SWR Sound owner manual WORKINGMAN’S 8004 T/O/P

Active Input Jack

The Active input jack should be used with instruments having a built-in (on board) preamp or other sound sources that will produce output levels greater than 1 volt RMS. The number of bass manufacturers has increased significantly over the years, and it’s impossible to try and keep track of them all. Generally, if you have very “hot” pickups and/or tone controls installed in your instrument, and you use them to boost the level of your bass signal 10 dB or more, you may find the Active input more compatible. The best judge is your own ears.

If you’re using a keyboard or bass pedal with the Workingman’s 8004, we have found the best choice to be the Active input.

Note: Using the Active input with passive basses (active instruments will always employ a battery) may result in a loss of high end transients. Players who roll off their high end starting at about 2kHz, or prefer a “darker” sound, may find this input more to their liking.

If you hear some distortion with your active bass and are using the Active Input, make sure the preamp clip LED indicator is not lighting. If the preamp stage is not being driven into clipping, replace the battery in your instrument.

Gain Control

The Gain control adjusts the volume of the preamp section. Since the Gain control is similar to a “pad,” a small amount of signal will be heard even with the Gain control rotated fully counter-clockwise if the Master Volume is up.

To ensure maximum signal-to-noise ratio and still prevent unwanted clipping of the preamp section, first set the EQ and Shape controls to your liking. Then set the Gain control by raising it slowly until the Preamp Clip LED barely flashes when your loudest note is struck. However, it is not essential to set the Gain con- trol in this manner; having it set well below the point of clipping is also fine. (With some passive basses and in conjunction with little or no EQ boost from your amplifier, the preamp clip light may not illuminate – even with the Gain control set to maximum. This is normal.)

Note: The Gain can serve as an EFFECTS SEND LEVEL ADJUSTMENT. If your effect is being overdriv- en, turn down the Gain control and readjust your Master volume for overall loudness.

Preamp Clip LED

The Preamp Clip LED will light whenever the preamp, tone section or output buffer reach clipping (run out of headroom). In the event the Preamp Clip LED lights, turn down the Gain control. Since this circuit moni- tors the tone controls, boosting any one of them can cause the Preamp 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.

Shape Control

The Shape Control in the Workingman’s 8004 is based on SWR’s trademark Aural Enhancer circuit. That feature was originally developed to 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 Shape Control accomplishes this as well, but with some noticeable differences.

First, let’s take a second to learn how the Shape control works. Think of it as a variable tone curve that changes depending on where you set the Shape 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.

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