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AAE Stereo Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier – User Guide
AAE Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier designed and built by:
Theo Argiriadis
Argiriadis Analogue Electronics
http://www.tube-electronics.co.uk
Manual by:
Dave Pape
http://www.museumoftechno.org
http://www.memoid.co.uk
Introduction
Argiriadis Analogue Electronics Stereo Spring Reverb/Valve Amplifier
Thank you for purchasing this Stereo Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier unit, custom-designed and hand-built
by Argiriadis Analogue Electronics.
This unit is bespoke, and has been designed using purely analogue components, so its construction and
operation are significantly different to those of off-the-shelf effects units. Please read this instruction manual
carefully before using the unit – you'll be rewarded with a unique and beautiful sonic toolkit for your music.
It'll take a while to learn how you want to work with your amplifier, but once you've got to know it, you'll find
it's very easy to love.
Included with your purchase
•
4u rack-mountable AAE valve amplifier/distortion unit
•
2 x spring reverb tanks (short and long spring)
Spring reverb tank
1
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Summary of Contents for AAE Stereo Spring Reverb/Valve Amplifier
- Page 1 AAE Stereo Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier – User Guide AAE Spring Reverb / Valve Amplifier designed and built by: Theo Argiriadis Argiriadis Analogue Electronics http://www.tube-electronics.co.uk Manual by: Dave Pape http://www.museumoftechno.org http://www.memoid.co.uk Introduction Argiriadis Analogue Electronics Stereo Spring Reverb/Valve Amplifier...
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Page 2: Rear Panel
Rear Panel Mains power switch: in the up position, mains power is off (even if mains lead plugged in); in down position, mains power is on. Mains power socket: connect UK 240v mains power here. Tank impedance selector switch: allows you to adjust the tank send output to match different types of spring reverb unit. -
Page 3: Front Panel
Front Panel Master Drive knob: controls signal level to tank send output (see rear panel: 5), and how hard the unit’s amplification/distortion stage is driven. Input gain switch: When switched up, input signal is attenuated by around 18dB, so the amplification/distortion stage is driven at lower volume. - Page 4 Operation: setting up and turning on Preparation Before turning the unit on, turn all knobs on the front panel fully anti-clockwise. The unit is capable of producing very high output levels and, if you send a high input signal through it, might generate enough of an output to damage your mixer, amp, speakers or ears.
- Page 5 “A mini power valve amp drives the ‘reverb tank’. If the effect switch is up – only original sound comes in. This amp in high master drive settings also produces non-reverberated valve distortion type of sound, similar to a distortion unit. This distortion can be anything from smooth to crunchy to extreme. Again, it all depends on how the gain switch and master drive are set.
- Page 6 Gentle distortion Another way I commonly use my own AAE distort box is to send a moderate signal into it, turn the master drive knob to about 15%, and switch the input gain to further attenuate the input. This lets through a fairly clean sound, with just a hint of distortion on peak signals.
- Page 7 As you feed more complex, harmonically-rich signals into the unit – complex chords, complex waveforms or whole mixes – the distorted result will sound more glitchy, noisy and crushed, because of all the clashing extra harmonics produced as a result of the distortion. Guitar power chords tend to consist of a small number of notes with simple harmonic relationships, like fifths and octaves –...
- Page 8 Extra Operating and Care Notes Ground Lift Switches Under normal circumstances these switches must always be on i.e facing downwards. If they are accidentally turned off a loud hum will be heard. If the ground lift switches are tried turn the volume or input level of the mixing desk as low as possible because this hum could damage what the unit is driving.
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Page 9: Replacing The Valves
REPLACING THE VALVES 1 ECC82 or 12AU7 or 5814A Screw A 2 ECC83 or 12AX7 or 7025 3 PCL86 Clamp 4 PCL86 Screw B and Washer FRONT Changing valves 3 and 4 Loosen screw A (break glue). Undo screw B (beware of washer). Move clamp anticlockwise away from valves.