|
 |
|
 |
 Cabbone
Development |
 |
|
 |
| Underneath:
a lot more than one simple switch –
the Cabbone is packed with all the technology
needed to do the job right. |
|
|
For years, guitarists have been using AB boxes as
a means to fulfill their ‘tonal desires’.
AB boxes let them transition between two very different
amplifiers to achieve very different tones. As most
guitarists know, dual-amp set-ups are absolutely
wonderful. But alas, it is not always convenient
to carry two complete amps to a gig. This led us
to look into speaker cabinet switching as a solution.
Interestingly enough, we soon realized that using
the same head and switching the speaker cabinets
could produce all kinds of amazing tones. Best of
all Cabbone has emerged into an intuitive tool for
the guitarist that is easy to use.
Although the concept of switching speaker cabinets
seems pretty simple, one look inside the Cabbone
and you will see that there is a lot more to making
this work than a simple toggle switch. In fact the
footswitch does not switch the signal at all, it
sends a toggle command to a programmable timing
chip that in turn, sets the whole switching process
into action. Why not just a simple switch? Well…
If it were that simple, there would be speaker switchers
everywhere.
Let’s consider the big picture first…
The Cabbone requires you to connect one speaker
cable from the amplifier head, and connect two more
speaker cables from the Cabbone to each of the two
speaker cabinets. On a big stage, it is both impractical
and inefficient to run long speaker cables to and
from a pedal board. This means that we need some
type of remote control. |
|
| |
|
|
|
Next problem –
amplifiers need to see a load or else they will
self-destruct. This is most critical with tube amplifiers.
If they do not have a speaker connected to them
when in use, all kinds of problems can develop including
blowing the output transformer and significantly
reducing tube life.
Final challenge – power handling and tone
preservation. Switching the output of a 100W head
is serious business! The power has to be ‘managed’
in such a way as to ensure the electrical contacts
do not arc while ensuring the amp sees a speaker
load even if disaster occurs. And of course messing
with the tone is simply out of the question. With
Cabbone… The show ‘will’ go on
and it will sound right! Here’s how we do
it:
The Cabbone is absolutely stuffed with components
including two high performance relays. When you
hit the Cabbone’s footswitch, it sends a change
command to a programmable timing chip. This in turn
sends a command to each of the relays turning one
on and then moments later, turning the other off.
The timed overlap ensures the amp sees a constant
load, thus is protected from damage. Furthermore,
in the unlikely event that the Cabbone’s power
is shut off, a default setting we call ‘Safe
Mode’ springs into action that connects the
amp to speaker output No.1, providing your amp with
a safety net of sorts. Smart.
Of course the other huge advantage to using a timed
relay solution is that we can introduce a remote
control to do the work of the footswitch. You transition
from your open back 2x12” Jensens to your
4-12 Celestions and you begin to see the possibilities.
This gets you thinking…. If I could have separate
EQ and gain for each cabinet, this thing would really
rock! So you try to use one foot to switch the Cabbone
and your other foot to switch your amp channel,
lose your balance, fall over and break the neck
on your old Gibson SG Junior… Dang! There’s
got to be a better way without having to resort
to a complex MIDI set-up…
We call it Slingshot. Slingshot is an easy to use
remote control system that is based around simple
footswitches and guitar cables. Just about any footswitch
or MIDI control device can be connected to the Cabbone
to remotely toggle the Cabbone’s speaker outputs.
The Cabbone’s Slingshot circuit is equipped
with both an input and an output. This means that
you can use a footswitch on your pedal board to
toggle the Cabbone’s speaker output and then
have the Cabbone send a status change command to
your guitar amp and have it switch channels at the
same time. With a single foot action – two
completely different worlds of tone emerge. Way
cool! |
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
