Switching between two mandos on stage

[Asha]

I have a mandolin and also an octave mandolin, both acoustic. Each one has a passive piezo (McIntyre feather) pickup installed, and both require the use of a preamp before going out to the house PA or an amp.

During a live set I often have to switch between the two instruments. This invloves turning the volume down on the preamp (LR Baggs PADI), unplugging the cord from the mando, and plugging it into the octave mando, and remembering to turn the volume back up on the preamp. It's a pain to say the least, but it works.

I thought an A-B switchbox would provide an easy way to switch instruments, so I got one and hooked it up between the instruments and the preamp, so I could switch which instrument went to the preamp and then out to the house/amp. Unfortunately, that created an unacceptable very loud POP whenever I switched from one instrument to the next.

I borrowed another preamp so that each instrument had its own, and put the A-B switchbox after the two instruments and preamps. That worked without the POP - but I'd like a solution that only uses a single preamp, plus the less paraphenalia onstage the better.

Any suggestions? I'm considering an Ultrasound PAMM (preamp mini mixer), or some kind of small mixer, although I'm not sure the mixer would provide a preamp for the instruments. Or maybe just a cheap 1/4" Y cable from Radio Shack that I can leave both instruments plugged into the preamp!

[John Flynn]

I have used a Boss AD-5 preamp for this situation. It has two inputs, one for pizeo pickups and one for magnetic, but I found they both can be used for either. Each has its own input gain. I can leave two instruments "hot" simultaneously, or turn the input gain down on the one I am not using, my choice. With two preamps, you could run each instrument/preamp into two different channels on the board and do the same thing. I finally just quit using pickups/preamps, though. I just use a mike on a stand. It sounds better, there are no cords, less set up time and no hassle switching instruments.

[patsites]

I used to have this same problem, I added a Boss AB-2 to my set up and it worked perfectly. No pops or sounds when transferring between the two.

I ran my electric mando through my pedal board with distortion, wah, electric tuner and volume pedal into Channel A of the Boss AB-2, and then ran my acoustic mandolin through an acoustic volume pedal and electric tuner and then into an LR Baggs Acoustic DI and then into Channel B on the Boss AB-2.

Only the active signal is sent to the Amp or PA of your choice.

AB-2 on Ebay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=22669&item=3749107228&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW)

I've since upgraded and now play both mando's through a Roland AC-60 Acoustic Guitar amp. Two independant channels that can each be used for Magnetic/Piezo or mic. I use a Schertler with my acoustic mando and run through a Morley Volume Pedal, Boss Tuner and then into the mic channel of the Roland Amp. I use the same electric mando setup with all my pedals but run into channel 2 for magnetic pickups. I have independant settings for each which is perfect because the electric mando is way louder so I can have it adjusted perfectly, both channels have independant reverb, chorus, space, and delay. I don't even need to hit a pedal to switch between the two because they're both active all the time.

Oh yeah, the Roland AC-60 weighs about 15 pounds, fits in a case I can carry over my shoulder with a strap, not to mention it has stereo XLR's out if your mixer has an extra channel, needless to say, my live sound is stereo, clean, and excellent. I paid a pretty penny for all this stuff, but highly worth it if you play out a lot.

[seano]

I had the same problem. I bought a cheap A/B box that indeed makes an obnoxious "POP". To remedy this problem, I simply turn down the volume on my amp or preamp (a minor inconvenience) before stepping on the switch.

[steve in tampa]

I use a Morley A/B switch. It can also combine 2 signals or 2 amps depending on how you patch in to it.
Eldery and Musicians Friend carry them.

[SiFi]

Asha, I've been looking into the same thing recently (although with a mandolin and guitar).

What brand A-B switchbox did you use? It seems from the other replies that some brands are "quieter" than others when you are changing.

Cheers,

Simon

[Asha]

I tried this setup with a Startouch ABY pedal, www.startouchpedals.com. I would highly recommend this pedal; it is built like a tank and of extremely high quality - and very affordable. Plus, the level of customer service I received should be a model for all companies. It's a small owner operated operation, and he even called me personally to talk about my problem, and ended building a new pedal for me with seperately grounded circuits for the A and B channels. In the end, it didn't work with my desired setup - but that was not the fault of the pedal. No personal interest, just an amazed customer.

[Karl]

If you want to stay pretty cheap, you could still use the AB switch, and just put it before a pedal tuner or volume pedal. You can then turn on the tuner (with a muted out) or throw the volume pedal down to eliminate the signal pop. That's what I do...I use an AB for my Baggs DI, and have a tuner & volume pedal, among other things, in the effects loop. I've never had a problem with it.

[Ted Eschliman]

I'm banking I have the cheapest solution...
Same problem for me in that I switch between mandolin and mandocello on stage.
These Ovations I use, also eat up battery power whenever the quarter inch plug is in the hole, so I'm consuming battery power even when I'm not playing. This is extra incentive to have the jack OUT of the instument not being played.
The solution: an Ernie Ball EB8119 Ultrafex Silent Cable (http://www.ernieball.com/products_cables.php). This has a small "nipple" that activates the cord only when fully plugged in. No noise when I unplug.

Nothing! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif NO extra box, nothing to trip on onstage, just one cord.

Street price, around $12 for a 12" cable. If you can't find anything locally, I know a reputable store that carries them; email me off line.

[Asha]

SUCCESS! #Well, persistance paid off and I have found a great solution to this problem. #Check out the Boss LS-2 Line Switcher pedal (http://www.bosscorp.co.jp/products/en/LS-2/) unit. #It is so much more than an A-B or A-B-Y switch box. #It is really more of a signal router and looper, with multiple possible pathways. #When used to simply switch between 2 (or even 3) instruments going to a single preamp it is completely and totally noiseless. #Ah, the sound of silence. #It also can even function as a 2 line mixer, with variable outputs for each instrument. #There are so many more variations that this thing can accomplish that I have only just scratched the surface of its capability. #I'm smiling, this thing is awesome.