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Topic: What's a good AB box? |
Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 12:28 pm |
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| Can anyone recommend a good AB or ABY box? I need something simple (and passive) to switch back and forth between my steel and my six string. I looked briefly at the Boss LS-2 but that requires a power supply and it's overly complicated for what I need. Some people claim it alters tone and adds noise besides. There must be a more simple product that is completely transparent? |
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Tom Mossburg
From:
AZ,
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 12:36 pm
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| Bill I've got a Morley that works well. Simple as can be. It uses 2 passive footswitches but uses a battery to light a couple leds to show which input/output is active. Theres nothing in the signal path to color the sound. Also a great alternative is a Korg rack mount tuner that has two inputs but that does complicate things and they're not cheap. |
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Micky Byrne
From:
United Kingdom (deceased)
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 12:52 pm Re: What's a good AB box?
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Bill, try what I have, I double from steel to telecaster sometimes. On these occasions I use a Boss AB-2. It takes 2 batteries which seem to last indefinitely, and looks like a typical Boss foot switch. It has different coloured lights to show when you've switched over, and really "inexpensive" to buy. It's only one switch to press for the switch over, and no alteration of tone in any way 
Micky Byrne United kingdom www.mickybyrne.com |
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Mark van Allen
From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 1:03 pm
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Bill, I don't know if you don't mind a bit of soldering, but this is one thing that's really easy to build from radio shack parts.
You can get a two position two pole switch and a couple of jacks for a few bucks. If you want a lighted indicator version, just use a three pole switch and connect one pole to a battery and L.E.D. Here's a plan showing a footswitch (that may be hard to find), but you would do it exactly the same with a rotary switch from any RShack:
http://smallbox.zeonhost.com/projects/abbox/
Here's a basic no-frills unit for sale on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/DOD-VAC270-A-B-Box/dp/B0002GU1NS |
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Papa Joe Pollick
From:
Swanton, Ohio
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 2:30 pm
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Bill, I use 2 Morleys in my set-up.They do the job just fine.About $40 each.
Like Mark said,they are a simple thing to build if you can solder.Been thinkin of makin one myself. PJ |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 3:02 pm
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Thanks for the replies thus far, I'm jotting down all of these units to watch for on eBay. ( I can't find a single online Canadian dealer who stocks any of them) That DOD looks to be the smallest, which I like since my gig bag runneth over.
Mark, I'd better not take the DIY route...my soldering skills are more suited to propane torches and copper pipe. I do have a soldering gun but in the past I've had trouble with that treacherous line between not enough heat to melt and spontaneous liquefication and general carnage.
All of these boxes mentioned would give a true bypass right? |
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Don Discher
From:
Sault Ste Marie,Ontario,Canada
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 7:11 pm a-b
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| I use a DOD 270, works good,reasonably priced. |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 7:44 pm
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I used a passive AB box for switching between my Emmons and my Fender T-8. Absolutly NO tone loss.
All it says on the small black box is "AB-10"; no other writing. I bought it at a local music store for about $30.
Maybe Muscian's Friend would have this.
Thanx,
Jim |
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Bob Carlucci
From:
Candor, New York, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 9:22 pm
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| buy a DOD on ebay.. you'll get it for a pittance, and they are just as good as ANY on the market... bob |
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Mike Fried
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 16 Jan 2007 9:46 pm
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Radial (a Canadian company, I believe) makes a terrific passive A-B switching pedal (Big Shot I/O) that features silent switching and a mute function when switching to a tuner that plugs into a second output. The "B" input can be adjusted (lowered) with a trimpot to match input levels as well. It's also very compact and built like a tank, and doesn't require power. I paid about $60US for it and haven't regretted not going cheaper.
