Carl Martin Ampster User guide

Operating Manual

Dear Customer

Thank you for your purchase of a Carl martin Ampster from East Sound Research.

As a discerning guitarist, you know the road to great tone begins with great components, carefully
selected parts, and craftsmanship.

Please take the time to read this manual. We hope it will answer any questions that you may have.

The world of music has changed and the world of guitar playing has changed along with it. It is becoming normal
to not see the full guitar rigs of the 70’s 80’s and 90’s, and just see guitar players with minimal systems to achieve
their signature sounds.

Introducing the Carl Martin Ampster…. from the company that has shone the single analog light down that deep
digital tunnel. The Ampster, a single tube driven amp/speaker simulator that can either supplement your amp, or
replace it. A fully analog unit with controls that are the same as your amplifier with the addition of a mute switch,
a speaker selection switch and a voicing switch. What’s more important, the Ampster reacts to your playing in
the same way your full size amp does, giving you the same organic feel with zero latency!

The Ampster is housed in a solid metal box with the standard EQ (Bass Middle Treble), pre and post volume/gain
controls (Master & Gain) plus a Presence Control. There is a Mute Switch for obvious reasons and a Cabinet
Switch with an LED Indicator light ( Red for a 2x12 Open Backed Cab, and Green for a 4x12 Closed Back Cab).
On the back of the pedal you will find a Ground Lift and a Voicing Switch (a subtle low end cap controlled voicing
adjustment). Input, Link (output to your amp) Balanced DI (XLR output to go to a mixing or recording console), a
Send and Return for those specific effects that shouldn’t be in front of the amp, a Remote Input (Cabinet sim) for
use with digital or analog effect controllers like the Carl Martin Octaswitch ‘The Strip’, and your standard 9v 1A
power input. It couldn’t be simpler!

Plug your guitar straight in, or plug your pedal board into the input jack, choose your output, and open your ears
to a surprisingly big round clean sound. By adjusting the Gain, you can get a hint of that decidedly British Over­drive sound for which Carl Martin has become so well known, depending of course on the guitar and pickup confi­guartion. Our test players have fallen in love, telling us the Ampster reacts just like their standard amps, organic
and responsive to your playing style or attack. In fact, the Ampster sounds just like a full size amp, but it fits on
your pedalboard. Take a look at the videos…we are certain you will want to take the Ampster for a test drive!

INPUT:

1/4” unbalanced mono jack. The input sensitivity of this input buffer amp is compatible with all common pickup
levels and impedances (input impedance is approx. 1M ohms).

LINK:

This output jack is buffered unbalanced direct link from the ¼” input jack to the an onstage guitaramp with the
same signal from the guitar.

DI Output:

The 3-Pin male XLR jack BALANCED DIRECT OUT. Connect your XLR cable from here to your mixing
console, preamps or even DAW systems. The DI has a GROUND/LIFT switch which allows you to lift the
BALANCED DIRECT OUT XLR’s PIN 1 (GROUND) from the Circuit and Chassis Ground.
In many cases this can remove annoying ground loops that can occur from a “grounded” device that has it's
own different ground reference when interfacing to consoles

INSERT:

A serial FX LOOP is provided (FX SEND and FX RETURN jacks) for connecting other pedals.
The FX LOOP’s RETURN jack contains a “normal switch” that interrupts the signal
whenever a plug is inserted into the RETURN jack, and automatically bypasses the FX LOOP when the plug is
removed. Because of this, the FX SEND jack may be used as another pre-EQ, pre-MASTER volume Output.

REMOTE:

External remote option to select between the open cap and closed cab, the remote switch is latching type.

Voicing:

The voising is a subtle low-trim in three steps to finetune the low-end.

POWER REQUIREMENTS:

Battery: The Ampster does not run on battery.
Power consumption: max. 600mA.
Power supply: 9 V DC (regulated), 1A minimum, 2.1 mm female plug, center negative (-)
ATTENTION: Please Use DC Power Supply Only! Failure to do so may damage the unit and void the warranty.
PLEASE NOTICE: PSU not included.

SPECIFICATIONS:

Input……..........……........ 1M Ohm Send impedance loop. 1 K Ohm

Output 1/4” unbalanced... 1 K Ohm Return impedance...... 100K Ohm

Output DI Balanced......... 600 Ohm Dimensions ................ 145 (W) x 120 (D) x 70 (H)mm

S/N Ratio......................... 56dB 5,7” (W) x 4,7” (D) x 2,75” (H)

Weight......................... 0,80kg / 1,76lbs

WARRANTY:

Carl Martin Research warrants the manufacturing, material and proper operation for a period of one
year from date of purchase. Carl Martin will replace defective parts, make necessary repairs or
replace the unit at the discretion of our technicians. The warranty applies only to the original
purchaser of this product, and excludes any damage or faulty operation resulting from misuse,
neglect or unauthorized service.

Made by East Sound Research Denmark
Raadmandsvej 24 8500 Grenaa Denmark Phone: [phone] E-Mail: [e-mail]