2. Starting from “MIN,” raise the Gain control while striking your loudest chord or note. If you begin to hear distortion, back off the
Gain control until the distortion is no longer present.
3. Use the Master Volume to set the overall desired loudness.
The Aural Enhancer and tone controls can have an affect on the optimal setting of the Gain control. After you have set these to your liking,
repeat steps 1 through 3.
To accommodate a wide range and variety of instruments and mics, the Gain control’s taper or action was designed to start slowly. This
allows a better finite position to achieve the proper Gain setting for your instrument. In other words, you may notice that the volume
changes more rapidly after the Gain Control reaches about the 11 o’clock position. This is normal and was done for the reason stated
above.
The Gain control also “drives” the effects send signal and internal reverb circuitry. Effects units used in the effects loops should be able to
accept line level signals. If your effect is being overdriven at the input, you can turn down the Gain to alleviate this condition. Reset your
Master Volume for desired overall volume.
AURAL ENHANCER
SWR’s Aural Enhancer Control was developed to bring out the fundamental low notes of all instruments, reduce certain frequencies that
help mask the fundamentals, and enhance the high end transients. Basically a tone shaping control, the Aural Enhancer is a passive R/C
network that alters the frequency response throughout the frequency spectrum. This pre-shaping is “blended” into the original signal via
the Aural Enhancer Control. Exact frequencies affected are dependent on the characteristics of the instrument used.
TONE CONTROL SECTION
The Strawberry Blonde’s Tone Control section is a three-band set of level controls centered around the frequencies 80 Hz (Bass), 800 Hz
(Mid Range) and 5kHz (Treble). Each control can cut or boost its band a maximum of 15dB. Each control has a flat (center click) position
that defeats its function. In this position, the tone controls are inactive. For each tone control, rotating the knob counter-clockwise from
the center click position will reduce or cut its designated frequency. Rotating the knob clockwise will boost its designated band or fre-
quency.
USING THE TONE CONTROLS
To get the most out of the Tone Controls of your Strawberry Blonde, it would be best to first understand how the Aural Enhancer works,
and how it interacts with the Bass, Mid Range and Treble controls. Think of it as a variable tone curve, changing with its position. As you
raise the control from its “0,” or fully counterclockwise position, you are elevating the whole range of sound (lows, mids, and highs) at fre-
quency points different than those selected for the individual Tone Controls.
This remains true up to about the “2 o’clock” position, at which point selected mids start to drop off. The curves involved here are gentle,
as opposed to the very extreme curves you can create with the Tone Controls. Most significantly for basses, the Enhancer will help bring
out the fundamentals of your lower registers without masking them with overtones, such as the Bass control. At the same time, it opens
up the sibilance characteristics of all instruments without being harsh.
Most players prefer setting the Aural Enhancer between 10 and 2 o’clock. Try playing a chord and move the Aural Enhancer from one
extreme to the other. You should find a setting that is pleasing to your ear.
The Bass control works in a range that will be useful under most “normal” conditions. Its musical use might be thought of as a “fatness”
control. The overall “punch” of your instrument will be determined with this control. With passive instruments, this will be straightforward.
With active instruments having bass-boost/cut functions, more exploration will be worthwhile.
The Mid Range control operates in a crucial area for most instruments. Many basses, particularly those strung with roundwound strings,
and some pickups for acoustic instruments, can have a very “honky” or nasal sound. Dropping the Mid Range control can go a long way
toward smoothing out your tone. We suggest, though, that what sounds best when your listening to your tone by yourself may not be what
works best in a band or recording. Sometimes that objectionable quality may be just the right “hair” on your note to still have an audible
presence in the track or on stage.
The Treble control operates in a tonal area that extends through and beyond the usual Treble control range. It may be thought of as a
“transparency” control. Over time, we have found this approach to result in a more musically useful treble. Boosting the the control will
open up the sound of a dull instrument, particularly in conjunction with the piezo tweeter in the Strawberry Blonde’s speaker complement.
However, this is also the range of string rattle, finger slides, pickup clicks, etc. Again, we recommend you experiment with the control
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• STRAWBERRY BLONDE OWNER’S MANUAL
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