SWR Sound owner manual 750x Active Tone Control Section

tion with the level of the clean “Channel One.” How do you control the level of “Channel One?” By using the Gain Control, which controls the level of the clean bass signal in the preamp.

Also, the EQ Controls are located after the Overdrive circuitry, so they can have a drastic effect on the distorted tone. (The treble control is especially useful for adding or removing a nasty edge to your Overdrive sound.) And don’t forget about the Limiter, which, when dialed higher than you might think nec- essary, is often useful in combination with distorted signals to create warm, smooth overdriven tones. Finally, if you engage the effect and both the Drive and Level controls are set to minimum, there will be little or no change in your tone. This is normal.

SubWave™ Controls

Once again, based on the circuit from SWR’s Mo’ Bass, the SubWave™ on your 750x is a lightning-quick sub-octave wave engine with tracking superior to other models of sub-octave effects currently on the mar- ket. 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 the heading titled “Effects Footswitch” in the “Rear Panel Features” section later in this manual.)

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 “MAX”, the “clean” bass signal will still be present…along with plenty of sub-octave effect. As always, your ears and the desired musical application will be the best judge in setting this control.

(Keep in mind that the Bass Level control will have a significant impact on the perceived level of the SubWave™ effect as well, as it follows immediately after the SubWave™ in the signal chain. Please read below.)

Balancing Levels When Using Both Onboard Effects

If you wish to use the Overdrive and Subwave™ effects at the same time, here’s something you should know. The Gain control effects the level of the Subwave™ effect, but it does not affect the Overdrive. So, if you’re balancing the overall Overdrive signal against the clean sound, it’s worth remembering that if you turn the Gain Control down, you’re also reducing the amount of Subwave™ present in the final blended sig- nal. Basically, when it comes to setting levels for using both effects at once and switching back and forth between sounds, you have three controls you can adjust: the Gain Control, the Overdrive “Drive” Control, and the Subwave™ Level Control. Experimentation is encouraged.

750x – ACTIVE TONE CONTROL SECTION

Bass Control

The Bass control employs a shelving-type circuit and boosts or cuts the bass response +/–15dB, from about 30 Hz to 100 Hz, centered at around 80 Hz. Starting at the control’s mid-position (“center-click”), turning the control counter-clockwise cuts the bass response, and turning the control clockwise boosts the bass response.

You’ll find that the Bass Level control will boost or cut the SubWave™ effect along with the “clean” bass signal; that’s because of the range of frequencies covered by this particular control. You can use both the Bass and SubWave™ Level controls to get a good balance between how much bass you want in your clean sound, and how much of a bass boost you want when engaging the SubWave™. Some users will want a sig- nificant boost, while others may be striving for a more consistent level (or “unity gain”). Again, let your ears and musical taste be the judge.

750x OWNER’S MANUAL • 7