Crate BFX100T User Manual

BFX100T

Congratulations!

Y ou are now the proud owner of the professional, transportable Crate BFX100T
Bass Amplifier with Digital Signal Processing. The BFX100Toffers a wide selection
of digital effects designed specifically for the bass guitar, each of which are easily
accessed with a simple turn of a control knob. The BFX100T features an extended
range low frequency driver, a dome tweeter, an extremely clean power amp, and
an 8-band graphic equalizer. The balanced line out jack has a level control for pre­cisely matching the signal to a recording console or house P Asystem, and is selec­table for either pre or post EQ. The built-in limiter ensures pure, clean power even
at its full 100 watts output. An effects loop, a jack for headphones, and a jack for
an external speaker add to the overall versatility of the amplifier. The compact cab­inet features heavy duty recessed side handles, recessed rear wheels, removable
tilt-back support peg and retractable luggage style roll-around handle.

Like all Crate products, your BFX100T is designed by musicians, and built
using only the best components. Extensive testing confirms that this amplifier is the
absolute best it can be.

In order to get the most out of your new amplifier, we strongly urge you to read
the information contained in this manual before you begin playing.

And thank you

for choosing

Professional,

Transportable

Bass Amplifier

with

Digital Signal

Processing

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

• READ, FOLLOW, HEED, AND KEEP ALL INSTRUCTIONS AND WARNINGS.

• DO NOT OPERATE NEAR ANY HEATSOURCE AND DO NOT BLOCK ANY VENTILATION OPENINGS ON THIS APPARATUS.

• DO NOT USE THIS APPARATUS NEAR SPLASHING, FALLING, SPRAYING, OR STANDING LIQUIDS.

• CLEAN ONLY WITH LINT-FREE DAMP CLOTH AND DO NOT USE CLEANING AGENTS.

• ONLY CONNECT POWER CORD TO APOLARIZED, SAFETY GROUNDED OUTLET WIRED TO CURRENT ELECTRICAL CODES AND

COMPATIBLE WITH VOLTAGE, POWER, AND FREQUENCY REQUIREMENTS STATED ON THE REAR PANEL OF THE APPARATUS.

• PROTECT THE POWER CORD FROM DAMAGE DUE TO BEING WALKED ON, PINCHED, OR STRAINED.

• UNPLUG THE APPARATUS DURING LIGHTNING STORMS OR WHEN UNUSED FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

• ONLY USE ATTACHMENTS, ACCESSORIES, STANDS, OR BRACKETS SPECIFIED BYTHE MANUFACTURER FOR SAFE OPERA-

TION AND TO AVOID INJURY.

• THIS APPARATUS DOES NOT OPERATE NORMALLY AND REQUIRES SERVICE WITH ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE FROM IMPACT OR

ANY EXPOSURE TO MOISTURE.

• SERVICE MUST BE PERFORMED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL.

• OUR AMPLIFIERS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING HIGH SOUND PRESSURE LEVELS. CONTINUED EXPOSURE TO HIGH SOUND

PRESSURE LEVELS CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEARING IMPAIRMENT OR LOSS. USER CAUTION IS ADVISED AND EAR PRO­TECTION IS RECOMMENDED IF UNIT IS OPERATED ATHIGH VOLUME.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC
SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOIS­TURE. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

"IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE USER TO REFER TO THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL"
“ES NECESARIO QUE EL USUARIO SE REFIERA AL MANUAL DE INSTRUCCIONES.”
"REFERREZ-VOUS AU MANUAL D'UTILISATION"

EXPLANATION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS:
EXPLICACION DE SIMBOLOS GRAFICOS:
EXPLICATION DES SYMBÔLES GRAPHIQUES:

"DANGEROUS VOLTAGE"
“VOLTAJE PELIGROSO”
"DANGER HAUTE TENSION"

=

=

PRECAUCION

RIESGO DE CORRIENTAZO

NO ABRA

ADVERTENCIA: REDUCIR EL RIESGO DE FUEGO O CHOQUE ELÉCTRI­CO, NO LE EXPONE DE ESTE APARATO A LLUVIA O HUMEDAD. PARA
DISMINUOIR EL RIESGO DE CORRIENTAZO. NO ABRA LA CUBIERTA.
NO HAY PIEZAS ADENTRO QUE EL USARIO PUEDO REPARAR DEJE
TODO MANTENIMIENTO A LOS TECHNICOS CALIFICADOS.

ATTENTION

RISQUE D'ELECTROCUTION

NE PAS OUVRIR

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT EXPOSE THIS APPARATUS TO RAIN OR MOISTURE. POUR
REDUIRE D'ELECTROCUTION NE PAS ENLEVER LE COUVERCLE.
AUCUNE PIECE INTERNE N'EST REPRABLE PAR L'UTILISATEUR. POUR
TOUTE REPARATION, S'ADRESSER A UN TECHNICIEN QUALIFIE.

Table of Contents:

Using the Transport Handle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Using the Tilt-Back Peg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

The Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4,5

The Rear panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Suggested Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Technial Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .back cover

BFX100T

Professional, Transportable Bass Amp with DSP

2

Using the Transport Handle:

(1) Squeeze the handle together just below the attachment bracket
(2) Lift the lower end of the handle up and out in an arcing motion
(3) Lock the handle into the attachment bracket in its upright position

(Reverse the steps to put the handle away)

Using the Tilt-Back Peg:

(1) Lift the tilt-back peg up and out of its retaining clips
(2) Screw the threaded end of the tilt-back peg into the fitting on the rear of the cabinet

The cabinet may now be used as a personal monitor – tilting it back also increases its range of coverage
(Remove the peg from the fitting and store it in its retaining clips when not in use)

LIFT

SQUEEZE

1

2

LOCK

3

BFX100T

Professional, Transportable Bass Amp with DSP

3

LIFT UP,

PULL OUT

SCREW INTO

FITTING

2

1

BFX100T

Professional, Transportable Bass Amp with DSP

4

The Front Panel:

INPUT CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

1 2 63 4 7

8

5

9

1. INPUT: Use this 1/4” jack to connect your guitar to the amplifier by means of a shielded instrument cable.

2. -15dB/0dB SWITCH: This switch, when depressed, attenuates the level of the input signal by 15dB. If the

Peak LED (#4) flashes with the Gain control (#3) near fully counter clockwise, depress this switch.

3. GAIN: Use this control to adjust the input signal level for the amplifier. For the best signal to noise ratio, set
the Gain control so the Peak LED (#4) flashes only on strong signal peaks.

4. PEAK LED: This LED illuminates when the input signal level nears clipping. Adjust the Gain control (#3) so
a strong signal from your instrument causes this LED to flash.

NOTE: If the Peak LED flashes frequently with the Gain control (#3) at a low setting, depress the -15dB/0dB
switch to engage the attenuator, then readjust the Gain control.

5: CONTOUR SHAPE: Use this control to further expand the tonal characteristics of the amplifier. This lets
you “dial in” the exact sound you’re looking for. The Contour ef fect cuts the mid frequencies by 12db, while at
the same time it cuts or boosts the highs – in the counter clockwise position, the mid cut is at 1kHz, and the
highs are attenuated; in the clockwise position, the mid cut is at 400Hz, and the highs are boosted. This con­trol is only active when the Contour Active switch (#6) is depressed.

6. CONTOUR ACTIVE SWITCH: This switch, when depressed, activates the Contour circuitry. The Contour
Shape control (#5) is effective only when this switch is depressed.

7. GRAPHIC EQ: Use these sliders to adjust the output signal to best suit your playing style, to compensate
for room acoustics, and to achieve the best sound. Each slider control is centered at the frequency listed
beneath it.

8. MASTER LEVEL: Use this control to adjust the output level of the amplifier.

9. LIMIT LED: This LED illuminates when the internal limiter circuit is activated. The limiter circuit prevents the

power amplifier from clipping at high output levels. Clipping results in distortion that may damage your speakers.

10. DSP MODE: Use this control to select one of the built-in digital effects. The effects are as follows:

DELAY: Slapback delay effect

ECHO: Long delay effect with regeneration

CHORUS: Chorus effect

FLANGE: Light flange effect

FUNK-WAH: Touch-sensitive wah-wah (“T-Wah”) effect

OCTAVE: Adds a secondary note one octave lower than orignal

CHO/HALL: Chorus effect combined with large hall reverb effect

RM: Small room reverb effect

HALL: Large hall reverb effect

BFX100T

Professional, Transportable Bass Amp with DSP

5

11. DSP LEVEL: Use this control to adjust the amount of digital effect: in its full counter clockwise posi-

tion the signal will be “dry” (without any effect). As you rotate the control clockwise the amount of effect
increases.

12. FOOTSWITCH: Use this jack to connect a one-button footswitch (such as the Crate CFP-1) to the
amplifier for remote on/off control of the DSP effects.

13. INSERT: Use this jack to connect an external effects device to the amplifier . Use a stereo 1/4” male Ycon­nector: ring = send, tip = return, sleeve = ground. See the illustration below for additional information.

14. HEADPHONES: Use this jack to connect a pair of stereo headphones to the amplifier for private listening.
The internal speaker is disconnected when the headphones jack is used.

15. SPEAKER: Use this jack to connect the amplifier to an extension speaker cabinet. This jack is wired in
series with the internal speaker.

WARNING:TO AVOID POSSIBLE HEARING DAMAGE, DO NOT USE HEADPHONES IN THE SPEAKER JACK!

