Hughes & Kettner Vortex User manual

ESPAñOL

ITALIANO

FRANÇAIS

DEUTSCH

ENGLISH

BEDIENUNGSANLEITUNG

1.2

HEAD/COMBO

MANUAL

www.hughes-and-kettner.com

D-841 Vortex_Manual 1.2 25.06.2003 17:24 Uhr Seite 1

IMPORTANT:

Before powering up please read

the Important Safety Instructions

on page 36 - 38!

WICHTIG:

Bitte lesen Sie vor der Inbetriebnahme

unbedingt die Sicherheitshinweise

auf Seite 36 - 38!

IMPORTANT:

Avant la mise en service, prière de lire

les instructions de sécurité

sur les pages 36 - 38!

IMPORTANTE:

Prima di utilizzare lo strumento leggete

attentamente gli avvisi di

sicurezza su pagina 36 - 38!

IMPORTANT:

¡Antes de la puesta en marcha, lea Ud.

las instrucctiones de seguridad en las

páginas 36 - 38!

VORTEX - MANUAL

D-841 Vortex_Manual 1.2 25.06.2003 17:24 Uhr Seite 2

A team of guitarists and technicians developed

the VORTEX™ line of amps with a single purpose in

mind: to provide you with great guitar sounds and

practical features in an easy-to-handle package.

The VORTEX™ is the ideal workhorse for the

discerning player. The VORTEX™'s high-

performance Current Feedback power amp

delivers the sought-after, wide-open tube tone

that other amps so sorely lack. It also makes the

VORTEX™ far louder than other amps with the

same output rating.

Its clear and convenient handling concept makes

it so easy for you to access the VORTEX™'s world

of sound. This manual gives you a detailed look at

its features and possibilities. It also provides the

information you need to be able to handle this

amp with confidence.

ENJOY THE TONE OF YOUR VORTEX™!

YOUR HUGHES & KETTNER®TEAM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

BEFORE POWERING UP ............................................. 4

1.0 THE CHANNELS OF THE VORTEX™ ..................... 4

2.0 JACKS AND CONTROL FEATURES....................... 5

3.0 STANDARD SETUP/CABLE CONNECTIONS ........ 6

4.0 OPERATING THE VORTEX™ ................................ 6

4.1 SELECTING CHANNELS ....................................... 6

4.2 THE VORTEX™ AND SIGNAL PROCESSORS ...... 6

4.3 HOW TO CONNECT A SIGNAL PROCESSOR..... 7

4.4 THE VORTEX™ AND MIXING CONSOLES .......... 7

5.0 MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE ............................ 7

6.0 TROUBLESHOOTING ............................................ 8

7.0 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS ........................... 33

VOTRTEX - MANUAL

ENGLISH

CONGRATULATIONS AND THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING

THE HUGHES & KETTNER®VORTEX™ AMP!

D-841 Vortex_Manual 1.2 25.06.2003 17:24 Uhr Seite 3

VORTEX - MANUAL

• Check that the local current and the VORTEX™’s

AC power rating are identical before you plug

the power 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

temperature extremes which may damage the

amp or endanger the safety of bystanders.

• Hughes & Kettner®is not liable for damages due

to improper use.

BEFORE POWERING UP

At higher gain settings, the preamp of the

VORTEX™ generates warm harmonic overdrive

that is exceptionally dynamic. Based on semi-

conductors, this innovative circuitry simulates the

sound-shaping elements of tube amps and –

unmatched in this price range – lends the

VORTEX™ the kind of sound quality and dynamics

the ambitious guitarist can’t do without for

musical expression.

CLEAN:

Depending on preamp control settings,

the VORTEX™ delivers a variety of contemporary

and vintage clean tones. At higher VOLUME knob

settings, the "SoftClip" circuitry generates precisely

the warm overdrive that made vintage tube amps

so desirable. If desired, the CLEAN channel can

put out plenty of crunch.

LEAD:

The LEAD channel CHARACTER knob lets you dial

in both classic British rock tone – direct and

dynamic (HARD) – and warm blues tone with

more of an American vibe (SOFT). With the capa-

bility to sweep smoothly between these two very

different worlds of sound, you have unpreceden-

ted lead sound sculpting options at your fingertips.

