Crate Amplifiers BV-60H, BV-129H User Manual

User’s Guide

for the

BV-60H / BV-120H

All Tube

Guitar Amplifiers

by

Musician-Made in the U.S.A.

Congratulations!

Your love of performing and driving ambition to be the best have brought you to a turning point in your musical
career: the incredible BV-60H/BV-120H Professional Series guitar amplifier. An all-tube powerhouse of an amplifi­er designed to take you to the top and keep you there.

We know something about you: we know you were never impressed with those "toys" that some of your friends
called amplifiers. We know you were holding out until someone offered you an American-made, affordable piece
of professional equipment you could really sink your teeth into. A serious amplifier, designed for a serious musi­cian: an amp with the sounds you've always looked for, the power you've always dreamed about, and the reliabil­ity you know you'll need. And all with a name you know you can trust: CRATE.

Your BV-60H/120H was designed by musicians, and built using only the best components. Extensive testing at
the hands and ears of skilled technicians and musicians insures you 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 this user’s guide before you
begin playing.

And thank you for choosing

Contents:

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

The Front Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

The Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Important Information About Tubes and Tube Products

A Brief History Of The Tube . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Tube Types And Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

The Nature Of Tubes: Why (And When) To Replace Them . . . . . . .7

The Importance Of Proper Biasing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Survival Tips For Tube Amplifiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Some Suggested Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

System Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .back cover

2

IMPORTANT WARNING: Whenever stacking speaker cabinets of any kind, place them ONLY on a level

surface! NEVER stack cabinets on a surface with more than a five degree incline since tipping could

occur, possibly causing serious injuries!

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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

• DO NOT OPERATE NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCE AND DO NOT BLOCK ANY VENTILATION OPENINGS ON THIS APPARATUS. FOR PROPER OPERATION, THIS UNIT REQUIRES 3”

(75CM) OF WELL VENTILATED SPACE AROUND HEATSINKS AND OTHER AIR FLOW PROVISIONS IN THE CABINET.

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

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

• ONLYCONNECT POWER CORD TO A POLARIZED, 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.

• ONLYUSE ATTACHMENTS, ACCESSORIES, STANDS, OR BRACKETS SPECIFIED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR SAFE OPERATION AND TO AVOID INJURY.

• WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR FIRE, DO NOTEXPOSE THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR 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 PERMA-

NENT 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

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.

PRECAUCION

RIESGO DE CORRIENTAZO

NO ABRA

PRECAUCION: PARA REDUCIR EL RIESGO DE INCENDIOS O DESCARGAS ELECTRICAS, NO PER­MITA QUE ESTE APARATO QUEDE EXPUESTO A LA LLUVIA O LA 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

ATTENTION: PROTÉGEZ CET APPAREIL DE LA PLUIE ET DE L'HUMIDITÉ AFIN D'ÉVITER TOUT
RISQUE D'INCENDIE OU D'ÉLECTROCUTION. 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.

"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"

=

=

BV-60H / BV-120H All Tube Guitar Amplifiers

Introduction:

The BV-60H/120H are all-tube, feature-packed professional stage performers' amplifiers. Rugged con­struction, reliable American craftsmanship and two powerful channels of pure tube power are some of the
trademarks of these new and impressive pieces of musician's equipment. Both amplifiers feature two dis­tinctly different 12AX7 tube-driven channels: one with classic tube rhythm sounds and one offering you some
of the finest lead and overdrive sounds of any stock amplifier.

Each channel features an all-tube preamp section with separate reverb level controls and three bands of
equalization for total tone control. The master Presence control lets you custom tailor the sound of your gui­tar to suit your particular needs. The effects loop can be quickly bypassed via the front panel switch or an
optional footswitch and features a switchable “pad” for use with either floor pedals or rack-mounted effects.

The Line Out signal is tapped directly from the speaker outputs, then attenuated and frequency-compen­sated to replicate the sound of a miked speaker cabinet. Dual speaker jacks and an impedance selector
switch allow the use of multiple cabinets totalling 8 or 16 ohms. The BV-60H packs a solid 50 watts of out­put power; the 120H a whopping 100 watts.

Features:

Here's a quick overview of the BV-60H/120H's features and controls. Additional information can
be found on the pages indicated.

• All-Tube Preamp and Power Amp: Classic tube sounds with Crate’s legendary performance and
reliability.

• Two Completely Separate Channels: Independent level, tone and reverb controls (page 4).

• Presence Control: Provides even greater tone control and flexibility by allowing you to vary the

upper harmonics of your guitar (page 4).

• Footswitch Control: Remote channel selection and Effects Loop On/Off is available through the
use of an optional two-button footswitch (such as Crate’s CFP-2) (page 5).

• Switchable Effects Loop with Pad: Footswitch or front panel button controlled, the external
effects loop can be switched in or out with ease. A switchable pad provides optimum performance
from line-level rack mounted effects as well as floor-dwelling foot pedals (pages 4,5).

