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Radial Engineering Headbone VT Amp Head Switcher for Tube Amps  

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#153911000000000
  • MSRP:
    $350.00
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    - $90.01
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  • Your Price:
    $25999

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Radial Engineering

2 heads are better than one!

As part of the growing line of Tonebone foot pedals, Radial introduces the Headbone VT, a guitar amplifier head switcher that allows the player to transition from, for example, a Mesa Boogie Dual-Rectifier to a Marshall JCM800 while using the same cabinet. The Headbone employs a series of photocells to assure noise-free guitar-to-head switching and a series of high cycle relays that switch between the 2 heads and the speaker. A digital programmable interrupt controller receives commands from the onboard footswitch or the Slingshot remote switching system and controls the transition between equipment to ensure proper amplifier loads are always maintained.

Features

  • Amp head switcher
  • Employs a series of photocells for noise-free switching
  • High cycle relays switch between the 2 heads and the speaker
  • Digital programmable interrupt controller receives commands from the onboard footswitch or the Slingshot remote switching system
  • Controls the transition between equipment to ensure proper amp loads

Get your heads together with the Headbone. Order today!

Write a Review Overall Rating Customer Reviews 4 See all 4 customer reviews...

2 Heads 1 Cab

| Review By: Elyk07 | 4 months, 1 week ago

0 people out of 0 found this review helpful

Features:

This had the one feature I needed.... the ability to run two heads into one cab. Perfect!

Quality:

I haven't had any issues with it after gigging with it for about 1 or 2 years now... roughly 2 shows per month.

Value:

I thought it was a little pricey, but they have the market cornered... no one else really offers a pedal like this so I had to buy this one. I will say though, after my initial "buyer's remorse" wore off I am happy with the product.

Overall:

I have a Mesa Triple Rec head and used it at gigs for about 5 years while always hating the clean tone with a passion. I bought a Music Man HD130 so I could get that clean-vintage sound and then I realized "Hmmm... I have no 'safe' way to hook up both of these heads without taking 2 cabinets with me to shows." This pedal was the perfect answer. I run both heads into a Mesa 4x12 Recto cab and it works perfectly! I now have my Triple Rec gain AND a great clean tone! I couldn't be happier. Let me just suggest one thing from experience... plan on buying a standard 1-button footswitch to use in the "slingshot remote in" input. The reason I say this is because you're going to have 6 cables running into this pedal.... do you really want 6 cables all running to the front of the stage for everyone to trip on? Instead, I just use shorter cables, keep the pedal right in front of my amp, and run the 1-button footswitch up to the front of the stage where I need it.

 

In closing... if you find yourself in a tonal pinch and want to use two different heads without having to carry an extra cab... this is a great way to go!!!

Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
Yes
Musical Experience:
Active Musician for 13 years
Style of music you play:
Rock (any variation)
Where you live:
Western PA

Did you find this review helpful? yes no1106833

radial headbone vt

| Review By: snowman-ApMeh | 1 year, 5 months ago

0 people out of 0 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
I really liked the intended design of the headbone.  I'm running a clean head and a dirty head into a 2x10 avatar.  The unit initially worked - a slight lag when switching between the two heads, but no big deal.  However, within a few minutes, the sound level dropped off.  It turned out that the input jack was malfunctioning.  jiggling the jack would bring the signal back (sometimes partially, sometimes completely).  Then, the unit cut out completely.  A few seconds later, one of my el84's put on a lightning show, red-plated, and died.  I'm not sure that the headbone was responsible for the tube going out (tubes being what they are, sometimes they just die) - but the timing makes me nervous. If the unit worked reliably, it would be great.  An advantage of the headbone over A/B'ing two separate rigs is that you don't hear any hiss from the high-gain head when running the clean head.  However, given that several thousand dollars of gear are riding on the unit, I'm not OK with the malfunction that occurred.  I wonder if the background hiss from gainy head exceeded the load on the headbone?
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
hobbyist
Style of music you play:
unspecified
Where you live:
unspecified

Did you find this review helpful? yes no854400

Here's what they don't tell you

| Review By: plinky | 4 years, 10 months ago

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
It works. I successfully used a Headbone to switch between a Fender Deluxe Reverb reissue and a Mesa Boogie Single rectifier into the single 12 inch speaker of the Deluxe (had to split open a speaker cable to connect to the speaker). Switching is very quiet (no pops), and the unit is very sturdy. However, the biggest problem I had with it was the fact you can't use effects in the effects loop of your amplifier (see the manual on Radial's website). If you don't use any effects, it works great. If you do use effects (especially in the effects loop), then reconsider purchasing one.
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Acrtive musician 20+ years
Style of music you play:
rock, country, dance, etc.
Where you live:
Dallas, TX

Did you find this review helpful? yes no870187

The best piece of gear I own.

| Review By: Marshall Gibson | 5 years, 11 months ago

2 people out of 2 found this review helpful

Features:
Quality:
Value:
Overall:
For years I have wanted a piece of gear that would allow me to switch between the crunch channel of my EL34 Marshall and the clean channel of my 6L6 Mesa Boogie and be able to run both of them on my Marshall cab.  Now I have the power!  Add a Tube Screamer in the mix and there is no limit to the sounds I can achieve.  I play a lot of different styles that call for a lot of different tones.  Thanks to the guys at Radial Engineering I now have the tonal freedom I need!  This is a must have piece for any player with a multi-amp set up.
Do you own the product?:
Yes
Have you used the product?:
No
Musical Experience:
Active Musician/Band Director
Style of music you play:
Rock, Jazz, Praise and Worship
Where you live:
Beaumont, TX

Did you find this review helpful? yes no952484

See all 4 customer reviews...
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