Gain Control; Using The Tone Controls - SWR WORKINGMAN’S 4004 Owner's Manual

FRONT PANEL FEATURES (continued) FRONT PANEL FEATURES (continued)
ACTIVE INPUT ACTIVE INPUT
The Active input jack should be used with instruments having a built-in (on-board) preamp that will
produce signals over 1 volt RMS. Known basses that should use the Active input only are the Kubicki
X-Factor and some Ovation electrics. Some really "hot" pickups installed in your instrument may find the
Active input more compatible. The best judge is your own ears.
Please Note: Using the Active input with passive basses may result in a loss of high-end transients. Please Note:
Players who roll off their high-end starting at around 2K to 3KHz may find this input more to their liking.
If you hear some distortion from your active bass and are using the Active input jack, CHECK YOUR
BATTERY!! Also, make sure the Preamp Clip LED is not lighting.
PREAMP CLIP LED 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 indicator lights, turn down the Gain control. Since the Preamp
Clip also monitors the Tone section, boosting any one of the tone controls can cause the LED to activate.
Again, turn down the Gain control if this happens.
Please Note: Constant clipping of the preamp will not harm the electronics in your Workingman's 4004.
Please Note:
However, damage can occur to speakers due to near-DC content present in a clipped waveform. Do not
defeat the limiter when overdriving the preamp.

GAIN CONTROL

GAIN CONTROL
The gain control adjusts the volume of the preamp section. After the Tone controls, Aural Enhancer and any
effects you may be using have been set to your liking, the Gain control should be set to where the Preamp
Clip LED barely flashes upon hitting your loudest note. After setting the Gain, use the Master Volume to set
the desired volume level. Using these controls in this manner assures the maximum
signal-to- noise ratio with no distortion caused by the preamp circuits clipping. Since the Gain control is
similar to a "pad", a small amount of signal will get through with the Gain control turned all the way down.
The Gain also adjusts the level sent to the Effects send jack. If your effect is being overdriven, turn down
the Gain Control.

USING THE TONE CONTROLS

USING THE TONE CONTROLS
To get the most out of the Tone Controls of your Workingman's 4004, it would be best to first understand
how the Aural Enhancer works, and how it interacts with the 5 band EQ section. Think of it as a variable
tone curve, changing with its position. As you raise the control from its "0", or fully counterclockwise
position, you are elevating the whole range of sound (lows, mids, and highs) at frequency points different
than those selected for the individual EQ bands. This remains true up to about the "2 o'clock" position, at
which point the mids start to drop off. The curves involved here are gentle, as opposed to the very extreme
curves you can create with the EQ Controls. Most significantly, the Aural Enhancer will raise the low end at
a point lower than the Bass control itself. For a 4-string bass, the Bass control itself will suffice. For the
5-string player, the Aural Enhancer will help bring out the fundamentals of your instrument in the 30-60Hz
range.
WORKINGMAN'S 4004 OWNER'S MANUAL • 3 WORKINGMAN'S 4004 OWNER'S MANUAL • 3