Radial Engineering Tonebone Headbone VT User Manual

Headbone VT

www.tonebone.com

User Guide

Radial Engineering
1588 Kebet Way, Port Coquitlam BC V3C 5M5
tel: [phone] • fax: [phone]
[e-mail] • www.radialeng.com

®

>>> IMPORTANT SAFETY AND LIABILITY NOTICE <<<

OWNERSHIP DISCLAIMER

Radial Engineering manufactures products that are safe for use
when connected as per the instructions in our owner’s manuals.
Manuals are freely available for download on our web sites. As
it is impossible for Radial to ensure the user is following these
instructions, the user must take full responsibility in the suitability
of purchasing a Radial product for his or her use.

For safe operation, the Headbone MUST be properly grounded, not
only to provide shielding from hum and noise, but also to prevent
any SHOCK HAZARD. The Headbone is connected to the earth
ground (AC-3rd ground pin) via its connection to Amp-1. You must

make sure that both ampliers being connected to the Headbone

are properly grounded and equipped with a 3rd safety pin on the
AC plug. It may be unsafe to use the Headbone with vintage am-

pliers equipped with a 2-prong plug or ampliers whose 3rd pin
has been removed or lifted. For safety, always consult a qualied

technician on making proper connections to the equipment that
you wish to connect.

It is important to note that all Radial products that function using
AC or DC electrical current, are sold with a government agency
approved power supply for use around the world (i.e. UL, CSA etc.).
We insist that Radial products be used with equipment that carries
the same or similar safety government approvals. If you plan to use
equipment that has not been approved by a government-approved
electrical safety body, you are doing so at your own risk.

By purchasing this product, you clearly understand that you are tak­ing full responsibility for the use of this product. If, after purchasing
this product from your dealer, you are not comfortable in accepting
this responsibility, we ask that you return the product within 7 days
to the dealer for refund, credit or exchange. Consult your dealer on
their policy regarding this matter.

Radial Engineering accepts no responsibility (consequential or
inconsequential) for damage or injury caused by improper con­nections, user error, using improperly grounded ampliers, or in­jury caused by failure of the Headbone or any component inside.
The use of the Headbone implies that the user/owner agrees to
all of the terms stated within this document, and has made the
decision to keep the Headbone under these terms, and waives
his/her rights to a liability claim against Radial Engineering (or as­sociated companies or directors) for any damage or injury caused
while using the Headbone. Please read the Headbone warranty
for further details.

Radial Engineering Ltd. Headbone User Guide

True to the Music

Congratulations on your purchase of a Radial Headbone!

As part of the growing family of Tonebone products, the Headbone VT
provides the discerning guitarist with options to achieve creative new
sounds with a simple, yet extremely versatile interface.

The Headbone VT is designed to connect two tube amplier heads to one
speaker cabinet and switch between ampliers with either the on-board

or remote footswitch. The Headbone uses pure Class-A electronics under
digital control to switch the hi-impedance guitar signals and speaker­level outputs from your amps. Add Slingshot™ remote control and you
get a true marvel whose time has come! Best of all, the Headbone is
engineered to ensure the safe operation of your amps under demanding
live performance conditions.

To take advantage of the wonderful features that have been incorporated
into the Headbone, please take the time to read through this manual
before you use it. This will give you a broader sense of the Headbone’s
capabilities and ensure its safe and proper operation. If you have
questions that are not covered here, please visit the FAQ section on our
web site. This is where we post answers from questions that come from
users. If you have a question that is not covered there, please feel free
to send us an email at [e-mail] and we will do our very best
to respond as quickly as possible.

RADIAL HEADBONE™ OWNER’S MANUAL

Table Of Contents Page

Caution Statement & Legal Disclaimer ..............................Inside cover

Introduction ................................................................................1

Feature Set ................................................................................3

Quick Start .................................................................................4

Getting To Know Your Headbone ..............................................6

FAQ ...........................................................................................10

Warranty ............................................................................Back cover

Radial Engineering Ltd. Headbone User Guide

INTRODUCTION

Attempting to use a solid-state amp with the Headbone VT
could damage your amp and/or the Headbone. This would
void your warranty. Please consult your dealer and make sure
you fully understand the ownership disclaimer on the inside
cover of this manual before using the Headbone.

When developing the Headbone, we asked guitarists: “What would be
the ultimate guitar setup?” Ask 10 guitarists this question and you will

likely get 10 different answers. The reason for this is simple: There are
no right answers as the possibilities are endless. So where do you start?
You need a concept. The following is a setup concept that will help get

those creative juices owing. It combines simplicity with awesome stage

performance.

In the example below, amp head-1 is a 100-Watt 2-channel amp with one
channel set to clean and the other set to saturated distortion. Amp head-2
is a low power 30-Watt amp that would be driven ‘hard’ for natural power­tube overdrive. Inbetween the amps and a single speaker cabinet sits the
Headbone allowing you to select between amps with a remote footswitch
on your pedalboard. Add a good distortion pedal, like a Tonebone Classic
tube distortion, and your setup becomes a tone monster.

True to the Music

1

i

Radial Engineering Ltd. Headbone User Guide

True to the Music

Why is this setup so cool? Because it truly covers all of the bases: the
powerful clean sound from a 100-Watt amp is radically different than a
cranked all-tube 30-Watt amp. A Headbone setup lets you quickly access
the tones from two amps with the convienence of footswitch control right
on your pedalboard. Best of all, you only have to carry around a single
speaker cabinet - a luxury that is best appreciated at two in the morning
after the gig!

Tone chart: two amp heads, one distortion pedal,

one speaker cabinet, six distinct amp tones.

Tone-1

Tone-2

Tone-3

Tone-4

Tone-5

Tone-6

TYPE OF SOUND

Clean Rhythm

Solo Distortion

Crunch Rhythm (change amp ch.)

Saturated Solo

Overdrive Rhythm (change heads)

Saturated Rhythm

OD

PEDAL

X

X

X

HEAD-1

CLEAN

CH. 1

X

X

HEAD-1

CRUNCH

CH. 2

X

X

HEAD-2

OVER­DRIVE

X

X

2

With the Headbone in your rig, you are now able to specify which ampli-

er you will use for a particular song, passage or even phrase. You do

not have to compromise your tone, or carry around two amp-stacks to

get there. Headbone adds tonal exibility while reducing the amount of

equipment you must bring to the gig! More tone with less gear.

AMP HEAD-2

AMP HEAD-1