Genz Benz SHUTTLE MAX 12.2 Owner'S Manual Download Page 3

PREAMP VOLUME CONTROL 

– This control sets the volume of the preamp after the input and FET channel gain 

stages and before the EQ controls.  Use this control in conjunction with the GAIN control and the MASTER VOLUME 

control for your overall output level.

TUBE CHANNEL—

GAIN SWITCH (LOW/HIGH) – 

This switch sets the gain sensitivity for the TUBE channel.  It works both like an Active/

Passive switch and like a gain boost switch.  The amber LED indicates that the HIGH setting is selected.  The difference 

between the LOW and HIGH gain positions is approx. 10dB.  Since there is a GAIN switch provided for each channel this 

allows the player to set different gain structures for the FET or TUBE channels.  

If warm, clean tube tone is desired, we recommend that the LOW setting be used for basses with hotter output or active 

pickups (generally most basses using one or two 9 volt batteries to power their on-board preamp or those with an output 

sensitivity over 1 Volt) and the HIGH gain setting be used for basses with lower output or passive pickups.

If tube compression, growl, or all-out distortion is desired then the HIGH gain setting may be used regardless of the 

pickup sensitivity.  The “hotter” the pickup output, the more tube distortion can be achieved.

PREAMP GAIN CONTROL –

 This control sets the input sensitivity gain of the 12AX7 tube preamp after the GAIN switch.  

The design of the TUBE GAIN control allows you to set your tone from rich, clean tube tone, to mild tube compression, to 

warm tube growl, to all-out aggressive tube overdrive.  The volume of the signal is then controlled by the TUBE preamp 

VOLUME control and also the MASTER VOLUME control.  The higher the GAIN settings are, the lower the channel 

VOLUME will need to be set, so as not to overload the EQ network.

NOTE:  It is generally recommended when using heavily distorted tones with a tweeter loaded cabinet, that you reduce 

the high frequency settings on the amp or cut the tweeter level control of the cabinet.

O/L LED –

 In the TUBE channel, this LED senses the condition of the input signal after the GAIN control and also 

senses and warns of possible clipping in the EQ network.  The O/L circuit does not sense distortion or overdrive in the 

tube.  Your ears are the best judge of that for your desired tone.  The O/L sensing circuit is very dependent upon the 

output of the bass instrument pickups, the GAIN and VOLUME settings of the TUBE channel and the amount of EQ used 

i.e. the more radical the EQ boost and volume level of the preamp VOLUME control, the more possibility of an overload 

condition.  

If overloading of the TUBE channel is occurring, adjusting the preamp VOLUME and/or preamp GAIN controls down 

will reduce or eliminate the overload condition and adjusting the MASTER VOLUME control up will return the overall 

loudness. 

NOTE:   It is OK for this LED to flash occasionally with your hardest notes played and it may flash even if the FET 

channel has been selected for use.  This is normal and is due to the mixing topology for the 2 channels.

PREAMP VOLUME CONTROL –

 This control sets the volume of the preamp after the input and TUBE channel gain 

stages and before the EQ controls.  Use this control in conjunction with the GAIN control and the MASTER VOLUME 

control for your overall output level.

ACTIVE EQUALIZATION (both channels) – 

The SHUTTLE

®

MAX 12.2 contains two active 4 band equalizers (one for 

the FET and one for the TUBE channel) each with 2 sweepable parametric midrange frequency networks (LOW-MID 

and HIGH-MID) that offer 15dB of cut or boost with a bandwidth of approximately 1 octave wide.  These are slightly 

overlapping filters to provide ultimate flexibility.  Parametric filters are typically (but not always) used to reduce or remove 

offending frequencies in the instrument’s pickup response, or to boost response to achieve a particular voicing.  Spend 

some time experimenting so that the process becomes creative as well as corrective.

3

Summary of Contents for SHUTTLE MAX 12.2

Page 1: ...mpact design blends the best of analog and digital platforms to produce the ultimate in warmth punch and power The SHUTTLE MAX 12 2 is equipped with a unbalanced instrument input input stage clip detector mute switch with LED indicator FET and 12AX7 tube preamps each with high low gain stage settings and 4 band active equalization with 2 sweepable midrange bands 3 switched SIGNAL SHAPE filters wit...

Page 2: ... sensitivity for the FET channel It works somewhat like an Active Passive switch The amber LED indicates that the HIGH setting is selected The difference between the LOW and HIGH gain positions is approx 10dB Since there is a GAIN Switch provided for each channel this allows the player to set different gain structures for the FET or TUBE channels For the cleanest possible signal we recommend that ...

Page 3: ... cabinet that you reduce the high frequency settings on the amp or cut the tweeter level control of the cabinet O L LED In the TUBE channel this LED senses the condition of the input signal after the GAIN control and also senses and warns of possible clipping in the EQ network The O L circuit does not sense distortion or overdrive in the tube Your ears are the best judge of that for your desired t...

Page 4: ... VOLUME The MASTER VOLUME control adjusts the overall volume of the amplifier and the effects return Typically best results are obtained when this control is operated between the 9 00 and 3 00 positions MASTER SECTION STATUS INDICATORS The POWER light indicates that the amplifier is ON and the low voltage power supplies are active The red PROTECT LED indicates that the amp is in PROTECT mode This ...

Page 5: ...OTE In the TUBE channel if you are using an aggressive tube distortion your preamp GAIN may be set very high and your preamp VOLUME set very low to keep the O L LED from lighting In this case the MASTER VOLUME will primarily be used to set your final output level For heavy distortion you may want to use the HIGH GAIN switch with a hot Active bass It is generally recommended when using heavily dist...

Page 6: ...requency transformer that steps the voltage down A high frequency rectifier and high ESR filter capacitors finish the process off by converting the high frequency AC signal back to the DC voltages that the amplifier s internal circuitry uses One advantage of this conversion process is that the DC power supply rails are refreshed more than 1000 times more often than in traditional linear supplies t...

Page 7: ...e This fuse will not fail except under very unlikely fault conditions to the SMPS and if this occurs a qualified service technician is required to correct the problem CHASSIS DESIGN The SHUTTLE MAX S ULTRA LIGHT DESIGN utilizes the highest quality aircraft grade computer machined aluminum chassis To clean the amplifier nothing more than a damp cloth and a little bit of glass cleaner like Glass Plu...

Page 8: ...e In addition by use of this device the user agrees to hold Genz Benz and its designers sales agents and all other affiliates and related parties harmless in the event of any accident injury damage or loss resulting from such use The manufacturer s sole responsibility is to provide a warranty on the specified performance of the product under normal operating conditions for a period of 3 years WARR...

Page 9: ...te 01 01 2012 Conforms to the Following Standards X EN 55013 2001 A1 2003 X EN 55020 2002 A1 2003 X EN 60065 2001 A1 A11 A12 A2 X IEC 61000 3 3 1994 A1 2001 X IEC 61000 4 2 X IEC 61000 4 3 X IEC 61000 4 4 X FCC 15 107 and 15 109 X RoHS Directive 2002 95 EC X WEEE Directive 2002 96 EC X CE Mark LV Directive 73 23 EEC KMC Musicorp 7811 E Pierce St Scottsdale AZ 85257 Ph 480 941 0705 Fax 480 946 2412...

Reviews: