Forty-Five User`s Manual - Soultone Amplification, Inc.
Contents
1. 45ME3 HD MILSPEC HEAD AND COMBO UNIT Variable Power Instrument Amplifiers Copyright 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Part Number R45 UME3 Rev 001 Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Manual Contents Titro du Ct o sake Sets ee S SSES en A Technical Information Construction Details and Components Front Panel Control Layout 1 INDICATOR 2 POWER SWITCH et a ten 3 THREE WAY STANDBY AND RECTIFIER SELECTOR SWITCH 4 Power Scaling POWER csscessesssesseesssessesseessesseestesssesesseeseasecsseaseesnesses 5 Power Scaling MASTER 6 PR SENCE re tr tt t ne LVOEUM ONE nn nn cccscnasccetscecenduscstscacddsscctscecssudndcer ceeds nn msn nn anni en nn ein anne niet tin nn in nn 12 BRIGHT PUSH PULL 13 VOLUME TWO ossnanen 14 CASCADE PUSH PULL 15 HI SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL ONE 16 LO SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL ONE 17 HI SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL TWO 18 LO SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL TWO Rear Panel Control Layout ccsccsesseessesseestesssesteeseesseens A Effects Send Jack B Effects Return Jack C Effects Send Level D Effects Return Level E Effects Bypass Switch EN PM CR an nn nn NS CINEB SITE Essen nr a tte a sas as ane tentent venus vacua venus vacua vacua teen E H IMPEDANCE SELECTOR I SPEAKER OUTPUTS Je V5 BIAS CONTROL E K V2. 1x8 ohm either 16 8 2x8 ohm both 8 4 1x4 ohm either 8 4 Figure 4 Impedance Selector Settings This setting is not allowed as there is either no transformer tap to accommodate it or the resulting load reflected through the transformer to the power tubes could damage the tubes or other amplifier components The position directly following 16 is internally connected to an additional tap to accommodate this setting It should be used only as described above Special Note Tube mixing is allowed however as the KT66 needs to see the correct impedance which is reflected back from the secondary winding of the output transformer any combination using KT66 tubes must use the KT66 settings described above All other combinations will use the EL34 settings 6V6GT Tubes The 6V6GT tubes can use the settings specified for either KT66 or EL34 type tubes in the table above Although not seeing the optimal load the 6V6GT tubes will operate within specified tolerances And their lower power output cannot harm the transformer The closest match to the optimal load of the 6V6GT tubes will be the KT66 settings above which provides a 7 2K primary CAUTION Never use the amplifier without a load attached Always put the amplifier on Standby or Power Off when changing speaker connections I SPEAKER OUTPUTS There are two parallel loudspeaker output jacks provided for connection to speaker extension cabinet s Please always
3. London Power Ontario Canada Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Introduction The Soultone 45ME3 HD MILSPEC amplifier is a Class A B all tube 32 Watt two channel head with a sophisticated variable power supply derived from Power Scaling a technology developed by Kevin O Connor and licensed from London Power of Ontario Canada This manual should be read by all users of the Soultone 45ME3 including guitarists sound engineers recording engineers and service technicians in order to achieve the best possible performance and avoid damaging the amplifier tubes speaker cabinets other equipment or causing harm to human beings The 45ME3 is the latest version of the Soultone Forty Five Variable Power Instrument Amplifier and due to significant changes to the amplifier including an exclusive transformer set new layout feature changes and bias adjustment this amplifier warrants a specific manual This manual applies exclusively to the 45ME3 head and 212 combo units As you can see from its front panel layout the 45ME3 appears outwardly to be a simple British style valve amplifier Its two channels Channel I and Channel II each have two inputs High and Low sensitivity and separate Volume controls while sharing the amplifier s four tone controls Presence Bass Middle and Treble Yet closer inspection reveals a rather more complex amplifier There are push pull pots power co
4. a keyed insertion base on the power tubes Be sure to only attempt insertion of tubes with them keyed in the proper orientation 1 Turn off the amplifier and remove the power cord 2 Remove the back panel by removing the four Philips head screws gently pulling it off and carefully setting it aside 3 Remove the tube shield of the preamp tube you are replacing and carefully set it aside 4 If you are removing a preamp tube gently pull in an upward motion on the tube Sometimes a slight wiggle will help free it from the base 5 If you are removing a power tube you will need to spread open the retaining clamp with one hand and by grabbing the base of the tube with the other pull slowly upward on the tube 6 Carefully examine the tube socket studying the orientation of the pin holes or the keyhole for the power tube 7 Remove any debris from the tube socket prior to inserting tubes 8 If you are inserting a power tube you will need to use one hand to spread open the retaining device 9 Holding the tube in the proper orientation to the base by studying the pins on the preamplifier tube or the key device on the power tube base and carefully insert the tube into the base 10 Reinstall the tube shields where appropriate 11 Reinstall the back cover 12 Ifyou have only changed a preamplifier tube you do not need to check your bias prior to powering on the amplifier 13 Regardless of whether or not you changed tube types
