If you would like to overdrive the first TUBE stage, this can be accomplished by using a preamp between your
instrument and the Passive/Active input. To obtain optimum sound when trying this, make sure the Preamp
clip LED is not activated. If this occurs, turn down your Gain Control. The first preamp stage is NOT monitored
by the Preamp clip circuit for this reason.
ACTIVE INPUT
The Active input jack should be used with instruments having a built-in (on board) preamp that will produce
signals over 1 Volt RMS. Known basses that should use the Active input only are Kubicki X-Factor and some
Ovation Electrics. Some really "hot" pickups installed in your instrument may find the Active input more
compatible. The best judge is your own ears. If you are using KEYBOARDS (such as a Roland D-50, etc.) with
the Baby Blue, we have found the best input to be the Active input.
NOTE
: Using the Active input with passive basses (active instruments will always employ a battery) may
result in a loss in high end transients. Players who roll off their high end starting at about 2K to 3KHz may
find this input more to their liking.
If you hear some distortion on your active bass and are using the Active input jack, CHECK YOUR BATTERY!!
Also, make sure none of the overload indicators are lit.
PREAMP CLIP LED
The preamp clip LED will become lit whenever the preamp, tone section or output buffer reach clipping (run
out of headroom). This function does NOT monitor the first tube stage of the Passive/Active input jack (see
that section for more info). In the event the preamp clip indicator lights, turn down the Gain control. Since the
preamp clip LED also monitors the tone section, boosting any one of the tone controls can cause the LED to
activate. In any case, turning down the Gain control will correct the situation.
NOTE
: Constant clipping of the preamp will not harm the electronics in your Baby Blue, however, damage
can occur to some speakers due to near-DC content present in a clipped waveform. Overdriving the first
tube stage as described in the Active/Passive input jack section, does not apply to the above note.
GAIN CONTROL
The Gain control adjusts the volume of the preamp section. After the tone controls, Aural Enhancer and any
effects you may be using have been set to your liking, the Gain control should be set to where the Preamp
clip LED barely flashes upon striking your loudest note. After that has been accomplished, use the Master
Volume to set the desired volume level. Utilizing these controls in this manner assures the user of maximum
signal to noise ratio with no distortion caused by the preamp circuits clipping. Since the Gain control is similar
to a "pad," a small amount of signal will get through with the Gain control rotated fully counter-clockwise.
AURAL ENHANCER
The Aural Enhancer was developed to bring out the fundamental low notes of the bass guitar, reduce certain
frequencies that help "mask" the fundamentals and enhance the high-end transients. This effect becomes
more pronounced as the control is turned to maximum. the result is a more transparent sound and is
especially noticeable with a slap style technique of playing.
EQ DEFEAT
By pulling out on the Aural Enhancer knob until you hear a click, you can defeat the tone control section
(return to a flat response). This feature can be very useful in studio situations ("let's hear your eq, now let's
hear it without it.") or in simply analyzing how you have set your tone controls with respect to a flat response.
TONE CONTROL SECTION
The tone control section is a semi-parametric type with both level (cut and boost) controls and frequency
controls. The INSIDE knob is the LEVEL control and the OUTSIDE knob is the center FREQUENCY control. The
4 • BABY BLUE II OWNER’S MANUAL
