Sovereign 100 Tube Guitar Amplifier with MIDI-Control Operator´s Manual Please, first read this manual carefully!
Tube Amp Technology
Table of Contents Introduction Features and Functionality at a Glance Contents Front Panel Features: Input; Clean and Crunch Channel Control Features Channel selection, Reverb, FX Loop 1/2 Write/Copy Lead I and Lead II Channel Control Features Power Amp section: Master A/B Stand By, Power page: 4 4, 5 6 6-8 8, 9 9 10 - 12 12 12, 13 Rear Panel Features: Mains, Mains Fuse MIDI Section and Footswitch Ports Noise Gate, Threshold Level FX Loop 1 and 2: Send, Return, and Balance Reverb control CH1, Reverb contr
Congratulations tube tone connoisseur! With the Sovereign 100, you now own one of the most advanced and versatile tube amp combos available today! This sophisticated guitar amp marries the unrivalled tone of all-tube technology to the awesome sound-shaping might of control features powered by state-of-the-art microchip circuitry.
. four fundamental sounds in finest tube quality: Clean, Crunch, Lead I and Lead II, along with total freedom of tonal expression that comes courtesy of Gain switching, a four-band EQ with Presence knobs for both Lead channels, as well as two separate Treble knobs for Clean and Crunch enabling you to dial in precisely the amount of high end you need to make your tone sparkle;. 6.
Among the hallmarks of this fine amp are painstaking workmanship and finishing as well as rigorously tested and carefully selected quality components. You'll find guidelines on care and maintenance of tube amps on page 24. Under the heading Tips from the designer, you'll come across practical tips on the aforementioned features throughout the manual. All critical information concerning the operation of this amp is preceded by "NOTE", "CAUTION", "Read and heed" or some other eye-catching comment.
A tip from the designer: The amount of distortion depends on your guitar's pickups. In Clean mode, single-coil pickups may begin saturating the preamp when the knob is set to about the two o'clock position; pickups with very high output levels (humbuckers or active pickups) will evoke mild overdrive at even lower settings. If you want squeaky clean tone, simply back off the Gain knob accordingly. 3 Crunch Gain Gain control for the Crunch channel.
A tip from the designer: To help you get acquainted with the amp's fundamental sounds, I recommend that you set all tone controls to or slightly higher than the center or 12 o'clock position. For higher-gain Crunch sounds, your best bet is to turn the Treble Crunch knob down to prevent the pickups and speakers from generating feedback (a setting in the 10-to -1 o'clock range is recommended).
13 FX Loop 1/2 This button switches to and fro between FX Loop 1 and FX Loop 2. The red LED above the button lights up to indicate FX Loop 2 is on. You can also select loops via MIDI program change or Custom Z-9 Footswitch.
successfully. You can cancel the copy operation by releasing the key, but only for as long as the LED lights up continuously. IMPORTANT note; please read and heed: MIDI preset 1 activates when the amp is powered up. If you want to edit and/or store other MIDI presets, you must connect a MIDI foot board or another MIDI send device to the MIDI In port (33) and use this outboard device to select the desired MIDI preset on the amp.
18 Gain Lo/Hi Pressing this button ups input sensitivity, thereby increasing the amplification factor and the amount of distortion in both main channel 2's Lead I and Lead II modes. The LED above this button lights up to indicate Hi Gain is active. This feature can also be switched via MIDI program change or Custom Z-9 Footswitch. A tip from the designer: When activated, Hi Gain supercharges the amplification factor, switching from Soft Lead to Heavy Lead and putting both Lead channels into high gear.
Lead I mode. The red LED to the right of the knob lights up to indicate the Lead I channel is on. 24 Lead II Volume Determines the Lead II channel's level. Use this knob to adjust the Lead II channel's volume and dial in the desired balance in comparison with the other channels' levels. Because this knob is located pre effects loop, it also determines the effects send level in Lead II mode. The red LED to the right of the knob lights up to indicate the Lead II channel is on.
into Output Power Amp 4 ohms, 8 ohms or 16 ohms (51, 52, 53). If none of these ports is in use, flipping the Standby switch will not activate the power amp. This ensures the amp is not operated without a connected load. In addition, an electronic surveillance system monitors the four power tubes. The Status LED flashes to alert you to a defective power tube, blinking in different patterns to identify the given tube.
Rear Panel Features At the back of the manual you'll find a folded page offering diagrams of the front and rear panels. Please unfold and refer to it as you read through the descriptions of features and functions! 30 Mains Connector Plug the mains cord in here. For European models, use a standard non-heating equipment connector cable.
