User`s manual

Getting Started

Congratulations on purchasing your new

Aiken Invader MKII amplifier!

The Invader MKII is an all-tube amplifier,

available in 18 or 30 watt versions. This

amplifier is truly touch-sensitive, going from

clean to crunch to singing leads by just

adjusting the volume control on the guitar.

The design features two internally-jumpered

channels, which are independently voiced,

to provide a wide range of tones from any

guitar, using single-coil or humbucking

pickups.

The amplifier was designed specifically to

capture those old plexi/ali/bassman tones at

less than ear-shattering volumes, with the

addition of a 2-knob reverb and built-in

power attenuator.

Features include:

All-tube signal path. Preamp tubes are JJ/Tesla ECC83s and/or Ei 12AX7, reverb driver

is a JJ/Tesla ECC81/12AT7. Output tubes are JJ/Tesla EL84 (18W) or Svetlana EL34

(30W). Rectifier uses massive 3 amp 1000V ultra-fast recovery diodes (FREDs) for the

utmost reliability and a tight, fat low end.

Front panel controls/connections: Input jack, Volume 1 (bright), Volume 2 (dark), Bass,

Mid, Treble, Presence, Dwell, Reverb, Attenuator, and Variable. Input channels are

internally jumpered to allow a mix of the two volume controls to provide a wide range of

tones, allowing the amplifier to work well with any guitar, either single-coil or humbucker.

Exclusive Plexi/Ali front panel switch to reconfigure the preamp section to early "plexi"

style for a full rich tone (great for warm clean tones) or the later aluminum, or "ali" style

preamp, which is voiced brighter and tighter in the low end (best for distortion styles).

Rear panel controls/connections: AC mains input, interntional voltage selector allowing

operation at 100V/120V/200V/220V/230V/240V 50/60Hz, impedance selector switch for

4, 8, or 16 ohm operation, two 1/4" speaker jacks, and reverb footswitch jack. Also

includes locking mil-style RV6L bias pot and three tip jacks for easy bias setting without

having to remove the chassis from the cabinet.

Solid, finger-jointed birch-ply cabinet. The 1x12 combo is 25 1/2" wide, 21" tall, and 10

1/4" deep. The 2x12 combo is 29" wide, 21" tall, and 10 1/4" deep. The head is 25 1/2"

wide, 10 1/4" tall, and 9" deep.

Solid 16-gauge steel chassis, zinc-plated, yellow chromate conversion coated for

durability, corrosion-resistance and appearance. Front and rear faceplates are gold

anodized aluminum for durability and a classic appearance.

All hand-wired, “military style” turret-board construction (no PC boards), using chassis-

mounted tube sockets for ease of maintenance and reliability. Built to last.

Premium, tight-tolerance parts are used for reliability, including 2W 1% carbon film and

metal film resistors, 5W metal oxide power resistors, 630V axial-leaded polypropylene

film/foil capacitors, and low-noise, sealed, 2W mil-style RV4 pots.

InvaderMKIIManual.doc 12/08/11 Page 3 of 17