AB-Y Class-A Switcher
The Radial JX2 Switchbone is the ultimate AB-Y guitar amp switcher. It is a creative tool that is designed to allow your guitar to drive and control 2 amplifiers without introducing noise, distortion, clicks or pops. Most importantly, the Switchbone will retain the natural sound and feel of your instrument. At Radial, they call this the Un-Sound.
Features:
Noiseless switching between amplifiers
Class-A circuit for exceptional audio
Unique Drag control load correction
Built-in Power Boost circuit with mid control
Transformer isolated to eliminate ground loops
The Switchbone employs the same Class-A circuit as the critically acclaimed Radial JD7 Injector for exceptional audio performance. The unique Drag - control provides single-knob load correction to re-introduce the natural relationship between the amp and guitar pickup that is invariably lost when the guitar is buffered or split to drive two amps. To eliminate hum and buzz caused by ground loops, the Switchbone's 2nd output is transformer equipped for 100% isolation.
To further advantage the performer, a variable Power Boost circuit allows gain boost, mid-boost or a combination to be introduced for soloing. An innovative 'toggle-mode' foot switch with large, 'easy to see' flashing LED indicators makes switching or combining amps easy without having to tap-dance when changing sounds. A separate Tuner out is also provided to keep the tuner circuit out of the audio signal path.
The Radial JX2 Switchbone is easy to use, intuitive and fun! Now isn't that what playing guitar is all about?
JX-2 Switchbone Development
For years, guitarists have been searching for a real solution for ABY amp switching and combining. One would think that in this day of unbelievable technology, that building this type of device would be easy. And of course it is easy... unless you are intent on retaining the original sound of the guitar...
For those that have tried connecting 2 amplifiers together using Y-cords or some of the other AB-Y boxes that have come before, you are familiar with the many challenges: Drop in gain, tone changes, buzz and hum just to name a few. The Radial Switchbone is a remarkable device that deals with all of these problems and brings forth a design that is easy to use, musical and truly effective. The Radial Switchbone has been optimized for stage use and allows a guitar to drive two amplifiers and do it while retaining the natural sound of the instrument without introducing buzz, hum, distortion or switching noise.
The Radial Switchbone begins with the concept that most 'tone crazy' players will generally use 2 amps on stage. When driving 2 amplifiers with one guitar, the signal from the pickup is divided in 2 and the sound changes. To get around this problem, the Switchbone employs a unique Class-A amplifier circuit that has been optimized for use with guitars. With Radial customers like Eric Johnson, Steve Lukather, Carlos Santana, Steve Stevens and Neal Schon, we are not allowed to alter the sound of their favorite vintage axe. The sound must be real!
This leads to the next problem: Your guitar has now gone from being passive to essentially becoming active. Your pickup is no longer connected directly to the amplifier. It is being 'buffered' (amplified) by the Switchbone. The natural relationship is lost. To compensate for this, they have introduced a feature called Drag control to allow you to reintroduce the natural loading that is lost. With load-correction, the instrument goes back to normal. It breathes!
Then, as soon as you connect your 2 amplifiers together they hum, they buzz and sometimes even spark with hundreds of volts! This is due to the way that each manufacturer builds their amplifiers. Some use positive ground, others negative. Some use the chassis as a ground plane while old designs from the 50's and 60's do not even have proper 3-pin safety U-grounds! To solve these problems, the Radial Switchbone incorporates a transformer-isolated output, a ground lift switch, and a polarity reverse switch. This isolates the electrical current flow of each amplifier and eliminates ground loops.
Of course, once you get these amps connected together, you have to control them! This is where the Switchbone also shines! The Switchbone is easy to use. The foot switch layout and LED readout follows a 'common sense' and intuitive approach that is very natural. Radial also added a boost circuit to allow you to 'step-up' the output to both amps simultaneously for a solo or extra saturation when playing through a distorted sound. For icing on the cake, they added a separate output for your tuner. This takes the tuner out of the audio circuit, thus ensuring you get the direct tone of your guitar without extra loading.
About Radial
Over 20 years ago, Radial started developing tube amplifier and pedal technology with a single goal in mind: To create devices for professional musicians that would combine exceptional sound quality with straight ahead functionality. In other words, build products that are intuitive and musical. Ultimately, they believe that these 'tools' will have achieved their goal by spurring on the creative process.
Radial products are used by many of the world's most notable professionals. These include Bryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Seal, The Rolling Stones, k d lang, Celine Dion, Nine Inch Nails, Journey, I Mother Earth, Randy Travis, The Barenaked Ladies, Tony Levin, Faith Hill, Janet Jackson, The Yellowjackets, Alain Caron, Al Demiola, The California Acoustic Trio, Any Difranco, Will Lee, Def Leppard, Styx, Santana, and so many others.
Over the next while, the Radial Tonebone line will expand with many new products for guitarists and bassists.
Radial... True to the Music
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