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Topic: A/B Box ? Whats the best one ? |
jeff reynolds
From:
Jackson, Ms.
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Posted 8 Nov 2007 9:35 pm |
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I'd like to know what A/B Box people find to be the best to use to switch from PSG to six strng guitar when using the same Amp.
I currently use an old DOD brand A/B Box .
I prefer to not have one that uses a battery.
It would be great if may old matchbox 7A had a switch to A/B the two guitars. |
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Keith Cordell
From:
San Diego
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 1:59 am
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| The Lehle A/B box is amazing, but expensive. The Radial A/B is pretty doggone good, and not as high; everything else is production stuff, and not particularly good. I've been through about 10 of the Whirlwind ones, they are useable but unreliable. |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 4:21 am
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| Check out the Radial BigShot I/O, they're an excellent unit with true bypass and and a switchable tuner patch. I think I paid around $90 for mine but it's well worth the money compared to the less sophisticated ones. |
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Jeremy Steele
From:
Princeton, NJ USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 6:39 am
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| I have been very satisfied with the Morley. Not expensive, and does the job well. |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 7:37 am
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To me, it's really hard to beat a good old passive mechanical switch type AB box. As long as the switch is good quality. The Lehle is pretty awesome. Real nice quiet switching using good relays. But they're expensive. If you don't mind the clicking sound of a footswitch, a simple mechanical type is just fine. Since they're passive, they won't affect your tone.
DOD makes a passive mechanical one for under $40. I bet that one would be just fine, and if the switch isn't great, you could always replace it with a good Fulltone pedal footswitch and have the best mechanical AB box you could want. Still all for under $60.
Brad |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 7:43 am
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Usually the ones with the battery have LEDs, that's why they need the 9v.
I have a few: a Rapco AB-100 which is very good and allows A and B to be independent or used together; a DOD like yours; and a Boss LS-2 which is capable of more advance switching.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 9:24 am
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Boss LS 2! http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/LS-2/index.html
There's so much you can do with this pedal. And you have seperate level controls. If you're just using it as an A/B box, you have a level for the steel and another for your guitar. You can switch loops in and out. Go to the site and download the manual. |
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Joe Harwell
From:
"I've never been bad." ........ Many, LA
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 10:51 am other ab boxes
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Check out loop-master, too.
They have a micro ABY for 50.00 plus shipping.
An AB for 38.00 plus shipping.
Strictly no frills.
Here's some schematics for DIY:
http://www.singlecoil.com/fx.html
Here's another shop of interest:
http://www.electrick-garage.com/
_________________
Joe in LA
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak & the strong; because, someday in life you will have been all of these". |
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Kevin Mincke
From:
Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
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Bob Snelgrove
From:
san jose, ca
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 7:25 pm
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Brad, where do I find a quality replacement switch for my DOD. The included one has been nothing but trouble. Took out a BW speaker!
bob
| Brad Sarno wrote: |
To me, it's really hard to beat a good old passive mechanical switch type AB box. As long as the switch is good quality. The Lehle is pretty awesome. Real nice quiet switching using good relays. But they're expensive. If you don't mind the clicking sound of a footswitch, a simple mechanical type is just fine. Since they're passive, they won't affect your tone.
DOD makes a passive mechanical one for under $40. I bet that one would be just fine, and if the switch isn't great, you could always replace it with a good Fulltone pedal footswitch and have the best mechanical AB box you could want. Still all for under $60.
Brad |
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Bob Snelgrove
From:
san jose, ca
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Posted 9 Nov 2007 7:44 pm
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| John Billings wrote: |
Boss LS 2! http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/LS-2/index.html
There's so much you can do with this pedal. And you have seperate level controls. If you're just using it as an A/B box, you have a level for the steel and another for your guitar. You can switch loops in and out. Go to the site and download the manual. |
Doe it mess with the tone?
bob |
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 10 Nov 2007 11:51 am Dod
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I've been using a Dod 270? I think? Not sure about the 270 but I've used it for 4 or 5 years now, and have never replaced a battery. Heavy metal housing, great A+B box. IMO
Terry |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2007 1:34 pm
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| Bob, the LS 2 is very transparent. |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 10 Nov 2007 4:42 pm
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| John Billings wrote: |
| Bob, the LS 2 is very transparent. |
Yes, it is pretty transparent, but the switching is very finicky. In fact, sometimes I have to step on it a few times to get what I want.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Jan Dunn
From:
Union, NJ USA
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Brad Sarno
From:
St. Louis, MO USA
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Posted 14 Nov 2007 6:30 pm
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Yea Jan, now you're talkin. Hard to beat a passive AB box with that Fulltone switch. Also, it's lots simpler to build one without the LED's.
Brad |
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Bruce Bouton
From:
Nash. Tn USA
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Posted 18 Nov 2007 7:03 pm
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| Check out loopmaster.com. i just used one of his mini switchers on some gigs and was very satisfied. Good prices too! |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2007 6:04 am
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Mike Neer wrote:"the switching is very finicky. In fact, sometimes I have to step on it a few times to get what I want."
Sounds like the switch needs cleaning. Maybe some adjustment? A drop of oil on the pivots? Mine has never had that problem, neither has my buddy Neil Zaza's, and he's on tour all the time, and has used the LS2 for years.
http://www.neilzaza.com/gear/gear.html |
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Tony Glassman
From:
The Great Northwest
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Posted 20 Nov 2007 8:30 pm
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I think True Bypass is important.....I've never had a buffered AB or AB/Y pedal that faithfully reproduces tone w/o attenuation of highs. I have both of the pedals linked below and they are very transparent.
I never cared for the Radial products which are buffered and harsh sounding (to my ears). The smaller (Radial Big Shot) one has no LED's to visualize channels.
You probably just need an AB pedal (rather than an AB/Y, which allows both channels together).
http://www.loop-master.com
http://www.startouchpedals.com/home.html |
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