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User's guide

10

Acoustic guitar : Punchy

With big compression, and a fast release time (FAT Meek setting), the sound 
of an acoustic becomes a lot more punchy.  If you add to this eq contouring 
with big bass and hf boost with a mid cut a fantastic solo acoustic guitar 
sound is achieved.  Please remember that with this setting, feedback through 
a PA or foldback may be a problem.  If so, simply reduce the compression 
and bass eq until the problem goes.

Use with mic : guitar cabinet

You can use the Fathead to great effect when using a mic on a guitar cabinet.  
The Distortion and drive that you get naturally can be picked up and 
enhanced by the distortion feature, and a little compression adds to warmth.  
This is worth considering as an alternative when you have a naturally good 
sound to work with, and want to get an enhanced version in a recording or 
PA system.

Out and out : Electric guitar & Bass

When you are using an electric guitar with a big system, there is not a lot 
more fun that winding everything up full, and hearing your instrument like 
nothing ever before.  As with other high distortion settings, bass boost and hf 
cut adds weight to the sound.  This setting will generate a lot of noise, but 
will sound fantastic!

EQ

EQ

EQ

On

On

On

dB compression

dB compression

dB compression

MF

MF

MF

LF

LF

LF

Opto Distort

Opto Distort

Opto Distort

MFf

MFf

MFf

LFf

LFf

LFf

HF

HF

HF

-14

-14

-14

+14

+14

+14

0

0

0

8KHz

8KHz

8KHz

0

0

0

0

0

0

6

6

6

6

6

6

+16

+16

+16

+16

+16

+16

11

11

11

11

11

11

-16

-16

-16

-16

-16

-16

1

1

1

1

1

1

-2

-2

-2

-2

-2

-2

5

5

5

5

5

5

-2

-2

-2

+5

+5

+5

-6

-6

-6

4

4

4

4

4

4

8

8

8

8

8

8

9

9

9

2

2

2

3

3

3

3

3

3

10

10

10

10

10

10

+2

+2

+2

+2

+2

+2

7

7

7

7

7

7

+2

+2

+2

-12

-12

-12

1k

1k

1k

150

150

150

5k

5k

5k

1k

1k

1k

2k

2k

2k

330

330

330

On

On

On

9

9

9

12

12

12

6

6

6

3

3

3

Super Joe

Super Joe

Super Joe

Warm Meek

Warm Meek

Warm Meek

Classic Meek

Classic Meek

Classic Meek

FAT Meek

FAT Meek

FAT Meek

Soft Meek

Soft Meek

Soft Meek

Compression

Compression

Compression

Using the Fathead

Summary of Contents for Fathead

Page 1: ...User s guide User s guide JOEMEEK JOEMEEK ...

Page 2: ...User s guide ...

Page 3: ...Using the Fathead Front panel 7 Rear panel 8 Sample settings 9 3 Understanding the Fathead The CurrentSense input amplifier 11 Opto distortion 12 The compressor 12 The Meequalizer 13 Digital Upgrade 14 4 Common Problems 14 5 Technical performance 16 6 System Diagram 19 7 User Settings 20 8 Safety and Warranty 21 Contents ...

Page 4: ...y with vintage effects to create a musical sound highly suited to recording and live performance The Fathead aims to be an artistic tool that gives the musician more tones and richness from their instrument The Fathead also presents a superb signal path with huge possibilities for interconnection in live performance and recording So whether recording live playing plugging in directly or using a st...

Page 5: ...ortable level is achieved 6 Experiment with the effects and enjoy JOEMEEK FATHEAD VC8 Designed and manufactured in England by FLETCHER ElectroAcoustics Ltd CAUTION Removal of covers will expose dangerous voltages even when power is removed No user serviceable parts inside Service strictly by qualified personnel only Approved components used CONTROLLER PRE MODE DI GAIN DI OUTPUT INSERT TUNER LINE I...

Page 6: ...moval of covers will expose dangerous voltages even when power is removed No user serviceable parts inside Service strictly by qualified personnel only Approved components used CONTROLLER PRE MODE DI GAIN DI OUTPUT INSERT TUNER LINE IN MIC IN MAIN OUTPUT OUT 1 OUT 2 POST MUTE PRE MUTE TIP RETURN RING SEND POST GROUND LIFT JOEMEEK FATHEAD VC8 Designed and manufactured in England by FLETCHER Electro...

Page 7: ...ontrol over your sound HINT The Fathead is extremely sensitive when using live feedback can often be a problem Be careful with compression this can actually make feedback worse Always start with low gain and no compression and add volume slowly HINT For a more natural sound remember to only boost frequencies that are present avoid excessive bass and HF boost with acoustic instruments HINT HINT HIN...

Page 8: ...t Meek is the most noticeable sound on solo instruments Compression meter 4 LED meter that shows the gain reduction from the compressor in dB EQ Bypass switch for EQ section LF Controls gain of the low frequencies in the equaliser section LFf Controls the centre frequency for the LF cut boost MF Controls gain of the mid frequencies in the equaliser section MFf Controls the centre frequency for the...

