Crate Amplifiers BFX100 User Manual

DSP

BFX100

OWNER’S MANUAL

BFX100

BASS AMPLIFIER

WITH

DIGITAL SIGNAL

PROCESSING

Congratulations!

You are now the proud owner of the portable and powerful Crate BFX100 Bass
Amplifier with Digital Signal Processing. The BFX100 offers a wide selection of digi­tal effects designed especially for the bass guitar, each of which are easily accessed
with a simple turn of a control knob. (No programmer’s degree required!) The BFX100
boasts an improved cabinet design with a front port, an extended range bass driver,
an extremely clean power amp and very flexible tone circuitry. The balanced line out
jack has a level control for the best signal match to a recording console or live 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 headphones jack, and
an extension speaker jack add to the overall versatility of this incredible bass amp.

Your BFX100 is Musician Made in the U.S.A., using only the best components.
Extensive testing at the hands (and ears) of skilled technicians and musicians
ensures you that this amplifier is the absolute best it can be.

In order to get the most out of your new bass amp, we urge you to read this man­ual before you begin playing.

And thank you

for choosing

1. INPUT: The signal output from an instru­ment (active or passive) or a line level signal
may be connected here by means of a
shielded instrument cable.

2. -15dB/0dB: This switch, when depressed,
attenuates the input signal by 15dB.
Attenuation allows the Gain control (#3) to be
functional over a larger portion of its range. If
the Gain control is near minimum and the
Peak LED (#4) is flashing (indicating clipping
of the input signal), attenuation is needed.

3. GAIN: This serves as the input signal level
control for the amplifier, allowing you to
adjust the amplifier for the best signal to
noise ratio.

4. PEAK LED: This LED flashes when the
signal level into the preamp approaches clip­ping. Adjust the Gain control (#3) until a
strong signal from your instrument causes
this LED to flicker.

NOTE: If the LED flashes frequently with the
gain control at a low setting, use the -15dB
pad (#2) to attenuate the input signal, then
readjust the gain.

5: CONTOUR SHAPE: This control is only
active when the Contour Active switch (#6) is

depressed. The setting of this control shifts
the frequency where the contour effect is
centered, giving you a wide variety of tonal
variations, from a studio “V”-shaped tone to a
sound that’s more “live” and up-front.

6: CONTOUR ACTIVE: This switch, when
depressed, activates the Contour Shape con­trol (#5).

7. GRAPHIC EQ: Use these sliders to adjust
the output signal to best suit your playing
style, to match room acoustics, and to get the
best overall sound. The sliders control the
output of the frequencies indicated below
each control. The center position of each
control is flat (no boost or cut).

8. MASTER LEVEL: This is the overall out­put level control for the amplifier.

9. LIMIT: The BFX100 uses an internal limit­ing circuit to assist in keeping the power
amplifier’s output “clean” at extreme volume
levels. (All amplifiers begin to clip their output
signals as they approach maximum output
levels, resulting in distortion which may dam­age the speaker.) Whenever the amplifier is
at full power, this LED will flash. This is an
indication that the limiter is keeping peak sig­nals from clipping the output.

The Front Panel:

BFX100 Bass Amplifier

INPUT CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

1 2 63 4 7

5

9

8

10. DSP MODE: Select the type of digital
effect(s) applied to the signal with this con­trol. The effects are described 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

OCT AVE: Adds secondary note one octave

lower than original note

CHO/HALL: Chorus effect with large hall reverb

effect

RM: Small room reverb effect

HALL: Large hall reverb effect

11. DSP LEVEL: This is the output level con-

trol for the selected DSP effect(s). For a dry
signal (no effect), rotate the control full
counter-clockwise. Rotating the control
clockwise increases the magnitude of the
DSP effect(s) applied to the signal.

12. DSP FOOTSWITCH: Connect a one but­ton footswitch (such as the Crate CFP-1)
here for remote on/off control for the internal
DSP effects.

13. INSERT: Connect an external effects
device using this jack. Use a stereo 1/4” male
Y-cord: ring = send, tip = return, sleeve =
ground. See the illustration to the right for
more information.

14. HEADPHONES: For private listening,
connect a pair of stereo headphones into this
jack. The internal speaker is disconnected
when headphones are plugged in.

15. SPEAKER: Use this jack to connect the
amplifier to an external speaker with a mini­mum impedance rating of 4 ohms. The inter­nal speaker is disconnected when this jack is
used.

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

16. ON LED: This LED will illuminate when

the amplifier is turned on.