5. are offered The impressive component line up of the 45ME3 with NOS components is unmatched by any production amplifier Hybrid PCB Boards The hybrid PCB board used in the Soultone 45ME3 is an industry first The circuit traced part of the board provides a reliable implementation of the Power Scaling circuit referenced as Variable Power by London Power but nevertheless derived and licensed from their own Power Scaling technology By using a circuit traced board for this portion of the circuit we have greatly reduced noise and increased reliability over hand wired implementations of power scaling Variable Power MOSFET The Soultone 45ME3 and all future Soultone Variable Power amplifiers use the most robust MOSFET solution of any current power scaled amplifier The ISOTOP MOSFET power module of the 45ME3 was adapted from welding equipment and can dissipate over 600watts of continuous power Due to its external mounting and extremely high temperature and wattage ratings this module needs NO active cooling Front and Rear Panels Extra thick gold colored rear LASER engraved acrylic Specific details pertaining to the front panel features can be found in this manual Cabinet Construction High grade flawless void free Baltic birch ply with dovetailed joints for maximum strength The sides top and bottom are 75 ply while the front baffle is constructed from 5 ply and the back of the cabinet is 25 ply The cabinet is
6. full range of early plexi amplifiers it can be used in either the Plexi or JTM45 mode Generally the Plexi amps used the 8 ohm transformer tap while the JTM45 used the 16 for greater headroom H IMPEDANCE SELECTOR The impedance selector matches the amplifier s output transformer to the speaker impedance A CAUTION Your 45ME3 should be in the Standby Mode before the Output Impedance Selector is turned The amplifier must be 1 connected to a load while in either Tube or SS Mode and 2 the impedance selected must match the impedance of the speakers being powered as discussed below Failure to follow these simply measures can damage the output transformer of your amplifier Special Note The table below is crucial information if you have changed your tube types from the standard supplied tubes that your amplifier shipped with The 45ME3 ships standard with Saratov KT66 tubes or Winged C EL34 tubes specified when ordered Examine the table in Figure 4 to determine the correct impedance matching for the tubes you are operating and the extension cabinets you will be powering If you are using the tube compliment your amplifier shipped with you need only set your impedance selector to match the total impedance of your speaker load traditional settings 45ME3 Tube Options Speaker EL34 KT66 Cabinet s Output s Selector is set to Selector is set to 1x16 ohm either 1 notch past 16 16 2x16 ohm both 16 8
7. if you have replaced either power tube you must complete the Bias Procedure outlined in this manual Care and Maintenance By following the instructions laid forth in this manual your amplifier should become a family heirloom The only additional steps to take are in regards to its physical appearance Always switch the Power Switch to the OFF position and disconnect the AC MAINS cord prior to cleaning your amp The vinyl covering on your amp should be dusted with a dry soft cloth Tougher stains should be cleaned using only a slightly damp well wrung cloth Stains that are difficult to remove may be treated by a solution of 1 teaspoon non scented liquid soap to gallon water and then rinsed with a separate damp well wrung cloth WARNING Never use car care products solvents or abrasives on your amplifier e i Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Warranty and Information Should you experience a problem with your amplifier other than tubes or fuses switch it off immediately and contact Soultone Amplification Inc to arrange service Soultone HD MILSPEC Amplifiers carry a Limited Lifetime Warranty protecting the original owner from manufacturing defects This warranty does not cover damage resulting from abuse improper use If your amplifier is under warranty be sure to contact Soultone to arrange for authorized service In the event that you own a Soultone amplifier
