GrandMeister Deluxe 40 – Manual 1.1
Tip: If you're a stomp-box user, you may want to try the four-cord method:
For devices that work best plugged into the front end of the amp, simply
connect the guitar to the input of the first pedal in the chain, and the last
pedal's output to the amp's Input. Now do the same for devices that work
best in the FX loop: connect the pedal's output to the amp's FX Return
and the amp's FX Send to the pedal's input. This lets you route chorused,
phased and other modulated signals into GrandMeister Deluxe 40's
preamp and time-based effects such as reverb and delay after the preamp.
If your multi FX unit features amp models, you can patch these straight
to the GrandMeister Deluxe 40's power amp via the FX Return. In
combination with the Power Soak and the Red Box Recording Out, this
gives you a powerful recording front end that offers very interesting re-
amping and sound-shaping options for just about every conceivable signal.
Heads Up: You can bypass GrandMeister Deluxe 40's preamp by routing
amp models into the FX Return. However, when you switch channels its
power amp is re-voiced to deliver the best tone for that channel. This
means every channel sounds different, even if you decide to use only the
power amp! You probably want the amp model's sound and volume to
remain consistent with your original programming. If so, you'll have to
remember which channel you used for programming and select it when
you activate the amp model. However, the better option is to program a
preset to do this for you.
7 MIDI In: MIDI In is a 7-pin interface, but you can also connect a standard
5-pin MIDI cable. The two additional terminals serve to supply phantom
power to the Hughes & Kettner FSM-432 MIDI board.
Heads Up: The FSM-432 comes with a 7-pin MIDI cable. You do not need
a power source for the FSM-432 because phantom power is provided.
If you wish to use a 5-pin MIDI cable however, you will need a power
supply. For such cases, the FSM-432 provides an innovative mains port
that accepts any AC or DC adapter rated for 9 to 15 volts.
8 MIDI Out/Thru: MIDI Out/Thru forwards signals patched into the
MIDI In to other devices. You can connect any external MIDI-enabled
signal processor that you wish to switch synchronously with GrandMeister
Deluxe 40.
10
7 Tube Safety Control (TSC™)
TSC™ adjusts the bias to improve the amp's tonal and technical
stability and to extend the power tubes' lives. It does this automatically
and continuously, so there is nothing for you to do but to enjoy the
convenience. You can swap tubes easily, quickly, and safely: all the hard
work of biasing gets done automatically, so swapping tubes is an exercise
in speed and convenience. This is a big help not only in case of a defect,
but also when you want to compare different brands of replacement
tubes.
Caution: Replacing tubes is a job best left to qualified professionals!
TSC™ merely spares the technician the biasing effort.
To use the full information TSC™ can provide you with, you will have to
look at the four LEDs in the TSC™ section on the rear panel of the amp.
Each LED is assigned to the power tube occupying that corresponding
position. The LEDs will give you two different kinds of information: firstly,
they indicate the operating status of the tubes (see section 7.1). TSC™
constantly performs an error diagnosis and will even shut down defective
tubes if necessary in order to avoid a total failure of the amp. In addition,
you can easily get a read-out of the individual tube's bias points, using any
standard guitar pick (see section 7.2).
7.1 Automatic Status Indications
All LEDs light up and stay on
All LEDs remain on for as long as the amp is in Standby mode. When you
switch from "Standby" to "Play", they will extinguish after a few seconds. If
all of the LEDs remain illuminated, the most likely cause is a blown anode
fuse that needs to be replaced by a technician. The anode fuse can trip if
a tube is already defective when the amp is switched on, and TSC™ does
not have enough time to measure the idle current and to then shut the
faulty tube down.
None of the LEDs lights up
The power tubes are operating normally.
One LED lights up continuously
If only one LED lights up, then the tube assigned to this LED is not delivering
enough current and has been shut down. If the LED does not extinguish
after a few minutes, this tube must be replaced.
Two LEDs light up continuously
This tells you one of two things: either the two corresponding tubes are
not delivering enough current and therefore have to be replaced (see the
instructions for one illuminated LED, section 7.1), or the power soak is
active. In the latter case, two tubes are switched off automatically, and the
two illuminated LEDs are indicating this (also see section 6.2).