17. POWER: This switch applies AC power
to the amplifier. The amplifier is ON when the
side of the switch with the indicator (|) is
depressed.

BFX100 Bass Amplifier

DSP

10 11 12 13 1615 1714

BFX100

ON

BFX100 Bass Amplifier

The Rear Panel:

18. FUSE: This protects the unit from dam-

age due to overload conditions or power line
surges. If the fuse blows, replace it only with
the same size and type.

19. AC LINE CORD: Plug this cord into a
properly wired, grounded, 120 volt, 60 cycle
outlet. DO NOT attempt to defeat the
ground connection of this power cord! If
your amplifier was purchased outside of the
United States, see the unit’s rear panel label­ing for its power rating, and follow the above
guidelines.

20. BALANCED LINE OUT: This XLR-type
connector supplies a balanced preamp output
signal for connecting to a house mixing board,
recording console or external amplifier with
balanced inputs. The signal can be set to Pre
or Post EQ by the Pre/Post switch (#21). The
line out signal level can be controlled by the
Balanced Line Out Level control (#22).

21. PRE/POST SWITCH: You can select
either Pre or Post EQ for the signal at the
Balanced Line Out jack (#20) with this switch.
When the switch is depressed, the signal at
the jack is pre-EQ—a direct output, not affect­ed by the gain, contour, or graphic EQ. When
the switch is in the out position, the signal is

post-EQ—the output signal is affected by the
gain, contour and graphic EQ controls.

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

Connecting to the Insert jack:

The Insert jack (#13) lets you patch external
effects into the amplifier just 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 2 1/4” mono signal
cables to connect to the effect as shown below.

18 19 20 21 22

BALANCED LINE OUT

PRE

POST

LEVEL

Stereo-to-mono Y-cord:

jack

TIP
RING
SLEEVE

to Insert

(STP201, 3'

STP202, 6'

STP203, 9')

Y-adapter and 2 cables:

RETURN

SEND

GROUND

TIP

RING

SLEEVE

(YPP117)

to Insert
jack

TIP

to
effect
"OUT"
jack

External Effect

to

effect

"IN"
jack

RING

TIP

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

MONO SHIELDED

CABLES)

to
effect
"OUT"
jack

External Effect

to

effect

"IN"
jack

RING

Suggested Starting Tone Settings:

System Block Diagram:

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

OUT

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

IN

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

IN

CONTOUR EQUALIZATION MASTER

IN

ROCK:

JAZZ:

COUNTRY :

FUNK:

INPUT

ON/

OFF

PEAK

LED

SHAPE

BAL. LINE

OUT LEVEL

BAL.
LINE
OUT

GAIN

INSERT

FOOT

SWITCH

EXT.
SPEAKER

HEAD
PHONES

POWER

AMP

LEVEL

CONTOUR

8-BAND

GRAPHIC

-15dB PAD

POST

EQ

PRE

EQ

LIMIT

LED

LEVEL

MODE

DSP

R

T

BFX100 Bass Amplifier

©2001 SLM ELECTRONICS, ADIVISION OF ST. LOUIS MUSIC, 1400 FERGUSON, ST. LOUIS, MO. 63133

P/N 47-354-02 • 05/01

www.crateamps.com

BFX100 Bass Amplifier

THIS EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN
DESIGNED AND ENGINEERED TO
PROVIDE SAFE AND RELIABLE
OPERATION. IN ORDER TO PRO­LONG THE LIFE OF THE UNITAND
PREVENT ACCIDENTAL DAM­AGES OR INJURY, PLEASE FOL­LOW THESE PRECAUTIONARY
GUIDELINES:

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT
OPEN CHASSIS; DO NOT DEFEAT
OR REMOVE THE GROUND PIN
OF THE POWER CORD; CON­NECT ONLY TO A PROPERLY
GROUNDED AC POWER OUTLET.

WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIP­MENT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTION: NO USER-SERVICE­ABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER SER­VICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE
PERSONNEL.

CAUTION: 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 AT HIGH
VOLUME.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: 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"
"UNBEDINGT IN DER BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG NACHSCHLAGEN"

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

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

=

=

PRECAUCION

RIESGO DE CORRIENTAZO

NO ABRA

PRECAUCION 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

ATTENTION: 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.

