Retro Tube
Full Tube
Guitar Amplifier
Operator´s Manual
Please, first read this manual carefully!
Tube
Amp
Technology
Table of Contents
Introduction |
page: |
4 |
|
Features and Functionality at a Glance |
5 |
special notes, Contents |
6 |
Front Panel Features: |
6, 7 |
Preamp section: Input, Channel 1 - Control Features |
|
Preamp section: Channel 2 - Control Features |
8, 9 |
Gain Boost, Channel 1< >2 selection |
9 |
Power Amp section: Master A and Master A/B feature, Stand By |
9, 10 |
Power switch |
10 |
Rear Panel Features: |
11 |
Mains connector (AC Power Inlet), Mains Fuse |
|
Amp remote control: S.A.C. Port for Z-9, Footswitch Ports |
11, 12 |
Power Amp section: Power Tube Fuse (P.T.F.) |
13 |
Power Amp section: Master B control |
13 |
Power Amp section: Power Tube Fuse LED (P.T.F.) |
13, 14 |
Noise Gate: Threshold Level |
14, 15 |
FX Loop: Send, Return, and Balance |
15 |
Power Amp section: Power Tube Fuse (P.T.F.) |
15, 16 |
Power Amp section: Poweramp Output 4, 8 16 Ohms |
16 |
Poweramp Output: speaker options |
16 |
Handling and Care |
17 |
Troubleshooting |
18, 19 |
Technical Data, Detailed Specifications and Ratings |
20 |
Tube Map, Tube Exchange Service |
21 |
Remote Control Options |
22 |
Wiring of Principal Connectors |
22 |
Configuration table for Z-9 settings |
23 |
Mounting Instructions: front panel frame |
24 - 26 |
CAUTION! Please read and heed the following:
You'll find an ancillary pamphlet accompanying this owner's manual entitled Instructions for the Prevention of Fire, Electrical Shock and Injury.
Be sure to read it before you plug in and power up the amp! Note: Technical specifications are subject to change without notice.
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Congratulations and thank you for choosing the ENGL Retro Tube amp!
It's all in the name: The Retro Tube line is a new generation of ENGL amps that dips into a deep well of classic sounds. Plug in and you will be able to pull up the typical tones of the iconic guitar heroes who wrote the book on rock. Offering four different gain stages in two channels and brimming with trademark ENGL features, the Retro Tube offers a vast range of spine-tingling tones. The amp's visuals are certainly striking and stylish enough as it is, but the interchangeable front-panel frames add an entirely new twist. The different colors let you tweak the Retro Tube amp's look to taste.
Painstakingly selected EL34 power tubes underscore the amp's retro flavors and provide all the juice you need to dial up the sound pressure.
Preamp Channel 1 is tuned to deliver warm, organic clean sounds that break up beautifully when you dial in higher gain levels. A twist of the wrist is all it takes to conjure luscious harmonic overdrive .
This channel's Gain Boost option not only increases amplitude, it also adapts frequency response to create a unique tonal structure perfect for sweet chord progressions and sanctified rock riffs.
Channel 2 extends the amp's tonal spectrum with two far more aggressive gain structures than Channel 1. It does everything you want it to do when it comes to overdrive, saturation and all-out distortion: the Gain Boost option inserts an additional triode tube into the signal path to create an extremely thick sound structure with days of sustain and a rich overtone spectrum perfect for soaring leads.
The built-in Noise Gate helps stifle the annoying hiss often generated when Gain Boost is engaged at very high gain levels. Channel 2's Tone button fattens up the sound in both Gain stages. It enriches the midrange frequencies, effectively doubling the number of basic sounds available to you in Channel 2.
Footswitches let you conveniently access the various setups so can mix it up for rhythm and leads on the fly.
Other trademark ENGL features include a second master volume (Master A/B), a power tube protection circuit with an LED display (P.T.F.), and an adjustable, switchable FX loop (parallel/ serial).
There are few more handy features to rave about: The Retro Tube amp sports our Serial Amp Control Port, or S.A.C. Port for short.