REVERB:

The VORTEX™ features an onboard spring reverb

located after FX SEND in the signal chain.

1.0 THE CHANNELS OF THE VORTEX™

D-841 Vortex_Manual 1.2 25.06.2003 17:24 Uhr Seite 4

INPUT: Input for guitars equipped with humbuckers,

active pickups, or single coils.

CLEAN VOL: Determines the CLEAN channel's

volume. Depending on the type of pickups your

instrument is equipped with, the amp will begin

to clip somewhere around the 12 o'clock setting;

you can control the amount of grit very precisely

by varying your picking attack.

CHANNEL SELECT: Switches back and forth

between the CLEAN and LEAD channels. The LEAD

channel is active when the button is pressed.

RED LEAD LED: The red LED illuminates when the

LEAD channel is active.

LEAD GAIN: Controls the amount of distortion in

the LEAD channel.

CHARACTER: Sweeps between the different tonal

characteristics HARD (British) or SOFT (American).

LEAD MASTER: Determines the LEAD channel

volume level.

BASS, MID and TREBLE: Common controls for both

channels. MID and TREBLE controls influence each

other, as is standard in tube amps. This sound-

shaping feature lets you to dial in a wide variety

of subtle tonal variations.

REVERB: Controls how much integrated reverb is

added to the signal. The reverb amount is auto-

matically adjusted for each channel when you

switch channels.

MASTER: Controls the VORTEX™‘s master volume

level. The FX-SEND signal level is not affected by

the MASTER control.

FX-SEND: Connect this jack to the input of an

effect device or outboard power amp. You can

also route the signal through a RED BOX®to a

mixing console.

FX-RETURN: Connect this jack to the output of an

effect device.

FOOTSWITCH: Connect a standard footswitch

(e.g. Hughes & Kettner®FS-1) here. This lets you to

switch back and forth between the CLEAN and

LEAD channels. When using a footswitch, ensure

the CHANNEL SELECT switch on the amp‘s front

panel is set to CLEAN.

PHONES: Headphone jack. The speaker is auto-

matically switched off when a plug is inserted into

this jack.

VOTRTEX - MANUAL

ENGLISH

2.0 JACKS AND CONTROL FEATURES

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REAR PANEL:

MAINS: Connect the included Euro-norm mains

cord to this socket. Ensure the amp's voltage

rating matches your local AC voltage rating

before you plug the cord into the wall socket.

SPEAKER OUTPUTS:

Serial on combos: Connect an auxiliary cabinet

with a minimum impedance of 2 ohms here.

Parallel on heads: Connect the included

4x12" cabinet and another auxiliary cabinet with

a rating of at least 8 ohms here. The minimum

permissible impedance is 4 ohms. This means if you

connect cabinets to both outs, each cabinet’s

impedance may be no lower than 8 ohms.

Combo-versions Head-version

3.0 STANDARD SETUP /

CABLE CONNECTIONS

HEAD/COMBO:

VORTEX - MANUAL

4.1 SELECTING CHANNELS

You can activate the channels of the VORTEX™

via the front panel CHANNEL SELECT button or an

external footswitch. The Hughes & Kettner®range

of accessories offers a footswitch that fits the bill,

the FS 1.

4.2 THE VORTEX™

AND SIGNAL PROCESSORS

The VORTEX™ is equipped with a serial effects

loop, meaning that the entire preamp signal is

routed to the FX device and processed there.

4.0 OPERATING THE VORTEX™

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VOTRTEX - MANUAL

ENGLISH

4.3 HOW TO CONNECT

A SIGNAL PROCESSOR:

• Connect the processor‘s input to the VORTEX™

FX-SEND jack and its output to the VORTEX™

FX-RETURN jack.

• To avoid noise, signal degradation, and inter-

rupted signals, use high-quality patch cords only.

• Make sure the processor is not distorting the

signal. Check the processor's gain LEDs and

use the input and output controls to dial in a

suitable level.

• Distortion devices are not designed for use in an

FX loop. As a rule of thumb, any kind of device

that compresses the signal should be connected

first in the signal chain. Depending on the type

of effect you want to achieve, you may want

to connect a compressor directly between the

instrument and the amp's input.

• If you are using several processors or stomp

boxes, ensure you connect them in the proper

order. If you don’t like what you’re hearing,

experiment with the order to find the sound

that suits you best.