16. ON LED: This LED illuminates when power is applied to the amplifier.

17. POWER: Use this switch to turn the amplifier on and off.

Connecting to the Insert Jack:

The Insert jack (#13) allows you
to patch an external effects
device into the amplifier prior to
its power amp stage. Use Crate’s
STP201, STP202 or STP203
stereo-to-mono Y cord or an
adapter such as Crate’s YPP117
and two 1/4” mono signal cables
to connect the effect as shown to
the immediate right.

DSP

BFX100T

ON

10 11 12 13 1615 1714

Stereo-to-mono Y-cord:

(STP201, 3'

STP202, 6'

STP203, 9')

to Insert

jack

TIP
RING
SLEEVE

Y-adapter and 2 cables:

RETURN

SEND

GROUND

TIP

RING

SLEEVE

(YPP117)

to Insert
jack

TIP

to
effect
"OUT"
jack

to

effect

"IN"
jack

RING

TIP

(1/4"-TO-1/4"

MONO CABLES)

to
effect
"OUT"
jack

to

effect

"IN"
jack

RING

External Effect

External Effect

BFX100T

Professional, Transportable Bass Amp with DSP

6

The Rear Panel:

LEVEL

PRE

POST

BALANCED LINE OUT

18 19 20 21 22

18. FUSE: The fuse protects the amplifier from damages caused by a faulty AC power source and/or other
problems. If the fuse opens, replace it ONLY with the same size and type. If fuses continue to fail, check
the AC source – if the source is okay, contact your Crate dealer for service information.

19. AC LINE CORD: This grounded power cord is to be plugged into a grounded power outlet, wired to
current electric codes and compatible with voltage, power, and frequency requirements stated on the rear
panel. Do not attempt to defeat the safety ground connection.

20. BALANCED LINE OUT:Use this XLR-type connector to send a balanced preamp signal to a house
mixing board, recording console or an external amplifier.

21. PRE/POST SWITCH: Use this switch to select either a pre EQ or a post EQ signal at the Balanced
Line Out jack (#20). When the switch is depressed, the signal is pre EQ – a direct output, not affected by
the gain, contour, or graphic EQ. With the switch in the out position, the signal is post EQ – the settings of
the aforementioned controls affects the signal.

22. BALANCED LINE OUT LEVEL: Use this control to adjust the level of the signal at the Balanced Line
Out jack (#20). This control works independently from the Master Level control (#8).

BFX100T

Professional, Transportable Bass Amp with DSP

7

System Block Diagram:

R

Suggested Starting Tone Settings:

OUT

IN

IN

IN

ROCK:

JAZZ:

COUNTRY:

FUNK:

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

OUT

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

IN

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

IN

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

INPUT

GAIN

-15dB PAD

PEAK

LED

CONTOUR

SHAPE

POST

PRE

EQ

EQ

ON/

OFF

OUT LEVEL

8-BAND

GRAPHIC

BAL. LINE

IN

BAL.
LINE
OUT

MODE

SWITCH

DSP

FOOT

LEVEL

LEVEL

POWER

LIMIT

LED

R

T

AMP

INSERT

EXT.
SPEAKE

HEAD
PHONES

BFX100T TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS:

Output Power Rating 100 watts RMS @ 1% THD 4 ohms, 120 VAC
Speaker Size and Rating (1) Custom Design 15”, 2” voice coil, 150 watts RMS

(1) LeSon Dome Tweeter

Graphic Equalizer 24dB range @ 50Hz, 100Hz, 225Hz, 625Hz,

1.6kHz, 4kHz, 8kHz, 16kHz
Input Impedance 200k ohms
Maximum Input Signal Level Accepted 15 volts peak-to-peak
Gain @ 1kHz 65dB w/EQ flat, contour off
Line Output Jack 2 volts peak-to-peak @ full rated power
Balanced Line Out Jack 2 volts peak-to-peak @ full rated power w/600Ω load
Power Requirements 120 VAC, 60Hz, 115VA

100/115VAC, 50/60Hz, 115VA
230VAC, 50/60Hz,115VA

Size and Weight 21.5” H x 20” W x 16.5” D, 67 lbs.

The BFX100T is covered with a durable black Tolex material: wipe it clean with a lint-free cloth.

Never spray cleaning agents onto the cabinet. Avoid abrasive cleansers which would damage the finish.

Crate continually develops new products, as well as improves existing ones. For this reason, the specifications

and information in this manual are subject to change without notice.

www.crateamps.com

@2001 SLM Electronics, a division of St. Louis Music, Inc • 1400 Ferguson Avenue • St. Louis, MO 63301

47-949-01 • 05/01

BFX100T

Professional, Transportable Bass Amp with DSP