Plug an ENGL Z-9 Custom Foot Controller into to it and get hip to some very convenient remote control options. This footboard lets you activate the two channels directly in combination with Gain Boost and Master A/B switching simply by tapping its four footswitches. And that affords you instant access to four sound variations at two different volume levels each. Moreover you can access further prominent features like Tone and FX Loop off/on; the build in Noise Gate is switchable via footswitch too.
In addition, the amp comes with three stereo jacks designed to accept dual footswitches like the ENGL Z-4 or a MIDI switching system (e.g. ENGL Z-11) for selecting the channels and other crucial Amp features.
Old world craftsmanship and highest quality components are part of what makes ENGL amps so special, and the Retro Tube Amp is no exception. On that note, please read and heed the guidelines on handling all-tube amps. The ENGL team is convinced that this amp will delight and inspire you.
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Your ENGL Retro Tube Amp puts at your disposal:
1.a logical control feature array, utmost ease of use and remarkably intuitive handling;
2.Top-shelf sound-shaping options and remarkable versatility with two channels and different voicings. Channel 1 features a Bright sound switch; Channel 2 features the Tone sound option for a precise sound tuning of mid frequencies.
3.A broad tonal palette: surgically precise sound-sculpting functions are at your fingertips, and a tap of your foot on the conveniently compact footboard. This gives you very powerful remote control options.
4.Four excellent fundamental sounds boasting the finest quality
in tube-driven tone:
Channel 1: Clean to subtle overdrive
Channels 1 & Gain Boost: Crunch with a touch of preamp overdrive Channel 2 – From crunch to lead with the gain bumped up Channels 2 & Gain Boost: For lead sounds with lots of sustain
and high gain reserves
5.An ultra-advanced, tone-generating machine that will give you years of playing pleasure and value to boot.
Features and Functionality at a Glance
-> Two channels: Channel 1 and Channel 2, each channel with separate Gain and Volume knobs.
-> Two voicing sections specially tuned for each channel: One three-band EQ for Channel 1 and one three-band EQ for Channel 2.
-> Two sound switching options in the preamp section: Bright assigned to
Channel 1; Tone button assigned to Channel 2.
-> Switchable and adjustable FX Loop. You can control the FX Loop remotely via a footswitch and use this circuit as a hardware bypass for connected FX.
-> Two power amp Master knobs. You can footswitch these knobs to activate two different power amp volume settings on the fly without twisting a knob.
-> The optional Z-9 Custom Footswitch. It lets you select the two channels in combination with Gain Boost, thereby affording you direct access to four gain stages, and the means to control two additional (sound-shaping) features of your choice. Three ¼" (6.3 mm) stereo jack plugs accept three dual footswitches that let you remotely control the two channels; Gain Boost, Tone, Master A/B, FX Loop (off/on), and the Noise Gate (off/on).
-> A Noise Gate for the Channel 2 with Gain boosted. Activate it at the amp or via footswitch to suppress excessive noise at very high gain settings.
Among the hallmarks of this fine amp are painstaking workmanship and finishing as well as rigorously tested and carefully selected quality components. You'll find guidelines on care and maintenance of tube amps on page 17. Under the heading Tips from the designer, you'll come across practical tips on the aforementioned features throughout the manual. All critical information concerning the operation of this amp
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is preceded by "NOTE", "CAUTION", "Read and heed" or some other eye-catching comment. We're calling your attention to these remarks for reasons of safety or other compelling motives, so please give them due consideration.
Everyone at ENGL is confident that the Retro Tube amp's extraordinary versatility and outstanding features are sure to delight you: Simply plug in, play and be inspired
by the tone of your new great ENGL Amp!
A few words of wisdom from the designer:
Though this amplifier is relatively easy to handle and you're probably raring to give it a go, I recommend that you read the owner's manual thoroughly before you power it up. It is equipped with several safety features that require further explanation to prevent malfunctions.
Contents:
1.ENGL Retro Tube Amp Head type E765 - 100 watts or type E762 - 50 watts;
2.mains cord;
3.this manual;
4.Two interchangeable front panel frames, one in red ("Rocking Red") and the other in yellow ("Vintage Vanilla") and mounting material (page 24);
5.a pamphlet entitled Instructions for the Prevention of Fire, Electrical Shock and Injury.
Front Panel Features
At the back of the manual, you'll find fold-out diagrams of the front and rear panels. As you're reading the descriptions of the amp's features, you'll gain a better understanding of the topic of discussion if you unfold and refer to them as we go!