8. not covered by a warranty we will help you get your amplifier repaired at a reasonable price by authorized service personnel Soultone will not be responsible for any repairs done to products without prior authorization NOTE You must save the original double boxed shipping containers that your amplifier was shipped with Amplifiers shipped for service that needs to be performed by Soultone such as transformer replacement or feature modification that are shipped in any other shipping solution not provided by Soultone will not be covered for damage if damaged during shipment The full details on your Soultone amplifier s warranty can be found online or in the paperwork your amplifier shipped with Manufacturer Liability Soultone Amplification Inc will not be liable for any losses incurred due to the misuse of its products failure of said products to operate or premature failure of products and Soultone Amplification s liability in the result of damage or losses caused by a defective or inoperable amplifier shall be limited to the replacement or value of said amplifier Use of this product constitutes acceptance of this manufacturer s statement of liability Return Merchandise Authorization If your instrument amplifier needs repair obtain a Return Merchandise Authorization Number RMA from Soultone by contacting service soultoneamps com When you receive your RMA Number you will be told if your amp can be locally repaired
9. of Va and Vb acting as a dedicated gain stage for each channel V2 is common to both channels which are passively summed before reaching this valve V2a the first half of V2 acts as a gain stage common to both channels boosting the signal and then driving the second half of the valve V2b which is designed as a cathode follower The cathode follower is a unity gain device acting as a buffer yielding a low impedance signal with which to optimally drive the tone stack Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Special Note The second gain stage of this circuit can be switched to supply a cathode bypass capacitor that boosts the guitar frequencies actuated by the push pull FAT feature on the BASS control discussed in the section titled Front Panel Layout V3 acts as an effects loop buffer tube adjusting the level of the signal down to effects unit level matching the impedance of effects units with variable send and return level controls Return instrument feeds are then boosted back up with another cathode follower and matching the impedance for the phase inverter stage Special Note 2 The FX loop can be bypassed with the mode set to True Bypass effectively putting the output of the tone stack directly to the coupling cap for V4 It can also be used with any 12A_7 tube with a guitar cable connecting the SEND to RETURN jacks for an additional gain stage V4 acts as the amplif
10. where the service facility is that has been authorized to perform the repairs If the repair will require factory services you will need to return your amplifier to Soultone Power off your amplifier then remove the power cords speaker cable and all tubes then pack only the amplifier with the bubble wrap protecting your amplifier in the inside smaller box which is to be sealed with packing tape and placed in the outer shipping container with peanuts surrounding and once again sealed with packing tape If your amp is covered by warranty you will be sent a shipping label with all information needed You will merely attach this label to the shipping container and take the amplifier to the nearest shipping center as instructed by Soultone For non warranty repair after obtaining the RMA and packing the amplifier as instructed above ship the amplifier to Soultone Amplification Inc RMA your RMA number here 3340 South Oleander Dr Chandler AZ 85248 12
11. 1 100mv and turn the meter on Step Five Turn on the power switch and after waiting a suitable time for the tubes to warm up turn the standby switch to the SS position NOTE The amplifier should only be biased in the SS position unless the amp will NOT be used in SS position without rebiasing Step Six Adjust the V5 BIAS CONTROL so the meter displays the specified readout in millivolts V6 Bias Step One Switch the amplifier Standby Switch to STANDBY and move the Voltage Meter s positive test lead red to the V6 BIAS MEASUREMENT JACK the rightmost red jack Step Two Locate the power tube type inserted in V6 in Figure 6 Tube Type Bias Table Read across the column to locate your amplifier and rectifier type and then take note of the Minimum 60 optimal and Maximum settings Step Three Switch the Amplifier Standby Switch to PLAY Step Four Adjust the V6 BIAS CONTROL so the meter displays the specified readout in millivolts Step Five Disconnect the meter leads and store your meter You may now audition the amplifier sound with the tube types you have selected Changing Tubes Your 45ME3 amplifier shipped with specially selected tubes from Soultone however a great variety of tonal variation can be experienced by replacing these tubes with different tube brands and types both modern production and valuable New Old Stock NOS All tube types for this amplifier are keyed by their pins on preamplifier tubes or by
