Empress Effects ABY Switcher

This is a straight forward, no fuss AB switch capable of 1 input to 2 outputs or vice versa. It works and works well!!!

Would like to see rubber feet a little deeper to bite into carpeted surfaces to stop it sliding.

This unit can't use batteries, I actually see this as a positive, not a negative. With no need to open the box, reliability has to be improved. It uses a standard Boss PSA120 (or 240 here in Australia)adaptor.

The unit does it job silently, without sucking any tone due to being true bypass. I run a Gibson Les Paul Classic or ES-137 into a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tweed edition with a Jensen P12N speaker and a Marshall AVT50. No effects, just a guitar playing blues and classic rock into the amps.

The thing that got me is not the AB switching itself, which it does perfectly, but the blending capabilities... WOW!!! This little box has opened up a whole new sound.

These units are hand built, available in Red or Vintage Tan (my choice) and look solid. I've only had it for a few weeks but I've jumped all over it and had friends do the same. So far so good! I've given a 9 as I've only had the unit a short time.

The best!, I've hammered the owner Steve with a bunch of questions before buying the unit that really should have resulted in an internet stalking case against me but he couldn't more helpful.

There's a 2 year warranty which I doubt I'll need and a 30 day money back warranty if you don't like it. Unless you're somehow confused that an ABY switch is meant to recreate Hendrix's tone from Woodstock, then you won't be needing that!!!

A simple unit that does it's job perfectly. I give it a 9 as I think it should have a tuner out port and feet with more grip. I'd like to see versions with 3 or 4 port capability also. I'm a lounge room legend that plays along to CD's for fun but I'm serious about my equipment and will spend the time / money to get it right.

As stated the battery issue may be a problem for some but I think it's a plus! It was $15US to post here to Australia, so all up I'm happy and would replace it without a second thought if lost or stolen.

Keep an eye out for future product, their quality is A1. Their new tremolo sounds very, very good based on the clips on their website.

It's perfectly simple to use.
It's an amp/guitar switcher, so it doesn't actually CREATE sounds, which is exactly what you want in a switcher box.
It's clearly labelled above the led's for each switch function, & the led's directly correspond to the input/output jacks on the side of the box.
The box either switches between 2 amps ( A?B) or combines the 2 amps (Y), thus the name: ABY switcher. You can also use it to keep 2 guitars plugged in to the same amp at the same time & switch between the two.
It uses true bypass circuits so in the event of battery failure your signal will not cut out. These are the only effect types I will buy, now that true bypass has become used widely, ther is no reason not to go this route.

Sound quality is pristine: NO NOISE whatsoever when in use or when switching between amps or guitars while playing.

I've only had it a week so far, but it's hand built, very rugged, & has top quality components with a 30 day money back guarantee & a 2 year warranty.

They're a small company based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, so the personal touch is very much a part of the way they do business. My switcher was built (to my specs: see the available options listed on their site) quickly & shipped very promptly.
I ordered it on the weekend, & it was in my hands Friday after work the same week.
Again, I've only had it a week so I've had no problems, but they seem to be eager to please.
You will find them at: www.empresseffects.com

My band plays current pop/rock with a mix of classic rock as well.
I've been playing since 1979, & prefer Rickenbacker basses/guitars. I run an SWR amp with an SWR 4X10 cab & Peavey 2X10 cab for bass, & a Peavey Delta Blues 210 for guitar.
I found this particular switcher box after searching the net for similar effects, but ruling out those which had problems introducing noise into your signal, or those which worked well but had extra features I wasn't looking for. The reviews I read for the Boss unit complained of noise when switching, & any others I could find (ToneBone for example) included lots of extra features I don't need & cost a lot more.
It's just a switcher box, That's all it does & it does it perfectly.
I would definitelt buy one again, & I recommend it to anyone who would like to use 2 amps or guitars.
The only thing I don't like is that I can't fit it into my pedal board, due to the box being the same size as a regular effect box, but turned sideways. This isn't really the fault of the maker, but of the design of the pedal board. I have to carry & set it up separately
outside of the pedal board while running a power lead from the board's power supply. It works fine, but I wish I could incorporate it in the board. You could turn it endways & install in in the board, but the switches would then be awkward to use.