Tonebone Cabbone speaker cabinet switcher - Frequently Asked Questions

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FAQ - Cabbone


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Here you will find the most frequently asked questions about this product. Many of these questions were supplied by muicians like yourself. If you don't see the question you had in mind here, feel free to enter it in the form provided along with your email address so that we may send the reply directly to you. Thanks in advance for your participation!

Q: Can I use the Cabbone with any two speaker cabinets?

A: Yes. Just make sure you match the amp and speaker impedance so that the amp sees a proper load. If you are not sure about loads, have a look at 'Using the Cabbone' here or consult your dealer for assistance.

Q: Can I use the Cabbone with any combo amp with a speaker?

A: Yes, however you must be able to pass the speaker signal from your amp through the Cabbone and then to the two sets of speakers. Most high-end combo amps will be equipped to do this.

Q: Can I use the Cabbone with two different load boxes?

A: Yes. You would set these up the same way as you would two speaker cabinets.

			Q: I would like to use the Cabbone but the speaker connection on my combo is hard wired. What do I do? A: You will have to create a set of ¼” cables from your amp head, to the Cabbone and then back to your combo speaker and alternate speaker. Your dealer can help you with this if you are not experienced in making cables. Q: I have a combo amp that doesn not have a speaker extension output. Can I safely wire it to a 4x12 cabinet using the Cabbone to switch between the 12" speaker and my 4x12? A: Yes! To do this, you will have to extend the cable going to the 12" and have a 1/4" plug put on it. This would connect to the Cabbone. From the Cabbone, you would make a cable that starts with a 1/4" plug and then connects to the speaker. Most speaker terminals us a standard part that can be found at auto supply shops and most music store techs also carry them. Finally, you would use another 1/4' speaker cable to connect the Cabbone to your 4x12" cabinet. Always use good 12 or 14 gauge speaker cable to make the connections. Most amps work fine with loads above 4 Ohms. This means that so long as your 4x12" is not wired below this, then you should be good to go. A qualified tech can probably do this in less than an hour. Always best to have a tech check if you are not comfortable with task. Q: Can I send a MIDI program change to the Cabbone to switch the speaker cabinets? A: Yes, so long as your MIDI controller has some type of ‘trigger’ or ‘switch closure’ outlet. Q: Can I use the Cabbone with a bass guitar amplifier? A: Absolutely! Bass tones will vary dramatically when driving through a 4-10 cabinet as opposed to a 2-15. Keep in mind that the Cabbone is designed to work with 100 Watt amplifiers. Using a more powerful amp at high volumes could cause the relays to arc. To make sure you do not damage the Cabbone or your amps, make sure you do not drive more than 100 Watts through the Cabbone. Q: Can connecting the Slingshot hurt my amp if I am not sure about how the footswitch system works? A: It is unlikely that the Slingshot will damage your amp, as the latching system is a simple contact closure. We do however recommend that you check with the manufacturer specifications to be safe. (). Q: My amp has only one 8-Ohm output and my second speaker is wired for 4-Ohms. What do I do? A: As detailed in 'Using the Cabbone' on this web site, in situations like this, you have to make decisions based on manufacturer specifications and your desired tone. If your amp manufacturer does not recommend connecting speakers below 8-Ohms you will have to change your speaker cabinet to accommodate this. It is always best to consult your Tonebone dealer as he can help you set up your system for optimum performance. Q: I connected the Slingshot output to my amp’s footswitch input but the amp channels are not switching. Why? A: Try changing the 'switch mode' on the Cabbone from momentary to latching. If this does not work, check that the footswitch input on your amp is a regular ¼” mono jack. If it is a TRS ¼” stereo jack then you may have to create an adaptor cable to address this. Speak to your dealer or consult your amplifier owner’s manual for details on what may be required. Q: When I toggle between the two cabinets, I notice one is louder than the other. Why*? A: There could be several reasons. One speaker cabinet may be more efficient than the other meaning that one will play louder with the same power. Also, the lower impedance speaker will generally play louder than the higher impedance cabinet. Finally, cabinets with more speakers tend to move more air and thus sound louder. A great solution to this phenomena is to set up the Cabbone so that it toggles the amp channel when changing cabinets. This allows each cabinet to be equalized for optimum performance and lets you balance the level between the cabinets. Q: Can I use the Cabbone as an AB-Y switcher to go to two different guitar amplifiers? A: Although it may work, the Cabbone is really not designed to do this. The electronics are designed for speaker loads, not low-level guitar signals and as such, you may encounter noise. Furthermore, there are no provisions for solving ground loop problems. The Radial Switchbone is an excellent AB-Y switcher designed specificaly for this job. Q: Can I turn both cabinets on at the same time? A: No. This would cause an impedance mismatch and could blow up your amplifier. Q: I have a combo amp that does not have a speaker extention output. Can safely I wire it to a 4x12 cabinet using the Cabbone to switch between the 12" speaker and my 4x12"? A: Yes! To do this, you will have to extend the cable going to the 12" and have a 1/4" plug put on it. This would connect to the Cabbone. From the Cabbone, you would make a cable that starts with a 1/4" plug and then connects to the speaker. Most speaker terminals us a standard part that can be found at auto supply shops and most music store techs also carry them. Finally, you would use another 1/4' speaker cable to connect the Cabbone to your 4x12" cabinet. Always use good 12 or 14 gauge speaker cable to make the connections. Most amps work fine with loads above 4 Ohms. This means that so long as your 4x12" is not wired below this, then you should be good to go. A qualified tech can probably do this in less than an hour. Always best to have a tech check if you are not comfortable with task.

Email: info@radialeng.com

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