12. 4 If you would like to share any of your settings please forward them to Soultone and they will be printed in future revisions of this manual Biasing the 45ME3 Amplifier Thanks to its back panel bias control and measurement cluster with separate bias controls for each power tube the bias procedure for the Soultone 45ME3 is relatively simple Nevertheless care should be taken when performing this bias procedure with respect to the following cautions Do not attempt to bias the amplifier in an uncovered area a wet area or while standing in water Take care to not touch any metal parts when performing the bias Always allow the tubes to cool off before removing or replacing tubes CAUTION The following bias settings should be used for the appropriate model of 45ME3 amplifiers The columns marked 60 are the optimal bias settings however the tubes can be biased anywhere from the minimum to the maximum values shown the 70 column is preferred by many players BIAS ALL TUBES 405V IN SS POSITION 50 60 70 KT66 30 9 37 43 2 EL34 30 9 37 43 2 6L6 37 44 4 51 9 5881 28 4 34 1 39 8 6V6 17 3 20 7 24 2 Figure 5 Bias Table Special Note Using different tube types can produce more hum than using the same type in each position If the same tube type is used in V5 and V6 set the bias control for each as close as possible to one another to fur
13. 5 BIAS MEASUREMENT JACK scsscccccccccscccsscccsccccscccessccsssecsssecsssecsesecscsecsesedaascascscaccaccessctessctsdsccccucascscasescasescascscascecancececescecesees L BIAS MEASUREMENT COMMON JACK 9 M V6 BIAS CONTROL 9 N V6 BIAS MEASUREMENT JACK 9 HIGH TENSION FUSE 0 00 9 P MAIN POWER FUSE 9 Q MAINS INPUT osese 9 R MAINS VOLTAGE SELECTOR 9 Sample Settings 10 Biasing the 45ME3 Amplifier 10 Actual Bias Procedure rene eee eee ie ee eee ee ea AENA ESEAS SEERE EREE Re EEEE eee ee EU ete ER tt tte 10 11 11 12 12 12 COMMMBMBYYYYYNYDAARARDADADAAGUGUUUUARWHN GS eta ata Tubes Rd en naar nes nn Care and Maintenance s Warranty and Information Manufacturer Liability Return Merchandise A wth ori zat om essscssssscescesccvscesccvscesccvscssccnscsscctscsscavsavscavsevsccvscvsastcesvesvsessacvecrsneersnsasbefruasbscivacbecnuasvecnuasvecnuansuiitnsciets 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc All Rights Reserved This document is the sole property of Soultone Amplification Inc Partial copy or reprinting of this manual without written permission is prohibited Full copies of this manual containing all pages with copyright information intact is allowed either in hard print or by distribution of the original PDF version JTM45 and Marshall are trademarks of Marshall Amplification LTD UK Power Scaling is a technology licensed and used with the permission of Kevin O Connor
14. Mains Voltage Selector R MAINS VOLTAGE SELECTOR The amplifier is equipped with a voltage selector for matching to your country specific power Before connecting to the local power for the first time determine the correct AC voltage being supplied and turn the dial to the correct setting There are two unmarked positions on the dial for 100V and 240V operation The 100V position is for Japan use and is the unmarked position directly before the 110V 120V common operation The 240V position is directly following the 230V position on the selector Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Sample Settings The following settings can be used to establish some baseline sounds from your amplifier and can be experimented with further to learn more of its capabilities and help you find the sound you are seeking wu Key X is use is not used A indicates any setting and 1 10 means the optimal position for that control Blank rows are provided for you to keep track of your own settings P P P By F M TI Vi BY VI J Cc NFB V5 Tube V6 tube type SIS fr alalilr olr olul a Type ejs t de 1 i 1 m s P M s s d blu glulplc olale 1 1 mih mlela wi s n ejeje t ejr d e tfc e T e e 1 2 r JTM45 A A 7 6 7 8 A x A x 16 KT66 KT66 Plexi A A 9 5 9 9 A x A x 8 EL34 EL34 2204 A A A 6 x 5 9 6 A x 8 EL34 EL3
15. REBLE 10 tone controls are shared by Channel 1 and 2 They are very interactive the changing of one control will change the way the others behave so experimentation is highly recommended 11 VOLUME ONE Turning this control clockwise increases the overall output level of Channel One This channel is voiced for a higher treble response than Channel Two 12 BRIGHT PUSH PULL By pulling out on the VOLUME ONE push pull potentiometer further brightness at lower volumes is achieved 13 VOLUME TWO Turning this control clockwise increases the overall output level of Channel Two This channel is voiced for a flatter response than Channel One 14 CASCADE PUSH PULL Whereas bridging channels see special notes below 15 through 18 gives parallel triodes with a gain of 50 50 cascading them gives a gain of 50x50 By pulling on the push pull potentiometer the output of V1a is fed into V1b thereby adding a gain stage The circuit values engaged are similar to those used in the very popular British amp of the early 80s The Volume 1 and Volume 2 become gain controls for each stage and the channel two Hi and Lo inputs are disconnected This higher gain gives access to many of the hard rock and metal sounds of the 80s and 90s furthering the flexibility of the 45ME3 amplifier Cascading gain stages means to run them in series one after the other 15 HI SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL ONE This is the Hi sensitivity guitar input for Channe
