WARNING! - Important safety instructions
A. ALWAYS fit a good quality mains plug conforming to the latest B.S.I. standards where necessary (UK only).
B. NEVER attempt to by-pass the fuses or fit ones of the incorrect value.
C. NEVER attempt to replace fuses or valves with the amplifier connected to the mains.
D. DO NOT attempt to remove the amplifier chassis, there are no user serviceable parts.
E. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such
as the power supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has
been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally or has been dropped.
F. NEVER use an amplifier in damp or wet conditions.
G. ALWAYS unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
H. Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and at the point where they
exit from the apparatus.
I.
DO NOT switch the amplifier on without the loudspeaker connected.
J. ENSURE that any extension cabinets used are of the correct impedance.
K. PLEASE read this instruction manual carefully before switching on. Follow all instructions and heed all warnings.
WARNING : This apparatus must be earthed!
WARNING : Do not obstruct ventilation grille and always ensure free movement of air around the amplifier!
USA ONLY - DO NOT defeat the purpose of the polarised or grounding type plug. A polarised plug has two blades with one wider
than the other. A grounding type plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong are provided for
your safety. When the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
KEEP THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Introduction
The Triple Super Lead series of 100 watt amplifiers takes the acclaimed formula of the groundbreaking Dual Super Lead series and places
an immense amount of control and flexibility at your fingertips.
As the name implies, the Triple Super Lead is a three channel amp. Each channel has a full range of independent controls for gain,
volume and EQ functions, to maximise its sonic qualities and balance that channel against the others. Further to that, the master section
has the capability to enhance and modify the sonic palette even further by providing controls for reverb, fx loop mixes, presence and deep
EQ, virtual power reduction and even muting the power amp output for silent recording via the inbuilt speaker emulating DI circuit.
Although the three channels of the TSL are named ‘Clean’, ‘Crunch’ and ‘Lead’, DO NOT let these names mislead you into thinking that
you will only get those functions. Alternatively, think of the TSL as three classic valve amplifiers in one. As you would expect from
independent amps, each has a wide range of tones, depending on how you you set it up, and you are able to footswitch between them.
Read on and we will take you through what each channel can do.
Because of the immense functionality of the TSL, it may be that you find, at first, that the front panel control layout is, perhaps, slightly
daunting. Do not worry, a great deal of thought has gone into the layout of the controls and, with the help of this manual and a little
patience from yourself, we feel that you will soon learn how easy your TSL actually is to use.
WHAT YOUR TSL WILL and WON’T DO !
Before going into what your TSL amp can do, let’s discuss what it won’t do. Firstly, remember that your tone comes from you and
nobody, or nothing, else. Your technique is what makes you the player that you are, nobody else in the world sounds exactly like you.
That’s how special you are! Having the best gear in the world is not going to make you play like anybody else but what it will do is help
you to achieve your aims, by expanding your creative possibilties and generally making life a lot easier.
Likewise your guitar, pickups and strings have an immense influence on your final tone. Guitars come in (basically) three different
flavours - Single coil pickups over 25 1/2” scale length (names usually start with the letter F), Humbucking pickups over a shorter scale
length, usually 24 3/4” (names usually start with a G) and thirdly a combination of humbuckers over a 25 1/2” scale length. All these
guitars sound different and although the choice is personal, one type will do a better job than another depending on what type of music
you want to play.
Also different woods and build techniques have a very significant affect on the final tone, i.e. most Humbucking guitars use a lot of
mahogany and a glued in neck, whilst most single coil guitars woods of a totally different resonance (alder, maple, ash, etc) and a
separate bolt on neck construction.
Despite what some other amp manufacturers may claim about their products, no amplifier can make one type of guitar sound like a
totally different type of guitar.
The TSL100 and TSL122 are no different in this respect !
What we would like to claim however (and virtually guarantee), is that your TSL100 will maximise the potential of your guitar in a way
that you may never have thought possible and without a doubt will spur your musical creativity onto new horizons.
5 Way Foot Controller
Your TSL100 or TSL122 come supplied with a 5 way foot controller for channel, reverb and FX loop switching. It comes complete with an
8 metre (approx 26 ft) long lead ending in a 6 pin DIN plug to connect into the footswitch connector on the rear panel of your amplifier,
(see rear panel details).
Once connected the controller will give you instant access to and visual indication of each of the 3 channels, plus reverb on/off and fx
loop on/off. To allow proper operation it is important to remember that both channel mode pushswitches on the front panel (located
between the Clean and Crunch / Lead channels) MUST be pushed IN. As the FX loops are switched entirely out of the amplifier circuit until
an FX device is plugged into either of the FX loop jack sockets, the FX switch and LED indicator on the foot controller are completely
inoperative until the loops are connected. Unless this is done the FX LED will not light up, no matter how many times the switch is
depressed!
One benefit of having a foot switched FX loop is that it can be used as a secondary master volume if no FX are connected. This is
achieved by inserting a shorted dummy jack plug into the Loop A Return jack socket to access the loop circuitry, switch OFF the FX
footswitch and set your loudest required volume on the individual channel master volumes. Now switch the FX footswitch ON (LED glows
red) and set your quieter volume using the FX Mix controls (Clean Mix for Clean channel, Crunch / Lead Mix for Overdrive). Remember
that these controls will now work back to front to a normal volume control, i.e. anticlockwise is loudest (same as normal signal) and
clockwise is quietest. Now you can toggle between these settings by using the FX footswitch.
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