Spontaneous Audio Devices Son of Kong Quick Start Manual

Our deepest gratitude to you for purchasing the Son of Kong, an EQ/Gain pedal and DI of massive aural proportions, elegantly designed to
provide a multitude of features, functions, and tones. This pedal is the brainchild of audio architect Arthur "Midget" Sloatman. The EQ is the
same circuit that Arthur installed in all of Frank Zappa's stage guitars, which he used exclusively from 1979 on. The gain circuit provides up
to 35 dB of clean, quiet gain, plus an additional 20 dB of frequency dependent EQ gain for an amp crushing 55 decibels of potential gain. In
addition, the SoK provides a simultaneous DI output and an unaffected throughput, as well as a few other tricks. Please read through the
"Applications" section to discover how to unlock some of the hidden mysteries of the Son of Kong.
DISCLAIMER: The Son of Kong is capable of providing extreme volume levels when used with an amplifier. In order to prevent
hearing damage, turn down the amplifier volume before plugging in or engaging the SoK and ESPECIALLY WHEN SWITCHING
THE "DI +20" SWITCH TO THE +20 SIDE.
DI (Low Gain) Mode
DI mode allows for low gain through the EQ circuit resulting in increased headroom, perfect for using
the DI and for feeding additional pedals in your signal chain.
Begin with Bypass engaged, the "DI +20" switch in the left position, the "Q", "F", and "G" controls at
12 o'clock, and "V1" set to about 1 o'clock. Refer to the picture at right.
Disengage Bypass into channel "V1" and set "V1" volume knob up or down slightly until the volume
is equal to the Bypass volume. This is unity gain. Notice, when switching between Bypass and "V1,"
that there is a detail that is revealed when "V1" is engaged, even without adding any Gain or EQ to the
signal.
The "V1" gain control knob provides a modest 6 dB gain boost in DI (Low Gain) Mode when turned
all the way to the right.
The EQ circuit is always active in channel "V1". Turn the EQ gain control "G" to the right or left to
add or subtract gain at the frequency selected. At 12 o'clock, there is no gain change. Turn the
frequency control "F" to the right or left to select higher or lower frequencies. "
selection to bass frequencies (35 Hz to 1kHz). " " sets the frequency selection to treble frequencies
(180 Hz to 5kHz). See graphic at right.
Turn the bandwidth control "Q" right to narrow the frequency selection or left to widen it. Hard left is
2 octaves wide, 12 o'clock is 1 octave wide, hard right is 1/10 of an octave.
Switch to channel "V2". In DI (Low Gain) Mode, the "V2" gain control provides the same 6 dB boost
as "V1". The EQ can be engaged into the channel path by switching the "EQ to V2+DI" to the right.
+20 (Hi Gain) Mode
+20 Mode allows for increased gain through the EQ circuit, perfect for overdriving the signal and, as
the last pedal in your chain, feeding a hot signal to an amplifier.
All functions work the same as in DI mode only with higher gain stages. "V1" now provides 15 dB of
gain. "V2" provides 26 dB of Gain with an additional 9 dB when the EQ is switched in. Turn the gain
control "G" to the right until the signal distorts. Now tune the distortion by sweeping the frequency
control "F" and bandwidth control "Q". V1 and V2 provide post-EQ volume control.
Reducing Distortion
In order to reduce distortion in the EQ circuit, do one or more of the following:
• Reduce the volume of your instrument into the SoK
• Use a higher voltage power supply (up to 40 V DC)
• Use the gain control "G" to cut frequencies, making up the gain with "V1" and "V2" (e.g., cut high
frequencies rather than boosting bass).
www.spontaneousaudio.com

Quick Start

��
© 2013 Modern Vintage Audio, LLC | Spontaneous Audio Devices
Q
Approximate Unity Gain in DI Mode
" sets the frequency
��
35 Hz
Bass Selection
F
V1 V2
DI +20
EQ to V2+DI
��
��
180 Hz 1 kHz
1 kHz 180 Hz
��
�� ��
Treble Selection
G
5 kHz
��