Is Y-cabling from guitar OK?
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- KVRAF
- 1628 posts since 3 Oct, 2001 from Thailand
I want to send my guitar output to parallel effects (2 at the same time), so I'm thinking about making a Y-cable for that. Is that OK? Since both destination are guitar effects, they should both have high-impedance inputs. Is there any detrimental effect in doing so?
Peace, my friends. I'm not seeking arguments here. 
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- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
tbh I dont think a "Y" cable is a good idea. I wanted to split my signal as well and I went with a Radial ABY box...technically it's a two way splitter but it has a thru-put that is constantly on...it's only 75 bux at MF and is passive...well made, quiet...I highly recommend it.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=153931
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=153931
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRAF
- 3032 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Central NY
I use a Morely ABY box....its a bit less fancy and a bit cheaper but
also does the job nicely. Several other manufactures produce this
type of box too but the Radial is definitely the finest. All of
their gear is the dog's danglies!
Cheers....CL
also does the job nicely. Several other manufactures produce this
type of box too but the Radial is definitely the finest. All of
their gear is the dog's danglies!
Cheers....CL
the secrets to old age: Faster horses, Richer Women, Bigger CPU's
https://soundcloud.com/cristofe-chabot/sets/main
https://soundcloud.com/cristofe-chabot/sets/main
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- KVRAF
- 4222 posts since 23 Feb, 2004 from Tucson Arizona USA
It won't really be a 2:1 relation, of course.camsr wrote:You shouldn't split the signal without something like Hink suggested. Your amps will have to work at twice the volume each for the same level.
Anyway, The Problem: You want to take the output of a guitar and split it to two or more destinations.
The Complications: You don't want to introduce any line hum. You want the impedence to be within a very close tolerance between the outputs (and close to the original output as well), and you don't want to introduce capacitances that cause high frequency rolloff.
This is a tougher problem than it appears at first blush, for a passive circuit at least. It's further complicated with a guitar because knob settings and the pickup switch position can have serious effects on the impedence.
The Solution: I'm sure The Right Way To Do This involves an active DI, one with an impedence matching circuit, a buffered amplifier, and a transformer with balanced output. I'm sure the Skunk Works DIY way to do it would be nothing more than a 1:1 transformer with a filter cap.
As user Camsr told you, of course the wrong way to do it is with a "Y" cable. It might seem to work okay -- it might not even hum; but there are a whole lot of weird things that can come from impedence mismatch -- reduced SNR if you're lucky, a FUBAR tube amp if you're unlucky.
Most likely result is somewhere in between; subtle and unpleasant changes in the response of your pickups.
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- Rad Grandad
- 38041 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
uhm, did you look at the pic I posted?...There is a ground lift, a phase switch and a transformer...I have no idea why you think it needs to be active, but I assure you this is a perfect solution and absolutely no changes in the response of the pick-ups...james0tucson wrote:It won't really be a 2:1 relation, of course.camsr wrote:You shouldn't split the signal without something like Hink suggested. Your amps will have to work at twice the volume each for the same level.
Anyway, The Problem: You want to take the output of a guitar and split it to two or more destinations.
The Complications: You don't want to introduce any line hum. You want the impedence to be within a very close tolerance between the outputs (and close to the original output as well), and you don't want to introduce capacitances that cause high frequency rolloff.
This is a tougher problem than it appears at first blush, for a passive circuit at least. It's further complicated with a guitar because knob settings and the pickup switch position can have serious effects on the impedence.
The Solution: I'm sure The Right Way To Do This involves an active DI, one with an impedence matching circuit, a buffered amplifier, and a transformer with balanced output. I'm sure the Skunk Works DIY way to do it would be nothing more than a 1:1 transformer with a filter cap.
As user Camsr told you, of course the wrong way to do it is with a "Y" cable. It might seem to work okay -- it might not even hum; but there are a whole lot of weird things that can come from impedence mismatch -- reduced SNR if you're lucky, a FUBAR tube amp if you're unlucky.
Most likely result is somewhere in between; subtle and unpleasant changes in the response of your pickups.
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRAF
- 4222 posts since 23 Feb, 2004 from Tucson Arizona USA
Hink wrote: uhm, did you look at the pic I posted?...There is a ground lift, a phase switch and a transformer...I have no idea why you think it needs to be active, but I assure you this is a perfect solution and absolutely no changes in the response of the pick-ups...
"Only" two outputs though. I'm picturing one of them is directly wired to the input, and the other one is on the output side of a 1:1 transformer.
Doubt you could DIY much cheaper, unless you were into winding the transformer yourself.