J'ai retrouvé un message de greg Germino expliquant les différentes options et leurs raisons :
he bottom input jacks on any four input Marshall are -6db in input sensitivity. This means they are attenuated -6db. So if you patch from the bottom of CH 1 and go into the top input of CH 2, Ch 2 will still be down -6db because the signal is coming via the bottom input of CH 1.
When you use a "Y" cable you are going into both channels without any attenuation, so it has the effect there is more "gain" simply because you are not attenuating the input signal.
Simple test, plug into the top input of either channel and then compare with the bottom input of the same channel, you will "hear" the attenuated effect of the bottom inputs at -6db.
What else happens when you bridge channels is that you are using both
"halves" of the first 12AX7. A 12AX7 is a twin triode, one triode is for CH 1 and the other for CH 2. By bridging you are using both and their is more "gain" since both triodes are amplifying signal.
On a JTM-45 style amp the mixer resistors going into the cathode follower tone control network are 270K. On later JTM/JMP-50 watt amps they are 470K. In the case of signal a lower value resistor will allow more gain, but since the two mixer resistors are connected together where signal goes into the tone controls things get a little different. With the 270K resistor there are more highs, less gain. The 270K has less resistance between the mixer and the unused channels volume pot ground. So the volume controls are more interactive with the 270K mixer resistors. Keeping the unused channels volume control off there is either 270k vs. 470k to ground. At this point a 470K would give larger signal. If you take the unused volume control and turn it up to 10 with a 270K mixer resistor you are then allowing more signal than the volume pot being off.
EJ has been bridging his Marshall's for years with a "Y" cable. He was probably on the first person I saw do this. You will see old pics of Clapton w/Cream jumping top inputs form one amp to the other with a "Y cable at times.
I believe the whole bridging concept really grabbed everyone when the "lead" voiced amps with their high value brite cap sounded very thin at low volumes and a jumper was used to blend in the darker CH 2 side adding fullness. It then became sort of a "standard" for folks to bridge inputs without even trying the amp any other way.
An A/B box is cool as it will allow you to play either channel of a Marshall style 4 input amp and combine channels on the fly, or use one or the other indenpendantly for a broader array of sounds depending on how volumes are set.
Best to all,
Greg Germino
www.germinoamps.com