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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
 Posted - 03/11/2008 : 05:56:56
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So yes... it's very tough for me to get towards the back of my amps in my cramped guitar area and i'm also kind of lazy when it comes to switching cables around every time i want to play, so i'm wondering if anyone has any experience with the Boss AB-2 signal router pedal/switch.
basically, i would only be using two of these to have 2 different amps connected to my effects loop board at all times and not have to reconnect it every time i change amps (i would likely end up just using whichever amp has the loop connected) and instead just toggle which amp they are looped through.
are these junk or are they sufficient for what i want?
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nosi0
Gold Member
Netherlands
511 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 11:02:51
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you only need two if you connect them to the FX loop. These pedals are great. only problem is they only run on a 9V battery. but you can make your own little gadget that clips onto the battery and then transforms it into a female 9V power suply socket and plug your 9V power into them.  Thats what i did with my FS-6 and AB-2 anyway. you don't want to be replacing the need to change cables behind your amp into a need to disconnect the cables from the AB-2 so it doesn't run out of batteries. |
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pedals 4 pv
Platinum Member
Canada
1351 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 11:11:24
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| The only problem with the AB-2 is that it takes 2 AAA batteries which total 3 volts and there is no provision for an external power supply. So, if you don't unplug your cables each time you are finished playing,the batteries go dead. Try to get an AB-Y that is powered by a 9 volt battery so you can adapt it to run from your pedal board supply. Morley makes a 9 volt one, I bought the Apex because it was cheaper and a bit more compact. It's easy to adapt them to use the pedalboards supply by using a 9 volt battery clip and a 2.1X5.5mm inline jack. |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 12:20:53
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You can use an LS-2 instead of the AB-2.
Advantage with the LS-2 is that it can be connected to an adapter but unfortuantely it costs a lot more. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 14:46:51
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quote:
Originally posted by bossarea
You can use an LS-2 instead of the AB-2.
Advantage with the LS-2 is that it can be connected to an adapter but unfortuantely it costs a lot more.
Yep, the LS-2 is most versatile at routing! Besides, you can mix loops as well. Every board should have one. |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 15:07:21
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so i take it the AB-2 isn't passive (using batteries only to power the LED's) like i had hoped.
trying to keep the cost on these under $70 for 2, so unless i found a few mega cheap LS-2's, i'm probably going to have to explore other options.
i guess i'll search for a passive AB box or just build my own. |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 16:04:20
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| No it's not passive. It's got the same FET switch that the compact pedals has so it needs power. I was really disappointed too when I got mine and it ended up on a shelf because of the need for a battery. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 17:00:00
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Be wary of passive ABY boxes as they can rob & attenuation in the "wye" mode. Think of your signal as water through a pipe.. if it splits, the amount going to each amp gets weaker. Active ABY boxes on the other hand can rob tone if the buffers aren't just right.
The best passive A/B switch IMFO is the Little Lehle.
http://www.lehle.com/products/frameset_l1.php?country=de&lang=en&L1_Link=LittleLehle
They also make a good ABY switch.
If all you need is a great passive AB switcher without running into two separate amps simultaneously, make one for about 25 clams:
$8 Hammond 1520BB project box
$7 3 Switchcraft #11 mono jacks
$4 DPDT switch (to isolate the two amps)
$3 some 22ga wire
If you absolutely need to buy one, here's the cheapest:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ABSwitchbox/
But I wouldn't recommend anything less than the Radial:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/BigShotABY/
Good luck |
Edited by - DeFrag on 03/12/2008 03:33:02 |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 20:00:34
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thanks for the input.
i'm never going to need a Y split signal so i'm hoping to go as cheap as humanly possible as this is just a laziness factor of having to unhook 1 effects loop and hook it back up to another amp. i have a feeling it would lead me to playing 1 amp over and over again if i don't find an easy method.
honestly i'm debating heading to radio-shack and buying the cheapest stuff they have... i think i could get it down to ~$10 per box hehe.
for recording/gigging purposes i would of course be looping direct to the pedals.
btw, if IMFO means what i think it means, i'm going to have to start using that :) |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 20:35:35
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quote:
Originally posted by zentropa
btw, if IMFO means what i think it means, i'm going to have to start using that :)
Its patented & I love using it! 
The cheapest way for you would probably be to buy a 1/4"-Y cable, although there will be some loss having the other cable & amp connected at all times. It could be negligible though.. give it a try! |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 03/11/2008 : 23:04:47
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i actually found a copy of the Boss AB-2... but it's 2 of them on 1 pedal for $30.
bought a one spot 9v adapter plug that i can hook up to my Boss RPW-7 to power it.
hopefully it'll work right.
i'll make sure to put a TM next to IMFO :) |
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Laurie
Double Platinum Member
Canada
4854 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 00:09:21
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Ah crap... I just wrote a long description about what to buy to build one yourself and I just noticed DeFrag beat me to it 
I'd always recommend the build-it-yerself route for something this simple becaue it's cheap and you know for a fact that there is only a DPDT switch in it - nothing to rob the signal/tone.
Laurie.
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Edited by - Laurie on 03/12/2008 00:10:29 |
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Tele_Man
Bronze Member
USA
86 Posts |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
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zentropa
Gold Member
USA
837 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 04:41:20
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here's the AB box i ended up getting:
http://www.behringer.com/AB200/index.cfm?lang=ENG
it's not great and i'm picking up a little noise and signal loss through the loop, but at $20-30 for one of these it wasn't bad considering i only needed one. rather versatile little pedal as it will also function as a sustain pedal for keyboards as well as an amp channel switcher.
I would rate it:
Physical Quality: undecided
Sound Quality: C+
Functionality/versatility: A- (No Y capability)
Price: A
one of the more amusing things is on the back label it says not to remove the cover... but you need to remove the cover to put the battery in. |
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DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2008 : 05:25:11
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Looks like a Boss FS-6 clone. If so, then its active & you'll need to unplug from the jacks so you don't run the battery dead.
No offense, but I've seen 3 pieces of Behringer equipment go bad, (not mine).
At least you have something that'll work but I thought you wanted something passive. Good luck with it. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 03/12/2008 05:25:53 |
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Topic |
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Boss AB-2 Signal Router
