Is it possible to join two identical keyboard combo amplifiers together?

[Marty's Music]

Hi, I play solo and also, at other times, with a Bass player. I love the sound when I play solo with my keyboard amp and would like to find that same sound when playing with my Bass player. So wondering if it's possible to join two identical keyboard combo amp's together and use them as a mixer also? And, also, I'd like to use two external speakers with them and if so, will the speakers have the same sound at either side?

 

[b3maniac]

Welcome to the forum! 1) No 2) No 3) No

 

[Biggles]

Welcome.

What is different regarding the equipment setup when you play with your Bass player?

 

[delaware dave]

Yes, it is possible. IF the keyboard amp has an output (line out, preamp out) you can take a ¼” out of the one keyboard and into the next keyboard. Assuming that you run mono into the keyboard amp you will now have two keyboard amps both running in mono producing the same sound. If the first keyboard has an open input, ex. you are running two keyboards into it and there is a 3rd input for another instrument, you can plug the bass guitar into the 3rd input of the first amp and it will follow the signal path into the 2nd amp. Again, all running in mono.

IF the 2nd keyboard has an output like the 1st keyboard, you can then run a ¼” output out into an external speaker, assuming that the external speaker is a powered speaker. You can then take the output of the 1st external speaker and run it into 2nd external speaker. Now you have daisy chained all of the speakers together. The flow would look like this:

3 instruments (two keyboard outputs and one bass output) -> 3 inputs of the keyboard amp -> 1 output of the 1st keyboard amp into the input of the 2nd keyboard amp -> output of the 2nd keyboard amp into the 1st external speaker -> output of the 1st external speaker into the 2nd external speaker.

The keyboard amps if they are both the same model should sound similar, the external speakers will undoubtedly sound different, as the components and quality of the speakers will be different. If you wanted all 4 to sound the same you should get 4 output devices that are identical.

So technically, it can be done although.

 

[Marty's Music]

Welcome to the forum! 1) No 2) No 3) No

Thank you, Don. Much appreciated, Marty

 

[Marty's Music]

Yes, it is possible. IF the keyboard amp has an output (line out, preamp out) you can take a ¼” out of the one keyboard and into the next keyboard. Assuming that you run mono into the keyboard amp you will now have two keyboard amps both running in mono producing the same sound. If the first keyboard has an open input, ex. you are running two keyboards into it and there is a 3rd input for another instrument, you can plug the bass guitar into the 3rd input of the first amp and it will follow the signal path into the 2nd amp. Again, all running in mono.

IF the 2nd keyboard has an output like the 1st keyboard, you can then run a ¼” output out into an external speaker, assuming that the external speaker is a powered speaker. You can then take the output of the 1st external speaker and run it into 2nd external speaker. Now you have daisy chained all of the speakers together. The flow would look like this:

3 instruments (two keyboard outputs and one bass output) -> 3 inputs of the keyboard amp -> 1 output of the 1st keyboard amp into the input of the 2nd keyboard amp -> output of the 2nd keyboard amp into the 1st external speaker -> output of the 1st external speaker into the 2nd external speaker.

The keyboard amps if they are both the same model should sound similar, the external speakers will undoubtedly sound different, as the components and quality of the speakers will be different. If you wanted all 4 to sound the same you should get 4 output devices that are identical.

So technically, it can be done although.

Dear Delaware Dave, thank you so much for such a great, in-depth explanation... lots to think about.. much appreciated!!

 

[Marty's Music]

Welcome.

What is different regarding the equipment setup when you play with your Bass player?

We have a great system right now. He uses his Bass amp; I use my guitar amp and we're plugged into the mixer.

 

[Docbop]

What are you trying to accomplish just more volume or to spread your amps to cover more of the room? There are a few ways to run two amps there are splitters to send the output of the keyboard to two amps. Some amps have a line out, that you can run to another amp's line in, but you have to understand difference between instrument level and line level to you use correct input on second amp. Then many amps have an Effect Loop for send a signal out to effects pedal etc, then back into the amp. Well most of those loops are coming out after the preamp section of the amp, then return is sending signal to the output stage of the amp. So you can come out of effects loop on one amp to the return of the effects loop of the 2nd amp, but once again you need to look at the manual of the amps to where in the signal the effects loop is.

If you have a mixer that it probably your simplest solution just send the output of your keyboard into the mixer and if a stereo mix then send Left to one amp and Right to the other amp.

There are a lot of ways to run two amps all depends on what amp and gear you're using.

 

[Marty's Music]

Docbop, thank you so much for your advice... I have much to think about... will let you know how it all works out... many thanks again, Marty