Hughes & Kettner ZenAmp User Manual

www.hughes-and-kettner.com

DYNAMIC SECTOR MODELING GUITAR AMP

zenAmp

BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG

MANUAL

ENGLISH

1.0

ZENAMP-MANUAL

DYNAMIC SECTOR MODELING GUITAR AMP

zenAmp

This operating manual is also available as a computer file. To download it, go to www.hughes-and-kettner.com, then to “Manuals“.

Hughes & Kettner, zenAmp, DSM, Dynamic Sector Modeling, Z-Board, FS-5, the Hughes & Kettner logo, the zenAmp logo, the DSM Logo, Montana, WARP 7, and ATS 112 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Hughes & Kettner. All other product names are the property of their respective owners.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 QUICK START . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

2.0 AMP MODELS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

3.0 STANDARD SETUP/CABLE CONNECTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

4.0 JACKS AND CONTROL FEATURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

4.1 OVERVIEW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

4.2 GOOD-TO-KNOW STUFF: THE TWO MODES! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

4.3 JACKS AND CONTROL FEATURES IN DETAIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

4.4 THE ZENAMP AND THE Z-BOARD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

5.0 MAINTENANCE AND CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

6.0 TROUBLESHOOTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

7.0 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

8.0 APPENDIX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

8.1 MIDI IMPLEMENTATION CHART . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

8.2 AC POWER AND THE GLOBAL CURRENT ADAPTER . . . . . . . . . . .48

BEFORE POWERING UP

• Check and make sure that the local current and the amp's

AC power rating are identical before you plug the zenAmp's mains cord into an AC outlet.

• Ensure that air can circulate freely around your amp's ventilation ducts.

• Place the amp on a stable platform where it is not exposed to mechanical shocks and will not endanger the safety of anyone nearby. Avoid temperature extremes and excessive humidity, both of which can damage the amp and may cause an electrical shock.

• The manufacturer is not liable for any damage to the amp due to improper use.

• Please also read and heed the section “NOTES ON SAFETY” on pages 2 to 4 of this manual.

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING THE ZENAMP!

The findings of 20 years of research at Hughes & Kettner flowed into the zenAmp. On the one hand, it is the product of tube amp know-how. The experience gained in designing the sophisticated tube circuitry of advanced amps like the TriAmp and Custom Tube Series helped us analyze and understand down to the last detail the complex response of tube amps. On the other, the knowledge acquired in developing digital designs such as the AS 64 and the Access Preamp allowed us to apply our insights and translate what we know about the behavior of analog amps into digital models.

We call the upshot of all these efforts Dynamic Sector Modeling. This unique approach calls for both the individual components (sectors) of the original amp and the dynamic interaction between these sectors to be modeled. And that was the decisive breakthrough in modeling. Like the zenTera – the state of the art in digital amp modeling - the zenAmp is DSMTM-powered. Courtesy of a shared gene pool, the zenAmp delivers the same mind-boggling authenticity of tone, acres of dynamic range, genuine feedback, and hair-trigger response to guitar volume knob tweaks that the zenTera is known for. To be sure, tone and dynamic response are crucial. But so is ease of use. Sometimes less truly is more, and in the case of the zenAmp, we followed that axiom with missionary zeal. In consequence, this amp is as easy to operate as any analog amp. The amp’s effects section also handles remarkably intuitively. And that makes it the ideal sonic tool for guitarists who want to dial in very different and very compelling sounds for varying applications in a hurry - no muss, no fuss. The amp ships with five programmable and 25 non-programmable presets. With the optional Z Board, you can program and call up 100 user presets in addition to the 25 factory presets.

The 2x 60 watt stereo power amp packs a mighty wallop, providing the punch needed to drive two 12" loudspeakers and cut through on stage. And, when the going gets tough, this amp really gets going: It delivers that 10% extra headroom you need to get your musical message across under extremely demanding conditions. As a very special feature, the zenAmp is loaded with a Celestion Vintage 30 and a Celestion®RockDriver Junior speaker. The differences in frequency range and response make for a perfect symbiosis, adding to the amp’s sonic spectrum and delivering tone that is greater than the sum of its parts.

Leading-edge modeling technology, ultra-easy handling, power galore - the zenAmp is the ideal workhorse for the gigging guitarist.

HERE'S KNOWING THAT YOU GET AS BIG A KICK OUT OF THE ZENAMP‘S TONE AS WE DID DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGY BEHIND IT!

