Humdinger equivalents

hubobulous

So I've been planning a small, ambient pedalboard and setup at home and have two amps that I was considering having in a stereo config.

Whilst I'm not a devoted fanboy of 'That Pedal Show', I liked their demo of the Wet/Dry setup and wondered if this might not actually suit me better, since I couldn't really think of too many stereo effects that I'd end up using, (PingPong delays and perhaps some reverbs).

I don't understand electricity, sound waves or almost everything that's pretty fundamental to this passion of guitar playing, so I didn't really think about phasing issues between the amps.

The GigRig Humdinger clearly got a mention, but is there anything else out there that performs the same function, and is there anything else that I might need to consider for this setup?

Am I mad going Wet/Dry instead of stereo?

steamabacus

Assuming that the Humdinger is just an isolating transformer, have a look at Orchid Electronics. They do a really good quality one for £20. They do stereo and XLR versions too.

http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/trans.htm

I have a couple and can thoroughly recommend them. I've used one for a two amp stereo setup with no problems whatsoever.

hubobulous

@steamabacus - thanks for that. The problem I have is that I don't know what the Humdinger is or does, just that they said it was quite useful if a wet/dry was being set up

steamabacus

I think it probably is just a transformer but I've never seen one so can't say for certain. It may also have a phase reverse switch which the Orchid one doesn't.

[edit] I've just realised the Orchid has balanced connectors - I'm thinking it should be possible to make up a special cable to flip the phase as a balanced cable has 3 connections -  +ve phase, -ve phase and ground.

babysnake

I like to do Ambient and I just go out to two amps from my last pedal (neunaber stereo wet)....sounds beautiful.

hubobulous

@babysnake - so what's the deal with stuff like the Humdinger, phasing, ground loops and other jargon that makes no sense to me whatsoever!!??

steamabacus

@hubobulous

The issues may be that you get 'ground loops' causing hum as there are two (slightly different) paths to ground through the two amps. It isn't always a problem but might be depending on exactly how the two amps connect to ground through the mains earthing. Each venue/setup might be different but having one side isolated from ground is a sensible precaution.

Also, two amps may be out of phase with each other - which, if they are your own amps, you could fix by flipping the speaker connections on one amp.

There's some discussion on the subject here ...

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/72440/ground-loop-issues

babysnake

Honestly, I've never had any of those problems....first stereo pedal in my chain is an El Capistan which I go out in stereo to the Neunaber's stereo inputs, then stereo out to two amps. Beautiful wall of sound cascading around the room...only time I've ever had issues with ground loops has been because of the power in the room (dimmers etc.) and not my equipment. Makes a lot of sense to have something like the Orchid tho...

hubobulous

Thanks to you both. Sounds like it could just be a case of plug it all in and see if there's a problem. Diagnose it then if it appears.

I shall away and set up said stuff and report back

Cabicular

I use a humdinger in the second out of my pedal board but in the past I've also used a radial hip shot aby thing
http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Radial-Tonebone-BigShot-ABY-True-Bypass-Switcher/PUH?origin=product-ads&campaign=PLA+Shop+-+GENERIC&adgroup=GENERIC&medium=vertical_search&network=google&merchant_id=1279443&product_id=33497d1&product_country=GB&product_partition_id=127211954479&gclid=CNrsmeOwycwCFXMz0wod3rMAqA