amp in effects loop? looping amps?!

[jonathan perez]

can you put an amplifier in the effects loop of another amp?

well...i already know you can use the power amp section by running the pre amp into the effects return...

but can you run the send into the input of amp A, the preamp to the return, and plug your guitar in to amp B?

[rockgardenlove]

So run the signal like this:
Guitar->amp1 input->send->amp2 input->amp2 send/amp1 return->amp1 power amp?

What!?

[jonathan perez]

whoah....

it wasnt my idea, I was challenged! haha

[slacker]

don't see why not, the first amp's preamp would just be acting like a stompbox in front of the second.
You can do a similar thing with my Zoom GFX8 multi effects processor.The guitar goes into the GFX8 through the distortion and compressor patches, then you put your amp's pre amp in the GFX8's effects loop, which is before the delays and modulation effects,  and the ouput from the GFX8 into the return on the amp. This way you get distortion patches in front of the amp and delays and things in your amp's effects loop.

[jonathan perez]

but wouldnt i need some sort of "dummy load" for the speaker outs of the amp thats acting as a "stompbox"?

[slacker]

You are only talking about putting one amp's preamp into the effects loop of another not the whole amp?
If you did it like rockgardenlove said I'm pretty sure eveything would be Ok but don't take my word for it.
I don't think you can damage an amp by plugging something into it's effects send but not plugging anything into the return. All you're doing is disconnecting the input to the poweramp.

[jonathan perez]

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH
ook...

i just dont want anything to happen to the power amp if the "stompbox" amp.

but i still dont understand how to connect it properly?

i see what hes saying, but it doesnt make sense to me...maybe?

[d95err]

but wouldnt i need some sort of "dummy load" for the speaker outs of the amp thats acting as a "stompbox"?

If it's a tube amp, you must have a dummy load. If it's a solid state amp, it's OK to run with no speaker.

[jonathan perez]

ok then, forget it. i dont want to blow anything up. 

[rockgardenlove]

Just turn the poweramp volume all the way down, and put in a 5 watt however-many-ohms-you-need sandbox resistor across the speaker output...

That would work, right?

[JimRayden]

You're gonna need a little circuit called "Herzog". It's basically a "line out" for tube amps but it will work on your amp. Let me see if i can find the schemo.

[edit]
Here it is:
http://home.cfl.rr.com/dbhammond/Firezog.gif

You just replace the 5W resistor with at least twice the wattage of your amp (that's if you're gonna run your amp full-bore, You can also turn down the output volume and calculate the resistor value for that setting). Also change the value of the resistor to match your amp's output - 10 ohms for an 8-ohm output and 5-ohms for a 4-ohm output. Wires 2 and 4 plug into your amp's output and other side to the speaker. If you unplug the speaker, it activates the 10-ohm load and line out is active all the time.

---------
Jimbo

[AdamB]

If the first amp is a combo amp then a dummy load isn't needed, Just leave the speaker plugged in, it won't do any damage.

-Adam

[NoFi]

Or take the power tubes out ?

[JimRayden]

If the first amp is a combo amp then a dummy load isn't needed, Just leave the speaker plugged in, it won't do any damage.

-Adam

Yes, that is a way of having two amps screaming in yer face. I think he wants one amp go only in to the other's input. That's why I mentioned the Herzog's lineout working with either the speaker connected to the herzog or without (the load connected).

Or take the power tubes out ?

That would certainly result in a "No-Fi" situation because there would be no output to talk of.

---------
Jimbo

[NoFi]

Yep i meant pull out the output tubes from the amp in the loop, no need to hook it up to speakers or dummy load i think.

Edit : That is if the amp has a built in effects loop or he'll need a device like the Herzog to provide the line out.

[JimRayden]

Yep i meant pull out the output tubes from the amp in the loop, no need to hook it up to speakers or dummy load i think.

If you pull the power tubes, there'll be no signal to feed into the second amp.

---------
Jimbo

[NoFi]

Not if that amp has an effects return or a line out. They are before the Pi usually. Or did i miss something ?

Anyways nevermind i think we got all options covered. 

[JimRayden]

Yeah, you either build a herzog to put after either a tube amp or a SS amp OR use the line out (and in case of a tube amp pull the tubes).

It would help all of us if the starter of the thread (oh boy, why don't people write their names in the user name slot when registering?) posted his rig and what he's trying to acieve, I'm sure we could figure something out pretty quick and wouldn't have to assume so much.

---------
Jimbo