ENGLISH

ZENAMP-MANUAL

MASTER

0510

INPUT

MANUAL 1 2 3 4 5

PRESETS

-5 +5 -5 +5 -5 +5 -5 +5

0510

GAIN BASS MID TREBLE PRESENCE PRESET VOL

0510

REVERB VOLFX PARAMETER DELAY VOL

TAP

0 10 0 10

MID BOOST

WAH WAH 1

BYPASS

TAPE ECHO REPEAT

STEREO REPEAT

HALLO SPACE

TAPE ECHO SPACE

TAPE MULTI DRY

HALLO REPEAT

HALLO DRY

TAPE MULTI REPEAT

TAPE SPACE

PING PONG

TAPE ECHO DRY

ECHO REPEAT

STEREO SPACE

LOOP-O-TAP

ECHO DRY

STEREO LOOP-O-TAP

FUZZ

PHASER

CHORUS STEREO

T-SCREAMER

CHORUS MONO

STROBE

COMPRESSOR

TREMOLO

PHASER XL

WAH WAH 2

FLANGER MONO

FLANGER STEREO

MOD WAH

345

RESETS

STORE

MANUAL

PRESETS

STORE

BRIT HI GAIN

TWEED DELUXE

HOT PLEXI

TWEED 4 x 10

BRIT CLASS A

PLEXI 100

PLEXI 50

HOT CLASS A

CALIFORNIA HOT

BRIT ULTRA GAIN

BLACK FACE

JC CLEAN

WARP

JAZZ CLEAN

ACOUSTIC

MANUAL 1 2 3 4 5

PRESETS

ca. 2 sec.

MANUAL 1 2 3 4 5

PRESETS

1.0 QUICK START

1. Plug the AC power cable into the mains socket on

the rear panel, then plug it into a wall socket.

2. Turn the MASTER knob down and plug your guitar

into the jack labeled INPUT.

3. Switch the zenAmp on by flipping the POWER

switch and adjust it to the desired volume using the MASTER knob. Preset number 1 is always activated when you first power up the amp.

4. You can call up the first five user presets by pressing

buttons 1 to 5.

6. To create a preset of your own, please proceed

as follows:

6.1 Rotate the AMP TYPE knob to select the desired

amp model.

6.2 Adjust GAIN, BASS, MID, TREBLE and PRESENCE to

taste and adjust the volume using the PRESET VOLUME knob.

6.3 Select the desired effects via FX TYPE and/or

DELAY TYPE and adjust FX PARAMETER, REVERB VOL, and/or DELAY VOL to taste.

5. To call up the 25 factory presets, please proceed

as follows:

5.1 Press and hold the MANUAL button until

it begins flashing.

5.2 You can now activate individual factory sound

banks 1 to 5 by pressing one of the preset buttons 1 to 5.

5.3 Individual presets in the respective bank are

activated by pressing preset buttons 1 to 5 again.

6.4 Press STORE, then one of the channel buttons,

and then STORE again in order to store the sound that you have devised.

7. Press the MANUAL button in order to defeat the

stored setting. MANUAL always enables the front panel knob settings (see chapter 4.2).

ZENAMP-MANUAL

2.0 AMP MODELS

Note that Fender, Marshall, Vox, Mesa Boogie, Roland and other names of amp models and effects are the trademarks of their respective owners, and that they are in no way connected to or affiliated with Hughes & Kettner. Any mention of these brand names and trademarks serve merely purposes of explanation to describe sounds generated by Hughes & Kettner’s proprietary Dynamic Sector Modeling technology. You can select from among 16 different models of amps - herein called amp types - by rotating the zenAmp's AMP TYPE knob. Every amp type has a distinctive sonic personality. In addition to vintage milestones that literally made amp history, the zenAmp also offers emulations of some contemporary amps. In the following, we'll take a quick look at each amp type.

BLACK FACE (based on a Fender Twin)

This American beauty is the definitive amp for classic clean tone. Although you'd be hard-pressed to drive it into the distortion zone, its big sound and enormous punch left an indelible mark on several of styles of music - it even helped shape certain playing techniques. This piece of gear has won friends and influenced people far and wide, from funk rhythm kings to jazz masters, from blues howlers to country pickers. Note that the BRIGHT function found on the original is integrated into the zenAmp's GAIN knob. GAIN settings of up to 5.0 (12 o'clock position) elicit that characteristic treble boost of the original's BRIGHT switch. The top end is not boosted at higher settings.

TWEED DELUXE (based on a Fender Deluxe)

The kid brother of the big tweed amp, its raw, throaty textures are held in high esteem by connoisseurs of vintage grit. A purist's dream come true, its simple yet brilliant circuitry delivers earthy, fat tweed tone unrivalled by any other amp. The original was equipped with just one tone knob, so we elected to assign a sound-shaping functionality to the 3-band EQ and the PRESENCE knob for this emulation. This gives you a lot more musically meaningful tweaking options without sacrificing the tone that makes this amp type so special.

TWEED 4x 10 (based on a Fender Bassman)

The ultimate vintage blues amp revered by almost all historic greats of the genre, it still spells bliss for many a modern-day blues blaster. The breadth and depth of its dynamic range and its fat, expressive lead tone are what made it famous. From squeaky clean to a throaty growl and all points in between, this amp puts meaning into the phrase "living on blues power."

BRIT CLASS A (based on a VOX AC 30)

The amp for classic guitar-driven pop and rock. Judging by the many stellar songwriters who appear on its reference list, this amp would undoubtedly be the hands-down winner in a poll of song-smiths. Unarguably, its EL84-loaded, Class A power amp delivers the sweetest harmonic distortion of all tube amps. And its flexible tone controls with the legendary Cut and Top Boost circuits elicit chiming, sparkling sounds as well as fat lead tone. Cranked wide open, it also delivers gritty, roots rock-approved goods. Note that the zenAmp's PRESENCE knob takes over the CUT function. The Top Boost circuit is integrated into the MID knob, which is handy because this lets you dial smoothly rather than switch hard from Normal to Top Boost mode.