4.4 THE VORTEX™

AND MIXING CONSOLES

If you want to feed the VORTEX™'s signal to

a mixing console, we recommend you route it

through a Hughes & Kettner®RED BOX®. Connect

it to the amp’s FX-SEND jack, as this signal path's

level is not influenced by the MASTER setting.

The RED BOX®balances the signal and simulates a

speaker cabinet.

The VORTEX™ does not require service of any

type. However, there are a few precautions

you should heed to ensure your amp lasts for

many years.

• Ensure all peripheral devices and cables are in

a state of good repair.

• Defective speaker cables are the most common

cause of power amp failure. Poor-quality cables

will cause hum and undesirable noise.

• Make certain the back of your amp' is not

blocked or covered. Proper cooling will prolong

the life of your amp.

• Avoid mechanical shocks and exposure to extre-

me heat, dust and especially moisture.

• When connecting peripheral devices, always

pay close attention to their specifications.

Never connect devices with high output signal

levels (e.g. power amps) to your amp's input.

• Ensure you have the correct AC power rating

available before you plug in the amp. If in

doubt, ask the venue's sound technician or the

custodian of the building you are rehearsing in.

• Refrain from do-it-yourself repairs! Have a quali-

fied service technician replace internal fuses.

• With the unit off and unplugged, use a soft

damp cloth to clean the exterior surface of

the VORTEX™.

5.0 MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE

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VORTEX - MANUAL

6.1 If the VORTEX™ will not switch on:

• The amp is not getting any AC power.

Check the mains cable to see if it is connected

properly.

• The mains fuse is defective. Replace the fuse

with another identical fuse. If this fuse also trips,

consult your Hughes & Kettner®dealer.

6.2 If the VORTEX™ is connected properly,

but no sound is audible.

• One or several GAIN and MASTER controls

may be turned all the way down. Dial in

a higher setting.

• Never overlook the possibility that the guitar

cable may be damaged. Try another one.

• A short circuit in the speaker signal chain may

have tripped an internal fuse. Make sure none

of the connections are shorted out and have

a qualified service technician replace the fuse

(identical specifications are a must).

6.3 If the CLEAN channel will not activate

via an external footswitch:

• The footswitch is not connected to the

VORTEX™. Plug it into the appropriate jack.

• Check whether the footswitch is the correct

type. We recommend a Hughes & Kettner®FS-1.

6.4 If you use the effects loop, the FX-SEND/

FX-RETURN jacks cause annoying hum.

• An electrical or magnetic field is causing inter-

ference. Use higher-quality cables or re-arrange

the cables you are using to minimize interferen-

ce. If this still doesn't improve the situation, use

a DI-box.

• The grounding of the connected devices may

be causing a ground loop. DO NOT SEVER THE

GROUND OF THE CONNECTED DEVICES UNDER

ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! Try plugging all devices

into the same socket via an AC power distribu-

tor/power strip. If this doesn't eliminate the noise,

you must ensure the connection is galvanically

separated by routing the signal through

a DI-box.

6.5 If you have connected an FX processor to

the FX-SEND jack and the signal is totally

distorted, even when you have dialed in

a clean sound.

• The FX-SEND signal is overloading the input of

the FX processor. Reduce the processor‘s input

sensitivity ("INPUT" or "GAIN").

6.6 If you have connected an FX processor

to the FX-SEND jack of the VORTEX™ and

the signal's volume level is way too low.

• The FX processor's output level is set incorrectly.

Turn it up.

6.0 TROUBLESHOOTING

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VOTRTEX - MANUAL

DEUTSCH

Ein Team aus Gitarristen und Technikern hat die

VORTEX™ Verstärker Linie mit dem Ziel entwickelt,

amtliche Gitarrensounds mit einfachster

Bedienung und praxisgerechter Ausstattung zu

kombinieren. Der VORTEX™ ist das ideale

Arbeitsgerät für anspruchsvolle Gitarristen. Eine

äußerst leistungsstarke „Current Feedback“-

Endstufe sorgt für den offenen ”Röhrencharakter”,

den andere Amps vermissen lassen. Damit ist Dein

VORTEX™ deutlich lauter als andere Amps mit

gleicher Ausgangsleistung. Ein übersichtliches und

komfortables Bedienkonzept macht es möglich,

ohne Umstände in die Soundwelt des VORTEX™

einzusteigen. Diese Bedienungsanleitung dient

dazu einen detailierteren Einblick in die Möglich-

keiten dieses Verstärkers zu bekommen. Sie wird Dir

darüber hinaus Informationen vermitteln die Dir

einen souveränen Umgang mit diesem Amp

ermöglicht.

