16
17
B R I N G
I T
T O
L I F E
TAKAMINE TK-40 AND TP-4
Our Takamine G Series electro-acoustic guitars come equipped
with either the TK-40 or TP-4 pre-amps, each of which has been
designed to provide exceptional naturalness of amplified tone
and maximum ease of use. Both pre-amps feature gain, bass,
mid and treble controls plus a low battery indicator, while the
TK-40 offers players the added benefits of a highly accurate
built-in tuner, EQ bypass, notch filter and a mid contour switch.
The following provides a quick overview of the pre-amps’
functions.
Gain.
The gain control regulates the output level of the amplified
signal. Before plugging in, it’s generally a good idea to set the
gain control to ‘min’ and then gradually advance it clockwise until
you find the ideal level.
Three band EQ (bass, mid and treble).
The EQ controls are active,
so they can cut and boost levels within their respective ranges,
allowing you to precisely control your tone and adjust it to suit
your taste and playing environment. With the sliders in the
middle positions, or ‘0’, the tone is unaffected and is a good
place from which to start modifying your sound.
Low Bat.
Following the insertion of a jack plug into your guitar,
the red battery LED will illuminate for approximately one second
showing that the pre-amp has been activated. If the LED glows
dimly, this indicates that the battery level is low and due for
a change.
Additional features of the TK-40 pre-amp:
EQ Bypass.
Bypassing EQ is desirable in some studio or live
environments where external EQ is preferable. It’s also useful
in that it allows you to compare your EQ adjustments to your
unaffected amplified tone. With the switch in the depressed
position, the EQ is active - return it to the ‘up’ position and the
EQ is bypassed.
Notch Filter.
The notch filter is a highly selective form of EQ that
affects only an extremely narrow and deep cut of an audio
frequency band. The TK-40 has a tuneable notch filter, allowing
you to select the frequencies affected by the notch so you can
dial out feedback. If monitor or stage levels are too high and you
hear your guitar starting to feed back, press notch filter in/out
and simply tune out the feedback by slowly rotating the rotary
notch control until it’s eliminated.
Mid Contour.
Press the mid contour button and you activate a
pre-shaped EQ that emphasises the frequencies that best
complement an amplified acoustic guitar. The control can add
punch or reduce unwanted mid frequencies. Try experimenting
with the mid contour and the ‘Mid’ EQ control to find the tonality
that suits you best.
Tuner.
The tuner in the TK-40 is fully chromatic and automatic.
Simply press the tuner switch to activate it, sound each string
in turn, tune to concert pitch and then start playing!
www.takamine.co.uk
