Cross-over frequency

[SimonK]

So if I was building a pedal to split a signal so the lows go to a bass amp and the highs to a guitar amp (playing either a bass or a guitar) roughly what should the cross-over be set at? I was thinking somewhere between 80 and 150? The main thing would be to protect the guitar amp from the lowest frequencies when using a bass, or playing a loop created by one of these?

[pete.young]

You would probably do better asking this in Amps and Cabs where the builders tend to hang out, but I'd say higher , probably 1.5-2.0 KHz.

 

This is quite hard to do at the signal level and you'd probably struggle to build an analog pedal. It would make more sense to either use a Full-range rig like a PA cab, or buy one of the digital signal splitter pedals already on the market, for example KMA Tyler or XO Variable-Crossover.

 

Edited 16 hours ago by pete.young

[nekomatic]

There are a bunch of crossover circuits on Rod Elliott’s site, some with PCBs available although these work out expensive with the shipping from Australia, unless you happen to be in Australia. If you’re building it yourself you can play around with the crossover frequency and see what works best. 

[itu]

I have an IE Divaricator and have used a KMA Tyler. I ended up adjusting them both to around 400 Hz.

 

If you check a 4-string fretboard and its frequencies starting from 42 Hz E, you will end up to around 300 - 400 Hz area at the highest frets. I had an idea that the pure fundamental frequency would be a decent start. I really turned the f knob back and forth quite some time, but that 400 Hz has been functional.

 

Fundamentals are solid, while I can push the fx to their limits. Sometimes even too much. But the low bass still sounds really good.

 

If you want to do an easy trial, I think Rolls makes a pretty cheap X-over.

[SimonK]

...been checking out the Tyler and it seems all may not be what it seems when someone took it apart and checked the components - albeit it is close to the advertised values: https://www.freestompboxes.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=30823

 

We (I can't say I'm doing this on my own!) can manage 44 to 480, or 69 to 1.4k, so may go with the latter.

 

 

 

[itu]

If size is not an issue, maybe a rack X-over could be a good starting point, too. PA X-overs may be on the cheap side, if you happen to find a used one, like Behringer, dbx or similar.

[SimonK]

53 minutes ago, itu said:

If size is not an issue, maybe a rack X-over could be a good starting point, too. PA X-overs may be on the cheap side, if you happen to find a used one, like Behringer, dbx or similar.

 

...being a bit more DIY than that!