• Ernie Ball
  • MusicMan
  • Sterling by MusicMan

backagain1

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2004
Messages
391
Location
Indiana
Can I drive a second bass amp by running a guitar chord from my Markbass CMD 102P SEND EFFECT 1/4” JACK into the input jack of the second bass amp? Or will it damage one or both of the amps?

Thanks,

backagain1
 

KevinM

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Messages
841
Location
SoCal
You can also run it into the effects return of the 2nd amp. This will bypass your preamp and reduce the stress on your 2nd amp.
I use that technique with my Sansamp (preamp) into my SVT-450 as recommended by Tech-21.
 

backagain1

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2004
Messages
391
Location
Indiana
I have done this for years with my CMD102P and my Vox guitar amp. Never had any issues. JOSH

Thanks to both mmbassplayer and KevinM! I think I'll try it both ways you suggested. I was just afraid I would damage something.

Another option I considered is running from the tuner out jack into the input of the 2nd amp.

Thanks!
 

KevinM

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Messages
841
Location
SoCal
The tuner out is pre eq and wouldn't get the tone you want. The potential damage could come from having multiple preamps feeding into the 2nd amp if your power level is too high. My Ampeg has effects send/return and power amp in. I use the effects return so the pre-eq settings come from my Sansamp.
If you run the line to the effects return your tone will be shaped by the first amp alone. If you run into the guitar input you'll have tone shaping from both on the 2nd amp. Could be interesting to play with but changes on your first amp will act differently on your 2nd one.
As long as nothing is damaged it's all good I think.
 

pete bass

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 4, 2012
Messages
138
Location
La Vinuela, Malaga, Spain
Why don´t you just use an A B Y box they are cheap enough ? you have the choice of 1 bass guitar into 2 amplifiers or 1 bass and guitar or mandolin into 1 single input on amp.....;)
 
Last edited:

sanderhermans

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2013
Messages
1,091
Location
belgium
Another question in multiple amp use... is it better to put my sansamp into the input of my amp or into the power amp input?
I have tried both and both have their downsides. When using the amp inpu i seem to overload it sometimes as the red light indicates the amp peaking. But if i turn the amps gain down enough this doesnt occur. So it seems fine but mayebe theres to manny equalizer and gain stacking on top of each other.
when plugin into the power amp it. It all sounds cleaner and slightly better for bass but the master volume does nothing so the power amp seems to be at constant 100% so i have to turn down volume of samsamp and fuzz effect and so the drive decreases.
I also use this setup for guitar and then option 1 is the best as i can get more gain and the sound is more layered because of the multi preamps. So what doe you guys recomend?
 

KevinM

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2011
Messages
841
Location
SoCal
Another question in multiple amp use... is it better to put my sansamp into the input of my amp or into the power amp input?
I have tried both and both have their downsides. When using the amp inpu i seem to overload it sometimes as the red light indicates the amp peaking. But if i turn the amps gain down enough this doesnt occur. So it seems fine but mayebe theres to manny equalizer and gain stacking on top of each other.
when plugin into the power amp it. It all sounds cleaner and slightly better for bass but the master volume does nothing so the power amp seems to be at constant 100% so i have to turn down volume of samsamp and fuzz effect and so the drive decreases.
I also use this setup for guitar and then option 1 is the best as i can get more gain and the sound is more layered because of the multi preamps. So what doe you guys recomend?

As long as you turn your gain down to control clipping you should be alright. The danger of too much power is the main reason cited in the owner's manual for using the effects return.
You say your using the power amp input. Does your amp have an effects loop? If so, try running into the effects return instead. If you're in the effects return you bypass the pre-amp on the head. If your using the power amp input you might be bypassing the main amp and the master volume. I'm not 100% sure in the power amp input suggestion but give it a try.
 

sanderhermans

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 5, 2013
Messages
1,091
Location
belgium
As long as you turn your gain down to control clipping you should be alright. The danger of too much power is the main reason cited in the owner's manual for using the effects return.
You say your using the power amp input. Does your amp have an effects loop? If so, try running into the effects return instead. If you're in the effects return you bypass the pre-amp on the head. If your using the power amp input you might be bypassing the main amp and the master volume. I'm not 100% sure in the power amp input suggestion but give it a try.

Thx for the reply. Well the main reason i would like to use the power amp in is because it seems to sound better on bass. But if i plug into the effects return i get no sound at all....
 
Top Bottom