WIR WÜNSCHEN DIR VIEL SPASS UND FREUDE

AM „TONE“ MIT DEINEM VORTEX™!

DEIN HUGHES & KETTNER®TEAM.

INHALT

VOR DER INBETRIEBNAHME......................................10

1.0 DIE KANÄLE DES VORTEX™ ...............................10

2.0 ANSCHLÜSSE UND BEDIENELEMENTE.................11

3.0 STANDARD SET-UP/VERKABELUNG....................12

4.0 BEDIENUNG DES VORTEX™ ...............................12

4.1 DAS ANWÄHLEN DER KANÄLE ..........................12

4.2 DER VORTEX™ MIT EFFEKTGERÄTEN .................13

4.3 ANSCHLUSS EINES EFFEKTGERÄTES....................13

4.4 DER VORTEX™ AM MISCHPULT .........................13

5.0 WARTUNG UND SERVICE....................................13

6.0 FEHLERBESEITIGUNG/TROUBLESHOOTING ........14

7.0 TECHNISCHE DATEN ...........................................33

WIR FREUEN UNS, DASS DU DICH FÜR DEN

VORTEX™ENTSCHIEDEN HAST!

D-841 Vortex_Manual 1.2 25.06.2003 17:24 Uhr Seite 9

VORTEX - MANUALVORTEX - MANUAL

• Vergewissere Dich vor dem Anschluss des

VORTEX™, dass der nahe der Netzbuchse ange-

gebene Spannungswert mit der vorhandenen

Netzspannung übereinstimmt.

• Stelle eine ausreichende Luftzufuhr

an die Kühlflächen des Gerätes sicher.

• Achte auf einen festen Stellplatz, der mechani-

sche und thermische Fremdeinwirkungen,

welche die Betriebssicherheit des Gerätes oder

die Sicherheit von Personen beeinträchtigen

könnten, ausschließt.

• Für Schäden am Gerät, die durch unsach-

gemäßen Betrieb entstehen, wird seitens des

Herstellers keine Haftung übernommen.

VOR DER INBETRIEBNAHME

Die Vorstufe des VORTEX™ erzeugt (bei höherer

Aussteuerung) einen runden und harmonischen

Overdrive mit einer außergewöhnlichen Dynamik.

Sein innovatives Schaltungskonzept, das alle

soundgestaltenden Elemente von Röhrenamps in

Halbleitertechnik simuliert, verleiht dem VORTEX™

eine bisher in dieser Preisklasse nicht erreichte

Tonqualität und Dynamik, die ein anspruchsvoller

Gitarrist für seinen musikalischen Ausdruck unbe-

dingt benötigt.

CLEAN: Je nach Einstellung der Vorstufe können

moderne oder ”Vintage”- Cleansounds realisiert

werden. Bei höheren Einstellungen des VOLUME-

Reglers sorgt die ”SoftClip”-Schaltung für genau

den weichen Overdrive, durch den alte

Vollröhrenamps so beliebt geworden sind.

So wird bei Bedarf aus diesem CLEAN-

ein CRUNCH-Kanal.

LEAD: Durch den CHARACTER-Regler lassen

sich im LEAD-Kanal klassische, sowohl offene

Rocksounds mit ”britischem” Charakter - direkt

und dynamisch (HARD) – als auch weiche, bluesi-

ge Sounds mit einem mehr ”amerikanischen” Ton

(SOFT) verwirklichen. Durch das stufenlose

Überblenden dieser unterschiedlichen Sound-

welten ergeben sich völlig neue, bisher nicht

gekannte Variationsmöglichkeiten.

HALL: Ausgestattet ist der VORTEX™ mit einem

internen Federhall, der im Signalweg vor dem

FX-SEND liegt.

1.0 DIE KANÄLE DES VORTEX™

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Table of contents

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