35 MIDI CHANNEL & VOL.0 Use this set of encoding buttons (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) to assign the MIDI channel. This tells the amp's MIDI system over which channel it will receive MIDI program change commands. Your choices are the standard 16 MIDI channels (numbered from 00 to 15), as well as OMNI mode (whereby all MIDI data is received regardless of the MIDI send channel). The encoding button settings for a specific channel and OMNI mode are listed in the following table.
herein. The MIDI In port is disabled when the Z-9 Footswitch is connected. A configuration table for the functions of the Sovereign 100 amp is printed on page 35. CAUTION: Connect only the ENGL Z-9 Footswitch to this 6.3 mm (1/4") stereo jack! Connecting any other switching device may damage it and/or the amp's circuitry! A tip from the designer: The Custom Z-9 Footswitch was designed with the non-MIDI guitarist in mind. It's sure to delight if you don't or won't use MIDI systems.
Noise is a definite no-no in many situations. For example, studio etiquette demands that you keep a lid on extraneous noise during short breaks. It's in the nature of highgain rigs to generate undesirable peripheral noise in overdriven channels. This is attributable to the physical properties of an amp's constituent components, in particular its active components. That's right; those cherished tubes are the culprits.
wet signal (that is, the processed signal generated by the connected effect device) is patched to the power amp (serial, 100% wet). NOTE: Set this knob to Dry when this loop is not in use! 42 FX LOOP 2 SEND Connect this FX Loop 2 output to a signal processor's input/return jack using the shortest possible shielded cord equipped with 1/4" plugs. Activate and deactivate it via the FX Loop 1/2 (13) button, which switches between these two loops.
A tip from the designer: The following factors determine Line Out level (50): The input level (Gain), the given channels' Volume knob settings as well as the activated Master and, to some extent, the voicing section's settings and the Presence control when button 48 is set to the "Power Amp" position. Those are a lot of variables, so I recommend you proceed as follows: Configure buttons as desired and dial in the desired settings on the front panel.
mixing console or recording gear. The advantage of a balanced circuit is that it is immune to ground loops, provided of course it is wired correctly. You can also patch the line out signal to an unbalanced input using an adapter. To do this, you'll need a shielded cord equipped with an XLR connector and an RCA connector or ¼" plug that bridges the signal (pin 2 or 3) and ground circuits. Be sure to set the button to Ground to Pin 1.
internal speaker (1x12", 8 ohms) connected to one of the 4-ohm jacks. When you unplug the cable for the external cabinet, ensure you plug the internal speaker back into one of the 8-ohm jacks! Summary: External 16 Z + internal 8 Z -> external to 8-ohm + internal to 4-ohm output. B) Speaker and cabinet options for the E368 - 2x12" model only: 1. Internal speakers (2x12", 16 ohms) only, connected to the 16-ohm jack; Summary: No external cab; internal 16 Z -> internal to 16-ohm output. 2.
A few words from the designer on your ENGL Sovereign Amp's sounds and settings as well as some practical tips: On the Subject of Sounds and Settings A great deal of effort went into tuning this tremendously versatile combo amp; I devoted particularly painstaking attention to the details: The Clean and Crunch channels are matched so that their Gain ranges overlap somewhat; the same goes for Lead I and Lead II and the two Gain levels Lo and Hi.
mandates a range of different clean variants, simply set the Gain knob below the 9 o'clock mark and select Soft Lead (Lo Gain) to see what you can come up with. Because it is chock full of tone-tweaking tools, this amp is sure to surprise you time and again with new sonic variants. However, there's no need to panic in face of its sophisticated functionality. At ENGL, ease of use is paramount.
Programming sounds (settings, actually) to MIDI presets: For reasons of convenience and handling ease, we made programming sounds to MIDI presets a piece of cake. Because this amp offers many programmable switching functions, Copy is indeed a handy tool. It lets you copy the settings of one MIDI preset to another. You'll come to appreciate its utility when you begin programming your own presets.
two to three minutes before they are able to pump out full power. Make a habit of giving your amp plenty of time to get toasty and of flipping the Standby switch for short breaks. Avoid storing the amp in damp or dusty rooms to spare jacks, switches and potentiometers. If you don't use the amp all the time, I recommend that you drape a covering over it to prevent the intrusion of dust. Even better, keep it in a transport cover or flight case.
foot board. This foot board must like the ENGL Z-15 - be able to send MIDI controller 07 data. In order to afford access to Master Volume Mute, this function must be enabled using the corresponding encoding button on the back of the amp. Power Tube Monitor: An electronic surveillance system that monitors each power tube's current and shuts the given tube down when it detects a value that is too high. The Status LED above the Write/Copy (15) button indicates the following conditions: 1.
