i wanna run other stuff through my leslie - DIY preamp combo

[joninc]

hey guys - i had my tech add an additional input to my leslie (710) but i have to use a guitar head to power it via the speaker output thus taking the load off my guitar head which i understand is really bad for the tubes right?

how can i get a dummy load for my head and still send signal to the leslie?

(yes i know you can buy a premade preamp combo for $300-$500 but i am trying to save some cash if possible)

[A.David.MacKinnon]

Does your organ (hammond or other) have an input? My L100 has an RCA input on the back of the volume pedal housing. Anything you plug in there will play through the internal amp or leslie.
Otherwise you might look at finding a way to disconnect the amp in the leslie and plug your guitar amp right into the speaker.

[joninc]

it's an A100 - i'll see if there's anything like that...

know anything about making a dummy load for an amp head?

[A.David.MacKinnon]

it's an A100 - i'll see if there's anything like that...

know anything about making a dummy load for an amp head?

If your's has an in (and I would guess it does because my humble S1 has an rca in) it'll be on the silver box that houses the volume control assembly. It's inside, directly behind the volume pedal.

No help on the dummy load but it was always my understanding that leslie amps took a line level not an amp level. How are you connecting the guitar head to the leslie?

[joninc]

i am just taking the speaker output and running into the quarter inch input. my tech said this was fine (i really don't know a lot about impedance/electronics etc).

i fear i am doing bad things....

[A.David.MacKinnon]

Right. If it's a tube head with no load you are doing bad things. Have you tried running a line level into it to see of that works? It might save you an extra amp stage and save your amp.

[joninc]

i tried taking the output of a mic preamp (great river) and with it on full it was still super quiet.

[A.David.MacKinnon]

Ah bummer. If you've got a solid state amp you could use that without worrying abut a dummy load. Or, you could run a cab on the head and run the leslie off of the external/extra speaker jack (provided the amp has two speaker outs). Or you could DIY something like this - http://taooftubes.blogspot.ca/2011/01/b ... -tube.html

[mrc]

I ran mine with the external speaker jack on a vibrolux verb...no problems for 30 years.

[joninc]

but then you gotta hear the guitar speaker at the same time correct?

[A.David.MacKinnon]

Small price to pay for not blowing shit up.

[joninc]

true

but i am working mostly in a one room studio so isolating the guitar amp from the leslie introduces a new challenge.. i wonder if you could use a small amp like a champ ..

[Marc Alan Goodman]

I just use a clean-boost pedal and crank the crap out of it. That usually gives me enough juice to not have any problems. Traditionally the zvex super duper 2-in-1 for it's double boost capacity, plus it sounds pretty nice.

[Nate Dort]

Does your amp have a line output or effects loop? Try that.

Rather than screwing around with a dummy load on your tube amp, get a cheap 5W solid state practice amp from the thrift store and use the speaker output from that.

[James Anderson]

wouldn't using the speaker output of your amp be taking the load off the output? what kind of amp is it? I've been using a '65 bandmaster head to a cut-down drum. I was sure to match the impedance, but otherwise i can't imagine why it won't be fine.