HOT CLASS A (based on a VOX AC 30)

This is specially tuned version of the above amp. In the past, only a handful of hot-rod specialists who are very handy with a screwdriver have been able to conjure up something similar to this sound. Our nickname for this sound is Black + More. Does that ring any bells? ‘Nuff said.

CALIFORNIA HOT (a zenAmp special)

Using only the finest ingredients from the tube amp cookbook, our sonic sous-chefs whipped up a very special soup du jour: fat, creamy lead tone with a Californian nouvelle cuisine flavor unrivalled by any other series-made amp. Best of all, it takes just a twist of a knob to dial in this tasty sonic treat on the zenAmp and savor the rewards of modeling technology.

PLEXI 50 (based on a Marshall PLEXI, 50 Watt)

This British EL34-powered classic made music history. Many a genre-defining steel-string slinger wielded its considerable sonic clout to leave an indelible mark on the face of modern music. With its hair-trigger response, the PLEXI will do exactly what the position of your guitar's volume knob tells it to. Turn the volume down low, and you get fat, clean tone with shimmering top end. As you crank the knob, you can hear that vintage rock roar unfold.

PLEXI 100 (based on a Marshall PLEXI, 100 Watt

The PLEXI on steroids, this 100-watt sensation literally rocked the late '60s and continued to dominate the heavy rock scene throughout the '70s and well into the '80s. A staple of innumerable rock productions, this amp's dynamic response made it the tool of choice for many an audio alchemist. Indeed, it can be said with some authority that this beast's big, cutting sound defined what great rock tone is all about. It will also make you the object of fear and loathing in your neighborhood, because you won't feel the full fury of its sonic assault until you crank it to the hilt.

HOT PLEXI (based on a Marshall PLEXI, 100 Watt)

The name says it all: This is what you get when a genuine guitar gear guru hot-rods a PLEXI 100: the ideal sound for those who like it hard & heavy, late 80s style.

BRIT HI GAIN (based on a Marshall JCM 2000)

A logical outgrowth of the razor-edged sound of British steel, this amp delivers gear-grinding overdrive and meltdown lead sounds with truckloads of sustain and in-your-face punch. The tone controls are tweaked to deliver the response of a modern-day boutique amp, adding many shades and hues to your sonic palette. Less subtly, its scooped mids elicit a merciless metal edge, while its over-the-top high end has been rumored to peal paint at a hundred paces.

BRIT ULTRA GAIN (based on a Marshall JCM 2000)

What do you get when you unleash a horde of engineers brandishing screwdrivers - wild-eyed men who have spent far too much time in the lab on an unsuspecting British amp? A snarling beast with a sound hot enough to roast weenies on. And, frankly, the result is awe-inspiring - the fattest and most creamy lead sound imaginable.

RECTIFIED (based on a Mesa Boogie Triple Rectifier)

This amp's peerless tone is the product of three rectifier tubes. A real firecracker, it throws red-hot sparks of distortion for a fresh, dynamic tone. With its fat, bad and downright angry overdrive, this amp can take on many guises. Playing a key role in the rise of grunge in the '90s, it has since become the tool of choice for New Metal merchants. And with good reason, for few other amps can match its intensity and depth of musical expression, particularly for soloing.

WARP (based on a Hughes & Kettner WARP 7)

Welcome to the seventh circle of sonic hell. If the descriptive adjective of choice for the RECTIFIED model is "bad", then the WARP is downright evil. This amp was designed specifically to do the sound, vibe and feel of detuned guitars justice. If you like your tone best when it comes wrapped in a hard and heavy package sound with enamel-blistering bottom end, this model is just what the doctor ordered. On the grounds of its ability to deliver everything from an intimidating rumble to a malicious roar, there is plenty of justification for calling the WARP 7 the prince of darkness among amps.

ACOUSTIC AMP (based on a Hughes & Kettner Montana)

This is the DSM version of the Montana, Hughes & Kettner's proprietary acoustic amp.

JAZZ CLEAN (based on a Hughes & Kettner ATS 112)

With the debut of the ATS series back in the '80s, Hughes & Kettner ushered in the great era of hybrid amps. Wedding the advantages of tube technology to low-cost solid state engineering, the ATS 112 - particularly its clean channel - soon became the darling of many jazz guitarists. As a unique feature, it sported a volume knob with an integrated compressor (!) that made for a very warm sound replete with oodles of sustain.

JC CLEAN (based on a Roland Jazz Chorus)

The forebear of this model was esteemed for its crystal-clear sound. Note that when you crank the treble knob, in addition to a generous helping of top-end shimmer, you are adding the kind of punch known to part hair at 50 paces. Conversely, when you back off the treble knob, you get a very soft and round jazz tone.

ENGLISH

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