Troubleshooting Programmable features fail to respond when you change settings: -> Powerful static charges, strong radio signals or mains voltage spikes can affect microcontroller-driven systems, setting them to an undefined status (commonly called a hung chip). In this event, your only choice is to reset the system. Simply switch the amp off and on again.
amp and another device that is grounded via a power plug of its own? Two or more circuits sharing a common electrical ground line can cause audible hum. If low-frequency noise is emanating from your rig, be sure to consult a specialist. -> The amp and mains grounds are not connected properly or are altogether disconnected. Have an experienced specialist check this. -> Cords connected to the input or effect loops may not be shielded properly. Replace them to check if this is indeed the case.
Technical Data Output power: Input sensitivity levels Input: Effect Return: Output levels SEND, level range: Frequ.Comp. Line Out: Power consumption: Fuses: at 230/240 mains voltage at 100/115/120 mains voltage Important: Tubes: V1, V2, V3, V4: V5: V6, V7: V8: Consult Tube Map to view tube array Logic control system: Processor, software: approx. 100 watts; adjusted accordingly to 4, 8 and 16 ohms; from -20 dB, nominal, max. 0 dB from -20 dB nominal, max. 0 dB from -20 dB to approx. 0 dB max. max.
Tube Map: cooling fan connector output transformer power V4 transformer V8 46 electrolytic capacitor: anode supply smoothing V3 V2 V7 V1 V6 reverb main connector: red plug -> reverb spring input black plug -> reverb spring output V5 amp chassis as viewed from above; Front panel, Input the tubes and their function: V 5 - ECC83 (12AX7): input stage, 2. stage; grade: FQ selected V 6 - ECC83 (12AX7): Lead driver stage, 4.
Wiring of Principal Connectors LINE OUT BALANCED (50), XLR male connector Pin 1 - or ground, depending on the position of the switch XLR GROUND (49) Pin 2: signal + Pin 3: signal - page: 19 MIDI IN (33), DIN connector Pin 3 - N.C. Pin 1 - power supply approx.11 volts AC * Pin 5 - MIDI-data wire Pin 4 - MIDI-data wire Pin 2 power supply page: 14 approx.11 volts AC * *: AC voltage is routed to pin 1 and 2 only when button 34 is set to ENGL MIDI Footcontroller.
Options for controlling the ENGL Sovereign 100 amp remotely: BALANCED LINE OUTPUT FOOTSWITCH NOISE GATE F.X. LOOP I F.X. LOOP II REVERB 1 2 3 4 5 6 MIDI THRU MIDI IN MIDI FOOTCONTROLLER CAUTION ! DO NOT OPEN ! RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK ! DO NOT EXPOSE THIS EQUIPMENT TO R AIN OR MOISTURE ! REPLACE FUSE ONLY WITH SAME TYPE AND RATING ! MIDI CHANNEL & VOL.0 SERIAL AMP CH 1 / CH 2 CONTROL PORT SUB I / II CAUTION: 6 R Tube Amp Technology Cn. S. I.10ms switch loop 1 0 1 cn.
Noting Settings: Clean Crunch Bass Middle Treble Cl. Treble Cr. Clean Vol. Crunch Vol. Sovereign 100 Tube Bright Amp Lead I Lead II Input Channel Sub FX Loop Reverb Write / 1/2 I / II 1 / 2 Active Copy Bass Middle Treble Presence Lead I Vol. Lead II Vol.
page: <------ 6 ------> <-------------------------------------------- 7 --------------------------------------------> <------------------- 8 -------------------> 1 2 3 9 Clean Crunch 4 5 6 7 8 Bass Middle Treble Cl. Treble Cr. 10 <----- 9 -----> 11 12 13 14 15 Clean Vol. Crunch Vol. Sovereign 100 Tube Bright Amp Lead II Lead I Bass Input Middle Treble Lead I Vol. Lead II Vol.
Configuration table for assigning the Sovereign 100's sound-shaping and special functions to the Z-9 Custom Footswitch's Functions 1 and 2 : Button Function 1 Function 1 Function 1 Function 1 Function 1 Function 1 Function 1 Function 1 Function 2 Function 2 Function 2 Function 2 Function 2 Function 2 Function 2 Function 2 Functions E365/E368 Master A/B no no no no Gain Lo/Hi Bright no no no no Reverb no no FX Loop 1/2 no Setup 1: Channel 1 1: Channel 2 1: Channel 3 1: Channel 4 1: Channel 1 1: Channel 2 1
R Tube Amp Technology Gerätebau GmbH Germany Internet: http://www.engl-amps.