• Impedance Selector Switch: Proper impedance matching is essential for optimum performance
and life expectancy of a tube amplifier. These amps allow the use of 8 or 16 ohm speaker config­urations (page 5).

• Line Out Jack: Taken directly from the speaker output jacks, the Line Out signal is frequency
compensated to sound like a “miked” speaker cabinet. Use this jack to connect to the house mix­ing board, a recording console or another performer’s powered monitor (page 5).

• DC Filament Supply: The first preamp tube has a DC filament supply for reduced hum.

• High Cosmetic Appeal and Stage Presence: The unique cosmetics of the BV-60H/120H serve
as a tribute to your good taste in musical equipment.

• Musician Made in the U.S.A.

3

BV-60H / BV-120H All Tube Guitar Amplifiers

The Front Panel:

1. POWER (not shown): This switch applies
AC voltage to the amplifier, and should always
be turned on first. The switch illuminates when
the AC power is on.

2. STANDBY (not shown): This switch acti­vates the amplifier, and should always be turned
on last. The switch illuminates when the high
voltage power is passing through to the tubes.

NOTE:

When you first power up this
amplifier, leave the Standby switch OFF
for at least 20 seconds. This gives the
power tubes a chance to prepare them­selves for action.

3. PRESENCE: Increase the level of upper har-

monics with this control. The presence control
allows a boost of up to 5dB at 10kHz.

4. EFFECTS LOOP PAD: This switch activates
a 12dB pad on the effects send signal and cor­responding gain recovery on the return. In the
out position the signal is full strength which is
best suited for line level rack mountable effects.
With the switch depressed the signal is lower
which is best suited for foot pedal type effects.

5. EFFECTS LOOP SWITCH: This switch con­trols the effects return signal of the effects loop.
The loop is only active when the switch is
pressed in. When a footswitch is used, this
switch is disabled. The adjacent yellow LED illu­minates when the loop is in use.

6,7. REVERB 2, REVERB 1: Adjust the amount
of reverberation on each channel with these
controls: at the "0" position the signal is "dry"
(no reverb). As you rotate the control clockwise,
the amount of reverb increases.

Channel 2:

8. MASTER: Set the output signal level of
channel 2 with this control. At the "0" position
(full left) very little or no signal will be heard; as
you rotate the control clockwise (towards cen­ter) the output level of channel 2 increases. Use
this control along with your guitar's volume and
the channel 2 gain control (#12) to produce a
wide variety of sounds.

9. LOW: Adjust the bottom end response with
this control. The low control covers a range of
15dB at 100Hz. This sets the amount of bass
heard (and felt) from the amp.

10. MID: Adjust the midrange response with this
control. The mid control covers a range of 13dB
at 500Hz. This controls the “voice” of your guitar.

11. HIGH: Adjust the high end response with
this control. The high control covers a range of
10dB at 10kHz. This controls the “bite” of your
guitar.

12. GAIN: Adjust the overdrive (distortion) level
with this control. With the control towards “0” (to
the left) the signal is relatively clean. As you
rotate the control clockwise the distortion
increases, along with the overall output level.
Rotate the control towards “10” and you’ll
increase the distortion even more.

13. CHANNEL SELECT: Switch between chan­nels with this push-button switch. The adjacent
amber LED illuminates when channel 1 is
selected (switch in the out position), the red
LED illuminates when channel 2 is selected
(switch depressed). When a footswitch is used
for channel switching, this switch is disabled.

Channel 1:

14. LOW: Adjust the bottom end response with
this control. The low control covers a range of
16dB at 100Hz. This sets the amount of bass
heard (and felt) from the amp.

15. MID: Adjust the midrange response with this
control. The mid control covers a range of 20dB
at 300Hz. This controls the “voice” of your guitar.

16. HIGH: Adjust the high end response with
this control. The high control covers a range of
10dB at 10kHz. This controls the “bite” of your
guitar.

17. VOLUME: Set the output volume level of
channel 1 with this control.

18. INPUT: Connect your guitar or wireless
receiver into this standard 1/4" jack by means of
a shielded instrument cable.

4

EFFECTS LOOP

AD (12dB)

CHANNEL

SELECT

EFFECTS LOOP

OFF

BV-60H / BV-120H All Tube Guitar Amplifiers

EFFECTS LOOP

PAD (12dB)

POWER STANDBY

456

3

2

O1O

PRESENCE

7

8

9

1

ONONOFF

EFFECTS LOOP

3

2

456

O1O

LEVEL

456

7

3

8

2

9

1

O1O

1

LEVEL

1

2

1 2 3 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 186 754

CHANNEL

456

O1O

SELECT

7

8

2 1

9

1

456

7

3

8

2

9

O1O

O

7

8

9

1

-5 +5

-5 +5

-5 +5

HIGHMIDLOWVOLUME

3

2

O

O

O

-5 +5

CHANNEL 1CHANNEL 2REVERB

-5 +5

O

O

-5 +5

3

2

456

O1O

7

8

9

1

INPUTVOLUMELOW MID HIGHGAIN