User manual
headroom). This function does NOT monitor the first tube stage of the Passive input. See that section for
more info.
In the event the clip indicator lights, turn down the Gain control. Since this circuit monitors the tone controls,
boosting any one of them can cause the clip LED to activate. Once again, you may leave the tone control at
its desired level, but turn the Gain control down further.
NOTE: Even though the Preamp Clip LED lighting indicates that at some point the preamp is clipping, no
harm is being done to your amplifier. However, clipping of the power amp can cause damage to your
speakers and is not recommended.
AURAL ENHANCER
The Aural Enhancer is a feature that’s been on just about every SWR amplifier since the company’s inception
in 1984, and is a trademark part of the “SWR Sound” people have come to know and love.
It was developed to help bring out the fundamental low notes of the bass guitar, enhance the high-end
transients, and reduce certain frequencies that help “mask” the fundamentals. The ultimate result is:
1. A more transparent sound, especially noticeable when slapping and popping.
2. It can make a passive bass take on an “active” type of quality when set at positions of
“2 o’clock” or further clockwise.
Let’s take a second to learn how the Aural Enhancer works. Think of it as a variable tone curve that changes
depending on where you set the Aural Enhancer control knob. As you raise the control clockwise from the
“MIN” position, you are elevating a whole range of sound (lows, mids, and highs) at a variety of frequency
points selected specifically because they’re different than those selected for the individual Tone Controls.
This remains true up to about the “2 o’clock” position. This position—a favorite for many users—brings out
both the low end fundamentals and crisp highs and, at the same time, adds a little lower midrange
to help cut through the band. However, if you go further clockwise and past the 2:00 position, selected mids
will start to drop off—specifically, a group of frequencies centered around 200 Hz. At this point
and after, the effect becomes much more pronounced. However, the curves involved here are gentle, as
opposed to the very extreme curves you can create by boosting or cutting the Active Tone Controls (EQ).
Most significantly for basses, the Aural Enhancer will help bring out the fundamentals of your lower registers
without masking them with overtones, as is possible when using the Bass control only. At the same time, it
opens up the sibilance characteristics of all instruments without being harsh.
Obviously, numbers and curves and circuits all mean nothing compared to what you hear with your own ears.
Play a chord, a repeated lick, or a harmonic, and turn the Aural Enhancer control to various points on the
knob to hear the effect for yourself. As always, your ears are the best judge when it comes to settings that
affect the tone of your instrument.
SubWave™ CONTROLS
Based on the circuit from SWR’s groundbreaking Mo’ Bass Soundstation, the SubWave™ on your Black
Beauty is a lightning-quick sub-octave wave engine with tracking superior to other models of sub-octave
effects currently on the market. In plain terms, it hears the note you play and immediately generates a signal
one octave below it—all the way down to low “C#,” “C,” or even low “B” on some basses!
SubWave™ ACTIVATOR SWITCH
Located directly above the SubWave™ Level Control, this is an illuminated push-button switch that acti-
vates the SubWave™ effect. When engaged, the switch cap will illuminate in blue. Push once to engage,
then again to disengage. (The SubWave™ effect can also be switched on and off via footswitch; please
see “SubWave™ Footswitch” in the “Rear Panel Features” section later in this guide.)
SubWave™ LEVEL CONTROL
Once the SubWave™ effect is engaged, you can use this control to determine the amount of effect to be
blended in with your original (“clean”) bass signal. Turning the control clockwise will increase the amount
of effect, while turning the control counter-clockwise will decrease the amount of effect. When the control
is set fully counter-clockwise to “MIN,” no effect will be heard, even though the effect is engaged and the
Activator switch is illuminated in blue. This is normal. Also, when the control is set fully clockwise to
BLACK BEAUTY OWNER’S MANUAL • 5