http://www.tonebone.com/re-bigshot-io-detail.htm
_________________
Visit my music page at http://facebook.com/drfried |
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Greg Simmons
From:
where the buffalo (used to) roam AND the Mojave
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Posted 17 Jan 2007 5:49 am
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| Quote: |
| Radial (a Canadian company, I believe) makes a terrific passive A-B switching pedal (Big Shot I/O) |
Yep, that's this one...$79 Canadian
http://www.guitarpartscanada.com/product_info.php?products_id=745 
_________________
<i>�Head full of this kaleidoscope of brain-freight, Heart full of something simple and slow�</i>
-Mark Heard
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 17 Jan 2007 6:39 am
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| Got a DOD 270 on Ebay for $10 for exactly what you need yours for. It works fine, sounds fine, quiet switching. There are some very nice switching boxes oout there that do fancier stuff, but for a basic A/B box, the DOD works fine. |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 17 Jan 2007 7:14 am
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Quite a few options here. That Radial BigShot I/O is impressive looking alright, but sort of expensive for what I need. There doesn't seem to be a Canadian online retailer selling the DOD model but I may phone around.
Before I get anything I want to get an idea of how using an A/B box might work with using my BlackBox. I'd like to run both instruments (steel and six string electric) through the BB but there's the issue of the BB needing to 'see' the pickup before anything else. I don't know yet if a passive A/B box between the instrument and the BlackBox would corrupt that relationship. |
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John Macy
From:
Rockport TX/Denver CO
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Mike Fried
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2007 11:11 am
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Bill, a passive A/B box won't affect the input of the BB, but it is best if the BB is before your volume pedal (if it's a passive pedal). Unless you're running both instruments through the volume pedal, it might be best to dedicate the BB to the steel only to maximize its effect.
_________________
Visit my music page at http://facebook.com/drfried |
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Kevin Mincke
From:
Farmington, MN (Twin Cities-South Metro) USA
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John Cook
From:
Sarasota, Florida, USA
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Posted 17 Jan 2007 6:03 pm
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Saw a guy in St. Louis selling a b switches pretty cheap. His name was Jerry and his product is called Jerryrig. Couldn't find it on line but his email is: harkins@ktc.com
phone: 830 385 9487
Good Luck, jc |
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Marlin Smoot
From:
Kansas
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Posted 17 Jan 2007 9:10 pm
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| Take a look at the Framptone. It looks like Robert keeley is having something to do with them. Designed suggested by Peter Frampton. There are a couple of units to look at. Pro gear. |
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Paul Arntson
From:
Washington, USA
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 18 Jan 2007 10:46 am
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| I too like the Boss LS-2. It's kind've a pain....You have to power it and have to use a "dummy" plug to make it work as an A/B box...but the gain controls are worth it to me. For me, it replaces the need for an impedance match box. |
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Eric Dunst
From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2007 1:27 pm
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I use a Whirlwind A/B/Y to switch between my lap steel and Telecaster. It works quite well. I found it on Craigslist for $20. For what it's worth, I have also heard very good things about the Startouch pedals.
http://www.startouchpedals.com/
Further, It's my understanding that swithching between two guitars (inputs) is not as critical as switching between amps.
~eric |
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Bill Miller
From:
Gaspe, Quebec, Canada
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Posted 19 Jan 2007 1:54 pm
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The more I look into this the more tempted I am by the Radial BigShot I/O. It's a bit pricey but it seems impressive.
Greg, I won't be buying one from Guitarpartscanada.com though...already have an outstanding order with that outfit and they don't seem to have it together at all. They've had 8 business days to get my order here within the same province and I'm still waiting. I spoke to someone there on Monday who thought they might ship later that day. He sounded sleepy...hope I didn't wake him, but if I did he must have nodded off again as soon as he hung up. Their service is underwhelming.  |
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Mike Fried
From:
Nashville, TN, USA
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Posted 19 Jan 2007 3:34 pm
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Bill, I honestly don't think you'd regret buying the Radial I/O box. It really is a first-rate quality piece of gear with some really useful features. I've used the DOD and the Morley and they're fine for what they are, but the Radial's added features and construction quality make it worth the extra $$, IMO.
_________________
Visit my music page at http://facebook.com/drfried |
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