No Headphone Out Jack

Frank De Vincenzo · Post by **Frank De Vincenzo** » 17 May 2017 5:54 am

What device(s) are available to connect headphones to an amplifier that has no headphone out jack?
Any suggestions?
The two amps being used are a Session 400 and a Peavey Valve King 50.
Thank you in advance,
Frank

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 May 2017 6:51 am

If the amps have either a "recording" output or a Preamp out you can use a small headphone amp.

Inexpensive Behringer that would work.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audi ... dphone-amp

Frank De Vincenzo · Post by **Frank De Vincenzo** » 17 May 2017 7:12 am

I know there is an additional speaker out and there are effects loop send and return jacks. Can either of these be used to hook up a device to power headphones?
Thanks for reply Jack.

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 17 May 2017 7:22 am

Don't use speaker out for headphones. Too much power. It could cook the phones.

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 17 May 2017 7:52 am

An effects send can do it. Best one would be a Post EQ effect send.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 17 May 2017 8:58 am

Headphones are pretty close (but not exactly) to line-level devices. I'm unfamiliar with the Valve King, but the jack marked "Booster" on the Session should be capable of powering headphones.
Since it's not a headphone jack, it won't kill the power amp (and, since the booster jack is fed from the power amp output, you wouldn't want it to).

Frank De Vincenzo · Post by **Frank De Vincenzo** » 17 May 2017 9:23 am

I'm at the office now but will try these solutions when I get home tonight.
Will either of these output jacks come thru both sides of the headphones, or only one side?
I have the feeling it will not be in stereo.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 17 May 2017 10:55 am

If your volume pedal is equipped with two output jacks, you might also try hooking up your volume pedal utilizing the three cord setup ('Effects Send' on amp to input jack on VP, 'Effects Return' to output jack #1, guitar plugged directly into amp). There should now be a complete signal present in the pedal. Plug your headphones into output jack #2 on VP. FYI: As may be true in any of the solutions mentioned, if your aim is silent practice it may become necessary to unplug one wire lead on the speaker or install a defeat switch.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 17 May 2017 11:53 am

Frank De Vincenzo wrote:I'm at the office now but will try these solutions when I get home tonight.
Will either of these output jacks come thru both sides of the headphones, or only one side?
I have the feeling it will not be in stereo.

Just one. There's no ring on the jack

Frank De Vincenzo · Post by **Frank De Vincenzo** » 18 May 2017 4:16 am

None of that worked. I'll keep looking for another solution.
Thanks boys for your responses.
Frank

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 18 May 2017 4:51 am

If either you have two outputs on your volume pedal, or can get your hands on a twofer splitter,
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Guitar+headphone+amp

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 18 May 2017 5:04 am

You need a headphone amp. Just plugging in the headphones, alone, will not work. See my first post link for a sample of an inexpensive headphone amp.

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 18 May 2017 6:38 am

Frank, just curious: What are you trying to do/accomplish?

Frank De Vincenzo · Post by **Frank De Vincenzo** » 18 May 2017 7:23 am

Jack, I have no outputs on the back of either amp that refer to recording out or preamp out. That's why I was asking for other solutions.

Ajm, all I want to do is be able to hook up a pair of headphones so I can play late at night and not disturb anyone in the house. But neither of my amps seem to have that capability.

I'm getting the feeling I will need to pick up a little practice amp with a dedicated headphone jack.

David Nugent · Post by **David Nugent** » 18 May 2017 2:11 pm

Frank..Re my solution: Please be certain that the wires were hooked up correctly. I gave the setup a trial run before posting and it worked great but you will need to increase the volume level on the amp slightly to obtain an acceptable practice level.

Ken Morgan · Post by **Ken Morgan** » 18 May 2017 3:20 pm

Expensive solution, but if you need a headphone amp than can tap off a speaker load, AND a pretty dandy direct box, this might fill that need...like I said, expensive

http://www.fullcompass.com/prod/508543- ... AD-PRODIGY

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 19 May 2017 7:26 am

Frank: That's what I thought you were going for.

As you can guess from the posts, there are a multitude of ways to accomplish this. Most if not all of them require buying another piece of gear, or modding an amp, or both.

My suggestion (and probably Jack Stoner's): Get a good pair of headphones. Get a mini effects processor like a POD. You will have all of the effects, in stereo, that you ever wanted and then some. You can blast away in the middle of the night, and the loudest thing that anyone will hear is the rods and pedals on your steel.

If you already use an effects processor, and have headphones, you may not need to buy anything. If you don't have a processor, and get one for practice, you could also use it for gigging and run in stereo.

Processors can be inexpensive or as much as you want to spend.

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 22 May 2017 1:35 pm

Frank,

Do you want to play through the amp with the amp's speaker muted so you do not disturb anyone or are you wanting to have the speaker live & use earphones that you can listen to your sound like a monitor?

ajm · Post by **ajm** » 23 May 2017 7:04 am

Tony: Please see Frank's post on 18 May 2017.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 23 May 2017 7:49 am

Most guitar amps big enough to play steel through don't do that. My ex wife had a Yamaha G30-112 that did that. I'd get either a little mixer or a headphone amp.

Frank De Vincenzo · Post by **Frank De Vincenzo** » 23 May 2017 10:45 am

Sorry I have not touched base in a few days. Thank you for all the intelligence gathering. Understanding now how involved it is to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse I have decided on a relatively inexpensive fix. A Line6 Pocket POD should do the trick nicely. I love this forum because you folks are always there to bounce ideas and issues off of! Thank you again,
Frank D.

Tony Oresteen · Post by **Tony Oresteen** » 29 May 2017 12:56 pm

ajm wrote:Tony: Please see Frank's post on 18 May 2017.

ajm, Sorry, I missed that. My bad.

Frank, I can endorse the Pocket Pod. That's what I was thinking about when I asked my dumb question.

I have one and it works great with headphones. Get a headphone extension cord as the head phone cords are never long enough.

I made a stand for mine that makes using it a lot easier. Get an AC adapter as it saves on batteries.

I took an electric guitar to Iraq with me on my last tour in 2010 and used it to practice & play live.

When I played live I used a Whirlwind IMP 2 direct box & xlr mic cable to plug into the PA. Worked great.

Good luck!

Frank De Vincenzo · Post by **Frank De Vincenzo** » 29 May 2017 1:27 pm

Great pictures Tony! Thanks for your testimonial. I'm a big fan of Line6 products.
And also, God bless you for your service to our beloved United States.
Frank D.