# Guitar accessory/equipment - does this exist and what's it called? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** music\ **Created:** [November 9, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874 "2023-11-09T17:09:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/1 "2023-11-09T17:09:34Z")
I have an electric guitar, an electric-acoustic six-string, and an electric-acoustic bass. I would like to be able to connect all three to my amp simultaneously with some sort of switch that would allow me to change from one instrument to another. It doesn’t have to be rapid or anything like that as I would only be doing this at home while noodling. I presume this exists; what is this equipment called? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/2 "2023-11-09T17:23:15Z")
[This](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cubilux-Bidirectional-4-Channel-Headphones-Subwoofer-6-35mm/dp/B0B45MZG1J)sort of thing looks a likely candidate :- ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/3 "2023-11-09T17:25:24Z")
Yes, there are available switchers. I’m not sure I’d run a bass through a guitar amp, though. Definitely not at high volumes. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/4 "2023-11-09T17:26:06Z")
That has 3.5mm inputs, and the guitar cords will probably be quarter inch. I suppose you could get quarter inch to 3.5mm. You could get a cheap mixer, also. This one calls itself 6 channels, but I think it’s only four channels: [https://www.amazon.com/4-Channel-Bluetooth-Recording-Streaming-Podcasting/dp/B09QSRLT9M](https://www.amazon.com/4-Channel-Bluetooth-Recording-Streaming-Podcasting/dp/B09QSRLT9M) Oh, I see – it has a left and right RCA in, too. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/5 "2023-11-09T17:28:30Z")
It does look like it would do the job. I figured that there must be some sort of bog-standard thing out there. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/6 "2023-11-09T17:30:47Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > I’m not sure I’d run a bass through a guitar amp It’s an acoustic bass so I’m not sure how much of a difference it makes (that is I’m not trying to replicate Geezer Butler or Geddy Lee 🙂 ) , though it’s definitely something to think about. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/7 "2023-11-09T17:53:38Z")
I have a BOSS AB-2 footswitch which does 2-way routing. I use it occasionally on stage. I think it cost about $50. Can’t immediately think of any 3-way equivalent, but they probably exist. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/8 "2023-11-09T17:57:07Z")
No, they’re 6.35/quarter inch sockets. The description is a bit screwed up ! ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/9 "2023-11-09T17:59:26Z")
Ha! So they are. ETA: My son has a Vox modeling amp and plays bass through it all the time (and, guitar, of course). So, it might depend on what kind of amp you have. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/10 "2023-11-09T18:05:44Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > My son has a Vox modeling amp and plays bass through it all the time Depends on your situation. If you’re playing out with a full band, you probably need a proper bass amp to provide enough low end power to balance with a drummer. For home jamming or recording, not so critical. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/11 "2023-11-09T18:09:05Z")
Totally agree. I was just noting that it probably wasn’t going to do any damage. His Vox amp actually has pretty good low end, but not as good as my bass amp. Maybe it needs a more versatile speaker, since it’s a modeling amp? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/12 "2023-11-09T18:17:52Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Totally agree. I was just noting that it probably wasn’t going to do any damage. Depends on the situation. If you are playing a loud gig and trying to use a guitar amp for bass, it’s probably not going to work very well, not sound good either…and might end up blowing the speakers 😉 Best to use equipment designed for the job! ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/13 "2023-11-13T10:59:57Z")
A little line mixer should be just fine for the OP’s needs. I use this cheap little guy (a Donner Del-812) in my office at home for switching different audio sources into a pair of powered monitors. No footswitches on this one…I’ve never seen an A/B switch with more than two inputs, but I’d be shocked if one didn’t exist, or some other way to do it using a different sort of pedal…but this one’s (or a similar one) is extremely simple to use, and doesn’t come with any of cruft of going into a full mixer (even a small one), although that would certainly work as well. This is my vote for simplest device that will do the job easily. When I was playing live, I used a full mixer, which could give XLR feed(s) to the sound dude/gal, as well as take all sorts of signals, mics, whatever, apply EQ, and all that, but something like this is around thirty or forty dollars and if it alters the tone, I haven’t been able to hear it. (Edited to add: there are more expensive line mixers, of course, that will do the same thing…couldn’t say anything about them except that they exist). [![](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0538/3428/5236/products/EC1718-01_1600x.jpg?v=1626940239) ](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0538/3428/5236/products/EC1718-01_1600x.jpg?v=1626940239) ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/14 "2023-11-13T22:39:57Z")
