Best aby boxes

[roodyrocker]

Radial makes a passive one and an active one. I've got the passive model and it works great,
also relatively cheap. The active one's more $ but has a buffer-type circuit included that
claims to eliminate pickup loading. Can't beat Radial gear for build quality...

Yep, very true. After my experience with the Morley box I decided I did not need a cheap ABY box, I needed a good ABY box. Hence the Radial Engineering Switchbone. You also have to watch out with ABY boxes for safety issues. If not done correctly you risk shock if the amps aren't properly isolated. The Radial Engineering is done correctly. This is why I would avoid no-name builders on E-Bay. Not saying they don't all know what they're doing but the problem is you don't know.
The other way I would run two amps is using a GigRig pedal switcher. The GigRig puts pedals in loops and lets you turn on/off any combination of them and route them to one amp or the other, or both simultaneously. Very expensive but the best pedal switcher on the market, again with both amps isolated.

[Newc]

No problems with mine either. I changed the red LEDs to blue... the battery seems to wear down faster, so I think I need different resistors... but those are my doing.

....battery?.....I don't recall mine having one....

[djford]

So with the gigrig you can run effects in a more practic way as well? I am always. Confused when it comes to aby and delays

[roodyrocker]

With the GigRig you plug each pedal into a loop. Then you simply set the DIP switch to the corresponding pedal that you want on with that particular program. So let's say you had 8 pedals on your board but wanted only 3 of them activated on. Say those pedals are in loops 1, 5, and 7 and you wanted them to also go to amp B but not amp A when you hit program number 1. Can you imagine the tap dancing required to do that without a switcher? With the GigRig you would set the DIP switches of loops 1,5, and 7 to on along with the DIP switch for amp B to on for program 1. Now when you hit the footswitch to program 1, bam all those are on and directed to the proper amp. It even has an adjustable boost built in if you need it. They also make a 5A power supply that can power your entire board. In fact they powered their entire booth display at NAMM off one of their power supplies! Very nice stuff but pricey, made in England.

[Musician78]

....battery?.....I don't recall mine having one....

Yes. A 9 volt. I think it only powers the LEDs.

[Shawn Lutz]

for a simple ABY box I'd go with Whirlwind. I used one all the time when I only had two amps and never had an issue.

[Robert Hendrix]

I picked up a Morley, used it once.....It's in my junk drawer now.. Noisey sum bitch it is!

[thebigz]

I built my own for about $18. Works great and I put in BIG bright LEDs in my color choice. Sounds and works great.

Do you still have your schematic? I'd like to try.

[bratfink]

An ABY box needs isolation and ground lift. Otherwise you are asking for trouble.

[roodyrocker]

An ABY box needs isolation and ground lift. Otherwise you are asking for trouble.

Exactly, that's why I say just go with the Radial Engineering

[djford]

How much is the gig rig set up could find much on the net?

[roodyrocker]

How much is the gig rig set up could find much on the net?

The GigRig is expensive but a great unit. I wouldn't get it just for running an A/B/Y setup, its a pedal switching system. They make a Midi 8 which allows up to six pedals and the Pro 14 with up to 10 pedals. They also make a variety of power options for the pedals including specialized stuff like power adapters to eliminate the large wallwarts from Eventide pedals. Here is their website: http://www.thegigrig.com/
And here is a demo video on Youtube showing some of things it can do: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmhZJ72bwPA

[bratfink]

Exactly, that's why I say just go with the Radial Engineering

For the money I'd go with RJM. Radial is a good product though.

[charvelguy]

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/low-end-theory/179875-best-guitar-ab-y-switcher.html

[roodyrocker]

For the money I'd go with RJM. Radial is a good product though.

RJM makes good stuff too. Either of those two is a good option.