Where can I get an A/B box?

singemonkey

So the lads are complaining about the amount of time it takes me to swap guitars. I have one in standard and one in open E. It would, I think, take even longer to retune a guitar between two standards.

An elegant solution might be an A/B box - both guitars plugged in with a switch determining which one gets to talk to Mr. Ampy. Any idea where I could get such a thing? Better solutions (that don't involve buying more guitars ?)

Gearhead

I made one for Sean a while ago and iIrc it took me a whole of two hours. Drilling four holes in a small enclosure, mounting three jacks and a footswitch and wiring up is best done diy imho.

Tonedef

Why dont you build one? Seems like childs play to me.

Bob-Dubery

singemonkey wrote: So the lads are complaining about the amount of time it takes me to swap guitars. I have one in standard and one in open E. It would, I think, take even longer to retune a guitar between two standards.

An elegant solution might be an A/B box - both guitars plugged in with a switch determining which one gets to talk to Mr. Ampy. Any idea where I could get such a thing? Better solutions (that don't involve buying more guitars ?)

You still need to physically swop guitars. So why not use a volume pedal or a tuner with a 'mute' function in the signal chain? Mute the signal, unplug guitar a, plug the lead into guitar b, unmute.

makepeace

+1 to the gearhead and the tonedef. It would be the cheapest solution, and its very straight forward.

As far as i can see there are two options, completely passive, and one with LED's. You might want one with LED's.. Just to make sure that you know whats cracking 100% of the time.

http://www.generalguitargadgets.com/pdf/ggg_sw_ab_lo.pdf?phpMyAdmin=4a28f86a515b7883e7bc35a68d4e7b6d&phpMyAdmin=78482479fd7e7fc3768044a841b3e85a

Completely passive is just minus the led's, battery and dc jack. You should be able to get all the parts here: http://za.rs-online.com/web/

edit:

If you don't want to build, I'm sure you could get one from almost any guitar shop (Bothners Claremont or MM). There are also shmancy ones that have master vol controls for A and B: http://www.muz.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=73_222_337&products_id=1583

raithza

I dont see how an A/B box would make switching guitars that much quicker? as opposed to-step on tuner, switch cables, jam?

Warren

I bought a Radial Bigshot I/O for this exact reason, was about R700 or so from Marshall Music I think.

http://www.customguitargear.com/radial-bigshot-io.html

Has some handy features like a switch which allows you to "dim" the inputs of one guitar so that the signals to the amp are better matched (handy if you are combining single-coil and humbucker guitars), and a seperate line-out to your tuner (or you could just keep the tuner in the chain for the mute, like I do with my Polytune).

I find that not having to fiddle around with cables on stage (plug / unplug guitars) is really handy. Particularly if you break a string and need to move to your backup guitar, it's a lot less stressful mid-song ?

Recommended from me!

AndrewD

I use a cable with a silent jack (no need to mute anything) - if your 2nd guitar is on a stand and ready to go it takes a few seconds to switch.

singemonkey

Thanks for the great suggestions folks.

Re it making no difference. My plan is to have two guitars, two stands. I will no longer have to fiddle with cables, just swing one guitar off pick up the other and I'm good to go. The difference of seconds counts when Renesongs and Jack are making with the arching of the eyebrows, turning quickly to the tapping of the feets ("Waily waily! No' the tappin' o' the feets!")

Furthermore, the less fussing there is, the less rattled I get in the change-over. Also a good thing.

Re making it myself: I'm not functionally literate electronically, and I'm a huge procrastinator. Add them together and... you see my problem?

Warren's suggestion is excellent. The lights would be reassuring - especially when I've accidentally hit the switch and the guitar I'm using has gone silent and I can't work out why. The volume set up is also excellent, since just about any guitar combo of mine I use will have a considerable level difference - and especially my current one.

Will find out if Marshall have another of these.

Of course, I can think of one more option. Anyone want to volunteer as my roadie? I'll start paying as soon as I get big. Promise. ?

Warren

singemonkey wrote: Thanks for the great suggestions folks.

Re it making no difference. My plan is to have two guitars, two stands. I will no longer have to fiddle with cables, just swing one guitar off pick up the other and I'm good to go. The difference of seconds counts when Renesongs and Jack are making with the arching of the eyebrows, turning quickly to the tapping of the feets ("Waily waily! No' the tappin' o' the feets!")

Furthermore, the less fussing there is, the less rattled I get in the change-over. Also a good thing.

Re making it myself: I'm not functionally literate electronically, and I'm a huge procrastinator. Add them together and... you see my problem?

Warren's suggestion is excellent. The lights would be reassuring - especially when I've accidentally hit the switch and the guitar I'm using has gone silent and I can't work out why. The volume set up is also excellent, since just about any guitar combo of mine I use will have a considerable level difference - and especially my current one.

Will find out if Marshall have another of these.

Of course, I can think of one more option. Anyone want to volunteer as my roadie? I'll start paying as soon as I get big. Promise. ?

Just a quick thing: mine has no lights. The only way you know you've got the right guitar switched on is to strum a diminished chord with fuzz, screamer, octaver, chorus and reverse-delay all turned on and listen for the screams. You get used to it though, and while switching you only have to stomp on it once anyway.

As for the point being less rattled, this is a major thing for me too. When I have to bend down, unplug things etc. mid set it really throws me. I go out of "music" mode and into "handyman" mode and have to fight down the urge to prowl around with a set of adjustable socket tools, looking for something to wrench.

Ray

Is this not what you after:

http://www.musicmadness.co.za/guitar-accessories/guitars/guitar-accessories/boss-ab-2

singemonkey

Ray wrote: Is this not what you after:

http://www.musicmadness.co.za/guitar-accessories/guitars/guitar-accessories/boss-ab-2

Hmm. Doesn't have the volume controls. But it is cheaper.

Warren

Ray wrote: Is this not what you after:

http://www.musicmadness.co.za/guitar-accessories/guitars/guitar-accessories/boss-ab-2

That's what I was looking for originally, but couldn't find one.

Renesongs

Singe you going to need a 3 way switch A , B and A+B when we need you to do that Michael Angelo Batio thing with the slide on the one hand fretting with the other and picking with your tongue and don't forget your lead boots to stop you falling over. I did mention that our next gig is in the shark tank at the aquarium?

raithza

Hmm did you consider a snapjack cable? Isn't this what they're perfect for?

makepeace

raithza wrote: Hmm did you consider a snapjack cable? Isn't this what they're perfect for?

Still means fiddling around with cables + guitars. Stepping on a switch and just swapping guitars seems to be the way to go re time.

PM'd

Jack-Flash-Jr

Renesongs wrote: Singe you going to need a 3 way switch A , B and A+B when we need you to do that Michael Angelo Batio thing with the slide on the one hand fretting with the other and picking with your tongue and don't forget your lead boots to stop you falling over. I did mention that our next gig is in the shark tank at the aquarium?

Upside down, naked. Can't make things too easy on ourselves.

Renesongs

Upside down, naked. Can't make things too easy on ourselves.

The last time I appeared naked in public I got harpooned by a Japanese tourist. Lucky there were some Green Peace activists about that persuaded him that he couldn't keep me not even for research purposes. ☹

AlanRatcliffe

I bought the GGG kit. Assembled it in under half an hour and it's worked ever since.

I use it exactly as you describe: both guitars are plugged in and ready to play at the stomp of the switch. I've also used it to swap amps or to swap inputs on non channel-switching amps (and even between high and low inputs on occasion). It's one of those simple tools that are always handy having.

singemonkey

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I bought the GGG kit.