INTRODUCTION Congratulations on your purchase of the THETA Preamp Pedal. The THETA Preamp Pedal was designed to provide the maximum possible over the top performance. With a front end preamplifier, a full complement of pre and post gain tone, over the top screaming gain, more than any preamplifier or pedal available plus a full Decimator II G-String noise reduction system.
THETA PREAMP PEDAL CONTROLS The upper row of controls are for the clean preamplifier. The last control in that row adjusts the threshold of the Decimator G-String Noise reduction. The lower row of controls are for the Distortion Circuit. Three footswitches are provided with the first footswitch allows the player to select Gain1 or Gain2 in the Distortion section. The second footswitch switches ON and OFF the clean channel preamplifier.
power adaptor to a professional +/- 15 volt DC power supply. This allows a 30 volt internal signal swing required for proper headroom and professional level performance. The THETA pedal will only operate on a 9VAC power source, do not use any other power adaptor or damage may result. UNDERSTANDING THE THETA PREAMP PEDAL BLOCK DIAGRAM The THETA Preamp Pedal simplified block diagram is shown above. The input is buffered and connected to the input of the clean PREAMP.
output of the Distortion circuit is followed by a Level contol circuit. The level circuit provides the output level control for both the PREAMP circuit and the DISTORT circuit. This allow you to balance the level of both the PREAMP and the DISTORT circuit in relation to each other. The second advantage of this design is that when using the PREAMP circuit to overdrive the DISTORT circuit the PREAMP output level will not reduce the impact of the full gain available to overdrive the DISTORT circuit.
BASS This control adjusts the amount of boost or cut in the low frequency portion of the spectrum of PREAMP. The available BASS boost and cut range is +/-15 decibels. Note: the Bass control is flat when the control is centered at 12:00. MIDRANGE BOOST/CUT CONTROL This control works in conjunction with the SWEEP frequency control. The MID and SWEEP controls work together to provide a semi-parametric tone control.
DECIMATOR CONTROL NOISE REDUCTION CONTROL The DECIMATOR control adjusts the THRESHOLD of the Decimator G-String II. The Decimator works with both the Clean PREAMP and the DISTORT circuit and will switch completely out of the signal path when both the PREAMP and DISTORT circuits are switched off. If either the PREAMP or DISTORT circuits are switched on the Decimator circuit will be automatically switched into the signal path.
DISTORT CIRCUIT DISTORT ON LED This led located above the DISTORT FOOTSWITCH and indicates when the DISTORT Circuit is active and in the signal path. GAIN 1 / GAIN 2 CONTROLS This control adjusts the amount of gain in the DISTORT CHANNEL. The maximum amount of gain will be determined by the setting of the Active GAIN control selected by the GAIN FOOTSWITCH.
SWEEP FREQUENCY CONTROL This control works in conjunction with the MID boost/cut control and adjusts the center frequency of the MID boost or cut signal. At the full counter clockwise setting the midrange frequency will be at 300Hz, at the full clockwise setting the center frequency of the midrange will be at 6KHz. NOTE: when the MID control is set at 12:00 straight up the SWEEP will not have any effect on the signal since there is no boost or cut being applied.
For clean tones use the clean PREAMP and adjust the bass and treble for the desired tone and then adjust the mid and mid-sweep settings. For a more forward sound try boosting the midrange above 12:00 and sweeping the mid between 10:00 and 2:00. For a more scooped or hollow tone pull the midrange back below 12:00 and adjust the sweep for the preferred frequency. When cutting the mids it may be desirable to add additional treble boost.
TYPICAL CLASSIC ROCK SETTING If you are looking for the Classic Rock sound from the 80 and 90s try the settings below as a starting point. In this setting use GAIN1 or GAIN 2, PREAMP OFF, DISTORT ON and adjust to find that classic 80 tone based on your specific guitar, power amplifier and speakers used.
WARRANTY AND SERVICE The Internal Circuitry is fully guaranteed to be free of defects under normal use and service for a period of three years from the date of purchase. The Speakers and Cabinet that are used in this product are fully guaranteed to be free of defects under normal use and service for a period of three years. Any damage resulting from the misuse or the failure to follow the precautions and instructions will void the warranty.