16. ch s name After a couple of minutes the tubes will be warm enough to prevent damage and the Standby Switch can be moved to the SS or Tube Position In the Tube position the GZ34 tube rectifies the voltage This rectifier gives a looser bottom and provides slightly less maximum power with some compression the internal resistance of the GZ34 increases under loading producing what is called in common nomenclature Sag In the SS position the solid state diodes rectify the voltage The diodes used are actually FRED rectifiers in an ISOTOP chassis mounted internal package British amp enthusiasts hold FRED rectifiers in high regards as they provide a sweeter slightly less stiff feel than typical silicone diodes This setting will be more powerful than the Tube setting with a tighter bottom end having more bass frequencies for sounds more modern than the original JTM45 amplifiers In order to prolong tube life the Standby switch alone should also be used to turn the amplifier on and off during short breaks When switching off your Soultone 45ME3 always put the Standby switch on the Standby position prior to switching the main Power Switch to Off 4 Power Scaling POWER The Power Scaling Variable Power Control changes the power output of the 45ME3 from 10mw at its fully counter clockwise position to 32 watts at its fully clockwise position by changing the voltages supplied The amplifier effec
17. covered standard in a heavy duty Black Levant vinyl Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Front Panel Control Layout Figure 2 Front panel controls 1 INDICATOR This indicator will light up when your amplifier is receiving the correct mains power and is switched on It will not be lit when the amplifier is switched off and or is not receiving mains power It is a rugged MILSPEC LED device powered off of the 6 3VAC tube heater filaments 2 POWER SWITCH This is the On Off switch for mains power to the amplifier Make sure that the amplifier is switched off and the appliance cord is unplugged from the electrical outlet prior to relocation 3 THREE WAY STANDBY AND RECTIFIER SELECTOR SWITCH The 45ME3 is equipped with a three way Standby and Rectifier selector switch The center or middle position is Standby upward selects Tube and downward selects the Solid State rectifier built into the amplifier There is no wait required when switching between rectifiers so this switch can be changed at any time during performance The Standby position is used in combination with the Power Switch 1 to warm up the tubes before use prolonging tube life When powering up the amplifier always engage the Power Switch first being careful to leave the Standby switch on Standby This provides the voltage required to heat the valves to their correct operating temperature hence the swit
18. d by altering the power amplifier s negative feedback Turning this control clockwise adds more edge and sparkle for a crisper cutting sound Special Note The 45ME3 presence control is affected by the amount of Negative Feedback provided by the NFB Switch on the rear of the amplifier These two features should be adjusted in conjunction with one another 7 BASS This adjusts the bottom end of your amplifier turning the control clockwise increases low frequencies 8 FAT PUSH PULL The BASS control features a push pull potentiometer that when pulled out engages a FAT feature When engaged this feature boosts the guitars signals at the second gain stage Experimentation of the effects of this at different settings will reveal how subtle or dramatic this control can be 9 MIDDLE This adjusts the level of those all important mid range frequencies Turning it clockwise increases the mids and fattens your sound giving it more punch Turning it counter clockwise reduces the mids producing a more scooped tone Special Note The shared tone network of the 45MES3 is post gain passive and interactive this means that the settings of the Treble and Bass control the range of the Middle control 10 TREBLE This adjusts the top end Turning it clockwise increases the amount of high frequencies treble present in the sound making your instrument s tone brighter Special Note The PRESENCE 6 BASS 7 MIDDLE 9 amp T
19. e transformer set from heat CAUTION a damage especially important in the combo amplifiers Transformers and Choke The Mercury Edition of the 45ME3 utilizes a set of Mercury Magnetics transformers designed exclusively for the Soultone 45 amplifier Mercury transformers are built to modern standards with the best currently available materials with a sound widely regarded as the best available The 45ME3 power trasformer PT was developed by examination of the characteristics of the original Radiospares transformer under load in an original JTM45 This transformer gives the same results in our own JTM45 style circuit which is not a stock JTM45 The output transformer OT is a special version of the Mercury tone clone of the original Radio Spares unit also used in the JTM45 amplifier with changes to the primary impedance and the addition of separate impedance taps including 2 4 8 and 16 ohm for accurate impedance matching of KT66 and EL34 tubes The Mercury CHOKE is a true U Clamp design and is a true specification replacement part for most 60 s plexi type amplifiers Tube compliment The 45ME3 utilizes three 12AX7 and one 5751 in the pre amp and a duet of octal power valves work in push pull in the power amplifier The four tubes in the pre amp are utilized as follows V1 acts as the pre amp gain stage for the Bright Volume 1 and Normal Volume 2 channels each half of the tube the 12AX7 is a dual triode consisting
