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Let's talk about the TRS to Dual Mono Splitter

Depending on the situation, you may need a TRS splitter. A TRS splitter splits a TRS plug's Tip and Ring signal into two independent mono plugs. Often this is purchased as a Y-Cable.

There are a variety of products that do this. Where it's beneficial to have a splitter is with the Rick-O-Sound and the Jerry Garcia style OBEL (On-Board Effects Loop).

Rickenbacker's Rick-O-Sound

On some Rickenbacker instruments, there are two output jacks on the guitar. One labeled "Standard" and the other "Rick-O-Sound." Then Standard accepts a standard 1/4" mono plug, and the Rick-O-Sound accepts a TRS (Tip Ring Sleeve) stereo plug.

When plugged into the Rick-O-Sound TRS output, the pickups are individually wired (Bridge going on one conductor and the Neck to another). Both signals are sent to separate amps or effects. Some musicians look for a Y-Cable, but it can be difficult to find the proper lengths and durability to meet their needs. That’s where the TRS to Dual Mono splitter comes in very handy.

With the TRS to Dual Mono Splitter, you can run a single TRS cable from the instrument to the splitter. You can add a pair of standard mono instrument cables from the splitter. You have the flexibility to change lengths (or switch to patch cables, etc.) at any time or as needs change without having to change the entire setup.

Check out this great video where Dan Hildebrand demonstrates his Rickenbacker set up with Rattlesnake Cables and the Rattlesnake TRS to Dual Mono Splitter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2veN5iG3uQ

Jerry Garcia OBEL

When Jerry Garcia was playing with the white Travis Bean TB500, he began working with the OBEL option. The OBEL (On-Board Effects Loop) is an effects loop running through the guitar circuitry instead of the signal going from guitar to pedals to amp. With this setup, two cables are required. One cable is a standard mono instrument cable that would go to an amp (or pedals to amp). The second cable is a TRS (Tip Ring Sleeve) Stereo cable acting as send and return of the effects loop (which would be an array of pedals on the ground). In the past, this would need to be a Y-Cable with various lengths. With the TRS to Dual Mono Splitter, a single TRS of any length can be used to go from guitar to splitter. To create the send and return effects loop, the player can use short mono instrument cables or patch cables to and from the splitter to effects pedals on the floor.

With the TRS to Dual Mono Splitter, you have the flexibility to change cables and lengths depending on the application or situation.

The advantage of going with a splitter is that the strain of the ground split is contained in a rugged enclosure and not reliant on the cable. Cable strain can lead to cable failure. I'm sure some of you had Y-Cables fail.

We are very partial to Splitters vs. Y-Cables and offer a variety of splitters such as our Mono to Dual Mono Splitter, Stereo to Dual Stereo Headphone Splitter and our super popular TRS to Dual Mono Splitter. All are passive (no power), simple and built to last!

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Here at Rattlesnake Cable Company, we field many calls and emails about the Rickenbacker® Rick-O-Sound feature. Usually, these calls are all related to the Rick-O-Sound (or Ric-O-Sound) functionality not behaving as expected. Over the years, I started to notice a trend in relation to these calls, and wanted to basically create a checklist of reasons why your Rick-O-Sound is not working correctly. Some are obvious, but I'm adding them since I do get calls for this. So here are seven reasons...

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Michael Kay
9/11/2020
These cables are great-sounding and durable, and the customer service is fantastic. Companies like Rattlesnake Cables, Stringjoy, Walrus Audio, Red Panda, and a bunch of others are small US-based manufacturers making great stuff, providing good jobs... just doing good work. Please support them. You... Read

SparksnGuitars Mike
8/29/2020
Absolutely awesome cables. I got 2 15' with sage green flex cover. They are hands down my favorite and most durable cables. Hank and his team make a fantastic product and ship it out fast! I can't wait to order a couple more but these may last forever!

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4/23/2021
I will be happily ordering all my cables from Rattlesnake! The service was amazing! I ordered my first cable from them, and within 24 hours I got an email with a personal video message (not just a generic welcome video) welcoming me to the Rattlesnake family and letting me know that my cable was... Read

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Let's talk about the TRS to Dual Mono Splitter

Rickenbacker's Rick-O-Sound

Jerry Garcia OBEL

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TRS Rattlesnake Cable

Flex Patch Cable