Crate Amplifiers GTX3500H User Manual

GTX3500H

Three-Channel Guitar Amplifier

with Advanced Digital Signal

Processing

User ’s Guide

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

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

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

The Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

The DSP Section . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Storing Your Own Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Restoring the Factory Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

More About the Tap/Save Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Using the Footswitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

DSP Factory Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10,11

Suggested Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12,13

DSP “Fill in the Blanks” (for User Presets) . . . . . . . . . .14

System Block Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

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

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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

• DO NOT OPERATE NEAR ANY HEAT SOURCE AND DO NOTBLOCK ANY VENTILATION OPENINGS ON THIS APPARATUS. FOR

PROPER OPERATION, THIS UNITREQUIRES 3” (75mm) 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 ONLY WITH LINT-FREE DAMP CLOTH AND DO NOT USE CLEANING AGENTS.

• ONLY CONNECT 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.

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

SAFE OPERATION AND TO AVOID INJURY.

• WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK OR FIRE, DO NOT EXPOSE 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 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

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

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.

3

Congratulations!

You are now the proud owner of the Crate GTX3500H
TidalWave three-channel guitar amplifier with Advanced
Digital Signal Processing. This rugged amplifier combines out­standing features with serious clean and distorted sounds.
Dual DSP controls provide 15 “Multi” effects and 15 Delay
effects which can be combined for a wide variety of sounds.
The Tap/Save button allows you to manually set the tempo of
many of the effects and to save new DSP presets in the
amplifier’s non-volatile memory. A separate reverb control
adds even more to the array of effects.

A highly visible electronic tuner (with a Mute switch for
silent tuning) allows you to get tuned and stay in tune any
time the amplifier is turned on. The rear panel Line In and
Line Out jacks allow you to connect additional equipment for
even greater flexibility.

Channel switching, Tap/Save, and a second bank of DSP
effects may be controlled by means of the supplied four but­ton footswitch.

Like all Crate products, your GTX3500H TidalWave ampli­fier 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 Crate.

4

The Front Panel:

1

7 8 141312

2 5 6 9 10 113 4

1. POWER: Use this switch to turn the amplifier on (top of the switch depressed) and off (bottom of

the switch depressed). The switch illuminates when the power is on.

2. REV: Use this control to adjust the amount of the digital reverb effect. In its fully counter clockwise
position the signal is “dry” (without any reverb). As you rotate the control clockwise the amount of
reverb increases. The Reverb setting may be saved as a channel preset - see page 8.

3. TAP/SAVE LED: This LED flashes in time with the tempo set by the Tap/Save button (#4) and
serves as a status indicator for certain DSP activities (see page 8).

NOTE: For some of the DSP effects, the Tap/Save LED remains illuminated. The Tap/Save LED does not
illuminate when the DSP knobs are set to the Bypass position.

4. TAP/SAVE: Use this pushbutton to set the tempo of many of the effects by tapping the button
repeatedly in time with the desired tempo. The Tap/Save button is also used to save DSP presets
and to restore the factory default DSP settings. Additional information about the Tap/Save button is
on pages 7 and 8.

5. DSP DELA Y: Use this control to select one of the fifteen digital Delay effects. Complete informa­tion about the DSP effects is on page 7.

6. DSP MULTI: Use this control to select one of the fifteen digital “Multi” effects. Complete informa­tion about the DSP effects is on page 7.

7. ELECTRONIC TUNER: The electronic tuner is active whenever the amplifier is turned on, provid­ing constant, “real time” tuning. The bottom row of LEDs indicate which note (string) is being tuned.
The top row of LEDs provides directional queues to facilitate quick and precise tuning of your instru­ment. The indicated note (string) is properly tuned when only the center LED is illuminated.

8. MUTE: This switch, when depressed, mutes the output signals at the Speaker jacks (#30) and the
Line Out jack (#28), allowing you to silently tune or switch instruments. The switch illuminates when
the Mute function is active.

9. CHANNEL 3 SELECT: This switch, when depressed, selects Channel 3 as the active channel.
The switch illuminates when Channel 3 is active. Channel 3 features a high gain FlexWave circuit for
extreme distortion and sustain.

5

20 271918

15 16 17

262524

21 22 23

10. LEVEL: Use this control to adjust the output level of Channel 3.

11. GAIN: Use this control to adjust the amount of distortion produced by Channel 3.

12. HIGH: Use this control to adjust the high frequency level of Channel 3.

13. MID: Use this control to adjust the midrange frequency level of Channel 3.

14. LOW: Use this control to adjust the low frequency level of Channel 3.

15. CHANNEL 2 SELECT: This switch, when depressed, selects Channel 2 as the active channel.

The switch illuminates when Channel 2 is active. Channel 2 features a medium gain FlexWave cir­cuit for moderate distortion and “crunch.”

16. LEVEL: Use this control to adjust the output level of Channel 2.

17. GAIN: Use this control to adjust the amount of distortion produced by Channel 2.

18. HIGH: Use this control to adjust the high frequency level of Channel 2.

19. MID: Use this control to adjust the midrange frequency level of Channel 2.

20. LOW: Use this control to adjust the low frequency level of Channel 2.

21. CHANNEL 1 SELECT: This switch, when depressed, selects Channel 1 as the active channel.

The switch illuminates when Channel 1 is active. Channel 1 features a low gain FlexWave circuit for
clean sounds or sounds with mild distortion.

22. LEVEL: Use this control to adjust the output level of Channel 1.

23. GAIN: Use this control to adjust the amount of distortion produced by Channel 1.

24. HIGH: Use this control to adjust the high frequency level of Channel 1.

25. MID: Use this control to adjust the midrange frequency level of Channel 1.

26. LOW: Use this control to adjust the low frequency level of Channel 1.

27. INPUT: Use this jack to connect your guitar to the amplifier by means of a shielded instru-

ment cable.