1 Input
¼" unbalanced input jack. Plug your guitar in here using a shielded cord.
A tip from the designer:
Depending on the type of cord and its shielding, you may occasionally encounter interference from sources such as radio stations or powerful magnetic fields. When this occurs, try connecting your guitar to the amp using different cords. What's more, to minimize signal degradation due to high-frequency loss, use the shortest cords feasible (as a rule, the shorter the cord, the less susceptible it is to high-frequency attenuation).
2 Gain Channel 1
The Channel 1 Gain control knob determines the preamp's input sensitivity and amplitude when Channel 1 is active.
A tip from the designer:
Here's how this knob's settings relate to the type of guitar pickup. If you are using single-coils, the preamp will start breaking up at about 6, and at around 4 or 5 with more powerful humbuckers or an active pickup.
If you want a pristine clean sound, back off the Channel 1 Gain knob setting and switch off Gain Boost (14).
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If you want just a touch of preamp overdrive, I recommend the following settings for single-coil pickups: Set the Gain knob between 7 and 10 and deactivate Gain Boost. For humbuckers, set the knob between 5 and 8 to get moderate overdrive.
Then when you need a grittier tone perfect for playing rock riffs, all you have to do is activate the Gain Boost in Channel 1.
This particular sound-shaping option (Channel 1 - Gain Boost activated) is comparable to plugging an overdrive pedal into the amp's front end. This not only boosts the gain level, it also re-voices the internal filter stages to boost the low mids and conjure a more assertive tone.
CAUTION: Extremely high gain and volume levels can produce powerful feedback. Avoid feedback squeals; they can lead to hearing loss and damage speakers! At higher volumes, back off the Gain and Treble levels in order to prevent unchecked feedback!
3 Bright
This feature boosts the upper end of the high frequency range for Channel 1. Its intensity decreases as gain settings increase.
A tip from the designer:
For a crisp or glassy tone, activate the Bright boost. It brightens the sound of humbucking or muddy pickups. Use it to tweak the amp's tone to taste, activating it to boost top-end frequencies or deactivating it to dampen high end response.
4 Bass
This is the preamp voicing section's passive low-frequency EQ for Channel 1.
5 Middle
This is the preamp voicing section's passive midrange frequency EQ for Channel 1.
6 Treble
This is the preamp voicing section's passive high-frequency EQ for Channel 1.
A tip from the designer:
The best way to get to know the amp and its fundamental sounds is to start out by setting all tone knobs to the center position (: 5). These are passive tone controls selected and tuned specifically for the whole retro concept, so their control ranges are narrower than those of active EQs.
7 Volume Channel 1
Determines the level of Channel 1. Twist this knob to adjust Channel 1's volume and dial in the desired balance of levels with Channel 2. Because this volume control is located pre effects loop, it also determines the effects send level for Channel 1.
A Tip and Some Important Info from the Designer:
The inputs of modern effect devices can handle signal levels up to +10 dB, so it's a good idea to dial up a higher send level for the FX loop. Do this by turning up the Channel 1
(7) and Channel 2 (13) preamp Volume knobs. Dial in settings higher than 5 to make the most of the dynamic range between the preamp and power amp.
Once you have matched the preamp and effects device level, use the Master knob (16) to adjust the amp's overall volume. If you insert older stomp-boxes devices into the
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RetroTube amp's FX loop, you can reduce the level at the FX Loop Send jack (30) to somewhere between -20 dB and -10 dB by setting the two channel Volume knobs between 1 and 4. Older effects pedals usually don't handle high input levels well. Even a -10 dB signal can cause undesirable distortion.
8 Gain Channel 2
Gain control for the Channel 2. This Control knob determines input sensitivity when Channel 2 is active. Use it to dial in the desired amount of preamp saturation level.
A tip from the designer:
Preamp Channel 2 is a lot hotter than Channel 1 because its baseline gain level is a lot higher. It is roughly comparable to that of Channel 1 with Gain Boost activated. However, its tonal structure is different, giving you yet another flavor of overdriven tone to spice up your musical act.
Activating Gain Boost sends Channel 2 into very different sonic territory with sustaining lead tone that is great for soloing.
