DOD VGS50 User Manual

OWNER’S MANUAL

The Sound of Your Imagination

A Harman International Company

DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY
Manufacturer’s Name: DOD Electronics
Manufacturer’s Address: 8760 S. Sandy Parkway

Sandy, Utah 84070

declares that the product:
Product Name: VGS50
Product Options: All
conforms to the following product specifications:
Safety: EN 60065 (1993)

IEC65(1985) with Amendments 1, 2, 3

EMC: EN 55013 (1990)

EN 55020 (1991)

Supplementary Information:
The product herewith complies with the requirements of the Low voltage directive 73/23/EEC and the
EMC Directive 89/336/EEC as amended by directive 93/68/EEC.

DOD Electronics
President
8760 S. Sandy Parkway

Sandy, Utah 84070, USA

Effective (9/28/98)
European Contact: Your local DOD Sales and Service or

International Sales Office
8760 S. Sandy Parkway

Sandy, Utah, USA
Tel: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

The symbols shown above are internationally

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accepted symbols that warn of potential haz­ards with electrical products. The lightning
flash with arrowpoint in an equilateral triangle
means that there are dangerous voltages pre­sent within the unit. The exclamation point in
an equilateral triangle indicates that it is nec­essary for the user to refer to the owner’s
manual.

These symbols warn that there are no user
serviceable parts inside the unit. Do not
open the unit. Do not attempt to service the
unit yourself. Refer all servicing to qualified
personnel. Opening the chassis for any rea­son will void the manufacturer’s warranty. Do
not get the unit wet. If liquid is spilled on the
unit, shut it off immediately and take it to a
dealer for service. Disconnect the unit during
storms to prevent damage.

Table of Contents

Safety Information................I

Declaration of Conformity....I

Table of Contents.................II

Introduction

Congratulations................... 1

Included Items................... 1

Features.............................. 1

Section One

A Guided Tour..................... 2

Front Panel....................... 2

Rear Panel........................ 4

Getting Started.................... 5

Making Connections........... 5

Section Two

About the VGS50..................6

Performance Mode..............6

Selecting a Preset.................6

Data Wheel........................6

Footswitches......................6

Accessing the Tuner............. 7

Learn-A-Lick........................7

Section Three

Editing a Preset................... 9

Selecting Effects.................. 9

Editing Parameters............. 9

Creating a Preset................. 9

Storing/Copying.................. 12

Section Four

About the Effects................ 13

Effect Definitions................ 13

Parameters......................... 15

Resetting the VGS50........... 16

Pedal Calibration............... 16

Maintenance....................... 16

Preset List.......................... 17

Warranty............................ 18

Specifications.................... 18

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Congratulations!

You are now the proud owner of the best sound available in a package this size. The
VGS50 is an extremely powerful tool capable of producing virtually any sound that
you can imagine. It offers real tube distortions, the popular Grunge distortion, and a
host of great sounding digital effects...18 effects in all to choose from. Effects
include: Compression, Distortion, Equalization, Noise Gate, Chorus, Flange, Phaser,
Tremolo, Pitch Shifter, Detuner, Ring Modulator, Pixellator, Enveloped Effects, Pitch
Bending, Wah, Auto Wah, Tape Delay, Pong Delay, Delay and Reverb. The VGS50 also
includes a chromatic tuner, the Learn-a-Lick function and a built in expression
pedal capable of controlling effects in real time.

This Owner’s manual is your guide to getting the most out of your VGS50. Please
read it carefully, to get familiar with the controls of the VGS50. This will ensure
years of audio enjoyment.

Included Items

Your VGS50 was carefully assembled and packaged at the factory. Before proceeding
any further please make sure the following items are included.

• 1 VGS50 Valve Guitar System

• 1 PS750 External Power Supply

• 1 Owner’s Manual

• 1 Warranty Registration Card

Please save all packing materials, and take a moment to fill out the warranty
registration card. It is your safeguard in the unlikely event that your VGS50 needs
servicing. Please use the packing materials to return the unit if necessary.

Features

• 12AX7 Tube

• Built-in Expression Pedal

• 30 User/30 Factory Presets

• Up to Seven Effects at Once

• Stereo Outputs

• Chromatic Tuner

• 18 Different Effects to Choose From...Just add imagination

• Externally Isolated Transformer

• Learn-a-Lick

• Jam-A-Long

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Section One

A Guided Tour of the VGS50

Front Panel

1. Program and Bank Selector Footswitches - These switches provide access

to the VGS50 user presets and the 10 user banks. They are also used to bypass the
VGS50, access the tuner, and perform various functions for the Learn-a-Lick feature.

2. Effect Select Buttons - This row of buttons is used to select or bypass a
specific effect group for each preset. These groups include Master Level, Reverb,
Delay, 11 Modulation Effects, Noise Gate, Equalization, Distortion and Compression.

3. Store Button and LE D - After editing a preset, your modifications must be
stored in order for the VGS50 to remember the changes that you made. When you
change any aspect of a preset, the store LED will light indicating that you need to
use the store button to save the change.

4. Clip LE D - This LED will light to indicate that the VGS50 is receiving too much
signal. Clipping causes an unwanted distortion in the digital effects. To prevent
clipping from occurring, reduce the program level parameter.

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5. Display - The LED display serves three functions. In performance mode, the
display will indicate the bank and preset numbers that are currently active. In edit
mode, the display will show the value of the effect or effect group being edited. In
tuner mode, the display will show the input note you are closest to.

6. Tuner/Parameter LE Ds - This row of LEDs serves a dual function. While
editing parameters, an LED will light to indicate the parameter being edited. In
tuner mode, these LEDs will indicate whether you are flat or sharp of the displayed
note.

7. Data Wheel - This knob is used to select the preset in performance mode, and
to increase or decrease a parameter value in the parameter edit mode.

8. Parameter Edit Button and LE D - This button is used to activate the
Parameter Edit mode. Successive presses will access each parameter of the
currently selected effect group.

9. Valve Active - This icon will light when the tube is being used in a preset.

10. Output Knob - This knob adjusts the overall volume for all presets in the

VGS50.

11. Expression Pedal - This pedal can be assigned to control one of 9 different
parameters in real time for each preset.

12. Pedal Button - This button is used to select the function of the expression
pedal for each preset.

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Rear Panel

A. Input Jack - Connect your instrument to this jack.

B. Left Output - Connect from this jack to the input of your amplifier for mono

applications.

C. Right Output - Connect from this jack to a second amplifier for stereo
applications.

D. Headphone - This jack is used for connecting a pair of stereo headphones to
the VGS50. The output level knob (10) will control the volume level in the
headphones.

E. Jam-a-long/Learn-a-Lick -Connect from the headphone output of your CD
player to this jack. This is used for playing along with your CD’s, or recording
material for the Learn-A-Lick function.

F. Power Jack - Connect the PS750 power supply to this jack.

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