20. ensure that the amplifier s output impedance selector is set correctly see item 2 and ALWAYS ensure you use good quality speaker unshielded cables NEVER use guitar shielded cables Always use a non screened Marshall approved speaker lead when connecting an extension cabinet to these units 8 Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Prior to attempting to bias your amplifier read the sections of this manual titled Front Panel A Control Layout and Rear Panel Control Layout taking the time to acquaint yourself with the name and location of the appropriate controls and measurement points and then CAUTION completely read the section titled Bias Procedure following this section J V5 BIAS CONTROL The potentiometer at this position adjusts the bias level for the V5 power tube A clockwise motion will increase the bias supply to the tube and a counter clockwise motion will decrease it K V5 BIAS MEASUREMENT JACK Inserting the positive lead usually a RED colored test lead of the customer supplied Voltage Meter here will read the bias of the V5 tube in millivolts where one millivolt mV is equal to one milliamp mA L BIAS MEASUREMENT COMMON JACK The common lead of the Voltage Meter usually a BLACK colored test lead will be attached here when measuring the bias M V6 BIAS CONTROL This potentiometer adjusts the bias level for the V6 power tube A clockwi
21. ier s phase splitter This device splits the signal into two halved components that are180 degree out of phase with each other which then feeds the 45ME3 s push pull output stage The power amplifier tubes are composed of V5 and V6 working in a type AB push pull amplifier design These tubes can be any mix of the following octal power tube types EL34 standard on the Mercury Edition KT66 standard on the Heyboer Edition 6L6GC 5881 or 6L6GT The tubes are individually biased through a scaled bias control and have plate voltages controlled through a scaled power control giving a variable power range from 10 mw to 40 watts V7 is a GZ34 5AR4 tube When the amplifier standby is switched to SS solid state this tube is unused Construction Details and Components Construction Soultone amplifiers are made of the highest grade materials and components available and meticulously hand wired with Teflon coated silver plated MILSPEC wire actual certification level of the wire we use is for aircraft control systems wiring and soldered using lead free silver High grade components are used including MILSPEC plastic conductive potentiometers capacitors by Sprague and F amp T a mixture of resistors including carbon film metal film metal oxide and where appropriate for vintage tone actual Allen Bradley NOS carbon composite resistors Sozo mustard style capacitors are used standard and by special order actual NOS Mullard capacitors
22. l 1 the bright channel controlled by Volume One and is the input usually used for a variety of guitars Best results are attained using high quality guitar cables 16 LO SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL ONE This is the LO SENSITIVITY guitar input for Channel One the Normal channel controlled by Volume Two It is a full 6dB lower in volume than the Hi Sensitivity input and has a darker sound caused by a lower input impedance LG Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Special Note On vintage amplifiers of the late Fifties and Sixties it was recommended to plug single coil pickups into the Hi Sensitivity inputs and use the Lo Sensitivity inputs for instruments equipped with higher output humbucking pickups After guitarists of the mid to late Sixties began using the Hi Sensitivity input of the amplifiers with their humbucking pickup guitars the sound of the guitar was morphed into what we now recognize as the signature of rock and roll 17 HI SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL TWO This is the Hi sensitivity guitar input for Channel Two the channel that is controlled by Volume Two and is the input usually used for a variety of guitars Best results are attained using high quality guitar cables 18 LO SENSITIVITY INPUT FOR CHANNEL TWO This is the LO SENSITIVITY guitar input for Channel Two It is a full 6dB lower in volume than the Hi Sensitivity input and has a darker sound ca
23. mp by inserting the signal into this jack By doing this the only controls functional will be the Presence Power Scaling Power and Power Scaling Master The Effects Switch must be set to Series for this to function C Effects Send Level Use this control to adjust the level being sent to the effects unit from the Effects Send Jack D Effects Return Level Use this control to adjust the level being inserted to the 45ME3 power amplifier from either an effects unit or separate preamplifier Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc E Effects Bypass Switch The Series position inserts the Effects Loop between the preamplifier output and the power amplifier input Moving this switch to the True Bypass position completely removes the loop directly connecting the two sections of the amplifier together F JTM45 PLEXI SWITCH The JTM45 PLEXI switch changes the configuration of the first two gain stages of the amplifier by modifying values in the circuit to match icons of either amplifier The JTM45 position gives the loose bass response and gutsy blues drive of the earlier model JTM45 while the Plexi position gives a tighter bass response and brighter aggressive rock sound G NFB Switch The NFB switch Selects which tap of the Output Transformer is used for the Negative Feedback signal This control effectively changes the clean headroom of the amplifier In the interest of emulating the