A small mixer is very usefull. I like to play a mp3 through one channel and my guitar in another. I can mix and adjust the levels. For example I want my guitar louder than the mp3 when I know the song well. I want the mp3 louder when I’m trying to hear the chord changes. For the OP you need 4 line inputs. You can leave the instruments plugged in. $30 [https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MX400--behringer-micromix-mx400-line-mixer](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MX400--behringer-micromix-mx400-line-mixer) > [@](#): > > The Micromix MX400 gives you control over the input level of each channel, and Behringer promises low-noise operation from 4580 op amps. Whether you’re combining keyboard signals, sending multiple signals to a single speaker, or any other small-scale mixing task, you’ll be glad you have the Behringer Micromix MX400. ---
**Author:** ![ColdBrew50](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9a140/32.png) [@ColdBrew50](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColdBrew50)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/15 "2023-11-14T08:57:20Z")
It would be nice if one of these small line mixers included a solo/mute button for each channel, but I haven’t seen one that’s that way. At least not for the thirty dollars or so for the models mentioned. Meh, more potential noise in each channel, and a nice little volume pot is easy enough to zero out. I’d definitely find one with a ground lift ability, or consider using a regular passive DI box in combination, which should have a ground lift ability, if one experiences background noise and so forth. No, these line mixers won’t boost signal to line level, nor are they supposed to, but it’s going into a preamp/amp anyway, via the guitar amp, so it’s just a control mechanism. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/16 "2023-11-14T14:04:31Z")
I prefer faders on a mixer. You can adjust levels much easier. Mute buttons for every channel are very useful. Both are available at a higher price and bigger plastic box. It depends on what someone needs. The $30 mixer is a cheap and portable solution a musician can carry in a gear bag ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/17 "2023-11-14T16:02:03Z")
> [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Depends on the situation. If you are playing a loud gig and trying to use a guitar amp for bass, it’s probably not going to work very well, not sound good either…and might end up blowing the speakers I’ve primarily been playing bass these days (used to be primarily guitar) and all I have is a smaller 15W Blackstar amp and a Yamaha THR10. The Yamaha has a bass setting and I use it often. However, my bass sounds a lot better through the Blackstar but I keep it at low enough volumes I don’t feel I will do any damage. The guys I’m playing with have a garage Ampeg bass amp (we really play in a garage) that I use during our weekly jams so I have something there for louder volumes. At some point I’ll get a real bass amp. ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/18 "2023-11-14T16:31:44Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > The guys I’m playing with have a garage Ampeg bass amp (we really play in a garage) that I use during our weekly jams so I have something there for louder volumes. At some point I’ll get a real bass amp. I’ve practiced in garages, haven’t we all? Of course there is a school of thought nowadays that one should pretty much eliminate on-stage volume, use in-ear monitors, and let the PA carry the load. But I confess I’m old-school, I like to hear a seasoned well-practiced band playing with a proper backline. ---
**Author:** ![TwoCarrotSnowman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/twocarrotsnowman/32/15879_2.png) [@TwoCarrotSnowman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwoCarrotSnowman)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/19 "2023-11-14T18:41:35Z")
Are there wireless rigs that allow multiple senders to connect to one receiver? That would be a nice solution: one wireless transmitter per instrument all talking to a single receiver plugged into the amp. It would be neater, but also much more expensive than, a mixer. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874/20 "2023-11-14T18:55:38Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > At some point I’ll get a real bass amp. I super highly recommend the Fender Rumble 40. Not too expensive, much better bottom than the 25, and light as heck. Bizarrely light. Magically light. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guitar-accessory-equipment-does-this-exist-and-whats-it-called/992874.md?page=2)