VORSICHT

ELEKTRISCHE SCHLAGGEFAHR

NICHT OFFENEN

VORSICHT: ZUR MINIMIERUNG ELEKTRISCHER SCHLAGGEFAHR NICHT

DEN DECKEL ABENHMEN. INTERNE TEILE KONNEN NICHT VOM

BENUTZER GEWARTET WERDEN. DIE WARTUNG IS QUALIFIZIERTEM

WARTUNGSPERSONAL ZU UBERLASSEN.

ESTE APARATO HA SIDO DISENADO Y
CONSTRUIDO PARA PROVEER ANOS
DE OPERACION SEGURA Y CONFI­ABLE. PARA PROLONGAR LA VIDA DE
ESTAUNIDAD E IMPEDIR DANOS ACCI­DENTALES POR FAVOR SIGA ESTAS
INSTRUCCIONES PREVENTIVAS:

PRECAUCION: PARA DISMINUIR EL
RIESGO DE DESCARGAS
ELECTRICAS: (1) NO ABRA LA CUBIER­TA, (2) NO ES RECOMENDABLE
REMOVER O DESACTIVAR LA PATA
DEL POLO A TIERRA DEL CABLE DE
CORRIENTE, CONECTE CORRECTA­MENTE A UNA TOMA DE CORRIENTE A
TIERRA.

ADVERTENCIA: PARA EVITAR
DESCARGAS ELECTRICAS O PELIGRO
DE INCENDIO, NO DEJE ESTE APARA­TO EXPUESTO A LA LLUVIA O
HUMEDAD.

PRECAUCION: NO HAY PIEZAS ADEN­TRO QUE EL USUARIO PUEDE
REPARAR. DEJE TODO MANTENIMIEN­TO ALOS TÉCNICOS CALIFICADOS.

PRECAUCION: NUESTROS AMPLIFI­CADORES PUEDEN PRODUCIR NIVE­LES DE PRESION DE SONIDO ALTO.
EXPOSICION CONTINUADA A LOS
NIVELES DE PRESION DE SONIDO
ALTO PUEDE CAUSA DANO PERMA­NENTE A SU OIDO. ES ACONSEJADO
QUE USE PRECAUCION ALUSUARIO Y
ES RECOMENDADO PROTECCION
PARA LOS OIDOS SI LA UNIDAD ES
OPERADAA VOLUMEN ALTO.

CET ÉQUIPEMENTAVAITÉTÉ INVEN­TÉ ET ARRANGÉ POUR POURVOIR
DES ANNÉES D'USAGE SAUF ET
SÛR. POUR PROLONGER LA VIE DE
CETAPPAREIL ET POUR EMPÊCHER
LES DOMMAGES ET LES TORTS
ACCIDENTELS, SUIVEZ LES
INSTRUCTIONS DE PRÉCAUTION.

AVERTISSEMENT: POUR RÉDUIRE
LES RISQUES D'ÉLECTROCUTION:
(1) N’OUVREZ PAS LE CHÂSSIS, (2)
NE PAS ESSAYER DE SUPPRIMER
LA BROCHE CORRESPONDANT À LA
TERRE.

ATTENTION: POUR RÉDUIRE LES
RISQUES D'UN FEU OU D'ÉLECTRO­CUTION, N’EXPOSEZ PAS L'AP­PAREIL À LA PLUIE OU À LA MOI­TEUR.

ATTENTION: IL N'Y A PAS D’ÉLÉ­MENTS RÉPARABLES DANS L'AP­PAREIL. CONSULTER UN TECHNI­CIEN QUALIFIÉ POUR LES RÉPARA­TIONS.

ATTENTION: NOS AMPLIFICATEURS
SONT CAPABLES DE LA PRODUC­TION DES NIVEAUX DE SON D'UNE
HAUTE PRESSION. L'EXPOSITION
CONTINUE AUX CES NIVEAUX PEUT
CAUSER LASURDITÉ PERMANENTE.
LA PRUDENCE EST ADVISÉ À UTIL­ISATEUR ET LA PROTECTION DES
OREILLES EST RECOMMANDÉ SI
L'APPAREILEST UTILISÉ À UN HAUT
NIVEAU DE VOLUME.

Specifications subject to change without notice.

The BFX100 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.

BFX100 Technical Specifications:

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

Power Handling: 150 watts RMS

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

1.6kHz 4kHz, 8kHz and 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
Signal to Noise Ratio 65dB below full power, tones flat, contour off,

gain and level @ “10”

Input Power Requirements 120 VAC, 60Hz, 115VA

100/110VAC, 50/60Hz, 115VA
230VAC, 50/60Hz, 115VA

Size and Weight 25” H x 20.75” W x 15.75” D, 67 lbs.