24. ntrols providing controlled distortion levels and channel bridging and cascading features The back panel reveals an even further complexity with switched to emulate a range of early plexi type amplifier models A further refinement is an all tube effects loop for adding effects between the preamp and power amp stages of the amplifier This all tube effects loop can be removed completely from the circuit with a True Bypass switch for the purist to achieve the most vintage style tones Traditional tube amplifiers sound best when turned up full yielding aggressive but sweetly distorted harmonically rich thick tones resulting from their power tubes being overdriven Thanks to its Variable Power Power Scaling implementation the Soultone 45ME3 has the astonishing capability to achieve this classic sound at nearly every volume level By careful adjustment of its controls the 45ME3 can produce any mixture of distortion from both the preamplifier and power amplifier tubes from subtle nuanced bloom and sparkle to full blown clipping Running the amplifier at lower power settings with the Variable Power controls can also extend the tube life of your valuable NOS tubes Whereas most tube amplifiers are reputed to have issues with noise and hum the Soultone is surprisingly quiet thanks to its modern grounding shielding and HD MILSPEC components and wiring We hope that you will enjoy your Soultone 45ME3 and have written this manual to help you mas
25. r modifications will void your warranty and could compromise the safety features of your amplifier resulting in shorter tube life increased risk of electrocution fire hazard and possibly even death gt BE e Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Technical Information meee 2 gs 6X 06 O66 Figure 1 Chassis Layout Chassis The high grade 5052 H32 aluminum chassis supports and protects the amplifier components prevents transformer coupling and is the main shield This unit has been tested to withstand functional deformation in a 10 ft drop with transformers installed when properly attached to the head cabinet The chassis has integrated electrical safety features including isolated grounding posts fasteners and mounting studs and is manufactured with keyed component holes to avoid control slip or twist out Only personnel or service facilities authorized by Soultone Amplification should remove the amplifier chassis from the cabinet The chassis should never be drilled tapped cut or modified in any fashion The Heat shield PM is a part of the chassis safety and shielding system and should never be removed as the ISOTOP MOSFET module has lethal voltages present and can also be a source of radio frequency interference Do not operate your amplifier with the chassis removed from the cabinet or with this shield removed This shield also protects th
26. se motion will increase the bias supply to the tube and a counter clockwise motion will decrease it N V6 BIAS MEASUREMENT JACK Inserting the positive lead usually a RED colored test lead of the customer supplied Voltage Meter here will read the bias of the V6 tube in millivolts where one millivolt mV is equal to one milliamp mA O HIGH TENSION FUSE The value of the HIGH TENSION FUSE is specified on the rear panel of the amplifier Always use the correct value fuse P MAIN POWER FUSE The value of the MAIN POWER FUSE is specified on the rear panel of the amplifier Always use the correct value fuse If the either fuse blows again shortly after replacement having used the power on instructions in this manual under Front Panel Control Layout either immediately after powering on the amplifier or after A switching the amplifier from Standby to Play contact Soultone for service The problem could be as minor as defective tubes or serious enough to warrant immediate service We ll be glad to assist you in CAUTION determining the most appropriate course of action Q MAINS INPUT The amplifier is equipped with an industry standard IEC power receptacle for use with a detachable 18ga appliance cord The specific operating voltage of your amplifier is specified on the back panel Before connecting to the local power for the first time please ensure that your amplifier is compatible with the AC voltage supplied by adjusting R the
