widened soundstage.
homesick345
Poster Extraordinaire
I do stereo, through effects loops of 2 heads - & an eventide modfactor, etc...
leslie simulations are stunning, & it's fun to fool around with the setups, plus I can try some of my many amps.
BUT - this is for home. No point in getting complicated in gigs, that would be really stupid, & nobody would notice. If I use some modulation, it would be for around 3 minutes in a 2 hours set.
This does not keep me however from obsessing about stereo guitar sounds...
.....
If anybody into this (stereo fun at home or other), & if you got 2 amps/heads with loops, do yourselves a favor & get one of these eventide effects. The Mod in particular is well worth the $300 price.
leslie simulations are stunning, & it's fun to fool around with the setups, plus I can try some of my many amps.
BUT - this is for home. No point in getting complicated in gigs, that would be really stupid, & nobody would notice. If I use some modulation, it would be for around 3 minutes in a 2 hours set.
This does not keep me however from obsessing about stereo guitar sounds...
.....If anybody into this (stereo fun at home or other), & if you got 2 amps/heads with loops, do yourselves a favor & get one of these eventide effects. The Mod in particular is well worth the $300 price.
What's really cool is running the Modfactor stereo into the TimeFactor (or any stereo in/out dual delay), with the delays set to 375ms on one side and 380ms on the other. This will make even the smallest room sound like a cathedral.
I run the 284 through a Marshall 1936 cab. That cab can be run stereo. I only use it for home practice. There not much stereo spread, but it's okay when your sitting right in front of it.
I usually run the 284 into the 1936 and an Avatar 2x12. It's a lot for a home amp but I love it!!! I also use a Lexicon mpx 100 for stereo reverb, delay, and some modulation effects. At 2 times 3 watts, it gets a little loud to crank it at home, but when you do...
I use a 1X12 30 watt combo for my carry amp.
homesick345
Poster Extraordinaire
I have no doubt! I often run delay + chorus into one side of the Modfactor Leslie program
Seasickness guaranteed....Week at heart should abstain....
Gorgeous to the point it's totally unusable, not even by pink floyd lol
FenderLover
Poster Extraordinaire
I run the 284 through a Marshall 1936 cab. That cab can be run stereo. I only use it for home practice. There not much stereo spread, but it's okay when your sitting right in front of it.
I usually run the 284 into the 1936 and an Avatar 2x12. It's a lot for a home amp but I love it!!! I also use a Lexicon mpx 100 for stereo reverb, delay, and some modulation effects. At 2 times 3 watts, it gets a little loud to crank it at home, but when you do...
I use a 1X12 30 watt combo for my carry amp.
__________________
The 284 is my setup with a Mojo 2x12 wired out of phase like Fauxsuper suggested, and a lexicon MPX 550. Since the source is mono (guitar) I split the signal with stereo effects thru a custom looper/splitter that also sums to mono for a center channel. FunGuitar @ home.
