SWR Sound SWR WORKINGMANS 8004 - Manual (Page 6)

6 • WORKINGMAN’S 8004 T/O/P
Active Input Jack
The Active input jack should be used with instruments having a built-in (on board) preamp or other sound
sources that will produce output levels greater than 1 volt RMS. The number of bass manufacturers has
increased significantly over the years, and it’s impossible to tr y and keep track of them all. Generally, if
you have ver y “hot” pickups and/or tone controls installed in your instrument, and you use them to boost
the level of your bass signal 10 dB or more, you may find the Active input more compatible. The best judge
is your own ears.
If you’re using a keyboard or bass pedal with the Workingman’s 8004, we have found the best choice to
be the Active input.
Note: Using the Active input with passive basses (active instruments will always employ a batter y)
may result in a loss of high end transients. Players who roll off their high end star ting at about
2kHz, or prefer a “darker” sound, may find this input more to their liking.
If you hear some distor tion with your active bass and are using the Active Input, make sure the preamp
clip LED indicator is not lighting. If the preamp stage is not being driven into clipping, replace the batter y in
your instrument.
Gain Control
The Gain control adjusts the volume of the preamp section. Since the Gain control is similar to a “pad,” a
small amount of signal will be heard even with the Gain control rotated fully counter-clockwise if the Master
Volume is up.
To ensure maximum signal-to-noise ratio and still prevent unwanted clipping of the preamp section, first set
the EQ and Shape controls to your liking. Then set the Gain control by raising it slowly until the Preamp
Clip LED barely flashes when your loudest note is struck. However, it is not essential to set the Gain con-
trol in this manner; having it set well below the point of clipping is also fine. (With some passive basses
and in conjunction with little or no EQ boost from your amplifier, the preamp clip light may not illuminate –
even with the Gain control set to maximum. This is normal.)
Note: The Gain can ser ve as an EFFECTS SEND LEVEL ADJUSTMENT. If your effect is being overdriv-
en, turn down the Gain control and readjust your Master volume for overall loudness.
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 LED lights, turn down the Gain control. Since this circuit moni-
tors the tone controls, boosting any one of them can cause the Preamp Clip LED to activate. Once again,
you may leave the tone control at its desired level, but turn the Gain control down fur ther.
Note: Even though the Preamp Clip LED lighting indicates that at some point the preamp is clipping,
no harm is being done to your amplifier. However, clipping of the power amp can cause damage to
your speakers and is not recommended.
Shape Control
The Shape Control in the Workingman’s 8004 is based on SWR’s trademark Aural Enhancer circuit. That
feature was originally developed to bring out the fundamental low notes of the bass guitar, enhance the
high end transients, and reduce cer tain frequencies that help “mask” the fundamentals. The Shape
Control accomplishes this as well, but with some noticeable differences.
First, let’s take a second to learn how the Shape control works. Think of it as a variable tone cur ve that
changes depending on where you set the Shape control knob. As you raise the control clockwise from the
“MIN” position , you are elevating a whole range of sound (lows, mids, and highs) at a variety of frequency
points selected specifically because they’re different than those selected for the individual Tone Controls.