27. ter its many features LETHAL SHOCK DANGER Tube amplifiers are potentially dangerous equipment having lethal voltages inside and tubesoperating at high temperature ranges The back cover of your amplifier should always be installed when the power cord is plugged into the power receptacle The amplifier should only be used with well grounded three prong separate ground power receptacles and only operated at a safe distance from water under an overhead covering to protect you or the musician playing the amplifier from the danger of electrical shock NOISE POLLUTION LOSS OF HEARING DANGER Guitar amplifiers operate at high decibel levels Never place your head next to the speaker cone while adjusting the amplifier or at high volume levels Use adequate hearing protection when playing at full volume and do not expose children to high frequency or high volume noise Failure to comply could result in partial or complete loss of hearing FIRE AND SERIOUS BURN INJURY RISK Tubes operate at high temperature and can cause burn injuries or even fire Never operate your amplifier without the back safety cover installed never store items in the tube compartment and always allow tubes to cool to room temperature prior to removal CAUTION The 45ME3 amplifier should only be serviced by qualified tube service repair personnel Only repair work authorized by Soultone Amplification Inc will be qualified for warranty and unauthorized repairs o
28. ther minimize hum Actual Bias Procedure This bias procedure assumes you have changed tubes to the desired tube types following the procedures in Changing your Amplifier Tubes or that you already have the desired tube types installed and are merely re biasing your amplifier In order to perform this procedure you will need a digital or analog Voltage Meter capable of reading millivolts from ImV to 100mV and a small screwdriver preferably plastic or metal with an insulated plastic handle V5 Bias Step One With the amplifier powered completely off connect your amplifier to a properly matched speaker load using the settings located in this manual in Figure 4 Impedance Selector Settings Step Two Locate the power tube type inserted in V5 in Figure 6 Bias Table Read across the column to locate your amplifier and rectifier type and then take note of the Minimum 60 optimal and Maximum settings 10 Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc Step Three Turn the Power Scaling POWER control fully clockwise Turn the Power Scaling MASTER control fully counter clockwise Step Four Connect your Voltage Meter s positive RED test lead to the V5 BIAS MEASUREMENT JACK the leftmost RED test jack and the Voltage Meter s negative BLACK test lead to the BIAS MEASUREMENT COMMON JACK the center black jack If your meter is not auto ranging set it to a range for
29. tively becomes smaller hence the terminology power scaling by which it is referred to By using this control power tube distortion can be achieved at any appropriate volume level Special Note This control must be fully clockwise when performing the bias procedure 5 Power Scaling MASTER As the size of the power amplifier is reduced with the POWER CONTROL the signal being fed into it by the preamplifier appears larger in proportion to the power tubes and can cause excessive distortion The MASTER limit control is a Post Phase Inverter Master Volume control consisting of dual ganged MILSPEC plastic conductive 3 watt potentiometers implemented in a capacitive resistance network that removes voltages from the potentiometers avoiding harmful 5 Soultone Forty Five ME3 HD User Manual Version 1 00 2007 Soultone Amplification Inc affectation of the bias supply and providing a smooth variable control for the signal size being fed to the power amplifier This control can be used to add or remove any level of preamp distortion Special Note As the power scaled output tubes become smaller than 60 having the Master limit control set too high can give even undesirable levels of distortion Generally this control will never be used more than a couple notches higher than the POWER control Experimentation is again advised 6 PRESENCE This control operates in the 45ME3 s power section and adds high frequencies to your soun
30. used by a lower input impedance Special Note Bridging Channels Because both Channels of the 45ME3 have the same number of gain stages two and are therefore in phase you can bridge them together and use both channels at the same time By mixing the two channels together you can further expand the amp s tonal possibilities This is referred to commonly as input jumping The most common way of doing this is by plugging your guitar into the top input of Channel One and then running a short guitar effects cable from Channel One s bottom input to the top input of Channel Two There is also a less commonly used method which is plugging your guitar into Channel Two s top input and then running the cable from Channel Two s bottom input to Channel One s top input Experimentation is again advised NOTE FOR CASCADING When cascade is engaged input jumping will not work as the second channel triode is used Rear Panel Control Layout P Area under right side of back cover Figure 3 Rear panel layout A Effects Send Jack This jack sends a signal of 4db from the preamp and should be connected to the input of the first effects unit B Effects Return Jack This jack is used to return a signal from the last effects unit in the effects chain Special Note Alternatively a completely separate preamplifier can drive the 45ME3 s power amplifier either another amplifier s send unit or a complete stand alone prea
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