Hughes & Kettner 303 Musical Instrument Amplifier User Manual


 
3.2 THE INPUT AND EQ SECTIONS
While the SoundMatrix enables you to quickly and
effectively select drastically modified sounds, the BassKick
EQ section serves primarily to adapt your bass setup to the
room as well as to the instrument you are using. You can of
course also use the EQ section for the creation of individual
sounds. (In this case, switch the SoundMatrix on
occasionally to compare sounds to ensure the best results
during your set when you select another sound.)
Two factors have a major influence on the sound of your
BassKick:
1. The gain setting:
The BassKick preamp’s response depends largely on the type
of instrument you are using, its pickups, and its output level.
Use the gain control to adjust the sensitivity of the preamp. If
you turn up the gain to go from a clean sound (low gain) to a
slightly overdriven tone, be careful not to saturate the
preamp and create harsh, unmusical distortion. Note that at
high TREBLE settings, the BassKick preamp will distort at a
lower threshold.
2. The midrange setting:
The essential sound of instrumental bass originates in the
mids!
The midrange knob lets you drastically alter the tone, from
bright slap sounds (mids cut) to distinct, aggressive rock
sounds (mids boosted). This is why many players start with
the midrange when they are dialing in their desired sound.
The next step is to select a suitable bass or bottom end
setting to support the mids and adjust for the acoustic
properties of a given venue, for instance to eliminate the
muddy tone caused by stage or room resonance. Once the
mids and bottom end sound the way you want them to, the
upper end is relatively simple to define. The TREBLE control
acts very directly on the frequencies that the tweeter
reproduces; basically you just decide if you want a bright,
metallic sound or a throaty amp tone.
3.3 THE BASSKICK 303 TWEETER
The BassKick combo is equipped with a 15” woofer and a
dynamic tweeter. The tweeter has been precision-tuned for
finely detailed reproduction of the sparkling overtones that
modern, crystal-clear bass sounds demand.
The frequency range of the TREBLE control has been
selected for optimum adaptability of the high frequency horn
to the overall sound. You can activate and deactivate the
tweeter as desired via the HF HORN ON/OFF button.
The button is located beside the tweeter; you can access it
through a window in the grille.
4.0 SERVICE AND
PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
The BassKick amps do not require service of any type.
However, there are a few precautions you should heed.
- Ensure all peripheral devices, cords and cables are in a
state of good repair.
Defective speaker cables (shorted cables, loose connections)
are by far the most common cause of power amp failure.
Poor cables are also noisy.
- Ensure air can circulate around your amp’s ribbed
ventilation ducts.
- Avoid mechanical shocks and exposure to extreme heat,
dust and especially moisture.
- When connecting peripheral devices, always heed the
proper safety precautions. Never connect speakers with
insufficient impedance (ohms), and never connect devices
with high output signal levels (e.g. power amps) to the amp’s
input.
- Ensure the local AC power is at the right rating before
plugging in the amp. If in doubt, ask the venue’s sound
technician or stage hand.
- Refrain from do-it-yourself repairs! Even internal fuses
should be replaced by a qualified technician.
- If you have the combo version, use a brush to clean the
flock covering, and use a soft damp cloth for all metal parts.
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BASSKICK-MANUAL