The BYOC Amp Selector and Stereo FX Router was designed to allow you to use two amps, in a
multitude of ways, both safely and quietly. Its first function is as a pop-free A/B/Y box so that you can
switch between two different amps, or play through two amps at the same time. Its second function is as
stereo FX router. Its dual input allows you to send the left and right signals from your stereo FX units to
two separate amps, so that you can have a true stereo rig without any ground loop hum and without the
risk of electrical shock. You can also use it to select between two different guitar amp combos.
The BYOC Amp Selector & Stereo FX Router was also designed to take the confusion out of transformer
isolated A/B/Y and router boxes. Your amp, your guitar, your cables, and all your effects, all share the
same ground. When you add a second amplifier to the mix, the ground of that amp shares ground with all
your other gear. Sometimes, especially if you have an older vintage amp with a two prong power cord,
one amp will be grounded correctly, and the other amp will be grounded to the "hot" wire of the wall socket.
Sometimes this can cause a nasty hum. And if you touch the two grounds at the same time, you'll get
shocked. Sometimes, it has nothing to do with your amplifiers or gear. Sometimes you have to play in
dive bars with very old and very shoddy wiring. Transformer isolated A/B/Y and router boxes are useful
because they allow you to use two amplifiers safely and quietly. But most A/B/Y boxes are very misleading
about what they do. Most only have transformer isolation on one of the outputs. Which is perfectly fine.
You only need to isolate the ground of one of the amps. But where it gets confusing is, you don't know
which of the outputs has the isolated ground. And what's misleading about most other A/B/Y boxes with
transformer isolation is that they make you think you still have all the benefits of transformer isolation when
you use the "ground lift" switch. They tell you to turn the "ground lift" switch on if you are getting a lot of
hum. But what they don't tell you is that when you turn the "ground lift" switch on, you are really
connecting the grounds of the two amps you are trying to isolate. This eliminates the entire purpose of
having a transformer isolated output and essentially turns your expensive amp selector into nothing more
than a pop-free router.
The BYOC Amp Selector & Stereo FX Router has output transformers on both the outputs. And it has
switches to allow you to turn each of them on and off independent of one another. As we've already
stated, you only need to isolate the ground of one of the amps. And typically, only using one of the
transformers provides the least amount of hum. But how do you know which output has the transformer?
And how do you know which amp should have the isolated ground? With the BYOC Amp Selector &
Stereo FX Router, it's easy to figure out and adapt to any situation, whether it be an unfamiliar club or bar,
the studio, or just playing in your bedroom.
Unlike many of the passive amp selectors, the BYOC Amp Selector & Stereo FX Router features an
active circuit that uses a standard 9vdc adapter, so your signal stays strong and your tone doesn't get
dulled. It has two footswitches: one selects between channel A and channel B; and the other turns both
channels on at the same time. It also features the highest quality nylon PC mounted jacks from Neutrik.
The nylon jacks prevent the ground of the guitar cables from connecting via the enclosure, and the fact
that they are PC mounted makes them very easy to solder and impossible to wire incorrectly. It also
features the same blue 3PDT mechanical switch that has become the standard in boutique effects. These
switches are rugged, easily replaced if you ever need to repair your amp selector, and unlike a lot of other
footswitches used in amp selectors, it switches channels when you press on it, not when you release it.
This is in addition to the Dual Output Transformers, each with independent ground isolation on/off
switches. And it's only half the size of it's closest competitors (and less than half the price). Kit comes
standard with red and green status LEDs.
