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BLACK BEAUTY OWNER’S MANUAL • 9
XLR MODE SWITCH (LINE/DIRECT/DIRECT + SUB)
This three-position switch determines the signal present at the Balanced (XLR) Output jack as described in
the section directly above. In simple terms:
1. Direct = pre-EQ and SubWave™, post-first tube stage
2. Line = post-EQ and SubWave™
3. Direct + Sub = pre-EQ/post-first tube stage blended with SubWave™
Make sure the switch is set either to full left, full right or center to avoid an intermittent condition.
XLR PAD CONTROL
This control sets the level present at the Balanced (XLR) Output. Turning the control counter-clockwise
reduces the overall level, while turning the control clockwise boosts the overall level. It should be noted that
turning the control fully counter-clockwise to “Min” does not fully defeat the signal. This is normal, as the XLR
Pad is designed to provide a range of usable levels to be sent to a front-of-house or studio mixing console.
XLR GROUND/LIFT SWITCH
Sometimes connecting to certain mixing boards or studio consoles with non-standard XLR wiring can cause a
ground loop. Your Black Beauty has a push-button switch for lifting the ground on the Balanced (XLR) Output.
(It affects no other outputs.) Pushing on the switch will change the mode of operation. When the switch is in
the “out” position (default setting from the factory), ground is on Pin 1 of the Balanced Output jack as
normal. When the switch is in the "in” position, the ground is lifted from Pin 1 of this output. If a persistent
hum exists after trying both positions of the ground lift, there is probably:
1. A bad cable or connection somewhere between your Balanced Output jack and the snake leading
to the mixing console
2. A dirty or miswired A/C socket
3. Mis-wired or poorly wired A/C in the building
4. Fluorescent lighting directly above you or in close proximity (especially when using single-coil
pickups)
5. A cell phone in your right pocket that’s interacting with the electronics in your bass (don’t laugh,
this actually happens!)
But, in the case of a true ground loop, this switch can often times solve the problem.
TUNER OUT
The Tuner Out function allows the user to plug their instrument tuner into this jack and “tune up” without
having to unplug and go back and forth from amp to tuner. This feature is totally isolated from the rest of the
preamp and will function regardless of the settings on the front panel. Being isolated on a side chain avoids
loading down of the instrument, which can cause a loss in dynamic range.
To use this feature, connect a shielded patch cord from the Tuner Out jack on your Black Beauty to the input
jack on your tuner. Turn the amplifier on and you’re ready to go. If you do not wish to monitor your sound
during the tuning process, you may turn down the Master control.
EFFECTS LOOP (FOR EXTERNAL EFFECTS DEVICES)
As mentioned previously in the “Effects Blend Control” section of the manual, the Effects Blend circuit in your
Black Beauty is similar to that used on recording consoles, with the effects loop on a “side chain” to the
normal circuit. Unless the Effects Blend control is set to the full “wet” position, you will always get the full
sound of your instrument AND get the diversity an external effects unit offers. Use of the effects loop will
reduce the noise generated by external effects units (as compared to using the effect between your
instrument and the input jack, though many people use it in this fashion anyway). This is because the loop is
after the preamp gain stages.
The Effects Loop is compatible with most individual or multi-effect external effects devices. Many effects
devices on the market have input level adjustments. For instance, some units have a switch that you can set
for either –20 dB or +4 dB. In all cases, these should be set for 0 dB (if available) or +4 dB. The level going
to your effect is controlled by the Gain control on the front panel.
NOTE: The Effects Loop is used in conjunction with the Effects Blend control on the front panel. When the