Page 9: ...al breakpoint Allows access to the signal before the compressor and EQ but after distortion Tuner Constant output for connection to tuner device Line in Unbalanced input Mic In CurrentSensing microphone input Digi Upgrade Cover plate for optional digital card upgrade Footswitch The Fathead controller footswitch may be connected to give the musician easy access to bypass enable the compressor disto...

Page 10: ...is a lot like vintage amplifiers Electric guitar heavy distortion Winding up the distortion and compression give amazing sustain and introduce some awesome harmonics Sound that would normally be unheard are amplified and distorted to great effect The roll off in HF makes for a much smoother sound EQ EQ EQ On On On dB compression dB compression dB compression MF MF MF LF LF LF Opto Distort Opto Dis...

Page 11: ...guitar Bass When you are using an electric guitar with a big system there is not a lot more fun that winding everything up full and hearing your instrument like nothing ever before As with other high distortion settings bass boost and hf cut adds weight to the sound This setting will generate a lot of noise but will sound fantastic EQ EQ EQ On On On dB compression dB compression dB compression MF ...

Page 12: ...put Dynamic or ribbon microphones should be used with the phantom power turned off then full advantage can be taken of the extreme low noise performance of this amplifier The CurrentSense pre amp design unique to JOEMEEK guarantees optimised performance from all types of microphones from dynamic to condenser to classic ribbon types It is important to select the best input for a given job here are ...

Page 13: ...punch and sustain but how The JOEMEEK compressor is especially good at giving you big vintage sounds To get the best use out of the compressor it is necessary to get technical so even if you re not technical read the next bit carefully and get to be a compressor Guru A LIMITER is a device that stops the output of a signal path going above a predetermined level It is mainly used to protect amplifie...

Page 14: ...ain sparkle The compressor in the JOEMEEK FATHEAD is unique it is a recreation of an early photoelectric compressor in use in the mid 1960s It is capable of producing the same punchy sounds that were so characteristic of the pop records of the time 4 The Meequalizer The equalizer controls the volume of three audio bands It s used to modify the tonal sound of the signal in the Fathead To be ideal f...

Page 15: ...or microphones only Is the output volume control up Is Mute disabled Got signal going through but have no compression Is there enough input signal Is the compressor light on Have you turned the COMPRESSION control high enough It s noisy The Fathead input amplifier and compressor are extremely quiet but by definition compressors raise the level of quiet passages and EQ can contribute high frequency...

Page 16: ...cal Select a preset that is more anticlockwise i e Soft Meek I have hum When you are using the Fathead with other amplifiers and studio equipment you may have a hum caused by double earthing To fix this press in the ground lift switch on the rear panel BE SURE THAT AT LEAST ONE MAJOR PART OFYOUR RIG IS EARTHED usually it is best to have your amplifier or mixing desk earthed Having an unearthed sys...

Page 17: ...CS mode mic pre Opto Distort To add to the Fathead s tonal variety we have given it an opto distort feature Technically this is an arrangement of filters and limiters that utilise optical circuitry to generate a distortion that can be fully varied from tube like warmth to screaming fuzz Bypass control Indicator and active optical distortion indicator Distortion level tone control JOEMEEK compresso...

Page 18: ... to 5k HF shelf centres at 8KkHz MF and MF cut boost 16dB HF cut boost 14dB Mute To aid on line instrument changes and silent studio operation the Fathead is equipped with a silent operating mute function Operated from the front panel and the foot switch the mute silently cuts all sound from the main outputs and DI output whilst leaving the tuner output untouched Output Stages The Fathead is equip...

Page 19: ...in control and pre post switching Tuner output not affected by mute function Unbalanced insert point for use with pedals reverbs overdrive etc 24 96 digital output upgradability Ground lift switch on rear panel note the digital module is available now Technical Performance ...

Page 20: ...witch Mic Instrument Line inputs Footswitch Footswitch Footswitch Insert point Tuner output Output Gain balanced Mute Footswitch Opto Distortion Optical Compressor Meequalizer 24bit A D optional DI Output balanced DI out switch PRE POST JOEMEEK Fathead block diagram ...

Page 21: ... 16 16 16 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 2 2 2 2 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 2 2 2 2 12 12 12 12 1k 1k 1k 1k 150 150 150 150 5k 5k 5k 5k 1k 1k 1k 1k 2k 2k 2k 2k 330 330 330 330 On On On On 9 9 9 9 12 12 12 12 6 6 6 6 3 3 3 3 Super Joe Super Joe Super Joe Super Joe Warm Meek ...

Page 22: ...ical mistreatment within 12 months of purchase no service charge will be made Manufactured by FLETCHER ElectroAcoustics Ltd St Marys Barton Road Torquay Devon TQ1 4DP ENGLAND Tel 44 1803 321921 Fax 44 1803 321922 e mail sales joemeek net www joemeek net DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY This analogue audio processing equipment conforms to the standards and requirements of the European Economic Community T...

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