Is there a pedal to run guitar & steel to one amp?

Steve Green · Post by **Steve Green** » 24 Apr 2014 3:13 am

I have a Roland Cube 80XL amplifier. I normally play a Telecaster at our shows, but would like to bring my lap steel to do the occasional lead break on.

I'm looking for some type of pedal that I could plug both the Telecaster and the lap steel into, with one output going to the Roland.

I found this D-I-Y Project A/B Switch online, but I was wondering if somebody sold one already made.

I searched Radio Shack (to no avail), and also Musicians Friend, which has a few, but they appear to be intended for using 2 AMPS, not 2 instruments. The only one that looks like it MIGHT work is a "Carl Martin Route Box" but it's also for 2 AMPS, and costs close to $200.

Any suggestions?

Scott Duckworth · Post by **Scott Duckworth** » 24 Apr 2014 3:36 am

The project would probably be much cheaper than an A/B box. However, I can't imagine why an A/B box couldn't be turned around backwards, so it had two inputs to one output...

Tim Windsor · Post by **Tim Windsor** » 24 Apr 2014 3:59 am

There are commercially available pedals that can be used as an A/B switch. I have a Behringer AB-100 that I use. This is a relatively cheap option (< $50) that has done the job for me, but as you might imagine the build quality is not high. I imagine there are sturdier alternatives around if you are willing to spend a bit more.

Craig Baker · Post by **Craig Baker** » 24 Apr 2014 4:02 am

Steve and Scott,
If I understand correctly, you're looking for a volume pedal, not a push-button switch, with two inputs and one output. To function properly, each pickup would need to protected with it's own buffer, or they would mutually load down each other's signal. Without this protection, you would notice a loss of low frequencies and overall level from both guitars. You could possibly isolate them with a resistive network, but not without a loss in volume.

Steve, please let us know if you find such a ready-made pedal.

Sincerely,
Craig Baker 706-485-8792

cmbakerelectronics@gmail.com

C.M. Baker Electronics
P.O. Box 3965
Eatonton, GA 31024

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 24 Apr 2014 4:25 am

These are just a couple of companies. There are others as well.

http://www.loop-master.com/index.php?cP ... b4bki83356

http://www.americanloopers.com/c/451864 ... --aby.html

They make solutions to all sorts of switching situations.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 24 Apr 2014 4:27 am

DOD makes a nice simple passive A/B pedal. Works great.

Stephen Cowell · Post by **Stephen Cowell** » 24 Apr 2014 5:01 am

Any passive A/B box works both backwards and forwards... it's just switches and wire. Some (like the one I have) also have a battery with LED's to indicate which way the switch is set... it would work fine without the battery, just no LED's would light.

So you can use them for two guitars/one amp, one guitar/two amps no problem.

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 24 Apr 2014 5:23 am

I've used passive A/B boxes for years, 2 guitars routed to 1 amp. Works fine and they are very affordable.

For about 80 bucks you can get a Boss LS-2, which allows you to route inputs & outputs in different ways, and you can control the output volume of 2 lines independently, if you find you have one pickup that is hotter than the other. This is what I use now.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifie ... wer-supply

Walter Killam · Post by **Walter Killam** » 24 Apr 2014 5:57 am

I use the Live Wire Solutions ABY1 to switch between my Mando Strat & Bass so I can run both into one amp (PF500) which in turn feeds the PA & monitor rigs. works like a champ costs $50. I couldn't build one for that price. it uses a 9 volt adapter to run the LED's but that is not necessary if you can remember which button you pushed last. the only other thing to consider is some kind of EQ pedal for one of you instruments so you can match volume and tailor eq to work without having to re-eq the amp every time you switch.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifie ... footswitch

there'e even a handy diagram on the bottom of the pedal:

Pete Nicholls · Post by **Pete Nicholls** » 24 Apr 2014 11:10 am

Where else can you go and ask a question and get so many great responses!!

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 24 Apr 2014 11:26 am

You may want to take a look at the products offered by Saturnworks Pedals, a small company out of Northern California. You can find them on the web.

I use a three channel pedal that is customized for my purposes to run pedal steel, lap steel, and a telecaster all to a single channel amp. My pedal has toggle switches rather than foot stomp switches, since I'm usually sitting when I switch instruments. The LED lights are great on dark stages. The pedal will operate without the lights if there's no power supply. Each channel has a volume control so I can set the right volume for each instrument.

He offers active or passive circuitry. I tried the active and didn't like it. The telecaster tone changed dramatically as I turned the volume up or down on the guitar. Bryan, the owner and builder of the pedals, took the pedal back and modified it to be passive. As modified it works exactly as I wanted. If you will only play one instrument at a time, I suggest getting a passive pedal.

Great company.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 24 Apr 2014 11:31 am

Paul. That sounds nice. I built a 3-way box for sitting myself using a Gibson PU switch. Works ok, but the switch has some cross-talk in it.

Jon Light (deceased) · Post by **Jon Light (deceased)** » 24 Apr 2014 11:41 am

Regarding the standing/sitting thing, yes, I designed toggles into this project because stomp switches are difficult to operate by hand.

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 24 Apr 2014 11:42 am

The "Loop-Master" boxes on one of the links above work well. They are about $60 and are true bypass (don't suck high frequency from the tone chain).

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 25 Apr 2014 5:43 am

Boss LS-2. Extremely versatile! A/B switching with Level controls. Can switch the effects loop in and out. Does all kinds of stuff.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 25 Apr 2014 11:35 am

A simple ABY box, like Morley makes, as do others, would do the job if you are ok with the same strength signal going to the amp. But if you need to cut the volume at the pedal, so you don't have to fiddle with the volume control on your single channel amp, then you want something more. That is an important issue for me as I am expected to change instruments quickly, and getting the volume correct for each instrument is always important, particularly when the amp is mic'd into the PA.

In my experience, cross-talk is not really an issue if you only play one instrument or the other and never have both instruments on at the same time.

True bypass seems to be irrelevant to this discussion as a simple passive circuit routing pedal with a volume pot on each channel adds nothing to, and takes nothing away from the signal, other than the normal affect of a volume pot. I run my pedal steel channel at full volume, and the other two channels at about 75%, ad I don't hear any problems with the tone on any of the channels.

Rene Brosseau · Post by **Rene Brosseau** » 26 Apr 2014 8:46 am

I used a simple A-B box, but it changed the tone.
I tried a Peavey Vegas with 2 inputs, but was not reliable.
I had a rackmount patchbay built with toggle switches, & it worked for years until the switches & jacks wore out, & all the mixture of cables in the rack always caused humming.
Went to the Boss LS-2 Line Selector...clean, clear, no noise

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 26 Apr 2014 8:54 am

LS-2: Line Selector

The LS-2 Line Selector pedal represents the easy way to switch settings among several effects devices or amplifiers, or route input and output signals. Two line loops and six looping modes provide a wide variety of applications.

Compact line selection pedal for connecting and switching between multiple amplifiers and effects devices
Provides two line loops with Level control and six looping modes
Can supply power to several BOSS compact pedals when used with an AC adaptor
The ideal power supply and master switching unit for multiple effects setups
BOSS 5-year warranty

Tony Glassman · Post by **Tony Glassman** » 26 Apr 2014 9:30 am

Like crappy cords, little things nip away at your highs.

I go true bypass wherever possible with the exception of the "L'il Izzy" which I believe is a buffer (I love that device). I dislike pot pedals, cheap cords & buffered FX boxes for that reason......and believe me I hear a distinct difference with them in the signal chain.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 26 Apr 2014 10:52 am

If you put a device/pedal into the signal chain that modifies the signal in any manner, than True Bypass is perhaps a good idea, if it actually works as claimed. I suspect that "True Bypass" has become a marketing phrase that is totally unregulated and often claimed without factual basis.

But if you merely put into the signal chain a switching device that only sends the signal left or right, it seems to me you haven't degraded the signal in any way. Me ears tell me that is the case.

I understand the effects of volume pots, and I'm willing to live with those consequences due to the overriding benefits of being able to control the volume of each channel. But why would a passive ABY box without volume pots degrade the tone? Explain that to me please.

I am no electronic wizard. But I know all about the importance of quality cords. The only extra device in my PSG signal chain is a Sarno Black Box. Everything else I've ever tried, including lots of pedals that claimed to be True Bypass, have been eliminated due to their adverse effects on the tone of the steel when turned off. But this new mixer/switching box from SaturnWorks does not cause any of those problems, plus I can set the volumes on each channel. All for about $90 as I recall.

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 10 Jun 2014 1:57 pm

Sounds like what I'm looking for. I play steel, tele, and either acoustic, mando, banjo, dobro, lap steel. I'll check them out!

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 10 Jun 2014 3:10 pm

A simple A/B box should NOT change the tone - it's nothing but a convenient alternative to switching cables.

In a case like this there is no reason to use something expensive or exotic - I often play 3 instruments on stage (6-string, lap or pedal steel and electric mandolin) and use a simple A/B/C/ switch. The only reason it's even powered is to handle the LED's for each channel.

The simpler the better, and the LEAST affect on tone.

Dave Hopping · Post by **Dave Hopping** » 13 Jun 2014 7:06 pm

If I'm playing a little six-string,I use a passive A/B box to Y six-string and steel into the front of the amp,and I use the "volume pedal patch".It means I have to play six-string sitting down,but I have volume pedal on six-string,which to me is the most important effect you can have on that instrument.YMMV.

EDIT:If I'm playing a lot of six-string at work,I'll just bite the bullet and bring two rigs.In that case,a hand truck becomes the most important effect.

Carl Mesrobian · Post by **Carl Mesrobian** » 13 Jun 2014 7:13 pm

I've done the two rig thing and might go back to that

Tom Gorr · Post by **Tom Gorr** » 13 Jun 2014 9:24 pm

Some cheaper a/b bpxed have el crappo jacks in them, and the cables can pull out by breathing on them, make sure you test it first.

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Is there a pedal to run guitar & steel to one amp?

Is there a pedal to run guitar & steel to one amp?

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Thanks, Paul!