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Recommend me a decent A/B switch for my BadCat.. :)

sgdnfan2002sgdnfan2002 Posts: 14
edited January 2005 in Musicians and Gearheads
Hello Everyone,

I recently (a couple weeks ago), bought myself a Bad Cat Hot Cat 30.. (am still anxiously awaiting it to arrive!! Bought this off ebay).. But realize that I should eventually buy a A/B footswitch for it.

I'm wondering if there are any decent makes/models any of you could recommend?? .. My budget would be around $100 or so (so Lehle is definately out of the question.. ;)). Whirlwind is another brand I've been reading reviews about on HarmonyC (seems decent, but just want to see what other peoples opinions are!)

Thanks!

-sgdnfan
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    I always liked the Morley:

    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/150757/

    It's not a world-class ABY box, but that's why it's only $50.

    http://www.harmony-central.com/Effects/Data/Morley/ABY_Switch-01.html

    Of course, if you don't want the "Y" feature (both outputs together, great for really driving an amp like the Bad Cat) you can get just a plain A/B box:

    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/150109/

    I assume you want to plug into both inputs, and set one for clean and one for dirty (or something like that)? If so, the DOD box would be okay... but it might be nice to have a box that can do A/B/Y to get a really thick sound. The only problem I've ever heard about the Morley box is that it experiences a little cross-talk (activate "A" and a little signal still leaks into "B"), but since you'd be running the same amp, that would hardly matter.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • HeavyMetalNygeHeavyMetalNyge Posts: 144
    Good call mccreadyisgod. I have the Morley for my peavey/marshall setup and it works great. I highly recommend it.
    "I had a false belief I thought I came here to stay... we're all just visiting."
  • GivenToPimpGivenToPimp Posts: 19
    i've got a signalflex ab box and it works fine. the price is right as well.

    check it on music123.com
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    If you're spending the cash to get a Bad Cat Hot Cat selling you a morley in my opinion is about like trying to pedal rubber wal-mart mats to a man who's just purchased a Ferrari, sure it's fine and a good switch at 50 bucks but what you really want is either the indestructible Lehle or the Framptone ABY switcher or one of the plethora of custom jobs from all over the net.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43375&item=3771715471&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW


    If Exhausted (GC Pedals) hadn't graciously built me one I'd have gone with these guys who have thier site back up

    http://www.loooper.com/


    If you're european and you plan on driving a truck over your AB Box you could always get this from http://www.custom-sounds.com

    http://www.custom-sounds.com/epages/customsounds.filereader?41cfb5a8047567bc2741d94dcd0106e6+EN/products/12900
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • sgdnfan2002sgdnfan2002 Posts: 14
    Thanks for the input guys.. I think I agree with Pacomc79 -- I'm going to avoid getting the Morley (just read too many negative reviews about it on HC).

    Pacomc79 -- Have you had any experience with Analogman's pedals?? .. He has one that I think would work for me.. The Framptone Keeley switch is just too expensive for me at the moment (can't justify close to $300 for basically just a footswitch! (at least for my purposes)) (Keeley does make nice pedals though -- I have the java boost, compressor, and baked ts9):

    From an email (received from AnalogMike):
    "
    AB BOTH BOX:

    If you need to switch between 2 outputs with the option
    of having them BOTH on, then you need the AB BOTH box.
    Has input, A output, B output, and 2 switches:

    AB : switched between A and B outputs. Unused output is grounded to
    kill
    noise.
    BOTH : When this switch is hit, both A and B will turn on.

    Available with A and B LEDs, in small box, with optional
    adaptor jack as seen in :

    http://www.analogman.com/switchbox/abboth.jpg

    THese are $120 with LED and adaptor jack.
    "

    Let me know what you guys think! I'm sorta leaning towards AnalogMike's stuff, since I've heard good things!

    -sgdnfan
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    yeah, analog Mike does great work. Is it worth $120? Kenny Wayne Sheppard uses them I know, so I'm sure they are fine, the only thing you're really worried about is transparency and signal bleed. Mike is smart enough not to have any bleed through, and it won't be noisy. Loooper has more options and are a bit cheaper but Analogman is a very good brand to go with and it's not $300 which I agree is a little insane.

    Everything else Mike does is solid, and he's a stand up guy so I assume the switches are excellent too.

    Good Choice.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    My opinion is this: You'll probably want a Lehle or a Radial or a Keeley eventually (like Paco said, you have a Bad Cat, you want that amp to have the best of the best). So, either get a good one, or get a cheap one and save up for the good one in a couple years. But I'd hate to see you spend $120 on an ABY box that you'll want to replace soon.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • sgdnfan2002sgdnfan2002 Posts: 14
    Thanks for everyone's opinions.. I'll let you know what I decide to go with (should be a couple weeks).. I'm actually thinking about the Radial/Tonebone "Switchbone" pedal at the moment.. it's a little pricey, but I agree with what you've said that I would just likely be disappointed with a cheaper model anyway!

    I had another question while I'm at it.. Can anyone recommend me a good place to get amp slip covers?? I don't want to spend a fortune on these.. I've looked at Kangaroo covers, and they seem overpriced .. I just need something simple to cover the Bad Cat head and 2x12 cab (I would mainly just be unloading this from my car to my practice spot several times a week)

    Any opinions are appreciated!

    -sgdnfan
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    good choice, the radial is very nice

    here's one option though you might find stuff cheaper on ebay. I know there is a great guy Keeley used to recommend that made nice quilted ones but I can't remember who it is.

    Orange has some nice ones for about $35 that would fit you perfect.

    http://orangeamps.com/merchandise/merch_usa.html

    My friend Scoop makes some cool Guitar Straps, I'm not sure if he's moved on to covers

    http://www.scoopstraps.com


    You might just try any local store, and see what they have, it's a cover after all when I worked at Guitar Center we had all kinds of stuff like that laying around in the back. You might get lucky.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    sgdnfan2002 wrote:
    I'm actually thinking about the Radial/Tonebone "Switchbone" pedal at the moment.. it's a little pricey, but I agree with what you've said that I would just likely be disappointed with a cheaper model anyway!


    I really like the looks of the Radial switchers (and the other stuff they carry). They make a pedal that allows you to switch between two amps going into one cabinet. That's really cool.

    Wish I could help you on the search for a slip cover... but like Paco said, eBay is a great place to start.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    mccreadyisgod wrote:
    I really like the looks of the Radial switchers (and the other stuff they carry). They make a pedal that allows you to switch between two amps going into one cabinet. That's really cool.

    Wish I could help you on the search for a slip cover... but like Paco said, eBay is a great place to start.

    That's the Head Bone

    They also make one called the Cab Bone, to more eaisly facilitate cabinet switching.

    Cool stuff, I wonder how the boost works on the switch bone.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
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