If you push Channel 2 hard while Gain Boost is active, the preamp gain will be substantial and noise such as hissing and any buzzing produced by guitar pickups will be amplified considerably. If you wish to configure the preamp so that both Channel 2 and Gain Boost are on, you can activate the Noise Gate (see section 29) to largely suppress such noise.
CAUTION: Extremely high gain and volume levels in Lead mode can produce powerful feedback. Avoid feedback squeals; they can lead to hearing loss and damage speakers! At higher volumes, back off the Gain and Treble levels in order to prevent unchecked feedback!
9 Tone
This sound-shaping button mainly influences the upper midrange. When activated, it boosts the frequency range between 500 Hz and 1 KHz.
The LED above the button lights up to indicate Tone is activated.
The Tone sound feature may also be switched using a Z-9 Custom Footswitch connected to the S.A.C. Port (21) or a footswitch connected to jack (23).
For more details see the chapter 21 and 23 on page 11 and 12 !
A Tip from the Designer:
The Tone button voices specific midrange frequencies that are instrumental in finetuning a guitar's sound. The amp's sound will be thicker when it is activated.
If you want a less dominant midrange, leave this feature deactivated; that is, don't push this button. The Tone button also lets you adapt Channel 2's fundamental sound to suit different types of guitar pickups.
10 Bass
This is the preamp voicing section's passive low-frequency EQ for Channel 2.
11 Middle
This is the preamp voicing section's passive midrange EQ for Channel 2.
12 Treble
This is the preamp voicing section's passive high-frequency EQ for Channel 2.
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A tip from the designer:
To help you get acquainted with the amp's fundamental sounds, I recommend that you set all tone controls to the center position; that is, to around 5. For higher-gain, high-volume lead sounds, your best bet is to turn the Treble knob down to prevent the pickups and speakers from generating undesirable feedback. I'd recommend a setting below 5.
Though this passive voicing section's control range is narrower than that of a comparable active system, its EQ curve is tweaked specifically for its designated purpose and will give you satisfying results, so you have heaps of voicing options for tailoring retro sounds to taste.
13 Volume Channel 2
Determines the level of Channel 2. Twist this knob to adjust Channel 2's volume and dial in the desired balance of levels with Channel 1. Because this volume control is located pre effects loop, it also determines the effects send level for Channel 2.
A tip and important info from the designer: see the chapter 7 on page 7!
14 Gain Boost
Press this button to increases the amplitude in Channel 1 and Channel 2 considerably. The yellow LED above the button lights up to indicate Gain Boost is active. The button (14) on the amp's front panel is disengaged when you switch Gain Boost via footswitch (21, 24). Gain Boost may also be switched via an ENGL Z-9 Custom Footswitch connected to the S.A.C. Port (21) or via a footswitch connected to jack 24. For more details, see chapters 21 and 24 on page 11 and 12 !
A tip from the designer:
Activating Gain Boost in Channel 1 increases the gain level significantly, enough to push the preamp into overdrive. This brings out and tightens up the middle frequencies to conjure a more assertive sound for classic-style rhythm workouts. Activating Gain Boost in Channel 2 kicks up the gain level considerably, saturating the preamp to give you far more sustain and much thicker tone. This means you can coax blazing lead tone out of the amp without having to connect an outboard gain enhancer or overdrive pedal. And the sound quality may well send your stomp-boxes into retirement.
15 Channel 1 < > 2
This channel switching button selects Channel 1 or Channel 2. Press it to activate Channel 2. The red LED above the button lights up to indicate Channel 2 is active. Channels may also be switched via the ENGL Z-9 Custom Footswitch connected to the S.A.C. Port (21) or via a footswitch connected to jack 24. For even greater convenience, you could also use the optional ENGL Z-9 Custom Footswitch to select the two channels in combination with the two Gain Boost stages directly by simply tapping the Z-9's four channel-switching buttons. For more details, see chapters 21 and 24 on page11 and 12 !
16 Master A
Master A volume knob. Located post FX Loop, it adjusts the power amp's output level. Master A is enabled and its setting determines the master level if you have not connected a footswitch to the amp. If you have connected a footswitch you can use it to activate another master level as determined by the Master B (27) knob setting.
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